I think the IRS or relevant authority should be authorized to release the tax returns for anyone

[malaise]

who offers her or himself for public office. This should be done at all levels - Federal to local and even school boards.

[Angry Dragon]

1. I don'r have a problem with this

[malaise]

3. If tax returns have not be made public by candidate before the first

primary, or some specified date, either the IRS/whoever release it or the candidate withdraws from the contest.

[Else You Are Mad]

2. If I remember correctly...

Tax payment information at first was public knowledge for both private and public figures. But I agree we should be able to know the potential conflicts of our public officials.

[yallerdawg]

4. We could make this a new regulation.

We already have at least two "royal decrees" we could trade for this one - including the regulation to swap two for one!

[Angry Dragon]

5. ..................

[malaise]

7. Most excellent

[Xipe Totec]

6. That's a great Idea!

I think every state can pass a law that, when a candidate files to run for a government position, either state-wide or federal, they agree as part of the application to release their federal tax returns.

That way, it requires the candidate, if they want to run on that state's ballot, to release their income tax returns.

Let's see if Trump can win without California, Washington, New York, and Massachusetts.

(eta)

Primary ballots also. But that's up to the parties, right?

[mythology]

8. He won the Electoral College without those states

[Xipe Totec]

10. Yea, I know. But let him try to run for reelection without filing in those states.

So that we don't have to spend anything in them to win.

Also, I'm sure, there are other states he would have to file in, which he did not win.

Let all those states make it a requirement to submit tax returns, so that the entire battle would be fought on red states.

[malaise]

9. Well then - if they fail to submit they are required to withdraw

Forty years of a practice is precedent/convention. Groper Don the Con departed from every aspect of noblesse oblige - indeed I suspect he would also be clueless about the notion of ethics or decency.

Maybe a law at all levels could work.