Law that Presidential contenders release their income tax returns?

[MaggieD]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

 

[haymarket]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

If every other candidate released their income tax returns, no serious candidate would dare not release their own returns knowing that the electorate is intelligent and would not tolerate such things. After all, the voters are not stupid dolts who would overlook such a thing.

 

[ocean515]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

There should be no law requiring the release of tax returns. Reason? Tax returns provide nothing of importance about a potential candidates qualifications for office.

What would go a long way in providing information would be total transparency connected to every dollar collected and spent to benefit the candidate and the candidates party.

If it were possible at all, every penny would have to be accounted for, and every person/group/origin of it would have to be accounted for.

Who a candidate is beholden to is far more important than whatever information about taxable income for any given year a candidate reports on their 1040.

 

[countryboy]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

No, I do not believe there should be a law requiring this. Your financial information is private. If someone has done something illegal, then the proper authorities can go after them for that.

In this heated, divided political climate, this can only serve to further divide. I fully understand why Trump didn't release his. It would only be another thing to stir up the leftist loons who attack him for everything from ketchup, to ice cream.

 

[joG]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

I am not sure how to handle that info. But if you want power you must be transparent enough to be held responsible.

 

[Mycroft]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

No.

Let's face it, the only reason anyone wants to see a candidate's tax returns is so they can find something to use against them. Period.

A candidate shouldn't be forced...by law...to provide ammunition to his opponents.

 

[Common Sense 1]

I don't think we need a law requiring that tax forms be released. Not really sure that the average
person could get any useful information out of them. The simple ones yes but the more complicated
ones I don't think so. The political hacks would spin it to attack the candidate.

People running for federal office do have to file under federal law a financial disclosure form.


Trump's 2017 Financial Disclosure
https://www.opensecrets.org/trump/trump-2017-financial-disclosure

 

[Helix]

Law that Presidential contenders release their income tax returns?

we shouldn't need a law. he should have just released the returns like everyone else or not run for president. however, he's shady as hell, so his strategy was to pretend like he was going to release the returns, and then not do it. if we ever see the returns, it will most likely be because someone involved in the Mueller investigation leaked them. i'm not an expert on little kids, but when one is standing against the corner with both hands behind his back and making loud noises, one can be fairly sure that he's got something in his hands that he's not supposed to have and doesn't want you to see.

either way, long story short : i don't really support a new law to cover this, and the Republicans wouldn't pass it anyway. he should have done it voluntarily, or voluntarily after his condition for releasing the returns was met. if we're ever to see his returns, we'll just have to wait for the leak.

 

[vegas giants]

No.

Let's face it, the only reason anyone wants to see a candidate's tax returns is so they can find something to use against them. Period.

A candidate shouldn't be forced...by law...to provide ammunition to his opponents.

If everyone does it the playing field is level

 

[Harbo]

No. One of the big reasons I believe the quality of Presidential candidates is declining is that anyone who isn't either a raging narcissist or completely desensitised to media scrutiny is scared of standing lest they have their name absolutely dragged through the mud over the course of a year for everyone in the world to see. Releasing tax returns just provide more ammunition to attack candidates with.

 

[JackA]

There should be no law requiring the release of tax returns. Reason? Tax returns provide nothing of importance about a potential candidates qualifications for office.

What would go a long way in providing information would be total transparency connected to every dollar collected and spent to benefit the candidate and the candidates party.

If it were possible at all, every penny would have to be accounted for, and every person/group/origin of it would have to be accounted for.

Who a candidate is beholden to is far more important than whatever information about taxable income for any given year a candidate reports on their 1040.

I fully agree with your second point. The purpose of disclosing tax returns, however, is not to demonstrate "qualifications for office" but rather to demonstrate potential conflicts of interest and liabilities that could expose him or her to undue influence.


Having to disclose your tax returns is certainly an invasion of privacy, but when you run for President you trade much of that privacy in for the honor and glory of serving the public in the highest office of the land.

 

[countryboy]

I fully agree with your second point. The purpose of disclosing tax returns, however, is not to demonstrate "qualifications for office" but rather to demonstrate potential conflicts of interest.
This also is the purpose of the financial disclosure form a candidate for President must file. See post 7. But as the introduction to that disclosure states: "Because the forms are only meant to reveal on potential conflicts of interests a filer might have, they provide far less specificity than tax returns would."

Having to disclose your tax returns is certainly an invasion of privacy, but when you run for President you trade much of that privacy in for the honor and glory of serving the public in the highest office of the land.

Lib definition of "conflict of interest"="anything we say is a conflict of interest". :roll:

 

[Mycroft]

If everyone does it the playing field is level

Still doesn't make it right. It's still forcing candidates...by law...to provide ammunition to their opponents.

What's next? Mandatory psych evals? Mandatory physical exams? Geneology reports? Oh...how about a list of all the men/women/others the candidate ever dated? With pictures? How about a sworn affidavit listing political positions...punishable by prison if found to be untrue?

Seriously, if the voters want specific information from a candidate, they can ask for it. The candidate can choose to provide it or not. It's no different than asking about political positions.

 

[Parrish]

It's been common practice for years for candidates to disclose their taxes.

It's pretty safe to say that those who don't have something to hide. All of the potential candidates for president and vice president disclosed theirs, except for 45.

 

[JackA]

Lib definition of "conflict of interest"="anything we say is a conflict of interest". :roll:

Trump definition: Anything that isn't good for wonderful me.

 

[Mycroft]

Transcript:

…to lock arms with one another. We demand that we see Trump’s taxes while we also demand that all of our rights are protected. We demand that we see Trump’s taxes while we also demand that women’s rights be treated as human rights. We must speak with one voice and one accord and we must draw a direct line between Trump’s taxes and missing girls, missing black girls all across this country.

We must say that while we resist one, we resist all or else our fight is inauthentic. We must say Trump’s taxes and equal education. We must say Trump’s taxes no more police brutality. We must say that Trump’s taxes is where we start today but we will not end there. That all our rights must be protected – and who the hell do you think you are to hide anything and treat us as though we are less than human?
(emphasis is mine)


Now why on earth should we require...by law...that candidates feed this kind of idiocy?

 

[Cardinal]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

Absolutely I support such a law. The advantages are the same and haven't changed for the past forty years: the comfort in knowing that there is a certain level of honesty in our candidate's finances and a level of certainty that they are acting in the interests of their constituency rather than their businesses.

 

[Cardinal]

If every other candidate released their income tax returns, no serious candidate would dare not release their own returns knowing that the electorate is intelligent and would not tolerate such things. After all, the voters are not stupid dolts who would overlook such a thing.

You forgot the "/s"

 

[vegas giants]

Still doesn't make it right. It's still forcing candidates...by law...to provide ammunition to their opponents.

What's next? Mandatory psych evals? Mandatory physical exams? Geneology reports? Oh...how about a list of all the men/women/others the candidate ever dated? With pictures? How about a sworn affidavit listing political positions...punishable by prison if found to be untrue?

Seriously, if the voters want specific information from a candidate, they can ask for it. The candidate can choose to provide it or not. It's no different than asking about political positions.

I think the office of the president should be the most highly scrutinized office in the land. The absolute power to destroy the world rests in his hands. Transparency is the least we can ask

 

[holbritter]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

Holy crap.....if they made that law, Congress critters on both sides would be scurrying away! Politicians in general would be in big trouble.

 

[MaggieD]

I think the office of the president should be the most highly scrutinized office in the land. The absolute power to destroy the world rests in his hands. Transparency is the least we can ask

We shouldn't ask. It should be a requirement.

 

[vegas giants]

We shouldn't ask. It should be a requirement.

I agree completely. Those who want privacy need not run

 

[CanadaJohn]

Should there be a law that requires major primary contenders for President and Vice President to release their last five years' income tax returns to the public?

How about candidates for Congress?

Governers? State representatives?

Would it require a constitutional amendment to U.S. and state constitutions to do that?

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to requiring this information?

Do you think that would be an invasion of privacy? Or that it should be the necessary ticket to ride?

For discussion...

Good morning Maggie - hope all is well,

As for this topic, I have to say it seems almost prurient in nature the way Americans fixate on the personal, financial, affairs of those they look to elect to public office. Here in Canada, never a word is spoken about a candidate's personal life or financial affairs unless there is some scandal that becomes apparent. Their political ideology and policy initiates are all that matter to us.

 

[Cardinal]

Holy crap.....if they made that law, Congress critters on both sides would be scurrying away! Politicians in general would be in big trouble.

Presidential candidates have been making their tax returns public for forty years.

 

[holbritter]

Transcript:

…to lock arms with one another. We demand that we see Trump’s taxes while we also demand that all of our rights are protected. We demand that we see Trump’s taxes while we also demand that women’s rights be treated as human rights. We must speak with one voice and one accord and we must draw a direct line between Trump’s taxes and missing girls, missing black girls all across this country.

We must say that while we resist one, we resist all or else our fight is inauthentic. We must say Trump’s taxes and equal education. We must say Trump’s taxes no more police brutality. We must say that Trump’s taxes is where we start today but we will not end there. That all our rights must be protected – and who the hell do you think you are to hide anything and treat us as though we are less than human?
(emphasis is mine)


Now why on earth should we require...by law...that candidates feed this kind of idiocy?

How does anyone take that seriously? And Trump voters are under educated? That's a big LOL.