Show your tax returns, or don’t become president.
That’s what a Senate Democrat is saying — not so subtly — to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill Wednesday that would require presidential candidates to make their tax information public, or give up their bid for our nation’s highest office.
“Tax returns give honest answers,” Wyden said. “They show if you game the system.”
Presidential candidates have a long held practice of making their financial information public during their campaigns.
Wyden’s legislation would require a candidate to make a minimum of three years’ worth of tax returns public within 15 days of becoming their party’s nominee at the convention. The Republican convention takes place July 18-21 in Cleveland, and the Democratic convention will be held is the following week, July 25-28, in Philadelphia.
Presumptive Republican nominee Trump has refused to release his financial information, saying he wouldn’t do it until after the general election in November. He has said the tax returns are “none of your business.” Campaign filings released last week show Trump has income in excess of $557 million.
Clinton, who previously served in the Senate and as secretary of state, has released decades worth of her joint tax returns with her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Due to the political makeup of the Senate, controlled by Republicans, Wyden’s bill is unlikely to become law.
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