Washington Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns

[applegrove]

Washington Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns

BY JOHN BOWDEN at the Hill

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/434412-washington-senate-passes-bill-that-would-keep-trump-off-2020-ballot

"SNIP.....

Washington's state Senate passed a bill this week that would drop President Trump from the state's 2020 presidential ballot until he releases his tax returns.

The bill, which advanced Tuesday to the state's House of Representatives, according to CBS News, would require any candidate on the ballot for president in the state to release five years of tax returns before appearing in a general or primary election.

Senators voted by a 28-21 margin to approve the bill, according to CBS. The state's attorney general and solicitor told lawmakers in a letter this week that the proposal likely was constitutional, but analysts expect the law if passed to be challenged in federal court.

"The disclosure requirement you propose is likely Constitutional," the two wrote to lawmakers, according to CBS, adding that the measure "would definitely be challenged in court."

......SNIP"

Dems making as much noise as Trump does every week. I like it.

[David__77]

1. I think that this might not stand legal challenge if signed into law.

...

[Aristus]

2. Doesn't Governor Inslee have to sign it to make it a law?

And, since he's running for President himself, does that constitute a conflict of interest?

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea. Even though Trump has virtually no chance of carrying Washington State.

They vote for Republicans out in Spokanistan, where nobody lives, and we vote for Democrats in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties, where everyone lives.

[applegrove]

3. Trump and the GOP are like a machine gun of bad ideas and memes.

The Democrats need our own snowflake snowstorm of good ideas to make it into the news every day and week. Constant ideas. Promoting out values constantly. Other states should pick this up.

[msongs]

4. consitutution governs this and says nothing about tax returns. wont fly nt

[WA-03 Democrat]

5. Give it a try!

Why not? Make a law at the federal level too. Let tumpster veto it.

Unconstitutional should not be a predict with Drumph. Hit him in the nose! Two times!!

[madville]

6. I don't like the precedent it sets, red states can abuse it and turn it around on us

If this is allowed what's to stop a Florida or Ohio or Georgia or Texas from instituting their own special requirements targeting Democrats? They could pass a law making it a requirement for all candidates to sign an anti-abortion pledge to get on the ballot. Just use your imagination, they could specifically target our next Democratic President when they come up for reelection and there would be precedent to support it.

I don't see it holding up in court, the down ballot candidates could also have standing to sue arguing its a ploy to suppress their turnout numbers.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. What Madville said.

States cannot make their own special requirements for a Presidential candidate to be on the ballot.

I think my state, New Mexico, is trying to do the same thing.

Honestly, I think the obsession with tax returns is more that a waste of time and energy.