Newt Gingrich Continues to Attack Mitt Romney

With Rick Santorum dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination last week, Mitt Romney is looming as the de facto nominee for the GOP despite Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul remaining in the contest. Gingrich went on the attack on Wednesday, slamming Romneys proposal to limit mortgage deductions.

Governor Romneys proposal to limit certain tax deductions based on income, including the deduction for mortgage interest on second homes, is a surrender to the class warfare rhetoric of the Left, insisted Gingrich in a statement.

The former congressional leader, who is billing himself as the last conservative standing in the race, attempted to undermine Romneys conservative credentials.

Conservatives believe in the classical American definition of fairness that every American be treated equally under the law. That principle of equal treatment must apply to Americans of every income level just as it must apply to Americans of every race, color and creed, said Gingrich. Governor Romneys tax proposal violates that principle by giving politicians the power to carve out exceptions in the law for people of certain incomes. Furthermore, it sets the stage for future tax increases, as politicians will continually try to decrease the income threshold where citizens will no longer be able to avail themselves of the deductions.

Gingrich instead pushed his own tax plan.

My proposal for an optional 15 percent flat tax treats all Americans equally and allows them to either keep the current deductions and all the paperwork or move to a very simple system of equal treatment for all Americans with a one-page form, Gingrich said.

While there have been reports about Gingrich meeting with Romney earlier in the month, it looks like the former House speakers attempting to remain a thorn in his rivals side. Considering the two candidates exchanged heavy fire back in January, it looks like the bitterness in this contest is not quite over yet -- even if the primary contest essentially is done.