Two Republicans sign onto effort demanding Trumps tax returns

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/322169-two-republicans-sign-onto-effort-demanding-trumps-tax-returns

Two Republicans sign onto effort demanding Trump’s tax returns
By Cristina Marcos - 03/03/17 10:56 AM EST


Two House Republicans on Friday endorsed a Democratic effort calling on the House and Senate committees with oversight of the Internal Revenue Service to request copies of President Trump’s tax returns.

GOP Reps. Mark Sanford (S.C.) and Walter Jones (N.C.) signed a letter urging the chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee to request the Treasury Department provide Trump’s tax returns from the last decade.

The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) and signed by most of the 193-member House Democratic Caucus. It argues that letting members of Congress see what’s in Trump’s tax returns would clear up any questions of whether his business ties offer conflicts of interest.

Trump broke with four decades of precedent by refusing to release his tax returns after becoming the GOP presidential nominee. He cited an ongoing IRS audit, although the agency has said people can still release their tax information nonetheless.

“Disclosure would serve the public interest of clarifying President Trump's conflicts of interest in office, the potential for him to personally benefit from tax reform, and ensure that he is not receiving any preferential treatment from the IRS,” the letter states.

“We believe the powerful and respected Committees on Finance and Ways and Means have the responsibility to ensure oversight of the executive branch by requesting a review of President Trump's tax returns and moving toward a formal release of these documents to the public.”

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/322169-two-republicans-sign-onto-effort-demanding-trumps-tax-returns

[FakeNoose]

1. OK this is a great start

Very encouraging!

[Kittycow]

2. I'm pleasantly surprised

Maybe seeing Sessions have an ethical moment (superficially ), will give others a little courage.

[Bayard]

3. Doubtful

I'm doubtful the tax returns would show us much at this point. The man is a congenital liar. I'm sure he has money squirreled away that never made it to his accountant's desk.

[ProudLib72]

4. Whether or not this gains traction

depends on how many repukes are involved in the Russia conspiracy.

[eleny]

5. Maybe these two feel vulnerable

We should go after their House seats.

[Raine1967]

6. Mark Sanford really has no eff's to give. Politico had a GREAT article about him and how he

feels about Trump. It was a really a great read. I gained a lot of respect for him after reading it:

‘I’m a Dead Man Walking’
Mark Sanford has nothing left to lose. And he’s here to haunt Donald Trump.

His digs at Trump cover the spectrum. The president, Sanford says, “has fanned the flames of intolerance.” He has repeatedly misled the public, most recently about the national murder rate and the media’s coverage of terrorist attacks. He showed a lack of humility by using the National Prayer Breakfast to ridicule Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ratings on “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Most worrisome, Sanford says, Trump is unprepared for the presidency.

“Is he an honest man?” I ask.

"If you’ve already been dead, you don’t fear it as much. I’ve been dead politically.”

For the first time, Sanford begins to measure his words. “I’ve got to be careful,” he says. “Because people who live in glass houses can’t throw stones.”

[babylonsister]

8. Exactly. And Walter Jones is one of those guys

who might have a shred of integrity. I've seen it through the years.

[FakeNoose]

9. Thanks for the link

I hadn't seen this article on Mark Sanford, but I clicked on the link and read it.
Seems like he's a conservative with a conscience, a rare combination.

Maybe he should switch parties if he hates Trump that much.
It would set an example for other conscientious conservatives who hate Trump.

If I were a long-time Republican, I would hate what's happened to the GOP in the last 10 years.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Perhaps all that blue is flowing south...

NC had a bit of an uptick in Democracy in '16.

SC was rumored to be softening a bit.