Calif. governor blocks plan to force Trump to release tax returns

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY REID WILSON - 10/16/17 06:57 AM EDT

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) late Sunday vetoed legislation that would have required presidential candidates to make their tax returns public in order to qualify for the state ballot.

The bill passed the Democratic-dominated legislature after President Trump broke longstanding precedent by refusing to make public his tax returns during the 2016 campaign.

But Brown said the measure represented a possible slippery slope that could force candidates to release other private information, like health records, school records -- and even a birth certificate. "While I recognize the political attractiveness -- even the merits -- of getting President Trump's tax returns, I worry about the political perils of individual states seeking to regulate presidential elections in this manner," Brown wrote in a veto message. "Will these requirements vary depending on which political party is in power?"

"I hesitate to start down a road that well might lead to an ever escalating set of differing state requirements for presidential candidates," Brown said.




Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/355583-calif-governor-blocks-plan-to-force-trump-to-release-tax-returns

[samnsara]

1. i am disappointed in this... health records etc don't show...

...possible signs of indebtedness to the enemy.....

[7962]

4. Trumps tax returns won't show who he owes, it'll show he doesn't make what he SAYS he makes

thats more important to him because his base thinks he's SO successful.
Your returns will show gains, losses and expenses, but not who to whom those debts are owed.

[FakeNoose]

17. Yes good point

...but we still should have seen his tax returns before the election. The fact that he won't show them tells us that he's got something to hide. He's got PLENTY of somethings to hide.

Also: we never saw Trump's doctor's report either.

[7962]

22. When is his first official exam as president? Don't they always release those?

I hadn't thought about the medical exam.

[FakeNoose]

24. I don't know, but every opther President has made it public

Usually before the election, or else immediately after.
Cheeto is the only one who refused.

Makes you wonder what he's hiding?

[PJMcK]

2. Governor Brown makes some good points on this issue

However, he is making his veto decision based on his ethical standards. If a Republican were in his position, don't think for a minute that they would be as intellectually considerate.

[Lochloosa]

5. That's why we are Democrats. We have standards.

[question everything]

19. +1 (nt)

[still_one]

3. Brown is right. More important, it needs to be done at federal level

[FakeNoose]

18. Yes +1

But what if the federal government has no balls?

Just sayin'

[still_one]

23. You're right

[MrModerate]

6. I hate it when Jerry is so reasonable like that . . .

But his point is well taken.

I, too, said hell yeah! when the law was passed, but I've changed my mind.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

7. WTF?!?! Not buying the "slippery slope" argument. Requiring politicians to disclose tax returns...

is a tradition we THE VOTERS expect!!! Do it dammit!!

[left-of-center2012]

8. Why not release ...

"... health records, school records -- and even a birth certificate"

[GeorgeGist]

9. My tolerance is exhausted...

Dems need to get tough.

[lagomorph777]

13. Why are our "representatives" so damned polite?

This is f-ing war. The ruling party is sponsoring a Russian takeover, and all our side will do is say "Oh, dear, maybe that possibly gotes outside 'norms'."

The Reputin Party needs to be annihilated. Let their racist pig followers rebuild a racist pig party from scratch. If we lose the Republic, the racist pigs will lose too; they are just to blinded to see it.

[smirkymonkey]

16. I'm with you. I've had enough of this shit.

Doing the "right" think has gotten us nowhere.

[More_Cowbell]

10. Brown didn't release his own returns

When he ran for governor in 2010 and 2014.

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. Is it traditional for governors to release their returns?

Did Arnold release his?

[gopiscrap]

11. Fuck Brown all those records should be released if you want to run for president

[Gothmog]

12. I am disappointed in this veto

[YOHABLO]

14. This is some BS. We should hold all candidates accountable.

[Wernothelpless]

15. Protect the rich ...

Last edited Mon Oct 16, 2017, 02:11 PM - Edit history (1)

No matter who looses the rich get protected, Wall Street soars, and bankers don't get prosecuted ... all very well thought out and reasoned ...

[stuffmatters]

20. I hope the Ca Legislature overturns Brown's veto

Voters have an absolute right to know the financial interests and obligations of any candidate asking to represent their interests.. Especially in this current ascending oligarchy created by Citizens United.

I liked John Oliver & Colbert's takes on the (most often knee jerked by Republicans) "slippery slope" argument a few weeks ago. Something to the effect that no, one law does not open any floodgates.
Slippery slope arguments tend to be legal dramatics ("where WILL it stop?!!!) vs reality based. IT stops withthe requirement that each law needs legislative passage and then also judicial validation if it is constitutionally challenged.