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President Donald Trump gives two thumbs up at CPAC, 2017. The president's state tax returns could be released soon due to a New York law that's making its way through the legislature. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
New York State Senate Passes Bill to Make Trump's Tax Returns Available to Congress
"We must ensure that Congress can't be blocked in their attempts to hold even the highest elected officials in the land accountable to the American people."
May 08, 2019
Dreams of obtaining President Donald Trump's tax returns may be a bit closer for House Democrats--the New York state Senate passed a bill Wednesday clearing the way for their release by the state's Department of Taxation and Finance.
The TRUST Act passed the state senate by a 39 to 21 vote and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has said he will sign it. The bill goes to the state Assembly for discussion and a vote Monday.
In a statement, advocacy group Stand Up America said it hoped that the assembly passes the bill quickly.
"Now that it has passed the Senate, it's time for the Assembly to immediately act and make this bill law," the group said. "We urge Assembly members to send this bill to Governor Cuomo's desk and ensure that Donald Trump's numerous conflicts of interest come to light."
Per NBC, the legislation would allow the state to release Trump's--or anyone's--state tax returns to federal investigators if there's a legitimate reason.
The bill would amend state law to permit the state Department of Taxation and Finance commissioner to release any state tax return requested by the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee or the Joint Committee on Taxation for any "specific and legitimate legislative purpose." Existing laws generally prohibit such a release.
The law also states that in order to obtain the records, investigators must exhaust efforts with the Treasury Department. It's a clear rebuke of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who said May 6 he is refusing to turn over the president's tax returns to Congress.
"Our system of checks and balances is failing," said state Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat who was the lead sponsor of the bill.
New York, as the president's home state, "has a special role and responsibility to step into the breach," added Hoylman.
The legislation comes on the heels of a report from The New York Times that found the president lost over $1 billion from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s in a decade's worth of tax documents obtained by the paper.
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday were also faced with an assertion of executive privilege from the White House over the release of the Mueller report, a move that was decried by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) as an "unprecedented" attack on the separation of powers.
Hoylman referred to that conflict in his statement, tying the state bill to the federal fight.
"I look forward to seeing the bill pass both houses, and reach the Governor's desk for a signature," said Hoylman. "We must ensure that Congress can't be blocked in their attempts to hold even the highest elected officials in the land accountable to the American people."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Dreams of obtaining President Donald Trump's tax returns may be a bit closer for House Democrats--the New York state Senate passed a bill Wednesday clearing the way for their release by the state's Department of Taxation and Finance.
The TRUST Act passed the state senate by a 39 to 21 vote and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has said he will sign it. The bill goes to the state Assembly for discussion and a vote Monday.
In a statement, advocacy group Stand Up America said it hoped that the assembly passes the bill quickly.
"Now that it has passed the Senate, it's time for the Assembly to immediately act and make this bill law," the group said. "We urge Assembly members to send this bill to Governor Cuomo's desk and ensure that Donald Trump's numerous conflicts of interest come to light."
Per NBC, the legislation would allow the state to release Trump's--or anyone's--state tax returns to federal investigators if there's a legitimate reason.
The bill would amend state law to permit the state Department of Taxation and Finance commissioner to release any state tax return requested by the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee or the Joint Committee on Taxation for any "specific and legitimate legislative purpose." Existing laws generally prohibit such a release.
The law also states that in order to obtain the records, investigators must exhaust efforts with the Treasury Department. It's a clear rebuke of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who said May 6 he is refusing to turn over the president's tax returns to Congress.
"Our system of checks and balances is failing," said state Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat who was the lead sponsor of the bill.
New York, as the president's home state, "has a special role and responsibility to step into the breach," added Hoylman.
The legislation comes on the heels of a report from The New York Times that found the president lost over $1 billion from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s in a decade's worth of tax documents obtained by the paper.
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday were also faced with an assertion of executive privilege from the White House over the release of the Mueller report, a move that was decried by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) as an "unprecedented" attack on the separation of powers.
Hoylman referred to that conflict in his statement, tying the state bill to the federal fight.
"I look forward to seeing the bill pass both houses, and reach the Governor's desk for a signature," said Hoylman. "We must ensure that Congress can't be blocked in their attempts to hold even the highest elected officials in the land accountable to the American people."
Dreams of obtaining President Donald Trump's tax returns may be a bit closer for House Democrats--the New York state Senate passed a bill Wednesday clearing the way for their release by the state's Department of Taxation and Finance.
The TRUST Act passed the state senate by a 39 to 21 vote and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has said he will sign it. The bill goes to the state Assembly for discussion and a vote Monday.
In a statement, advocacy group Stand Up America said it hoped that the assembly passes the bill quickly.
"Now that it has passed the Senate, it's time for the Assembly to immediately act and make this bill law," the group said. "We urge Assembly members to send this bill to Governor Cuomo's desk and ensure that Donald Trump's numerous conflicts of interest come to light."
Per NBC, the legislation would allow the state to release Trump's--or anyone's--state tax returns to federal investigators if there's a legitimate reason.
The bill would amend state law to permit the state Department of Taxation and Finance commissioner to release any state tax return requested by the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee or the Joint Committee on Taxation for any "specific and legitimate legislative purpose." Existing laws generally prohibit such a release.
The law also states that in order to obtain the records, investigators must exhaust efforts with the Treasury Department. It's a clear rebuke of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who said May 6 he is refusing to turn over the president's tax returns to Congress.
"Our system of checks and balances is failing," said state Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat who was the lead sponsor of the bill.
New York, as the president's home state, "has a special role and responsibility to step into the breach," added Hoylman.
The legislation comes on the heels of a report from The New York Times that found the president lost over $1 billion from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s in a decade's worth of tax documents obtained by the paper.
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday were also faced with an assertion of executive privilege from the White House over the release of the Mueller report, a move that was decried by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) as an "unprecedented" attack on the separation of powers.
Hoylman referred to that conflict in his statement, tying the state bill to the federal fight.
"I look forward to seeing the bill pass both houses, and reach the Governor's desk for a signature," said Hoylman. "We must ensure that Congress can't be blocked in their attempts to hold even the highest elected officials in the land accountable to the American people."
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