Note for WH reporters and the Washington commentariat: Trump has no constitutional or statutory authority to stop his federal taxes from being disclosed to the chairs of the two tax writing Congressional committees — House Ways and Means, and Senate Finance. The statute is a specific directive to the Treasury Secretary and, by delegation, to the IRS Commissioner. If they don’t follow the law, the courts will compel them to do so, What Trump thinks about all that is wholly irrelevant, because the president is not part of process. Trump can fire the Treasury Secretary, but he can’t fire the IRS Commissioner. By the way, this is not unusual. In almost all federal laws, the decision-making authority is not given to the president. It is given to a cabinet officer or agency head. So, for example, the statutory authority to make OSHA decisions is vested in the Secretary of Labor. For environmental policy, it’s the Administrator of the EPA. The president can fire these action officers if he doesn’t like what they’re doing, but he can’t substitute his judgment for their’s. It would be nice if the press understood some basic constitutional and statutory law. Hope springs eternal.
Yeah, I jumped on to this thread to say exactly that. I hope she’s given an opportunity to “clarify” that point.
Not to mention, she’s basically calling just about every person who’s ever had to hire help to do their taxes a moron.
Not to worry. I’m sure Senator Professor Warren could analyze them.
Unless he’s pardoned. Checkmate!
Sarah, the statute does not require that the committee requesting the returns be “smart enough to understand them.” The statute says the committee requests and the Treasury shall release them.
It’s on Congress to worry about understanding them - not you, not Trump, not Mnuchin, not the IRS, not the Treasury.
Sounds like a pretty good argument to simplify our tax system and eliminate a bunch of write-offs.
The tax bill did that. That’s why a lot of upper middle class tax payers are paying a lot more in taxes this year.
Frankly, Chris, I don’t think Congress, particularly not this group of congressmen and -women, are smart enough to look through the thousands of pages that I would assume that President Trump’s taxes will be.
It’s a matter of public record that Hair Furor doesn’t do his own taxes. Presumably, he’s not smart enough, either.
Not to mind, though. As pointed out above, Congress’ll just do what DTs does and hire some professionals.
When the Trump Regime is over and these people are either dead, in jail, or unemployed, I want SHS begging her bread in the streets.
There’s a reason Trump said looking at his finances would be a red line for Mueller. He simply cannot afford for anyone to get even a glimpse, because logically, it would quite possibly be the end of not only his political career but his business as well, and subject him and his family to significant jail time. But the law is unusually clear on this issue.
"I don’t think Congress, particularly not this group of congressmen and -women, are smart enough to look through the thousands of pages that I would assume that President Trump’s taxes will be.”
Upon which California Democratic congresswoman Katie Porter stated ‘bitch say what now?. Hold my beer…’
“My guess is most of them don’t do their own taxes, and I certainly don’t trust them to look through the decades of success that the President has and determine anything.”
The problem is we use the tax code to do policy, to encourage e.g. home ownership or cleaner energy and to discourage e.g. raiding your retirement funds.
Three, actually.
In addition to the two you mention, one House and one Senate, there is also one Joint.
But this is a detail. On the larger point, carry on!
You forgot lining the pockets of large donors and lobbyists.
So dumb. Mnuchin’s argument that this isn’t legit because Republicans said it wasn’t legit was weak. Saying that Democrats aren’t smart enough to understand Trump’s returns is a reason they SHOULD release them, since Democrats won’t understand them anyway and Trump has nothing to lose.
Their only argument is that this is a fishing expedition with no real purpose and hope a judge agrees. But Republicans don’t even know how to defend themselves without insulting someone.
I try not to overuse this particular word in favor of my beloved f-bomb, since I think it’s really kind of crude, but God almighty she’s just such an asshole I really can’t believe it.
My heartfelt thanks to all who worked so hard to get Democratic control the United States House of Representatives.
My thanks to the voters
To the campaign workers at all levels
To the candidates
Can we return to the basics of what does he have to hide. We are losing the message in the weeds.
Hammer it again and again, without mass hyperbole. Why does this president simply does not want anyone to know who he is. He is the least transparent I have seen and is willing to toss this country over the edge to preserve that.
Can we ask the fundamental question of why does Trump want to demolish this country? Just ask the questions, don’t toss on a yammering panel of people talking cross purposes over it. Just keep asking, loudly and publicly. Get that into the public mind and keep it alive.
I give thanks most days, E. I hoard what’s left of my sanity like a miser’s last few gold pieces.