Release Your Tax Returns Bernie

Trump and his supporters are a lot like Hitler and the Nazis. He is their "Savior" and they do whatever he directs them to do. Of course a Presidents tax returns are private. Trump said so and his cult followers do what they are told Originally Posted by themystic
You hate Jewish people...like the Nazis.
  • Tiny
  • 04-10-2019, 10:12 PM
You are correct. Tax records are not public records. However congress has the authority under 26 U.S. Code § 6103 to gain access to tax return records and to make them public at their own discretion. You should read the article in the post by George K. Yin here. Originally Posted by txdot-guy
I took a look at your link 26 U.S. Code 6103 and indeed the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee can gain access to tax returns. However, if they identify the specific taxpayer, they're only supposed to be examined by the committee in "closed excecutive session." I don't see where the Chairman or Committee has the right to make the tax returns public at their own discretion, but if you say that's correct, it's probably correct.

But is this constitutional, in this instance? The purpose of the request can only be to make the president's tax returns public and/or obtain information to go on a fishing expedition to find ammunition for political ends or to prosecute Trump. I'm not a lawyer but suspect that after this winds its way through the courts, the Ways and Means Committee won't get the tax returns. And in any event, being a civil libertarian, I don't believe it's any of their business requesting tax returns of citizens for political and most other purposes.

I wonder if the Democrats have thought this through. For example, the President appears to have the same power to obtain tax records as the Ways and Means Committee. How about he obtains the tax returns of Democratic politicians and Democratic Party campaign contributors and then posts them on the White House web site?

This has the potential to go the way of the filibuster. First the Democrats end it in the Senate for all federal judges except Supreme Court. Then the republicans expand it to the Supreme Court. Next thing you know, one party or the other will end it all together and another check and balance on the system will go away. The issue with the tax returns is arguably worse, as it's an attack on a fundamental right we all should have.
dilbert firestorm's Avatar
Sanders nor Trump shouldn't have to show his tax returns. they are private and none of the public's business.

9 presidents before Nixon never showed their tax returns.
themystic's Avatar
Sanders nor Trump shouldn't have to show his tax returns. they are private and none of the public's business.

9 presidents before Nixon never showed their tax returns. Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm
After Nixon released his return it showed he owed $ 500,000. They kind of realized that maybe it would be a good idea to know about a Presidents financial dealings.
After Nixon released his return it showed he owed $ 500,000. They kind of realized that maybe it would be a good idea to know about a Presidents financial dealings. Originally Posted by themystic
I guess if the records are from your hero it's different...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-a...its-last-year/
themystic's Avatar
I guess if the records are from your hero it's different...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-a...its-last-year/ Originally Posted by bb1961
No different. They should all have to disclose tax records. Period
Danielle Silver's Avatar
Find that old Hag Hillary's emails, then I might be interested in tax returns.

Seriously, who cares about tax returns, everyone lies, ITS THE AMERICAN WAY!!
themystic's Avatar
Find that old Hag Hillary's emails, then I might be interested in tax returns.

Seriously, who cares about tax returns, everyone lies, ITS THE AMERICAN WAY!! Originally Posted by Danielle Silver
"Russia if your listening" Lol.

This is confidential but here's one I know about that she sent on Jan 21, 2014.

" Bill could you pick up a loaf of bread on your way home?" And by the way some bitch named Paula called here. Who the fuck is Paula. Im not going through this shit when Im President"
No different. They should all have to disclose tax records. Period Originally Posted by themystic
And college transcripts(maybe even High School, Jr. High, and elementarty), and sources of any income/scholarships/endowments/grants they have received from any government source or other source anytime in their lives. All people they have ever had any contact or dealings with. Every girl(or boy) they have ever touched....

Where does the BS end?

The requests from their opponents can be made, but there is no "should have to disclose". It's optional.
themystic's Avatar
And college transcripts(maybe even High School, Jr. High, and elementarty), and sources of any income/scholarships/endowments/grants they have received from any government source or other source anytime in their lives. All people they have ever had any contact or dealings with. Every girl(or boy) they have ever touched....

Where does the BS end?

The requests from their opponents can be made, but there is no "should have to disclose". It's optional. Originally Posted by eccielover
So why all of a sudden is tax returns no big deal after 40 years of doing it? Why did Obama have to show a birth certificate? I forgot Eccie, you are from Pittsburg the city that cant protect its citizens. Nevermind
rexdutchman's Avatar
Hey I think ALL Politicians should have to show there tax returns ( It would be Very interesting at least)
  • oeb11
  • 04-11-2019, 08:17 AM
I took a look at your link 26 U.S. Code 6103 and indeed the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee can gain access to tax returns. However, if they identify the specific taxpayer, they're only supposed to be examined by the committee in "closed excecutive session." I don't see where the Chairman or Committee has the right to make the tax returns public at their own discretion, but if you say that's correct, it's probably correct.

But is this constitutional, in this instance? The purpose of the request can only be to make the president's tax returns public and/or obtain information to go on a fishing expedition to find ammunition for political ends or to prosecute Trump. I'm not a lawyer but suspect that after this winds its way through the courts, the Ways and Means Committee won't get the tax returns. And in any event, being a civil libertarian, I don't believe it's any of their business requesting tax returns of citizens for political and most other purposes.

I wonder if the Democrats have thought this through. For example, the President appears to have the same power to obtain tax records as the Ways and Means Committee. How about he obtains the tax returns of Democratic politicians and Democratic Party campaign contributors and then posts them on the White House web site?

This has the potential to go the way of the filibuster. First the Democrats end it in the Senate for all federal judges except Supreme Court. Then the republicans expand it to the Supreme Court. Next thing you know, one party or the other will end it all together and another check and balance on the system will go away. The issue with the tax returns is arguably worse, as it's an attack on a fundamental right we all should have. Originally Posted by Tiny

Thank You,Ttiny.

A well reasoned post!
themystic's Avatar
I took a look at your link 26 U.S. Code 6103 and indeed the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee can gain access to tax returns. However, if they identify the specific taxpayer, they're only supposed to be examined by the committee in "closed excecutive session." I don't see where the Chairman or Committee has the right to make the tax returns public at their own discretion, but if you say that's correct, it's probably correct.

But is this constitutional, in this instance? The purpose of the request can only be to make the president's tax returns public and/or obtain information to go on a fishing expedition to find ammunition for political ends or to prosecute Trump. I'm not a lawyer but suspect that after this winds its way through the courts, the Ways and Means Committee won't get the tax returns. And in any event, being a civil libertarian, I don't believe it's any of their business requesting tax returns of citizens for political and most other purposes.

I wonder if the Democrats have thought this through. For example, the President appears to have the same power to obtain tax records as the Ways and Means Committee. How about he obtains the tax returns of Democratic politicians and Democratic Party campaign contributors and then posts them on the White House web site?

This has the potential to go the way of the filibuster. First the Democrats end it in the Senate for all federal judges except Supreme Court. Then the republicans expand it to the Supreme Court. Next thing you know, one party or the other will end it all together and another check and balance on the system will go away. The issue with the tax returns is arguably worse, as it's an attack on a fundamental right we all should have. Originally Posted by Tiny
There is an old saying Tiny. " To one who much is given, much is expected". As Nixon said, " People want to know that there President is not a crook"
  • Tiny
  • 04-11-2019, 09:00 AM
There is an old saying Tiny. " To one who much is given, much is expected". As Nixon said, " People want to know that there President is not a crook" Originally Posted by themystic
Good point Mystic. And well stated. You expect full transparency from a president or presidential candidate, and you’re going to favor those who, unlike Trump and perhaps Sanders, fully disclose their tax returns. That’s a reasonable point of view. I’d argue that’s a preference that should be expressed at the voting booth, it shouldn’t be forced by Congress.

Trump does have good personal reasons for not disclosing his returns. Being under audit is not one of them. Having every wannabe forensic accountant poring over his very complicated tax returns is. You’re not going to find any major league businessman who would want his tax returns made public, including ones who have done their very best to comply with tax laws.
So why all of a sudden is tax returns no big deal after 40 years of doing it? Originally Posted by themystic
There are lots of bullshit precedents set in the last xx number of years.

Prior to Trump, precedent since the 1950's says a POTUS has previous experience as some sort of elected official. Is that a big deal?

You have to go even further back to find a POTUS before Trump that wasn't either a previous elected official of some sort or a military background. Is that now a big deal?

Trump was an outsider who broke innumerable precedents to get elected in the first place. Why tax returns as the major issue of contention?

It's laughable watching the left squirm to nail Trump.