Santorum’s tax papers released

Steady income rise since leaving Senate

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum released four years of federal income tax returns on Wednesday night, showing a sharp rise in his personal wealth spurred by his growing work as Washington-based corporate consultant and media commentator.

Santorum’s returns show Rick that his federSantorum al income taxes rose from 2007, when he paid $167,000, to $310,000 in 2009, then dropped to $263,000 in 2010. During that same period, his annual income surged from nearly $660,000 in 2007 to $1.1 million in 2009 before slipping to $923,000 in 2010.

Santorum, 53, has sold himself in the Republican primaries as both a Washington outsider and a social conservative, stressing his family’s coal-mining background and his appeal to religious and working- class voters.

His personal finances tell a different story, detailing the trajectory of a politician who grew more prosperous in the Senate and became a millionaire afterward, at times capitalizing on his Beltway connections.

His 2010 tax returns show he made more than $550,000 in media and consulting fees — paid to him through a corporation he set up, Excelsior LLC. The previous year, Santorum made more than $820,000 in fees, also paid through the same firm.

Santorum’s wealth doesn’t come close to the multimillion- dollar fortune amassed by Mitt Romney’s high-finance prowess or Newt Gingrich’s smaller but still-lucrative blend of foundation and consulting work. But his newfound affluence reflects his close ties to Washington’s business and lobbying circles during his 12 years in the Senate and his smooth transition into their world after he left office.

Both Romney and Gingrich recently disclosed income tax returns.

Last year, the former Pennsylvania senator disclosed investment and real estate assets totaling as much as $2.5 million.

In his presidential financial disclosure spanning 18 months between 2010 and 2011, Santorum also listed $1.3 million in income as a consultant — much of it coming from media appearances and corporate work on behalf of health care, energy and social conservative interests.

Rising to GOP leadership in the Senate as Republican Conference chairman, Santorum pushed to expand the influence of Republican-leaning business interests.

As conference chairman, he headed GOP Senate communications efforts and met regularly with Gop-leaning business and lobbying figures. He raised more than $550,000 from lobbyists during his failed 2006 Senate re - election campaign.

After his Senate defeat, Santorum did not register as a lobbyist, but he aided corporate and other interests as a consultant. He was paid $142,500 by Consol Energy, a Pennsylvania-based energy firm with numerous Appalachian coal mines. The firm has lobbied against Obama administration efforts to tighten limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

Santorum also was paid $65,000 by the American Continental Group, a D.C. lobbying firm with an assortment of corporate clients, and $125,000 by the Clapham Group, a Virginia firm that aids religious rights organizations.

He was paid $230,000 for appearances on Fox News, as well as more than $80,000 for stints as a radio commentator.

The tax returns were first made available Wednesday night by Politico.