While Democrats have never given up on getting Trump’s taxes, because THIS WILL BE THE WAY THEY FINALLY GET TRUMP yeaaarg!, with the collapse of the notion that Trump will be frogmarched out of the White House post-Mueller report getting his taxes has become an even bigger fixation among Democrats. Who are soon going to abut the notion of equal justice under the law and courts taking a very dim view of laws and abuse of power that targets one person, no matter who they are
To Get Trump’s Tax Returns, N.Y. Democrats Try a New Strategy
In an attempt to work around the White House, Democratic lawmakers in Albany are trying to do what their federal counterparts have so far failed to accomplish: to obtain President Trump’s tax returns.
Albany lawmakers are seeking state tax returns, not the federal ones at the heart of the current standoff in Washington. But a tax return from New York — the president’s home state, and the headquarters of his business empire — could likely contain much of the same financial information as a federal return.
Under a bill that is scheduled to be introduced this week, the commissioner of the New York Department of Taxation and Finance would be permitted to release any state tax return requested by leaders of three congressional committees for any “specific and legitimate legislative purpose.â€
The bill is the most recent proposal from New York lawmakers trying to cast light on the president’s personal finances and business dealings, but it could also open the Democratic majorities in the Legislature to charges of politicizing state law to embarrass the president ahead of his expected re-election campaign.
It wouldn’t open them to charges, this is exactly what they’ve been doing. What they should remember is that this extremely vague law, which will be challenged in court when it is used for a fishing expedition and leaks happen, can be used against Democrats. What if a Republican demands the taxes of Hillary Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, and others?
State Senator Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat who is sponsoring the legislation, defended the bill, saying it is designed to be “a safety valve for any attempt by the White House to block the Congress from doing this at the federal level.â€
“We’re creating a parallel track,†Senator Hoylman added.
So, this is 100% political, and will simply end up costing the state a lot of money when they are sued. Wait till a Republican demands to see the tax returns of NY Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Under the bill to be introduced on Monday, the chairperson of three committees — the Senate Finance Committee; the House Ways and Means Committee; and the Joint Committee on Taxation — could request tax returns from the New York tax department.
Ah, so only this one person can request, who just happens to be a Democrat right now. Again, this will be seen by the courts as using the tax system to penalize one specific person for politics, and courts do not like laws like this. And, really, will just give Trump more ammunition to slam Democrats as unhinged and power-mad, among others.
