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

[Gothmog]

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

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."

[RandySF]

1. It's good that Democrats att holding a caucus, I guess.

[Gothmog]

2. From Ari

Link to tweet

[MichMan]

3. Why do these types of laws apply only to the presidental candidates ?

Last edited Tue Mar 19, 2019, 07:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Why not also all the house and senate members, statewide and local candidates too? Seems like voters should have tax information for all potential officeholders even on a local level

[Gothmog]

4. In some states these laws apply to most or all candidates

For example, in Vermont all candidates except candidates running for federal office have to file returns. sanders evidently got himself exempted from this requirement

[Gothmog]

5. Trump could be left off some states' ballots in 2020 if these bills become law

Link to tweet

Trump has long insisted that he won’t release his returns because they are under audit, though that would not preclude him from doing so. The documents have become something of a liberal white whale, and Democrats at the federal level have been pursuing laws or legal maneuvers aimed at obtaining them.

In addition to Washington, several other states, including California, Hawaii and New Jersey are considering similar bills. Many, though not all, of the legislatures considering the bills are controlled by Democrats, but even in Republican-controlled states, Democrats have put forth such legislation. Measures failed earlier this year in Mississippi, New Mexico and New Hampshire.