Romney calls for higher taxes on wealthy in New York Times op-ed

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

12/19/25 3:12 PM ET


Former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Friday in a New York Times op-ed that “it’s time for rich people like me to pay more” in taxes ahead of the Social Security benefits cut projected for 2034.

Romney wrote that political ads in 2012, when he ran for president against then-incumbent President Obama, suggested his policy proposals would push “grandma off a cliff.”

“Today, all of us, including our grandmas, truly are headed for a cliff: If, as projected, the Social Security Trust Fund runs out in the 2034 fiscal year, benefits will be cut by about 23 percent,” he warned. “The government will need trillions of dollars to make up the shortfall.” “And on the tax front,” he later wrote, “it’s time for rich people like me to pay more.”

Romney said he no longer opposes increasing taxes on wealthier Americans and argued that the biggest “source of additional tax revenues is also probably the most compelling for fairness and social stability.” “Some call it closing tax code loopholes, but the term ‘loopholes’ grossly understates their scale,” he continued. “‘Caverns’ or ‘caves’ would be more fitting.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/business/economy/5657367-romney-proposes-wealth-tax/

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But aren't "corporations, people"? That's what you asserted over a dozen years ago.

[UpInArms]

1. Archive link to the op ed

https://archive.ph/xn7BZ

[pnwmom]

2. A dozen years ago was a different world.

He's a high profile Republican who's not MAGA. He's an ally now.

And this was a good essay.

[KPN]

21. As a dozen years ago was dramatically different from the dozen years before and the dozen before that.

The wealthy and corporations have been pillaging the economy via tax policy and regulations for decades now, and things are heading toward mass catastrophe.

Yeah, good that he's woken up and being more thoughtful, but I can't give him credit for suddenly waking up in the midst of the entire ship sinking. He's simply reacting to his innate survival instinct.

[BaronChocula]

3. So the Dems were right all along Mitt?

Great. Go over there and sit with Davids Brooks and Frum.

[C Moon]

4. Romney. Meh. MTG. Meh. Republicans are liars and chameleons.

Lest we forget Romney:
"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax."

[Intractable]

5. Hey Mitt, there was a time when you could have made a difference.

You let it pass.

[CTyankee]

12. Do you ever think he knows this and is sorry for what he himself helped nurture?

At Christmas time it is helpful to go back and read that story about Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghost of Christmas past...I wonder if he did?

[Intractable]

13. No. He's not sorry. But, the reality is that if he was going to be a reformer, he wouldn't get elected by

Republicans for anything, not even dogcatcher.

Born of privilege and will die of it. I can't feel sorry for him if he has any regrets.

[Old Crank]

6. Imediate 25% income tax

Boost on all income from any source, World wide on income over $1 million.

[Captain Zero]

30. Right. Call it a tax surcharge that sunsets when

the Social Security Trust is solvent for 75 years because that will remove it as a political football.

They did it for the Post Office Retirement under Bush, remember that? 75 years then it's not a political football for anyone over 18 yo today.

[ConstanceCee]

7. Let Him Change His Mind

I, for one, welcome this. Times are different.

[durablend]

14. You think anyone who actually can do anything about it is listening to him?

Democrats have no power and Republicans are just giddy with the way things are as is.

[thought crime]

25. People at the Bulwark?

Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins? I'd like to say "etc." but there is no "etc."

[KPN]

20. Times have been different since the 70s at least. This isn't something new -- the imbalance in economic equity. It's

just reached extreme, unsustainable levels. He is only recognizing that there is no other viable alternative without mass catastrophy affecting all -- including the wealthy. .... I can't give him credit for being smart enough suddenly to save his own neck.

[thought crime]

26. We need every bit of media attention possible.

If Mitt is willing to help, come on down boy! Let the dogs out!

[Javaman]

8. oh no, mittens is back

NOW he's all "raise the taxes" on the rich.

[Bengus81]

15. Years and years after Bob Dole left office he stated that he thought everyone should have

affordable insurance that only the Government could help provide. Funny how these assholes always get redemption long after they've left the Repulicant party.

He fought Clinton and Hillary non-stop in their attempt at affordable health insurance.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. And he pilot-tested what was dubbed "Romney Care" when he was governor of MA

and it was a model looked at during the development of the ACA.

[IronLionZion]

9. Corporations are people who should pay their fair share in taxes

The tax code is so complex due to the various special deductions they lobbied for.

[MichMan]

10. They are just passed down to consumers just like tariffs

[IronLionZion]

11. Wealthy individuals can pay more in capital gains, dividends, carried interest, etc.

[KPN]

19. Yes, as always. But it's never static and ever-lasting regardless. My view is as a whole, we would be far better off

socio-economically if corporations and the wealthy paid a higher share regardless of the the wage dynamic. Government would be able to function effectively, including in providing social goods and services.

[JHB]

16. Mitt, it was time for "rich people like" you to pay higher taxes forty years ago.

We don't need a revolution, we need a counter-revolution: the Reagan Revolution needs to be overthrown.

It's not even about fairness anymore. Wealth has been so thoroughly weaponized in politics that raising taxes on the rich is a matter of self-defense for the rest of us.

[KPN]

18. Great points!

[KPN]

17. Exactly! He'd much rather pay higher taxes than reverse Citizens United. Notably, he didn't specify how

much more he's open to paying. I'm quite sure it won't match progressive rates of the 50s and 60s.

[Cheezoholic]

22. The Mittster's never ending scratching at the post of relevancy. Whatcha' selling now you King of Mediocracy? lol n/t

[Icanthinkformyself]

23. Well,

he and the other morbidly rich can agree to give a little back to keep from losing it all. They can see the handwriting on the wall, just as many rich did in the 1930's. FDR saw that he and other wealthy families could either fight the wave of Socialism building or control how they gave some back to save their a**es and their wealth. As with most, if not all morbidly rich, Romney's money came from actions just short of criminal and very far from ethical or moral. None of it 'earned'.

[thought crime]

24. Mitt Romney is now far to the left of Joe Manchin on taxes

Give him 15 years and he could end up on the esteemed "radical Far Left". 10 Tops if he studies hard and regularly attends re-indoctrination camp.

But with age comes wisdom. Up to a point. Is he posturing for another presidential campaign? He'll only be 80.

[marble falls]

27. He must be feeling like he's getting cloer to meeting his maker.

[fujiyamasan]

28. Maybe, but he actually looks pretty decent for his age

Of course looks can be deceptive and sure he can afford the best care money can buy.

[marble falls]

31. Looks can be so decieving.

[BlueKota]

32. If he is genuinely coming to the light, good for him.

I, however, will never forget or forgive him for saying "anyone can be a millionaire, if they are willing to work hard enough."

My Dad had to drop out of school when he was only 14 to help his Dad on the farm. He worked in a shoe factory to bring in extra money to the family. He eventually started his own water delivery service to bring farmers the water they needed for their cows to drink, and to water their crops. He filled wells, so rural families who didn't have municipal water services, had the water they needed. He worked long hours, yet still kept both his tankers full, in case one of the three volunteer fire companies needed back up. He'd go even if it was the middle of the night in horrible weather. He also watered the track and put out engine fires, when the local fair grounds held demolition derbies and car races, and he did both jobs as a volunteer to give back to his community.

Then when he was 63 years old, the nearby city, asked him to come and be their chief mechanic. He was often called out to fix snowplows in the middle of the night in brutal winter storrms. The man worked until he was 79 years old, and had to be forced to retire even then because he had a stroke. It broke his heart to quit working. He died 2 years later.

Then fucking Mittens who cut shady business deals sitting behind a desk, to make his money, has the nerve to say shit like that. I am not a violent person, but if I could have jumped through the screen, and punched him in the face, I would have. So in my book he will have to do a lot more than write an editorial piece before I will believe he's changed for the better.