McCain paid $157,231 in federal taxes in 2006-07

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain paid $157,231 in federal income taxes for 2006 and 2007, according to records released on Friday that did not include those of his wealthy wife, Cindy.

McCain, 71, an Arizona senator, had taxable income of $474,104 in those two years combined based on his Senate salary, his book royalties, a Navy pension and Social Security income.

McCain paid $157,231 in federal income taxes for the two years.

During these years he and Mrs. McCain donated $340,323 to charitable causes, most of it to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which makes direct contributions to charities.

The McCain campaign did not release the tax returns of McCain's wife, who inherited a multimillion-dollar Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship, one of the country's largest, from her father.

"Since the beginning of their marriage, Sen. McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances," the McCain campaign said in a statement.

The McCains have been married since May 1980.

"In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns," the McCain campaign said.

WIFE'S RECORD WITHHELD

The Democratic National Committee charged that by failing to release his wife's tax records, "serious questions remain unanswered about how John McCain's position as a U.S. senator may have benefited John and Cindy McCain's business ventures."

"The connection between the McCains' business ventures and their political ties have been well documented and the American people deserve to know how McCain's role as a public official may have benefited their bottom line," said DNC chair Howard Dean.

Tax and income records have been an issue in the campaign for the November presidential election.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, reported making $109 million since 2000 after the campaign of Barack Obama accused her of being overly secretive.

Obama reported making $4.2 million in 2007 and has been challenged by the Clinton camp to release records from other years.

McCain's income of less than $500,000 for 2006 and 2007 combined -- including $45,000 in Social Security income because he is a senior citizen -- pales in comparison to his potential opponents' income. But without his wife's information, it is impossible to know the extent of the McCain family's wealth.