Not sure why this is necessary: https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/05/politics/trump-tax-returns/index.html
The key quote from the link:
And thanks to a 1924 provision in the Internal Revenue Code, the chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee are authorized to request the president’s – or indeed anyone’s – tax returns from the IRS to conduct an investigation.
This statute resulted from the Teapot Dome scandal in the 1920’s, when President Warren Harding protected one of his cronies from a Congressional demand for his tax returns. If Wyden doesn’t know about this, he should.
Necessary in case Ways & Means refuses to do the right thing?
Disclosure of tax returns should be mandated for anyone running for (as well as holding) federal office, period.
I can appreciate Neal’s restraint at this moment.
But if he thinks we donated and voted so he could pull his punches, he will need to find another line of work in 2020.
Trump is a criminal. He belongs in prison. His taxes are likely fraudulent, and almost certainly contain evidence of his decades of criminality. The public is entitled to see the taxes of the president, and anyone who stands to become president, period.
I thought there were indications months ago that Mueller probably had his taxes. But, then, Mueller’s not revealing this, yet.
@nemo When you think you’re King of the Forest, nothing applies.
It’s addressed in the article.
Last three paragraphs.
This is a battle that is going to have to be waged on multiple fronts,
These are two of them. There will be others resulting from the Mueller investigation, State AG investigations and other court action.
And it is only day one.
Can’t Trump veto this? What am I missing? Enough votes to override a veto?
Victorious sieges work with feints, frontal assaults, sappers and infiltration on multiple fronts.
But Ron!! What if the powder does not remain dry, Ron?!?
Death by a thousand and forty paper cuts.
I don’t think the last 3 paragraphs answer the question. Incoming Ways and Means Chair Neal says it’s not the first priority but may be necessary. Fair enough. But if he’s unwilling to demand Trump’s returns within a reasonable amount of time, he should step aside or be replaced. Trump’s returns will be among the most revealing pieces of evidence we can have of his shady finances. Hate to do this, but I have this irresistible urge to quote Dylan:
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.
Sigh
WHat @bankerpup said. “Auth5orized to request” is not equal to “entitled to receive.”
Relax. They’re being audited. If there’s anything wrong or criminal hidden in those returns, they’ll be exposed before Armageddon.
As Nemo says
To stop future Donald Trumps before they get started
Don’t want to show us your tax returns?
I guess you don’t want to be President
He’ll be like Hitler fighting on three fronts
Approaching it this way, asking for a law that requires all presidents to disclose tax returns (rather just only asking for Trump’s), helps to defuse the “the Dems are just out to get Trump personally” talking point.
Presidential Harassment!!! Call the Waahmbulance!
IIRC Mittenss only gave up partial returns. Apparently rethugs have things to hide.
Ah, but when in doubt, look it up:
26 U.S.C. 6103(f)(1)
(f) Disclosure to Committees of Congress
(1) Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation
Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.
Obviously, Trump won’t consent to the disclosure of the return, but that’s beside the point. If the House wants the returns, it will get them without legislation or a subpoena.