Sure, sure, this is for all who are running for president (wink wink). It has nothing personally to do with Donald Trump (wink wink)
California Passes Measure Requiring Presidential Candidates To Release Tax Returns
The California Legislature has overwhelmingly passed a measure requiring all presidential and gubernatorial candidates to release their tax returns to get on the primary ballot, which could shake things up for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
The Presidential Tax Transparency & Accountability Act, SB 27, would require that the candidates release the previous five years of their returns. The bill passed 57-17 in the Assembly on Tuesday and 29-10 in the state Senate Thursday. It now awaits the signature of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to become law.
The measure includes an urgency clause, which would allow the legislation to take effect immediately, in time for the 2020 election, reports ABC-7 News. The measure only applies to the primary ballot because the state constitution allows political parties to nominate their own presidential candidates in the general election.
Wait, wait, we were told this was supposed to be a Big Deal. But, if it only counts for primary season, not the general election, this is meaningless, even if someone decides to run against Trump, because Trump will still be the GOP contender. It’s a little detail that most of the Useful Democratic Idiots will miss, thinking that this will block Trump from being on the 2020 ballot when it does no such thing. It’s a feel good measure.
Eighteen other states have legislation similar to California’s, but none has become law, according to a database tracked by the National Conference of State Legislatures. California, the most populous state, has more than 24 million eligible voters.
“Presidential candidates need to put their own interests aside in the name of transparency,†bill author, state Sen. Mike McGuire (D), said in a statement. “So far, our current president has done the opposite. It’s time that President Trump steps up, stops with the obstruction, and follows through with 40 years of time-honored tradition that has made this nation’s democracy stronger.â€
McGuire is confident the law would withstand a legal challenge, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Here’s a question: why even challenge this in court, when it means nothing to Trump? Perhaps for future candidates who need to be on the primary ballot, but not Trump. It is very dubiously Constitutional, since, even though this would be a state level vote, the Federal Constitution lays out the qualifications to be President, and it doesn’t specify the difference between a primary or general election.
But, Democrats just can’t help themselves, and, at this point, Trump is surely refusing to show his taxes just to drive Democrats nuttier.
