The issue focused largely on CNN host Erin Burnett's assertion that Romney paid nothing for travel expenses during his trip to Cuba last summer. Romney responded by citing income taxes paid by Bain Capital during 2007 and 2008 and avoiding paying taxes by deferring payments through offshore trusts and trusts owned by Bain Capital executives. Romney argued that paying taxes should have helped Romney escape overseas debts from Bain Capital's failures and blamed Democrats who criticized Romney's lifestyle choices as costing Americans jobs and jeopardizing economic recovery. Romney argued that Romney paid taxes because his