Why did Mitt Romney think that his GOP competitors or the national media would sit still while he dithered over the release of his tax returns?  The furor over his personal finances, now compounded by his admission that he “is probably closer to the 15 percent [tax ] rate,”  is a colossal distraction that a candidate with a squishy base of support cannot afford.

A MetroWest Daily News editorial cuts to the chase. “Gov. Romney, release the tax returns already,” it said. Even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, now auditioning for the role currently held by Joe Biden, has chimed in to say sooner than April is a better idea.

But as Rick Holmes, the MetroWest Daily News opinion editor points out, “Romney’s refusal to release his tax returns is…in character for a man who likes to control his environment and leaves nothing to chance.”

Maybe Romney and his team thought that he could set a new precedent just like he did in Massachusetts. Ten years ago when he ran for governor, Romney declined to release his tax returns, departing from the example set by William Weld and Paul Cellucci. After all, he’d gotten away with it in his US Senate run against Sen. Edward Kennedy in 1994. That decision paved the way for his wealthy successor to do the same. In two runs for office, Gov. Deval Patrick never released his tax returns.

Romney did not release them when he ran for president in 2008 either. Unfortunately for Mitt, he’s in the big leagues now as the front-runner, and Massachusetts rules do not apply. American presidential candidates release their tax returns. End of story.

His opponents aren’t afraid to throw a few high and tight ones on the tax question. The latest heater is from Newt Gingrich, the real bane of Romney’s existence, who plans to release his returns on Thursday. On the news media front, Reuters provides a handy timeline of Romney’s contradictory statements about releasing his taxes.

The Boston Herald wonders what the fuss is all about. True, if voters know anything about Mitt Romney, they know that he is a card-carrying member of the 1 percent. Speculation is rife on what exactly is in those hefty tax files. Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo points to a Reuters story that explains that Mitt may be using offshore financial instruments to shield his money from the tax man. The New York Times reports that he could be paying an even lower rate than “many other wealthy Americans.”

Mitt’s troubles might even lead to changes in the tax rates for the wealthy, leading The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein to label him an “(accidental) class traitor.”

Harry Truman is always right. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. In his case, Mitt needs to get out the fire extinguisher if he wants to continue to ride the wave of his inevitability.

                                                                                                                                                –GABRIELLE GURLEY

BEACON HILL

The state’s top judges and the Massachusetts Bar Association join forces to push for more funds for the court system, CommonWealth reports.

State Rep. Paul Adams and his parents agreed to pay $4,000 in fines for disguising the sources of about $39,000 in campaign contributions from his parents and brother, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

The state awards $500,000 to Gloucester to help finance the reconstruction of Newell Stadium, the Gloucester Times reports.

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Owners of an Asian market who sued the city of Quincy after their plan to open a new store in North Quincy was rejected have reached an agreement that includes a stipulation that the most vocal opponent on the city council will not vote in the reconsideration.

Decision time looms for Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley on the Vicksburg Square affordable apartment complex at Devens, the Lowell Sun reports.

Attleboro’s police union wants the city’s police chief removed from a probe into stolen drugs.

If Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse doesn’t want a casino, other communities in western Mass would be happy to take it.

NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON

The Salem News asks: What’s wrong with a Massachusetts moderate?

Wikipedia is among the websites that are going dark today in protest of two bills in Congress which opponents say will allow government censorship of the Internet. Some wonder, however, if Wikipedia is even relevant anymore. BlueMassGroup and RedMassGroup are also down.

ELECTION 2012

The American Spectator points out Sen. Scott Brown’s move to the middle will come at a cost as his one-time Tea Party money spigot will likely run dry.

Republican congressional candidate Richard Tisei calls US Rep. John Tierney a political extremist who has failed to push a single bill through Congress, the Lynn Item reports.

The Wall Street Journal sees an opportunity in the controversy over Mitt Romney’s taxes for pushing flatter, lower rates, while the New York Times provides a history of post-Reagan tax cuts for the wealthy. Paul Krugman asks a followup: Should unearned income be taxed that much lower than earned income?

Scot Lehigh explains why so many young people are supporting Ron Paul in the Republican primary.

Brian McGrory takes the Brown camp to task for referring to Elizabeth Warren as an “elitist hypocrite” following disclosure of her income.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

WBUR’s On Point discusses the clash of titans over the Stop Online Piracy Act.

Lakeville-based Ocean Spray has reached an agreement with PepsiCo to distribute its cranberry products in Latin America.

CHARITY

A study by the W.K.Kellogg Foundation finds that minorities are proportionally more generous than whites when it comes to charitable giving. Via Chronicle of Philanthropy.

EDUCATION

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino proposes changes in the city’s school assignment lottery, NECN reports. The changes would mean a return to neighborhood schools.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts President Mary Grant is optimistic that the Legislature will boost funding for public higher education.

The Economist concludes that without price controls or limits on debt students can carry, college tuition prices will continue to rise as it drills down to analyzes the value of a high school education.

HEALTH CARE

The state’s appeals court yesterday reversed a decision by a probate judge to order a schizophrenic woman to undergo an abortion and sterilization. The court cited an Supreme Judicial Court ruling that established that even those ruled incompetent have the right to decide whether to bear their children.

TRANSPORTATION

Opposition to fare hikes is strong at packed MBTA hearing, NECN reports. In a Boston Herald op-ed, Charles Chieppo and Joseph Giglio fix part of the blame for the T’s fiscal woes on its inability to budget maintenance costs.

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

Greater Boston takes a tour of Boston University’s controversial biolab and talks with a local activist opposed to the germ facility.

State study finds wind turbines pose no health issue, CommonWealth reports. The Cape Cod Times report is here. The study says there are no known maladies caused by or related to wind turbines despite the claims of opponents. Meanwhile, a Superior Court judge refused to halt a wind turbine project in Fairhaven but said the lease may be invalid.

A Quincy city councilor wants evidence that the city has saved money in energy bills in three dozen buildings under a controversial $30 million contract the former mayor signed with Honeywell International.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CommonWealth contrasts the approaches to crime being followed in states like Texas and Mississippi with those being pursued in Massachusetts.

Newton teacher is facing child pornography charges and charges of indecent assault of a child under the age of 14, NECN reports.

Judge in Lawrence upholds hazing scandal suspensions involving two Andover High School basketball players, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

MEDIA

Dan Kennedy wonders why John Sununu has a place writing for the Globe.

The Nieman Journalism Lab analyzes NewsRight, the Associated Press rights clearinghouse.