Since the bad old Reagan days, the GOP has been trumpeting the states’ rights mantra as a not so covert code for racist policies and I rejoice as a New Yorker that the Dems can use the same mantra for a moral purpose. The NY legislature has every right to start the process of releasing Trump’s state tax returns. Trump does protest too much but even if there is no smoking gun discovered, it sends the message that the POTUS can not refuse a request to release his tax returns, and this should me made into law after 45 vacates the White House.
What does it say about a man whose home state despises him? Maybe Trump and family will relocate to a bright red state, a non-sanctuary state, where they will welcome him with open arms and it is within their state rights to do so. As they say, good riddance to bad rubbish. I dream of the day this nightmare is over. In the meantime, the NY legislature seems to have more power than Congress.
3
I'm at a loss to understand why the House Ways and Means committee is balking at using this law:
“Our request to the Internal Revenue Service was in furtherance of an investigation into the mandatory presidential audit program at the I.R.S....State returns would not help us evaluate this program.”
What? No, Rep. Neal, this is not about investigating some program at the IRS. This is about corruption, abuse of power, and the destruction of our democracy. This is about shining light on the Trump cockroaches.
Republicans drunk on power ignored the Constitution regarding Obama's Supreme Court nomination --- and the Democrats cowered. Republicans impeached Bill Clinton for a consensual sex act with an adult --- and the Democrats cowered. Today, Pelosi tiptoes around the very idea of even considering impeachment of a man who has committed at least a dozen impeachable offenses.
And now, New York State offers easy insight into this vile administration, and the Ways and Means committee indicates it will take a pass.
Republican perfidy will destroy this nation, in part because the only people who can stop it gaze at their fingernails and waffle when the time comes to stand up and stop it. Democrats need to find replace the jelly in their spines with stronger stuff and ACT under the law to stop this assault on our democracy. It will certainly not stop itself, and anyone who thinks it will is deluded.
1
For someone who owns property in various states in this country, including NJ, this is the biggest crock.
There are no loopholes in this case. Only the income generated from a business in NY State is reported on the IRS State tax forms. All of his property taxes in the various jurisdictions around the State of NY is already public information.
If he doesn't have lawyers at his disposal for hiding his NY State IRS tax information from the public, any NJ commuter would probably help him with his request.
'“There are no valid constitutional arguments against this legislation,” Mr. Buchwald said on Wednesday.'
In future reporting, the Times should clearly identify *which* constitution is being cited -- United States or New York.
For reference, the New York State Constitution is online here:
https://www.dos.ny.gov/info/constitution.htm
Note that Article I is the "Bill of Rights".
1
I would imagine that legislation which is promulgated to affect and harass primarily one man and his wife, especially retroactively, is highly illegal and will be tossed out in the courts.
1
The absurdity of the sponsors of this bill trying to pretend it is not solely aimed at one individual The President is absurd.
Also what possible reason is there to have candidates share their tax returns with voters.Other than allowing people like Harry Reid to lie in congress as to Romneys taxes and when asked if he was ashamed responded that his approach worked for Obama in the 2012 election.A plague on all their houses.
Funny that Trump's lawyers are calling this a bill of attainder designed only for him at the same time saying he is the only person in the country who can't be indicted for a crime.
The walls are closing in, slowly but inexorably. Watch Trump become more and more frantic, incoherent, and vindictive.
Which is a problem. He's the President of the United States.
The American people may be very grateful for checks and balances soon. However, Congress: take hold of the situation with Iran please before some stupid incident sows the whirlwind like the way World War I got touched off.
1
They should turn those state tax records over to the NY AG, so they can see why he previously qualified for, and received, the STAR property tax relief program, a program which has an annual family income cap of $500,000.
4
'Republicans have called the effort in Albany a “bill of attainder” — an unconstitutional piece of legislation aimed at a single person or group ...'
There appears to be a more fundamental problem with the bill. Under the New York Constitution:
"§ 11. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. ..."
Singling out certain persons for selective disclosure of their tax returns would be denying them "equal protection of the laws".
See you in Court, Governor ... :-)
2
@FMG
retired federal attorney F/70
your credentials FMG? law school and state licensed and state and federal court to which you are admitted?
Mine: IL license 1978-2013 after graduating law school Chicago. Worked both state and federal level legislation and appellate-level cases under "equal protection" interpretation in federal courts.
4
n.c.fl: "Mine: IL license 1978-2013 after graduating law school Chicago. ..."
OK, then you should be able to rebut my constitutional argument instead of trying to intimidate me with your credentials. NY case law might be a good place for you to start.
The Democrats appear to be running scared since they have Uncle Joe locked in. Time to put up or shut up! More than two years of unhinged impeachment rhetoric has gotten on my last good nerve. I could just about accidentally vote GOP.
3
The key was Democrats finally taking control of the NY State Senate in 2018. The Republican majority in the NYS Senate had been blocking so much great legislation for decades. Just look at all the wonderful legislation that is now being passed and signed into law by our wonderful governor: Gov. Andrew Cuomo. His father, Gov. Mario Cuomo was also a wonderful governor for NY State! Thank you to the Cuomo family!
8
retired federal attorney F/70
Always all ways follow the money!
Speaker Pelosi and I are in no rush to impeach. We know what is coming from New York State, including its quiet capable Attorney General, for the malignant narcissist in The White House and his family/thugs.
Anticipating law questions: 1) There is no viable lawsuit to be filed to block or delay delivering to authorized Congressional committees what the State has in its records on the man and the clan. 2) DJT knows this -- so he's intent on starting a war in the Middle East to try to get all rallied behind him and change the subject.
Commander-in-Chief in name only now; our top military leaders will know when to say "No." Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice/UCMJ, all military personnel are taught that they can be prosecuted for acting on an "unlawful" order.
The end game is in sight for this man and his evil/Stephen Miller or idiot/ole Ben HUD allies.
7
I'm no lawyer, but wouldn't this be a case of an ex post facto law? Politicians often make their returns available but I'm not aware of any legal requirement to do so. The current efforts by Dems have the trappings of a lynch mob. If there's to be an investigation that's fine. Investigate everything and everyone. There are reports of Hillary's campaign colluding with the Ukrainians. I, for one, would like to know the whole story.
2
@Mike
retired federal attorney F/70
Nope! Law license retired 2013 so covered both 20th and 21st C.
2
"... wouldn't this be a case of an ex post facto law?"
"ex post facto" refers to acts that were not crimes in the past that are made crimes in the present.
Tax returns are basically government records, so the government can release them when allowed by law.
A good example at the Federal level is when classified documents are declassified and then released. A second example is when someone requests government documents under the Freedom of Information Act. A third example is when documents are accessed with a search warrant.
Anyway, if this goes to court, lawyers will be looking for all the ways that New York is acting illegally.
retired federal attorney F/70
Speaker Pelosi and I know that NY State's very capable Attorney General and Governor are days away from delivering the end-game for The Donald. Once we see what the State delivers to House Committee chairs authorized to see both the man and the clan's tax returns/finances, a path forward will become clear.
Now, we all have to remind ourselves that the man in The White House is spiraling 24/7. That is why he wants to start a war with Iran. Anything to change the subject.
Commander-in-Chief in name only now. Uniform Code of Military Justice/UCMJ is taught to all soldiers and officers. Top military leaders know that they can be prosecuted for obeying an "unlawful" order. Send soldiers and ships to placate the man? Sure. Say "NO" to an unprovoked attack order? Absolutely.
5
Taxes are the price you pay when you love your country. Not paying your share by dubious use of the code or by outright fraud is theft from each and every citizen. New York has the right and the duty to aid and assist the House in it's inquiry. Fully 73% of the american public want the returns released. For New York to do otherwise not only thwarts the will of it's denizens but majority of all U.S. voters. Transparency is essential to good governance.
5
Yes, it is targeted to a select few people - only those public officials who don't voluntarily submit their returns as required for financial transparency to the public.
The reason it only applies to a few is that almost all candidates realize the need for public trust in their financial affairs, and are proud to prove it.
7
A state law which would release tax returns for any president to Congress on request is Not a bill of attainder.
(Those are forbidden in the constitution).
No individual is being found guilty with or without a trial. This is a new procedure for the state of NY, nothing more.
7
What will the ever-devious Mitch McConnell attempt now hiding in his secret underground lair where he plots the destruction of every last dastardly Democrat ?
7
Chickens are coming home to roast, not roost. It's the beginning of the end for this heavy-handed dictator.
Joseph in Missoula
9
Impeach either trump or pelosi
2
Some people keep making a stupid claim that the investigations are phony. If so they don't exist right?
Guess what. They are real.
How could Trump or his crazies claim foul and cover up for him. If he is so clean what is he hiding?
The very fact of his obstruction is pretty clear evidence that something very illegal and sinister lurks in his finances.
No one fights so hard to hide good news from the public!!!
https://joethevoter.org
6
You can run Donald but you cannot hide. The truth always catches up with you.
5
Want to see my tax returns? In Norway everyone can.
https://qz.com/784186/in-norway-you-can-browse-everyones-tax-returns-but-theres-a-good-reason-you-might-not-want-to/
2
What should come of this is that ANY candidate running for high office WILL BY LAW show his/her tax returns. Enough already of Trump's obfuscation. He is a complete criminal and the Republicans know it. And no Democratic candidate has ever not shown their tax returns so AB from MN your statement makes no sense. Just imagine if the shoe....
3
@Alexandra
retired federal attorney F/70
A 1924 law states clearly that authorized committees in Congress shall have access to every President's tax returns. Shall in first week of law school classes means will or must -- no discretion or ducking or blocking like AG Barr and The Donald are attempting.
BOTH of the federal court judges ruling against the President this week and for the House Committees, one in six days, provided a very readable history of how and why this law was passed.
IF you can survive in NYC, you can find and read a 41-page judge's decision!
5
You've got to hand it to Trump - he hires only the best predatory lenders, lobbyists, and assorted sordid - as well as clueless - toadies.
4
"New York Passes Bill Giving Congress a Way to Get Trump’s State Tax Returns."
I [heart] New York.
7
Unfortunately, even with Trump gone (hopefully in 2020) and even in disgrace, our Democracy will be left infected with a certain ailment. He shows the way to an ambitious and more smart crook to repeat his stunt.
2
Go Get Him New York!
4
Al Capone and Donald Trump, tax evasion. What company.
6
It's time for us to see what Little Donny has been fighting so hard to hide.
Hmmm... I wonder what he's afraid of??
3
If New York didn't have serious issues to deal with maybe this would be a good decision by the legislature. However, the flight of the wealthy, the plight of the homeless, the boatloads of undocumented all need the attention of the New York Legislature but what are they doing to solve those problems? Nothing at all. Just patting themselves on the back with this latest effort to smear the president. Your rich folks will continue to flee, your tax base will continue to be decimated. Amazon is NOT putting their headquarters there. So cheer all you want, its not like there is a smoking gun in the tax returns that will cause this President to leave office. Your own state's fortune's. Down the toilet with a crowd cheering the entire time.
1
Finally, accountability. Crikey!
3
Kinda of like Texas and Chick-Fil-a?
"Republicans have called the effort in Albany a “bill of attainder” — an unconstitutional piece of legislation aimed at a single person or group "
“It’s time for Democrats in Albany to stop seeking cheap headlines,” Mr. Flanagan said.
So, exactly like what your joke of a president does DAILY?
5
"The Legislature’s actions put the state in a bit of unchartered legal territory;" — I believe the author meant "uncharted." Otherwise, great coverage of what must be uncovered.
There are so many reasons Trump's own state HATES him...(!)
3
I know I'm barking to a bunch of haters but do we really want to open this door for all time? ANY future politician etc will be vulnerable to this sort of attack! All this WILL come back to bite you!
2
@Just Me
Like @Alexandra said, "What should come of this is that ANY candidate running for high office WILL BY LAW show his/her tax returns. "
Write you State Leaders and demand they pass a law doing so. Enough of this nonsense, let's get on to important issues like immigration and medicare for all.
@Just Me
retired federal attorney F/70
TheDonald sues to block a bank and his tax preparers from releasing his taxes. Two federal court judges this week point to a 1924 law requiring a President to give all of his tax returns to authorized Committees in Congress. TheDonald is the first to not comply.
Appeals may go to SCOTUS and the vote will be 9-0.
Before any SCOTUS, however, NY State will provide all of this information to those House Committees who are investigating, including the bank's information and the tax preparer's records.
Endgame comes pretty soon so no reason to impeach unless he continues to be TheDumbDonald and not accept his walking papers.
Oh, wait! Putin won't let him emigrate to Russia so he has no place to go. I'm guessing Putin will accept Jared and Ivanka, though; arm-candy during his half-naked Black Sea sorties.
2
Al Capone and Donald Trump, two common tax evaders.
2
New York, one of the most corrupt states politically next to New Jersey, Robert Menedez got re-elected.
And you want to know why half the country doesn’t bother to vote .
1
how much more time and money will these idiotic democrats waste? Tax returns? are you serious? who cares!....thats what audits are for, thats what the IRS is for. I dont think these clowns realize a tax return will not tell you a persons net worth =(. It will also only show what TRUMP HIMSELF DECIDED TO DISCLOSE!....again, thats where the AUDIT comes in...an audit that would have already been started under Obama. Of course none of this matters for a TDS inflicted liberal.....i mean we wasted millions on air time covering Stormy Daniels for crying out loud. This is the extent of their intellect. Unfortunately for the rest of us, if the returns do ever come out we will be treated to every left leaning dingbat trying to make sense of a tax return they have no clue how to interpret. There will be all kinds of subsequent grandstanding and meltdown. Democrats should stick to their cultural studies and socialism classes - those subjects are more their cup of tea and allow them to continue to pat each other on the back about how "smart" they are without wasting everyone elses time...how pathetic and petty the left has become. My independent vote for one is going to ANYBODY but them, TDS has infected every last one.
2
This is not a battle that would be necessary if we had POTUS with one ounce of respect for America, the Constitution, and our democracy. Anyone who calls this a partisan act of harassment needs to get on the right side of the matter. The Russians hacked our election to beat Hilary. DT threw our intelligence agencies and well, our entire country under the bus, to state on the world stage that he believed Russia in the election mess. He had secret conversations with Putin, and whoever was in charge, let him. Give us a break!
Just get out all the old footage of DT Jr bragging about their Russian Money. It's out there for all to see. That is not fake news.
Get real people, if Russia was your sugar daddy you would do all you could to protect him too. Plain and simple.
60
As the noose around Trumps neck gets tighter, his actions will only escalate. He is in a spiral downward, painting his way into a corner as more light will show just how narcistic this swamp creature is. My guess is there are years of wrongdoing through out all his taxes from day one. May the words lock him up ring in his ears. He has almost no one around him who is loyal enough to go down with him so when the right time comes history will not be nice to Trump and everyone will stay far away from this toxic swamp creature!Especially the other swamp creatures who wade along side him!
41
@jack Who will eat the sins of the sin eater? NO ONE. Trump will pay.
2
@jack - Here's what I want to see... let's have an independent auditor sit down with Donald's tax returns and compare them with his loan applications. My understanding - unless the documents agree, there is a felony that needs to be charged.
9
The urgent need, among many, is to get what most people now believe to be a money laundering criminal working hand-in-hand with the Russian mob, out of our White House! He's destroying the country on a daily basis so of course he must be removed from office ASAP!
He is also violating the US Constitution's Emoluments Clause - and his tax returns would be evidence for that conviction (impeachment and removal from office) as well.
He should be behind bars! If there's any justice in America that's exactly where he will end up.
This action by the US House of Representatives is way, way overdue and it is completely and totally urgent!
37
@NY Times Fan I agree that we can't simply wait for the next election to get him out; I'm not looking forward to having a President Pence, but at this point I think it's the only thing we can do.
1
I'm curious though...if NY had his tax returns, did they not find anything illegal in them? Why do they have to wait for Congress to find anything wrong? Surely there is evidence that the state can use to prosecute?
2
Donald, if you have nothing to hide, quit hiding. If you are (at last) telling the truth, let us see the evidence. The best way to earn America's trust is to let America see the proof. Until you "man-up," we are left with the impression that you're a crude liar, insufferable bully, and an embarrassment to this once-great country.
51
we should all boycott the state of NY . lets install a wall to keep these people out of the USA .
acts such as these are unconstitutional and should be dealt with . violations of there oath of office should result in imprisonment for congress .
1
@Brian Tell you what... I'll do you one better. Let the blue states form one country, the red states another..............
See how that will play out for you conservatives, after all the $$$ get made in the blue states.
Good luck.........
2
This is perverted, and liberals would be even more disgusted than rightwingers were it not for their gratuitous hatred of the man. Checks and Balances doesn't mean harassing public servants with endless fishing expeditions. The band-aid to exempt people besides "elected officials" is little comfort. The IRS is auditing him anyway. If there's impropriety, they'll find it. Let them do their job. Democrats are just setting precedent: witch-hunts over negotiation. Hopefully, Trump sues, and it ends up in the SCOTUS where it's struck down.
1
Way to go.
Lets see Trumps tax dodging and other possible criminalities.
1
@PropagandandTreason Spoiler. He as been audited numerous times, and Mueller reviewed his taxes....so there is nothing criminal.
1
This is very probably what will catch up Trump in the end. He has no power to block NY State from following its own laws.
1
How is Trump ever going to survive in NY? He has burned his bridge. I live in FL and we need to burn his bridge too. He offers nothing to the State. Just a taker.
11
I'm kind of enjoying the "thousand cuts" way this examination of Trump is starting to look like. It could go on for some time.
10
@Jim Yes. It will go on for sometime, because the Democrats antics will all but guarantee his reelection.
1
So this means any NYS resident can be freighted of a a political patrician group of Political hacks, to release private information. This law if based will be challenged and I believe the only purpose is to force the Trump Family to spend money on lawyers. These returns belong to him the same way none belong to me. How dare they?
1
@JGNY He is a public servant. He isn’t entitled to the same level of privacy as someone who chooses to not to represent the public.
It seems to me we need to implement a law that requires five years of tax returns to be released automatically if you make it onto a ballot for a major government position. Federal judges, senators, governors, possibly house reps. Let’s get some sunlight.
10
I don't really understand the GOP argument that there is a constitutional right to privacy in one's tax returns.
I mean, really, if we're going to concede a right to privacy, wouldn't we think first about whether it applies to, you know, bedrooms, relationships, and the like?
10
@CastleMan actually there was a fellow some years ago who claimed that tax returns are a violation of 5th given right to not self incriminate. It is like attorney-client privilege - which applies unless the attorney or client disclose the info — tRump claims to be a many-billionaire - i want proof.
4
@CastleMan
Under normal circumstances, privacy needs to be protected.
In Trump's case, national interests outweigh his tax privacy, and the nation has the right to know whether his business dealings had been legal. If he doesn't like this scrutiny, he can leave office.
4
New York State lawmakers have written history in the endeavour to defend the constitutional mechanism of Checks-and-Balances.
A good day for the American people who demand transparency and accountability. Nobody is above the law.
10
@J. von Hettlingen I don't care how much money he had but that he got a $10 million tax refund by cheating really annoys me since the IRS is on me for $60. Wow.
2
His Federal taxes are under audit. Isn't it strange that the State would not also be pursuing an audit of his State returns given they are based on his Federal returns. Maybe I missed it but I do not recall the Director of the Internal revenue Service ever indicating that the President's reurns were under audit and if they were, what years.
6
@Paul states usually wait for IRS audit completion before initiating their audit actions.
This development makes me proud to be a resident of the State of New York. Great job, state legislators.
19
@Paul Morrow
In the absence of any specific accusation of wrongdoing, it seems improper to require a private citizen to release tax returns. Whereas I find Trump an utterly terrible president, I find it offensive to general privacy that he or any private citizen, even when running for public office, should be required to release tax returns to the public. It is reasonable that his returns during his time in office be public, but any income tax returns before he was sworn in to office are his private business.
2
You say private citizen implying there are also public citizens. Who are those people if even the president is "private"?
3
It has been a tradition, not a requirement, that presidential and vice presidential candidates release tax returns. Trump chose not to. People knew that when they voted for him. “We” need to see them so “we” can pick them apart and find some new reason to chase him around in circles with some other investigation? Maybe “we” can find a juicy tidbit to fry him? There is no probable cause alleged, just a “let us have them and we’ll find something else to investigate.” Presumably the IRS is doing its job and will prosecute tax fraud and the like. In the mean time, nothing gets done. This is an unnecessary distraction to take down a president that many don’t like.
2
@Marsha it's not a matter of not "liking": him. It involves our protest that no one is above the law. He seems to be violating that rule all across the board. Maybe you can donate to his campaign to make him feel better. He does not need a legal defense fund as he is mooching off the lawyers in the DOJ as we see in the Emoluments Case. Legal? I doubt it as that is about his personal business, the DC Trump Hotel .
3
@Marsha
"Presumably the IRS is doing its job and will prosecute tax fraud and the like."
That word "presumably" is why Congress has the right to request tax returns as part of its oversight authority. Otherwise, how would we know if Trump and his appointees haven't interfered to short-circuit the audit process or even to force a predetermined outcome.
"People knew that when they voted for him."
Yes, they did. And, that's part of the reason that most people didn't vote for him. Despite Trump's claims, it appears that the majority of people do care about his returns.
1
Who cares what’s in President Trump’s tax return? What is it going to change seeing the tax return?
It’s well documented that he has bankrupted multiple companies. That’s nothing new. It was known well before the election, and he still won.
4
@John Del Money laundering, tax evasion for starters. This doesn't require a lot of creative imagination.
14
@MVH1 Money laundering will be ‘disclosed’ by his tax return claims of loans, interest paid or received, losses, etc
1
@John Del
He still won ? Try counting to 3,000,000
2
Ah! States' rights—only convenient for Republicans when they permit upholding questionable policy; totally demonized when they actually serve the public interest.
19
Not just Trump's records. I'm thinking Congress should start impeachment proceedings against Mnuchin for obstruction of justice. He's a resident of NY, isn't he?
17
@Tanner and the fun thing about that is New York also closed the loophole on double jeopardy so a bunch of Trumpian criminal are not going to be in the clear when they're pardoned by Cadet Bone Spurs.
1
Slowly but surely, the long arm of the law is reaching out to embrace Mr. Trump. The revelations from his state returns will embolden ongoing efforts at the Federal level to delve more thoroughly into what promises to be a smorgasbord of malfeasance.
13
Why is he so terrified? He promised the returns before he was elected. What's the problem now?
New Yorkers all know that Trump consistently cheated his workers, broke the rules, blew through his inheritance and is ashamed of his many business failures.
If you worship Mammon above all else and are a fundamentally dishonest person, eventually the chickens will come home to roost.
11
@Sandra Lee I look forward to the endless investigations into the next democrat president.
Don’t forget that this kind of politics started with the Whitewater investigation into President Clinton’s affairs (pun intended). The Republicans just never had anything to link to President Obama because he was squeaky clean compared to most Presidents.
I believe most Americans believe that Money Laundering, Fraud and Tax evasion are crimes that deserve significant custodial punishment. Many will complain during and before about the process of getting Trump’s tax returns. Once the truth is out though, even those that support Trump now will turn on him. In general, people don’t like crooks, and especially crooks that have lived high on the hog as a result of the crimes that they have committed. There will be little sympathy for Donald J. Trump in the end. Then he will have to deal with the real members of MS13 in jail. Be afraid Donald; bee very afraid! The walls are closing in on you sir. You will have eventually have to pay for the crimes that most Americans believe that you have committed.
14
I completely disagree with that last quote in the story. As a NYS taxpayer, I believe this was definitely time and effort well spent by Albany. We’ve seen a corrosive breakdown of checks and balances in Washington, federal courts being remade in one party’s political image, and a subversion of trust by agents foreign and domestic to our national media. This assertion of states rights and general push for transparency is the immune system of a still somewhat healthy democracy reacting to the worst kinds of parasites in its system. And just wait folks — we may just be getting started.
10
Heh. Republicans argue that this is a bill of attainder, that is, a law directed at one person, while claiming it puts everyone in New York State in danger of having their returns released!
Republicans don’t even try to make sense. They just give their flock words to repeat.
11
This would explain Trump’s meltdown today. The walls are closing in.
12
@Raydeohed
He also said that his "very good " son has been "going through hell " because of being investigated .
Stupid to announce that to the public.....how guilty does it make Junior look!
Can such a thing be possible in the United States--a state legislature passing a bill that attacks one citizen among millions?
Trump has really done it to the DNC Politburo--such madness replete.
Can any one among them explain what it is about Trump that drives them so deep into their bunkers of delusion?
2
@Alice's Restaurant The law applies to all - who defy congressional request for IRS to provide returns of people being investigated.
3
@Alice's Restaurant
One more commenter who hasn't read the Mueller report. Too long? Too complex? Just easier to let Sean Hannity explain it?
2
@Alice's Restaurant Gee, most of us felt the same way about the shameless and hostile investigation of Hillary's emails. It all depends on whether it's your bull that gets gored or not. Protecting the likes of Donald Trump will remain a mystery to me. There is so much evidence of his criminality and his abuse of workers and other businesses who were unfortunate enough to engage with him. I do care about tax evasion and money laundering when the IRS gives me no breaks on my measly little tax return and income. Why should the crook be defended?
4
OMG - I love it!! Federal information flows to the state tax return, so getting a copy of the state tax return will allow the House Oversight Committee to reconstruct his Federal tax returns.
8
New York State legislative creativity, from the “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” school, is clearly in effect in Albany. Our Uncle Sam stovetop hats are off to the patriotic Democratic legislators in the Empire State!
10
@John Grillo
Lots of love to NY tonight! And a nod to Maryland's brave and popular Republican Governor, elected in a blue state, refusing to get in line behind 45. There have been quite a few attempts to stem the tide of pollution coming out of DC from this side of the swamp. Now, if PA and DE join in supporting democracy we will see a blue tsunami here in the Mid-Atlantic states, come 2020. Even NJ may join in. There is more courage and common sense to be found in the feisty state governments of US than that measured merely by the frantic convulsions we're observing within the confines of the District.
3
republicans should be outraged at Trump for wasting everyone's time and allowing other issues to languish by obstructing legitimate oversight of himself. They should remedy this by impeaching him forthright.
Oversight is what the congress is duly charged with in order to protect America, should an unqualified, delusional, lying employee be appointed by partisans in the electoral college, especially one who lost the election by nearly 3,000,000 ballots and was maneuvered in by Putin.
10
Anyone calling this a “Bill of Attainder” is missing the point that it applies equally well to any political leader who refuses to obey the law and respect the Constitution.
If only one person comes to your mind when I say that, you make a very good point.
But it doesn’t apply only to him.
10
You would think that a man as rich and generous as Mr. Trump would love to show the world just how rich and generous he is. He loves to boast about himself after all.
7
Donations and charitable giving would only show on Federal returns, not state.
@Gene Until it reveals that all that boasting is nothing but that, boasting and lying.
1
@Bret. Which is why he should release his federal returns so that we can all see how generous he is. On the other hand, a man who used his charitable foundation to pay his son's cub scout dues is more like to have given zero to charities.
1
It's about time, what's taken this long? There must be some one in Albany smarter than Trump and his cronies.
6
Bendetto is in the wrong Party and definitely deserves a Bronx cheer!
Let’s do it. Get the documents for his billion-dollar losing blowhard into the public sphere, so we can see who’s providing financial support for ol’ smoke and mirrors.
4
Donald Trump just said at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania that Joe Biden deserted them by moving to Delaware with his family when he was a child.
Many Pennsylvanians still love Joe Biden to this day.
But most New Yorkers really despise Donald Trump. Donald, you reap what you sow. And now, New York will do it’s part to take you down (probably as atonement for having let you get away with so much for so long).
As the song goes “Its up to you New York, New York!”
7
I approve when a government passes a law that targets one person.
And the Trump supporters talk about New York as if it’s a bad place.
4
Any cry of "foul" from Republicans who are okay with calling Neil Gorsuch a Supreme Court justice is ridiculous.
7
Trump boasted of his manhood as well as his business prowess often during his campaign, perhaps a subpoena demanding a public exposing of his person is in order about now as well to get the really real truth.
1
@John Doe
John, that is truly not necessary. He's shown us his diminutive hands. Enough, already!
'...calling the bill political in nature and meant to “get a few people.” ' --- Whatever it is meant to do, you can be sure it will 'get' many more than a few people. All the tax cheats in politics should start fleeing now! (Will anyone be left?)
I despise the man and all he represents but can someone tell me why, if there are were any obvious and revealing illegalities or nefarious activities present in his tax returns, both state and federal, he was never audited or challenged, or indicted before now?
By New York State or the IRS?
I make a simple mistake or miscalculation on my own returns and they're on me like flies on sherbet. Who has been protecting him?
Sunlight will be the best disinfectant here.
51
It’s because they know the little people don’t have high priced attorneys to defend them against the IRS. In other words, the less wealthy are easy pickings.
18
@Charles it's not that we think that there is per se illegality in the tax returns (though, when combined with other known facts, likely would support a criminal charge), but rather we believe that we should know what sort of financial obligations he has to, say, Russia or China.
9
I think conflicts of interest amd foreign business would not raise IRS flags but would become a problem as POTUS from 2016 onward.
10
Sunlight is the best disinfectant--and Lord knows, the Oval Office will need a thorough fumigation after this administration vacates the premises. Hopefully, this state law is the first step in that direction.
7
I cannot wait my turn to ignore subpoenas. Wonder how that will work out for me?
8
The law should require that ALL elected and appointed public servants release 10 years' worth of tax returns. Don't want to do that? Fine... find another job.
We the people have a right to know your conflicts of interest. It really is that simple.
21
Cuomo needs to sign this bill immediately and deliver the tax returns to the House the very moment the bill is signed. No delay what so ever.
25
This article was good news to come home to, after leaving having just read of yet another Trump tantrum, and a lost bipartisan opportunity to discuss infrastructure.
Three minutes was all our delicate President could endure with someone who said (allegedly) that he was "covering up". The entire country says he's covering up. The Meuller report cited numerous instances of obstruction of justice.
Someone with such a fragile ego, but more, with what appears to be a lot to cover up, given his strenuous efforts to block disclosure of his business affairs, does not seem fit to hold the office of President.
I would not want Pence, either, but Trump can destroy this nation, simply by disobeying its laws, by the time his term is up.
Kudos to the New York legislature and governor for this bill.
30
New York is proving to be the adult in the room, realizing that our government is facing an existential crisis, and Trump's shady dealings need to be exposed and judged. The NY tax return is very similar to the federal, so it shouldn't be relatively simple to extrapolate relevant data as it applies to his 1040.
17
I'd like to see the results the audits of his tax returns, both federal and state.
14
@Charles, I bet a dollar there was never an audit. The budgets are so badly cut for the IRS auditors. There isn't enough staff. And only little guys get audited. Isn't that what Hemsley said?
5
The bill should include all politicians in New York . If Congress wants them release then it should include all politicians in Congress. Trump may be bad but these other politicians are cut from the same cloth.
10
@John This is just another way of saying "They all do it!".
2
I always love it when a bill is criticized for being “political in nature.” I’m pretty sure that the majority of bills passed by a legislative body are “political in nature,” as they are debated and passed by politicians.
19
There is one sure fire way to remove the bill of attainder issue: New York should publicize all individuals' tax documents to a public database. There is no legitimate reason to hide your income, and publicizing everyone's would reduce pay inequality.
10
@Edward Allen
Public officials should show their taxes so we know who expects a pay-back. Private citizens are entitled to privacy.
12
@Edward Allen Why stop there? Publicize all individuals' health records as well. No legitimate reason to hide information about one's health as long as potential contagions are in play, right?
2
@Edward Allen Actually, there are plenty of reasons to hide your income. You've never meet my ex wife lol.
It's about time that those who SERVE the people get made to provide their taxes as a means of ensuring integrity. Our civil servants need to be held accountable for their transgressions when they exist. The rest of us are not allowed to hide behind our position and cannot abuse our authority to avoid consequences. If he has nothing to hide, then as a PUBLIC servant, he should be willing to provide the information to prove it. It is why all Presidents for so many years have done so. Laws should be allowed to expose corruption. That is what they are for right? He can abuse the federal laws with his power, he can't escape NYS. Never been prouder to live here.
32
Excellent example of the other "check and balance" that we have by living in a federal republic and not living under a unitary government.
30
This bill, an eventual law, should only trouble those with something to hide.
Personally, I file my taxes with a clear conscience.
If the POTUS has nothing to hide, he, too, should not object to closer examination.
37
The New York legislation is an illegal Bill of Attainder and will not withstand an inevitable challenge in Federal court. It is so obviously politically motivated and targeted at one person that it will be blocked from facilitating the willfully intended bad faith outcome behind its creation.
1
@Fred Rick
Apparently, you didn't read the bill's measures—which make it clearly not what you describe. Also, you're. CT resident, so please back off on commenting about NYS legislating.
3
@Fred Rick Wishful thinking on your part. Have you been paying attention to how many losses Trump and his administration have had in court recently. Keep dreaming.
2
We need a new law that stating anyone receiving a political party's nomination for President of the United States must publicly release their tax returns.
65
@Truth without Hypocrisy
Couldn't agree more.
Especially with the role of industry, corporation, and the wall street finance sector increasing influence in our governing process.
It should be Increasingly worrisome to all of us that billionaires are stepping into the political and legislative process having an over-sized influence due to their wealth, not their knowledge or expertise, push aside and overwhelming citizens participation in their own governing.
We need all the tools we can get to protect this form of Democracy of ours, for clearly, it is under attack.
10
@Truth without Hypocrisy: I recommended that after Trump was inaugurated and hope after this fiasco is over, I can travel to Washington DC and watch the legislation pass both houses of Congress. When I first wrote about this as a comment, it became a top New York Times "pick" and continues to resonate with citizens across this great county who have been duped by the master of duplicity - which NYC banks (7 of them) discovered when Trump's loans started to default in 1990. NYC banks have not lent to him since - so Trump's tax returns are an essential part of determining, among other things, financial malfeasance with foreign operatives.
5
I would add ALL elective offices.
1
I don’t care about the tax returns and how many accelerated depreciation deductions Trump took on his real estate ventures. I don’t care about who hacked John Podesta’s email three years ago. I don’t care why James Comey was fired.
I care about China. I care about infrastructure. I care about prescription drug prices.
Have the Democrats completely lost their minds?
8
@Greg
In case you haven't noticed the democrats have several proposals involving returning affordable health care, including prescription reimbursement, that no one in the trumpican party seems to have any interest in other than to continue the dismantling of ACA. The problem is that they have no such proposal as a party, and are incapable of figuring out what the party's position should be (more or less). As a result, they can't stay "on message" since this message is somewhat all over the place. They wasted the first two years fighting too many fires that flared all around them rather than regrouping and figuring out what
their messages needed to be.
As to infrastructure, their ideas are much more ambitious than any of those among the trumpicans, but they do have proposals to pay for them that involve regaining revenue lost to the tax bill from 2017.
As for China, that's another problem entirely. Trump's idea is to fix the issue after he's destroyed the current modus operandi. That's one way to do it, but it's not
necessarily the one best for this country.
31
In other words, you don’t care that our democracy is being subverted by a hostile power, that our president at the very least welcomed and encouraged that subversion, and our president is actively engaged in the obstruction of justice.
Democrats are attending to health care, to infrastructure, and to our troubled relations with China. But we must all attend to the survival of the republic. If we don’t, the consequences are too dreadful to contemplate.
26
@Greg
It sounds like your getting your information only through the media outlets that focus on the controversial for its noise and racket to distract those who watch tv and don't read past the headlines.
Check it out and you'll find that the Democrats have been writing and passing legislation that within there purview.
Of course the House Democrats can't pass any laws that require the Senate to approve them, Mitch McConnell has not allowed them to even get to the floor for discussion.
The Democrats are blocked by the Senate and now that can't even do oversight (blocked completely by the Whitehouse) and that's the Houses constitutional right and obligation.
I'm not sure what you believe the Democrats are not doing?
It seems to me that doing everything they can in a lopsided situation, with the horrendous creature in the Whitehouse and the now all but completely spinless, sycophantic republican party, who have failed in their duty in these dire times.
5
What we are seeing here, quite frankly, is fighting fire with fire, something a lot of people are worried about on all sides of the aisle. Trump has used all kinds of executive orders, declaring a state of emergency at the border on the thinnest of contexts, to be able to make political hay with the anti immigrant crowd and Fox News nation, and justifying things that conservatives know now sets precedents they don't want if a Democrat does the same things. One of the things Trump and the hard right don't understand is that it is a poor sword that doesn't swing both ways, by continually grabbing power, rather than show restraint, by things like packing the Supreme Court and other courts with political ideologues, they are setting the tone for these kind of things,when you have someone as president who lies and evades and does things in the shadows, you are going to have Congress and the states taking the same tack. A president, as head of the office of the president, sets a tone, and what Trump has done is basically say grabbing power and fighting dirty is okay, and as they say, you reap what you sow
135
Personal financial records from the time someone was a private citizen have no bearing on border security. No relationship at all.
We all know this is mean-spirited and a shameful attempt to disrupt the efforts of the administration.
2
@Margo This is not about border security. It is about financial compromise by Russian operatives. Trump Jr. told us years ago most of their money is tied up with Russia.
If you are ok with that and wish to ignore his shameful acts in Helsinki then you are encouraging a proven liar and cheat to be manipulated by Putin!
Trump is for himself, not the USA!
11
@Margo: No question, this is an "attempt to disrupt the efforts of the administration."
Pass the popcorn, please -- I hope they show film of the mean-spirited, shameful crook getting cuffed and dragged away. D - I - S - R - U - P - T !!!
7
So Donald Trump is willing to go to the Supreme Court to keep his tax returns hidden from the public... now I really want to know what's in them!
59
If it were me, I would do the same.
No one in the future should be allowed to run for President without release tax returns so we don't have to deal with this insanity again.
56
When a Presidential candidate chooses to make an issue of his supposed wealth and business acumen, the electorate has a right to find out if he's legit or if he's a fraud. (NY Times investigations have already shown, in painstaking detail, that this President is a lifelong loser in business.)
When the same candidate pursues lucrative deals with a hostile foreign government, lies about them during the campaign, and continues to lie about them after taking office, we need to know if he is compromised. Are conflicts of interest affecting official government policy? Of course we need to know that -- and the Mueller investigation was not allowed to look into it.
The New York Legislature is simply closing loopholes in the law that never should have been there to begin with. Congress needs to do the same thing on the federal level.
44
@jim emerson your TDS is showing. You wouldn't even know what to do with a tax return should it be dropped in your lap. That 50K a year you plug into your Turbo tax is as close as you should get to this subject.
@jim emerson
I wish I could recommend 10 or 12 times, Jim, but it won't let me.
3
There has been little-to-no discussion of another plausible reason for wanting them concealed: he has more kids.
16
@Santa
He'd never claim them as dependents . . .
@Santa
Nah. They had abortions.
1
@Santa
Won't be any. Abortions.
1
This is abuse of government. Regardless how you feel about President Trump the government can do this to anyone whether there's proof of wrong doing or not.
6
Seriously - this conman is the President and there is boatloads of evidence that he is hiding something. Have you read anything about how he scammed his father out of hundreds of millions of $$ and pretty much used this scam to avoid paying taxes. Tax dodges that the everyday working class *never* would get away with! Read the very detailed NYT article!
2
So what? Trump is the poster child for abuse of power.
1
NO! The House is the prosecutor and the Senate has the trial. IT IS all VERY much legal and Constitutional! When Republican Joe McCarthy back in the 50’s abused his congressional power he was eventually called out for going after enemies.
In 2016, Putin attacked our Democracy that is fact! Congress is getting to the bottom of this attack which helped Trump win!
Everything about Trump is flawed. With all of his obstruction in handing over the tax returns he promised that he would turnover while running as the "faux" presidential candidate, he sure is running scared.
What is he hiding?
I think we all know..............................................
16
What would prevent real Americans from crowd-funding a legal fund to support any of the true Patriots at the IRS (or really any of the currently malformed Departments) if they were to release tax returns, memorandums, communiques, whatever that bring this man and his miscreants to justice?
12
"deeply unpopular" is a very mild way of describing how people in New York City feel about the donnie t.
29
After the temper tantrum in the Rose Garden earlier today, Donald Trump will continue to view himself as a tortured victim. Had he produced his tax returns during the 2016 election cycle, citizens of this country would have understood the caliber of individual Donald Trump is: a tax cheat with a massive appetite for outstanding loans to Deutsche Bank and potentially Russian oligarchs, and multiple bankruptcies. If he did not want to disclose his tax returns he should have said so immediately during the 2016 election cycle instead of lying and saying he could not disclose because he was under audit which precluded doing so. Of course, citizens would have then understood he was hiding financial information and moved on to vote for someone else.
Trump brought all of this on himself - he is no victim - and will exposed for the cheat and liar that he is when the tax returns are made public.
22
Best comment yet! If Trump had no plans to release his tax returns when he was running, why didn’t he recluse himself from doing so during the campaign?
1
@BBB: In rushing to respond to you I did not mention that it is quite possible Trump is in the pocket of Russians - oligarchs or otherwise - probably overextended with loan repayments - and is being used as a pawn - or possibly balckmailed. It may seem unfathomable or far-fetched but something to consider until the tax returns are publicly disclosed. Thus the huge resistance on Trump's part all along not to disclose them.
1
@BBB: Because, Trump is an ego-maniac. And for me, personally, I don't think he ever - in a million years - thought he would actually win the election. The joke was on him - but even more so - to the American public who has an utter incompetent unfit to serve as President of the United States of America sitting in the Oval Office. Hopefully for not too much longer! Glad to see you are observing this United States Constitutional crisis in lovely Australia!
1
This is big both judicially and politically. The judicial is obvious. The political is; when are trump backers going to stop denying the fact that someone has been getting away with stealing their money. Yes, their money. In the big tax pool, they are paying more, because others are paying less, or nothing at all.
No one likes to be told they've gotten beaten down, or scammed. But it's happened to us all, one way or another, and if it can be stopped, why be against your own self interests?
Please, it's over. trump and his family and associates are crooks. And I think Barr is going to acquiesce ( little by little more documents are going to be released) because he doesn't want to be caught in the judicial net of impeachment and conviction. Well, not if he is smarter than he presently appears.
11
these dangerous acts by NY politicians aimed at their political opponent should receive the strongest possible condemnation. Trump will file lawsuits fairly soon against these illegal acts, and he will certainly win at the supreme court.
4
It is Constitutional. Also, every president has been transparent and released years of tax returns...why they are honest! Trump has something big to hide!
@sh
should add the lawsuits will go to federal court and they might be handled by the justice department, the rationale being the states are attempting to interfere with the presidency/ first round might go to a obama judge and lose, but will be accepted higher up
@sh
Maybe Susan Collins can write a strongly worded letter and you can file an amicus brief with SCOTUS. That should clinch it.
I don’t think the states should be in this space, but I understand and share the goals of the NY assembly. Alabama and others will do similar, and those people are plain and crazy.
2
@Inga
Well, I can't wait to read what Alabama releases. I'm on tenterhooks.
1
Kudos to New York State government. Who knows more about Trump's sordid past than its politicians, lawyers, prosecutors and business community? Aside from his current unconstitutional and criminal behavior, Trump's past must be revealed to the legal extent possible because it shouts "Malevolence tempered by incompetence" (Ben Wittes, 2017). This bill adds yet more teeth to impeachment and shame to those sycophants like McConnell and Graham.
18
Again, NYS trying to lead the way in wasted taxpayer time to continue a vendetta.
3
What do you think about Trump's vindictiveness? That guy holds a grudge for decades.
1
@Bob
One man's vendetta is another man's justice. One man's witch hunt is another man's quest for the truth.
I'm pretty sure it's going to be anti-climactic. As is everything Trump. That's because we already know everything there is to know. When the tax returns reveal that he's not actually a billionaire and is just an orange, bloated skin full of debt with truly hideous hair pasted on it, will we gasp and clutch our pearls? I think not.
11
It is called a bill of attainder, courts will throw this out in a minute.
4
It is not. Read the article. Become informed.
What if Trump's tax returns show that he is a wealthy as he has said?
2
@John
The amount is not nearly as important as the source. That is what is important.
1
@John Then Trump will scream "FAKE NEWS" at the top of his lungs while we rides an easy path to a second term.
Democrats need to start focusing on issues and not DJT...
@John
I wouldn't hold my breath on that.
So my New York tax money is being used to insure vindictive politicians in Albany (whose closets are filled with corrupt behavior) can "get back" at Trump. Great. Why am I surprised?
2
“I’m really smart, but don’t release my school records”. “I’m rich but don’t release my tax returns”. Anyone else see a pattern here?
22
Thank God the state of New York is capable of stepping up to do the work our federal government is incapable of doing! All three branches of our federal government have failed us miserably. Think of how much time, money (taxpayer's), and misery would have been saved if releasing one's tax returns before running for the highest office in the land was the LAW.
112
@Teresa H Will you feel the same when the "shoe" is on the other foot? What one party can do, another party can as well. There will be a time when a Democrat is president, and then people who support them will call it a fishing expedition, right?
1
Funny, no one is mentioning the obvious. Candidates started routinely releasing their tax returns after the Nixon administration and other government scandals shook confidence in the government, to show that they were trustworthy. Trump who has taken executive power even further than Nixon ever did and rests under a permanent cloud with his administration and all the people forced to resign and or convicted of crimes, refuses to release his tax returns, and people wonder why people want to see them..maybe, just maybe, it is because like Nixon, they don't trust Trump?
27
"New York lawmakers passed a bill giving Congress a way to see Mr. Trump’s state tax returns, opening a new front in a heated battle."
Excellent.
It will be very interesting to see the state tax returns and compare them to the Federal tax returns when congress gets them, and they will get them in the end.
When the congressional committees gets the financial records from the banks, and they will, there will be a picture of much information that Trump is desperate to hide.
23
Irrelevant to the current job. Waste of time and money.
Seems like a lot of politicians would run from NY. Perhaps people forget the House was under Republican control for a long time? Polls show many moderate Dems could be hurt in 2020 by the current political environment. NY wants to have this law on the books? Investigations into Cuomo and a host of other NY political enemies? Seems like a terrible idea. Of course, Pelosi still won't release her tax returns. seems odd that only the president has to while those that write tax and spending bills need only use ranges. I wonder why the Democratic house doesn't pass a bill requiring all public officials' tax returns to be public? Makes sense, right? Oh wait. All the millionaires in Congress might have some explaining to do...
5
@Steve - If Nancy Pelosi ever does one tenth the things Trump has done I will personally lead the charge demanding her tax returns.
9
I saw something today about Pelosi having an estimated net worth of over $100 million.
Up from an estimated $55 million about 15 years ago.
With a salary of under $200,000, how did that happen?
There clearly would have been some return on investments, but that's a pretty big jump in wealth.
Frankly, Pelosis'financials would be much more interesting, and instructive, reading.
Better even than Hilary Clinton's investment plan that got her into so much hot water.
How about they ALL go for full disclosure?
@Margo
Pelosi is very wealthy, indeed, but her net worth ranks behind that of about a dozen other members of Congress. 1/3-1/2 of her net worth is in real estate and business assets, from what I see reported. She and her husband own a winery. She comes from a family of wealth and lengthy political service. She's been working in government for over 30 years, with plenty of public scrutiny and no whiff of financial or other malfeasance. She's shown herself to be capable, levelheaded and trustworthy.
What amazes me is her dedication, not her wealth.
Your innuendo about her sources of income is unsubstantiated, unlike the suspicions and evidence surrounding Trump's well-known multifarous shady dealings with the business community over decades in New York. Now that he's stepped into the glare of much stronger headlights, there is a very compelling reason to question his past financial actions, especially as they may bear upon present or future relationships. He is, regrettably, the President, at least for the moment. He's been in public office for about 10 minutes, and already caused half the country to be screaming for his impeachment. Our suspicions about his finances are hardly without a cause.
Let's remember the US Congress at some point passed a law which some president signed to allow them to see anyone's tax return on request. It is the refusal to comply with this law on the flimsiest basis that has led to circumventing it. On what basis does anyone suppose their tax returns are private: the government has always used them for prosecution.
11
Of course Donald Trump will sue to stop this from going into effect. The request for tax returns should be made NOW, without fanfare, and Cuomo should sign it ASAP, to complete the action and trasfer BEFORE the suit is filed.
13
This law will now be on the books, and possibly prevent future shenanigans on both sides of the aisle. I think it's perfectly OK for voters to know if their legislators are on the take from foreign governments, or the mob, or simply broke.
43
@Andrew
Or possibly.... all three.
2
Given Flanagan and his New York Republican brethren's questionable finances, one can see why he would be incensed at bills improving government transparency.
19
"While lawmakers in the State Assembly and Senate hailed their action as a victory for states’ rights, ..."
Just the opposite. This bill effectively makes New York a BRANCH of the Federal government.
The reason there are States is to DEFEND citizens AGAINST the Federal government.
Indeed, the 10th Amendment implies as much:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
The States should be protecting their sovereignty, not surrendering it.
6
@FMG How does this law make the state of NY a vassal-appendage of the federal government? Any compliance by the NY state Board of Taxation with federal demands for tax-returns is optional, and there are several built-in mechanisms for the state to refuse to comply (like, for instance, if a future GOP-led Congress decides to mount a fishing expedition into a Democrat's finances...or even vice-versa).
15
@FMG "The reason there are States is to DEFEND citizens AGAINST the Federal government."
And, to defend citizens against criminals and scofflaws. The ways that state and federal agencies work together with different but complimentary jurisdictions are too many to list, but you could start with the National Guard, law enforcement, administration of federal programs, and yes, TAX COLLECTION.
6
@FMG
The constitution is set up on the grounds of checks and balances, and while we usually think of checks and balances only applying to the federal government and the branches (executive, congress, courts), it doesn't. The states, for example, have the power to investigate citizens of their own state, which Trump was, which could apply to a president, member of the cabinet, or congress. If the federal checks and balances fail, as they have with Trump, because the GOP congress and the now GOP majority SCOTUS refuse to investigate one of their own, the state can and will step in. This is not giving up state sovereignty, this is a state acting where the federal government could and is not, it is establishing the power of a state to look for possible wrongdoing, or help in this case congress to do so, when due to party politics the checks and balances are failing.
Put it this way, how is it conservatives, who seem always to be on the side of peeping into people's private lives, especially their bedrooms, are so mute on Trump refusing to release his tax returns, how come suddenly privacy comes above the needs of the state? Does that only apply to what people are doing in their bedrooms and not to potential real criminal or unethical activity? If as they believe Trump is innocent, the victim of a smear campaign, why aren't they eager to release the tax returns....unless they know they will show serious issues they have turned a blind eye to..so much for ethics and morality
4
"Even before he was elected president, Donald J. Trump had steadfastly refused to release his federal tax returns." To be more accurate, Trump said many times that he would release them if he could, but that he was under audit. As per his usual, this was a lie in multiple ways.
69
@Andrew Surely the audit is not in place for ALL of his tax returns. Just show us the ones that aren't. And, BTW, find out how many years of tax returns are under at the same time from the IRS. They don't need to name Trump, just tells us that x taxpayers have y years under audit, etc.
3
Why is everyone so interested to see DJT's tax returns? Just what will come out of it? Unearned income - a bribe from the Russians? As someone who voted for HRC, I couldn't care less. Let's get on with the job of legislating - there is a ton of work this country needs to get done - Immigration reform, Data Privacy, Infrastructure, aiding our homeless and vets, drugs, health care, abortion rights, trade wars and on and on. Why do we waste so much time with this? What will the Dems get from this? Another equivalent of a blue dress stained with bodily fluids? If only our Congress and elected officials had their energies focused on actually solving problems for us normal (and legal) citizens.
8
@Kirk Land We’re not going to get any meaningful legislation out of Trump and the Republican Senate.
40
@Kirk Land
Everyone is so interested in seeing Trump's taxes because he's clearly hiding something nefarious and what he's hiding is probably the money trail that shows he's beholden to foreign powers. If that is the situation, which there is every reason to suspect, it is an immense security threat to this country.
Yes, all those issues you mention are important, but so is our security and our right to be governed by a president who works for us, not one who uses the power and resources of his office for personal gain at the expense of all the rest of us.
44
@Kirk Land The answer is evidence of money laundering for Russian Oligarchs for decades. Those are the people he owes millions of dollars for, and seems to be doing the bidding of.
13
Once upon a time, Donald Trump tried to get his dad to rewrite the will to favor him but the dad's lawyers saw it for what it was and refused.
At some point, surely, Ivanka will realize that her husband, dad, and brothers are piddling away what is left of her inheritance and she could say anything plausible and have them all sent to jail and take over.
Meanwhile, our lovely First Lady quietly smiles in the background and I wonder when she will make her move.
Its almost like watching an episode of Survivor.
24
@tom harrison I would love to see Melania's pre-nup. I'll bet that it is as thick as a phone buck and that it provided a post- Stormy bonus.
16
I suspect her prenup isn’t great since she was just a model and he had the money, the lawyers, and the experience of two previous divorces. But I think she would do quite well in any divorce settlement provided there isn’t a prenup that limits what she gets.
3
I fail to see the "urgent need" for Congress, or anyone else to be looking at any Presidents tax returns. If it is so important, then ALL members of Congress, elected state offices, and candidates for said positions should have their tax returns made public as well. It is absurd that income of Congress men and women are "banded" in meaningless ranges. Most, if not all Congress men and women, are multi-millionaires, and, in spite of what they say, I really have to wonder how they got that way, and whom they truly represent.
9
@Verminer
We should see them all. Senators' and Representatives' finances should also be public information. So should the finances of Supreme Court nominees and justices.
13
@Verminer Notably, every single person you mentioned is included in the laws. There's nobody who is above scrutiny by Congress.
As for making the returns public, that's different and the laws to not compel publicity.
3
@Verminer, I completely agree that all elected officials should release their financial information before elections in a sufficient manner for the American public to cast informed votes.
The thing is, before Trump, all presidential candidates did this and, something else that you should be demanding, all elected presidents sold all of their assets and put the proceeds into a blind trust so their positions on issues could not be based on private gain. Trump broke with tradition by failing to do this as well (and so did senior cabinet members of his administration).
These are the most basic things we should demand to begin to drain the swamp.
11
With every new development, like the one reported here, Donald Trump is becoming more erratic. We are seeing his desperate attempts at deflecting guilt to the investigators who are pursuing him, with much trepidation at what they will find and how they will respond. Today when he walked out on Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Schumer, he was irrational and defiant, but he clearly is a man whose reckoning is near. He knows it and the country knows it.
It’s inevitable.
74
@MG - How many times have we heard this song? Many.
3
Too bad for New York that they passed a bill invading someone’s privacy. It will never hold up in court.
9
@Jackson
There is NO right to privacy for tax returns. It says it in the article. If you think there is, then find the law or case that says so. (Hint: there isn't one.)
12
@Jackson
Trump is not a private citizen. He is the POTUS and as such, he is open for scrutiny and rightfully so.
If he has nothing to hide why does he fight to keep his tax stuff secret and his school records also secret? He has much that he doesn't want to be made public.
He is a cheat and a "D" student. If not he must prove it.
10
@Jackson, it’s already held up in Federal court, why no state? It’s a lock.
1
It never should have been left to custom and decency for presidential candidates to release their tax returns. It must be mandated by law. What is the House waiting for on passing that legislation?
Way to go, New York legislature. I'm proud to be a New Yorker.
152
@Dystopia What is the House waiting for on passing legislation to codify what has been custom? For a Senate that might also pass the law and a President that would sign it. Next question.
13
@The Lone Protester
Well, the House is making a mistake if that's what it's waiting for. And why isn't it making that same mistake about every other bill it passes?
2
Or if not mandated by law then required by each party before a candidate can run on their ticket. That would let individuals who don’t wish to share free to mount an independent campaign but would spare us a repeat of this nonsense from the main candidates.
4
Good, maybe this will provide some clarity to trump's shady, complicated and often opaque business and tax affairs. And since it's already been largely demonstrated that the trump organization has long engaged in dubious - if not outright fraudulent - tax evasion schemes, there are bound to be further revelations. The question, as ever, is why Republicans insist on looking away from what very likely criminal activity by a U.S. president. The short answer is that the GOP is ethically bankrupt. That's the brand of the American right these days. It's all about keeping power, no matter the cost to the country.
88
@Innocent Bystander
I agree and I can't help wonder why the GOP would want a single party country? Between outrageous "jerry mandering" and McConnell's vicious attempts to block Democrats from participation in our government, we could end up as a one-party country.
Isn't a one-party country called a dictatorship?
3
The thing is, when I file my tax return as a small business person--I assume that's also how Trump files--, NYS asks me only to summarize the income and deduction figures from my US tax return when I file my state return. Unless I'm audited, I don't think NYS necessarily has many granular details of my profit or loss or sources of my income
I fear the Juicy Details may not be easily found in his state returns, other than the likelyhood that he hasn't paid taxes in his adult life.
8
@Marc
I believe they are asking for tax 'records' not necessarily asking for his tax returns. I would guess this is different and more inclusive.
5
@Marc, I think the idea is to get the tax returns of all of the Trump entities and see to whom K-1s are issued, whether there might be a large number of Putin's pals in there.
1
Trump can’t wait to be validated, lauded for his acumen and stupendous wealth! He no doubt will send the N.Y. state lawmakers his heart-felt thanks.
14
This is a particularly bad piece of journalism. The NY bill as written appears not to raise the "bill of attainder" issue, but by writing the article in terms of its impact on President Trump, the article unnecessarily raises the issue. There is another issue that is more interesting, and the article doesn't raise it at all, which is the definition of "specified and legitimate legislative purpose." That is a much better argument for the President to fight the release of his returns. Brad Hoylman said: "Donald Trump has broken forty years of political tradition by not releasing his tax returns." Is bucking tradition a "legitimate legislative purpose"? Hoylman also said: " [The President's] administration is precipitating a constitutional showdown by shielding the President from Congressional oversight over those returns." Does Congress routinely oversee tax returns? They do not, but that's probably enough of a hook to get the returns. Democratic support in the NY Legislature was not unanimous. Maybe some NY Democrats recognize this as a political stunt designed to embarrass the President. Or maybe they envision a future when this law will be used against a Democrat. This bill, contemporaneous with the revision of the double jeopardy law, pretty clearly show that they're going after this one guy, the President. Look at how permissive these laws are, there's always a political way out of enforcing them. These laws are bad policy.
7
@AB
It depends on the justification congress uses, and that obviously will undergo a court challenge if they do. If congress for example finds something in the Mueller report that mentions ties to Russia but left the investigation to Congress, they could justify it on looking for business dealings with Russian firms as a hypothethically. If Congress was investigating sheltering income illegally in a bogus foundation (something Trump, I might add, already has been charged with, taking money from the foundation and using it in his businesses, which is de facto money laundering to avoid taxes), the tax records would be relevant.
2
@AB Face it - Donald Trump is violating the Constitution's basic premise - that there are checks and balances. He refuses to accept any. He is a wanna be dictator. Everyone else who works in the White House has to release their taxes.
That it may, in the future, be used against a Democrat will not be an issue. Every Democratic candidate for the past 40+ years for POTUS has released their tax returns.
4
Congress is just trying to help Mr. Trump comply with a campaign promise. Government just doesn't get any more benevolent than that.
In fact we should charge him for the expensive research. It will obviously benefit his campaign to know he wasn't incredibly beautifully hugely lying about releasing his returns.
50
Good new many paths are opening up to find out whatever Trump is desperate to keep hidden especially his finances. Trump has cheated on his taxes his wives and now on the constitution he has sworn to uphold and defend. If he has nothing to hide allow records to be seen, witnesses to be heard. If Putin or MSB has him compromised we need to know that especially as commander and chief our national security is at stake and Trump has a record of lying constantly. A lying president is a menace to the lives of our military.
46
As a NYS and city tax payer I have no problem with this. These federal committees can see my returns any time they want unlike Trump I have nothing to hide 😀
86
N.Y.S. has HAD his tax returns all along, so has IRS. He has been audited.
So are we now saying that Congress makes a better auditing team than trained tax auditors? Or are we now going to start hiring a special tax auditor?
This is just getting silly. Forever, we were hearing "wait for the Muller report", now we are hearing tax returns...is he perfect ? No, but is anyone else?
Just put up a viable candidate, not someone our of left field or rocking chair material, that moderates will vote for and stop whining, singing and wishing for revenge.
You are not going to get Hilary, if he's removed you will get Mike Pence and Mike Pence will be very electible in the following term, especially if he has someone like Nikki Hailey as his running mate.
For myself, I'd rather have Trump than Pence...but I guess everyone else loves the idea of a super conservative who doesn't act out and will garner a lot of votes in the White House.
11
@Ralphe, we don't know that Trump has been audited. Only a small percentage of returns are audited.
@Ralphe Trump was asked to prove that he was "under audit" (all he'd have to do is show the official IRS letter saying that an audit was underway -- no further details), but he hasn't even produced that, so we don't even know if he was being audited during the campaign, although all Presidents and Vice Presidents are mandatorily audited once they take office. An audit has never prevented the release of Presidential tax returns. But Trump, as usual, wants to make a special exception for himself. It's time we stopped indulging his petulant, reckless misbehavior.
1
The IRS cares only about whether all the income is reported and the arithmetic is correct. There is more to these reports than that.
Unfortunately, this may be the only way to effectively fight a bully, liar and cheat. In the end this might help Congress do it's job without the Barr/Trump team holding up the show. If we have enough people like those in New York, who care about Congress and it's proper mission, we may be able to prove to voters that Trump, Barr, Kushner, Miller, and the rest of the lot are bad actors who should not be anywhere near our government.
37
Somehow I don't think he's going to want to come back here once he leaves the White House.
34
@N. Smith Let's hope you are right.
2
Re: "...Tax officials would be authorized to hand over his state returns to any one of three congressional committees, opening a new front in a heated battle..."
Does ANYONE really, think Trump's taxes wouldn't be publicized by Trump, himself, like Quasimodo, (mourning lost love, from the basilica's bell tower), if...they showed him to be anything, other than an, (allegedly, 'Al Capone-style'), tax_criminal??
21
"What is he hiding; why doesn't he want US to see it."
18
You are not going to win, Donald Trump.
33
@V. Iv heard that since 2015...lol.
He will have written off virtually everything as a loss. The distinguished sore loser never ceases to amaze the rest of the hard working class of this country.
When will enough be enough? To normalize this waste of a president is to be complicit in such a dishearting time in American history.
He will fight everyone and everything you can fight against till his last day on this earth. How sad and wretched one must be with himself to live such a blatant abhorrent life full of lies in broad daylight.
22
@Nick
For sure, he wrote off the hush money payments as "professional fees". Wonder if the amounts paid to the women for services, prior to Cohen's involvement were also written off... So many questions, so few answers.
When an investigation is stonewalled by a probable target, one has to ask, "What is he hiding? What is he afraid would be disclosed?"
Some (republicans) say we already have enough evidence to impeach. That may be true, but there always will be defenders and doubters who say they're not convinced, so evidence to impeach must be overwhelming. So we have to ask again and again, what is he hiding and afraid of disclosing. Follow the money. Income tax returns, and financial records submitted with loan applications are a good start. Redacted material is another "must see" to unearth corruption of all sorts, covered up with lies and deception.
17
I don't know how New York processes state returns. In the states where I've paid income tax, a copy of the federal return accompanied the state filing. Let's hope New York has these on file (though I don't know whether they're allowed to release them). So let's call this a big step in the right direction.
25
While I think this is a step in the right direction, I think all politicians should be required to submit these records in front of ethics committees.
We all know that it's not just Trump that steers government to his own interests. If we want politicians to truly be the voice of the people, they all need to prove it.
47
@ian I totally agree. It should be a federal law, too, not just a state one. I'd gabout it as an amendment to the Constitution.
14
@ian This was part of HR1 a legal requirement for any candidate for federal office to disclose 10 years of taxes. Of course only the GOP shot that down in the Senate because, I presume, each and every one of those has something sinister to hide from the American people.
My recent update here may show what I think is hidden in their returns. https://bit.ly/2Hw8PyI
Thank you New York State Legislature. This will definitely help the congressional investigations. I can't wait to see the report on his taxes.
89
Compare Trump’s NY State tax returns with financial documents he submitted to banks to get loans. I’ll bet they don’t agree — one understating income and assets to save on taxes, the other overstating income and assets to get loan approval.
Insurance and bank fraud and tax evasion - here we come. The US Justice Dept and other Trump toadies won’t be able to stop New York from pressing criminal charges.
195
@Barb Campbell
Don't forget money laundering. An no, he won't be able to stop New York State from prosecuting.
40
@Barb Campbell Barb. Actual documents are used to obtain these types of loans. Everybody temper down. You're all going to be equally disappointed as with Mueller.
1
@Barb Campbell
If it's what you say, "I love it".
Huuum, where have we heard that before?
So Velshi and Ruhle play a video where Steve Mnuchin says he was advised by the Justice Dept. that his turning over Trump's tax returns would be against the law.
Instead of jumping all over that statement with a question regarding the fact that the Justice Dept. is run by what amounts to Trump's personal lawyer William Barr, and if he in fact did tell Mnuchin that turning over the returns is against the law that that is an outright lie and therefore shouldn't be taken seriously.
No, self serving Velshi and Ruhle couldn't wait to jump immedately to another video clip of Ben Carson acting clueless, which of course we all know he is.
They may not be the enemy of the people but they might as well be.
9
@Alex Vine Velshi and Ruhle are arguably the two best anchors on TV. Both are extremely smart. Maybe rather than tell you what to think they are providing clips so that you can decide. They are reporters not your personal thinker.
Yes, we know Ben Carson is clueless but as head of Housing and Urban Development for two years could he have not learned what REO stood for, as it's a cornerstone of his department? That clip can't play too often, as it highlights his total lack of interest in doing or learning his job.
Mnuchin is just trying to keep his job but like others, it may put him in legal jeopardy because the law on turning over tax returns is clear, the AG is biased.
Suggesting Velshi and Ruhle might be an enemy of the people is out Trumping Trump. In other words, ignorant.
Reagan's 'trust, but verify,' formula for getting along with Russia needs to be altered to 'verify, then trust,' for America to ever get along with Trump. And since Trump has shut down all avenues to verifying the truth so far as it relates to him or his presidency, American's are saddled with a leader only a fool would trust.
61
the audacity of calling this bill improper after what just happened in Alabama...
134
Ah, this explains his anger in that meeting. Oh I hope they find something juicy...
67
Honestly, who cares? This helps no one and is one giant waste of time. We all already know Trump is shady in office and most definitely shady in business (most rich people are).
What a waste of tax payer dollars. Here's a suggestion ... how about you take some of those NY dollars and fix the rat infestation there?
5
It pertains to an ongoing criminal investigation at the highest office. Feels important.
74
@kz
I would be surprised if the rat problem is worse in New York than it is in Detroit. Just sayin'.
8
No it doesn’t. Pertains to writing legislation to control reporting of information provided by presidential candidates. This is the legislative need for the info per congress.
6
Trump-hate continues in New York state.
Disclosure of tax returns is a matter of the individual's decision to do so. Otherwise, it is a gross invasion of privacy.
10
@James Stewart, it is evidence in a criminal investigation, which is what this is.
84
@James Stewart Well, taxes are what citizens owe citizens. Taxes are what we fairly owe the government. So, why would anyone hide IF they are paying their fair share? And why should that be private in any case? Don't I, as a citizen, have the right to know that you are not cheating me?
58
@James Stewart - People who want privacy shouldn't run for public office.
45
The fact that Trump is despised in his "home state" is because New Yorkers, particularly in the City, have been sickened by his behavior and words for the past four decades.
To know Donald Trump is to despise him.
Trump made the fatal mistake of running for President in 2015. Now he is exposed on the National and World stage as the heartless, soulless, witless, Jarry-esque Ubu Rex that he is.
He "wings it", and digs himself into a deeper hole on a daily basis.
I can only hope that we escape our time under his thumb before the United States becomes the National version of the Deepwater Horizon.
151
@James Barth
You know, I was just thinking that a good Broadway revival of Ubu is just what we need. I even has the Russian bear running through...chasing Ubu as I recall?
3
Every New Yorker knows Trump is a crook but the New York politicians and the DAs never went after him. Why?
1
@James Barth, love the Jarry reference. And somehow Trump's appearance reminds me of Dr. Faustroll.
2
Bravo, New York! We’ve known for decades that Trump is a crook; when I lived in New York in the 90s, his criminality was obvious and universally known. Too bad the rest of the country was conned by a reality tv show character. This has been a long time coming, so congratulations on getting us a little closer to justice.
178
@Raechel McGhee
Loved Michael Bloomberg's remarks on this subject at the Demo Natl convention in '16.
So the Senate Republicans could request Nadler’s & Gillibrand’s state returns under some circumstances?
One person interviewed said that there isn’t a constitutional right to privacy of tax forms...that’s a very slippery slope. We tell people that their Census information is private & won’t be released for 77 years...shall we not trust that either?
8
@Gailmd
My guess is neither Nadler nor Gillibrand have much to hide in their tax returns. So if that's the trade-off, I'm sure they would oblige.
33
@Gailmd
Gillibrand has release 10 years of her tax returns, and I'm sure that Nadler would do the same. Here's hoping that releasing 10 years of your tax returns is a requirement for higher office going forward.
17
@Gailmd. so you think your privacy is being invaded? Give up your iphone, ipad, the internet, and then expect 300,000,000 subpoenas to be issued. Please. This is a criminal case. Just like Al Capone, you know tax evasion. Common everyday crooked dealings.
15
Even if his tax returns are released, the question remains: so what? Donald Trump has committed so many violations such as sexual attacks, sabotaging a presidential election, making fun of handicapped people, verbally attacking women for their appearance, etc. Nothing sticks to him. He will explain away the losses in his taxes saying that they are consistent with the law and help to legally reduce his tax liability. He will even say that in reality he is very wealthy due to his assets, but those are not shown on his tax returns. Any way, people who voted for him and will vote for him in 2020 are not concerned about any of the above. They are concerned about white supremacy and going back to the 1950's. In other words, they are interested keeping the old status quo. So go ahead and disclose the returns, but it is highly likely that Trump's 2020 reelection won't be jeopardized as a result . We all know he is a con man, but Republicans, white males and females are OK with that as long as they remain privileged.
33
@Oh Boy! You're probably right, it won't affect his base. but it might point to a crime and that doesn't require support to bring charges. There are reports of money laundering, if true tax returns may show that. It will take time, he won't be a sitting president, reelected or not.
Because some people don't care about bad behavior does not mean it should be excused or forgotten.
18
@Oh Boy!
trump sold himself as a brilliant business man. It does matter to show that image is as fake as everything else about him.
1
That this law is meant to address a legal stalemate of a single person's making is not the same thing as its being meant to "get a few people.”
The stalemate is caused exclusively by Trump's refusing to comply with the letter or the spirit of the law. Lawmakers are quite right -- and smart, I'd say -- to respond with a solution that involves legal finesse.
32
I haven't yet read the bill, but if it refers to the occupant's tax returns by his name, that may be a bill-of-attainder problem, singling someone out with legislative ire. But if the bill refers to, say, the NYS returns of the holder of any federal elected or appointed office, that's another matter.
2
@Ralph Huntington: Read the story.
8
@Ralph Huntington Not a Bill of Attainder-it names no names.
9
Next up, let's have New York State declare eminent domain on the site of Trump Tower to make way for a new public park.
111
@Hardbull
What a fine idea!
That way New York taxpayers can fork over to Mr. Trump the fair market value of the property. i.e. the highest price somebody would pay for the property, were it in the hands of a willing seller. Can't be more than $350M or so.
Sheer brilliance.
17
@Hardbull I was thinking public toilets.
13
@Hardbull - One would think the city would shut down the Trump Tower for lack of water sprinklers.
3
Please let Mr. Flanagan know that all US Tax cheats must be brought to justice. No person is above the law. Any office holders, if found to have cheated in taxes, must be penalized.
New York state has done good job in keeping things transparent and not be a part of "cover-up".
32
If the bill says any tax return may be released, and YOU have decided to hide your return, the problem is not with the bill…
20
Gee, finally some legislators—in New York State—don’t hesitate to get things done.
Why can’t the Democratic-controlled House in Washington take the hint and work to get something done? Are they all afraid of Donald Trump?
17
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
The House has passed a number of bills. The Senate refuses to them up. So don't put the blame on the House, put it where it belongs, on Mitch McConnell.
15
@rlschles - The House is still dragging its feet with threats of subpoenas, contempt, etc. Just demand records by tomorrow. If they are not on the desk at 8 a.m., hold in contempt, etc.
Instead they give these people a month to six weeks to appear and then the person in question gets to decide what, when, and for how long. The House acts more like the front desk of a doctor's office making an appointment.
5
Don’t get excited. It’s gonna take months to go through the process of analyzing his probably enormous tax returns, and all secretly in the committees at first.
And just like the mueller report, there’s unlikely to be any smoking guns.
The only way to get rid of Trump by Nov 2020 is to elect a Democrat. That’s looking hard right about now - Democrats are hurting their chances with this impeachment nonsense, and unless they accomplish something concrete in other matters, their majority is sure to be short lived .
6
@Mark MD Seriously? The returns will be leaked to the Times and/or Washington Post within minutes of their transmittal to the Congress, which is, of course, the entire rationale for this bill. Regardless of your views on/feelings about Trump, I think people should be fearful of the precedent created by legislation that is so transparently designed to harm a political enemy. Will it seem like such a good idea if and when the Texas legislature should pass a measure aimed at damaging a President Robert Francis O'Rourke?
6
Re: "...And just like the mueller report, there’s unlikely to be any smoking guns. etc." {@Mark MD}
When it comes to 'smoking guns', (R.I.C.O.-allegations), concerning Trumpis_Maximus...I feel like I'm watching one of those, ('3a/m-insomniac_theater'), WW-2-newsreels of marines, wading ashore under fire, with, (U.S.N.), counter-battery fire, off Tarawa, etc.!
1
@Airish If you run for public office, you should be prepared for full disclosure.
7
For many years the radical right, segregationists, and bigots have flown the banner of States’ Rights. It’s a supreme irony that state power has now become the bulwark against an authoritarian right-wing executive.
I love New York....and I’m a Red Sox fan.
349
@Charlie B
Just because segregationists used States' Rights for their purposes does not mean that the concept is invalid. States' Rights is what will allow California, NY, and others to prevent the federal government from enforcing ill-conceived policy detrimental to those states.
21
@Charlie B
I couldn't have said it better myself.
@Charlie B. Different when its for hyper partisan reasons, to try and remove duly elected president.
1
New York delivers. Trump and his henchmen can appeal to the courts but the effort should be futile. We will learn a great deal from New York State and much more from Deutsche Bank, his accounting firm and the IRS. We should expect all of this to be made public except for information that may be used for Trump's criminal indictment. Thank God.
37
(Sing along with me). "I love New York!"
99
Re: "(Sing along with me). "I love New York!" {@MAS}
...In (approximately) 315 million-part harmony! ...And, a 1, and a 2...
7
@MAS. "I want to be a part of it! New York, New York!"
6
This is getting ridiculous.
If there is a clear cut legislative reason for Congress to have Trump's tax returns, state it, and the Courts will decide in that direction.
Otherwise, it's just information gathering with the goal of embarrassing the President. Who doesn't think the tax return information won't be directly leaked to the NYTimes?
You may be interested in the returns, I may be interested in the returns, but that is not the same as a legal right to have those returns.
10
@Dan The clear cut reason is to see if tax laws need to be strengthened because an individual is abusing some provisions. Also to see if deductions are being taken that perhaps should be outlawed. Congress has a very clear cut reason to see the tax returns.
15
@Dan
The courts, packed with Federalist Society toadies, right up to the two sexual predators on the Supreme Court, can unfortunately no longer be trusted.
16
@Dan
It is a simple as this. We need to know to whom the president is beholden. Who does he owe money to, who has been giving hm loans, who is he doing business with. Then we will know more clearly if he has the potential to be blackmailed and manipulated.
His behavior and business history give us every right to be concerned.
46
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you impeached and imprisoned.
15
@Really - Thank you for the much needed smile.
5
@Really
This could be a song. Nice lyrics.
5
@Really: The Pointer Sisters are jammin’ with you (and us)!!
1
Bravo, New York! If we can not get this crook one way, we will go the other. There is more than one road to justice it would seem. Let the lawful and ethical path win and dig up Trump's personal journey to perdition. Finally, finally, I have hope. Next stop, the House. Do your job, Ms Pelosi. And you know what it is.
19
Dig it!
New York comes through again. (Southern District of NY is presumably the first time)
Right on.
10
Thank you, members of the NY Legislature for giving Attorney General Letitia James the tools necessary to prosecute the Trump Crime Family on behalf of the citizens of New York. There's no Mitch McConnell to obstruct your inquiry here, nor is there any state law against filing charges against a sitting president.
31
I ♡ New York!
20
New York legislature leads once again!
8
Ok. So, now we're cool with bills of attainder. That'll never come back to bite us. We'll sell our souls to get him, won't we.
9
@sf
Read the article. It very clearly states the legal opinions of prestigious lawyers that this is written broadly enough to NOT be a bill of attainder. NOT.
17
@sf, many laws are inspired by and even named after individuals. That does not make them bills of attainder. This bill is so broad to include all NY taxpayers, not an individual or single company.
3
Sometimes, the news just makes me smile.
6
Is there no shame to the actions of this President. No wonder Pelosi offered him a prayer this morning. He is so totally crippled by his criminality that he cannot serve the people - his lies have surrounded and enveloped him; his enablers stand agape, mouths open in awe of this aberration of a man. He's become a pathetic figure and will remain a black mark on the presidency for all time.
12
this just adds to the prevailing lunacy of a bloated criminal enterprise masquerading as an administration, feeding itself on the government and flipping off every law or standard yet this individual escapes any type of consequence however the true victims ( those who do their job without breaking every law) are the accused. what kind of carnival of horrors have we entered
7
Committee Members - Please move with all due haste to get access to this tax information as soon as the bill is signed. Especially after the news about Suspicious Activity Reports at DB from last week (where'd that story go, BTW?), we need this information and we need it now, before the administration can maneouver around it.
9
What does it say that we in New York find him so reprehensible and his behavior so vile and untrustworthy?
We had just a bit of an inkling into who he was before he scammed the rest of the country into electing him.
I truly hope this is the beginning of the end of this nightmare.
16
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Churchill
5
Hooray for the Empire State!
7
With this bill, Trump is already in a corner. Just a matter of time before his crime is uncovered.
Tick tock Lindsey and Mitch. Trump will not go down alone. Your secrets will soon be exposed too.
Albany deserves a slow clap. Bravo, Governor Cuomo.
16
Great news. Hope in the air.
6
The past is a terrible thing when it keeps trying to catch up with you. This man has cheated his entire life and the evidence is in many nooks and crannies.. Trump can run and storm out of rooms, but he can't hide. We know where he lives.
12
They ought to ask for the "long-form" tax returns!
6
Thanks to New York State for fighting mob criminal behavior in the White House. Trump begins to look like Richard III. But he is going to need more than a horse to escape the forces closing in on him. Let the fray begin!
8
Democrats reach new lows everyday.
8
@K. Lazlo Hud
Still trying to get on an equal footing with Trump.
6
@K. Lazlo Hud
That's where the republican enablers and trump are.
Maybe someone should look at Mr. Benedetto‘s taxes also.
3
Attainder is the loss of property and civil rights of someone found guilty of treason or a felony. It was a punishment meted out by English royalty to rebellious vassals. It’s really got nothing to do with investigating tax filings by Trump (or anyone else). These are legal documents that can be examined for evidence of malfeasance, and are not wholly private information, or protected as private by current civil rights laws.
8
As long as it is written in the same way as federal law allowing release of tax returns to Congress, I have no problem with it. Sure, Donald Trump is the instigating factor, but there is a broader principle of transparency in public service in play.
11
It's a creative way to get what Trump has so far refused to reveal, but I suspect it will meet with the same result: stonewalling enabled by the court system.
At some point, it's going to take someone - or several someones - courageous enough to release the information that has so far been withheld illegally, including Trump's tax returns, the full and uncensored Mueller report, and the rest of the evidence accrued in the investigations to-date. Where are our Deep Throats, and Daniel Ellsbergs?
26
We're not stopping here. Next up is the bill that will allow prosecution at the state level of any individual who receives a federal, presidential pardon.
26
Correct. Right the wrongs, block the end-arounds, close the loopholes. People in power, Trump being the prime example, most egregious example right now, have gotten away with too much for far too long.
7
Congress should consider drafting a regulation subsequently imposed as a statute—requiring all candidates seeking federal public office be required to provide full disclosure on matters financial evinced in tax filings prior to having their name placed on the ballot.
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@Monte McMurchy
The House already has as part of their "Anti-Corruption in Politics" Bill.
@Monty McMurchy: Whatsoever Congress doeth, the next Congress can undoeth. Better for states to require tax returns to appear on their ballots.
@Monte McMurchy California agrees with you and passed just such a requirement for 2020.
It would be wonderful if this bill allowed Congress, and thus the American people, to see Trump's tax returns.
Trump is afraid of being exposed for the fraud that he is.
It will be so interesting if we finally get to see his tax returns.
101
Thank you for stepping up New York. Heaven knows our republican dominated senate has no desire or motivitation to prioritize the needs of the constituency who elected it.
267
@WGM - That's the key to empowering a tyrant. The Republicans have brought this on through their unrelenting money and power lust. Anyone who thinks they care about American citizens provides perpetual credence to the words of P.T. Barnum.
20
Thank you NY State. The fact that Trump continues to directly benefit from his business during his term in office and the very thin line separating him from its operation makes this inspection absolutely necessary.
206
The tax returns are the key to knowing what conflicts of interest exist as it is illegal to use the office of the presidency for family business. His impunity should not extend to hiding this information.
227
Glad this passed, but what I want to know is which of the news outlets that have spent enormous resource looking at Trump and his various businesses has compiled a database, by state, of Trump holdings.
At one point it was reported he had over 400 LLC's. Where is that list? Where do those LLC's operate?
Other states, as noted elsewhere in these comments, demand Federal Returns be attached to State returns. Knowing where those LLC's are would open other state level opportunities to get at the root of Trumps lies and tax evasions.
52
What is the point of all this?
If it's to impeach him, there is more than enough to go on already. So do it.
But this just seems like one long, endless investigation. It wasn't a crime for Trump to refuse to release his tax returns. If the goal is to find things in his tax returns to charge him with, you don't need Washington to do that. The IRS and New York State Tax bureau handle that.
Find something, charge him, and move forward. But years, and years of investigations with no end in sight, and no charge ever filed, is pointless and infuriating.
11
@Talbot Personally, I'd like to see where/how trump got all that cash he used to buy buildings.
I also want to know how much he is indebted to other countries/people.
And, as icing on the cake, I want to know how much 9or how little) he is really worth.
These are important questions - separate from the insane behavior tweeted by the president.
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@Talbot The significance goes way beyond tax evasion or simple financial crimes. The reason for the in-depth probe is to get as complete a record and picture as possible to see from where Trump's income is derived, whether or not there are dubious/nefarious or outright criminal connections, foreign government ties/bribes/konpromat or quid-pro quos and the like. The tax returns alone will not give this information. It is entirely possible he submitted false returns; i.e. lied. But with a deep forensic look, some new information or previously known but not yet proven evidence might be uncovered.
42
@Talbot. People are confused thinking impeachment is an end goal. All it means is to file charges for a trial in the Senate. Everyone knows, however that the McConnell/GOP-controlled Senate would absolve Trump, just like the Dem-controlled Senate absolves Bill Clinton, leading to a landslide re-election. The anti-impeachment argument is more focused on getting Trump out by election, knowing that impeachment will fail.
9
Thank you New York State fro doing the job that the US Congress is incapable of doing; or not willing to do. They are too busy doing lip service and working on the 2020 election. They are about to go on summer break to "visit" their districts.
When they do get back, then they may actually ask New York State for Trump's, and hist businesses, tax returns. Unfortunately, this foot dragging may take to September.
Better late, than never. They New York Tax Returns may not get Trump impeached, but they will make for interesting reading. I wonder how many years I paid more income taxes than Trump did.
310
@Nick Metrowsky They probably won't get Trump impeached because the Republicans in the Senate are complicit. But they will allow New York to charge him criminally when he leaves office, most likely in January 2020.
The next President's inauguration may actually be the largest ever attended if it also has the drama of police officials carting off Trump as soon as the new President is sworn in.
32
@Trg
You mean split screen on at 12:01 PM January 20, 2021. While they play "Hail to the Chief" for the new President of the United States; Trump will be led away by the FBI , and Secret Service, to federal detention.
13
@Nick Metrowsky
"doing the job that the US Congress is incapable of doing; or not willing to do."
I very much disagree, as that is hardly the case. Our Democratic congress is not incapable of, or unwilling to pursue tRumps taxes, but due to his consistently unconstitutional and illegal stonewalling, it has proven difficult to date. For this reason, New York states contribution will be much appreciated in advancing the interests of our investigations into the doings of the tRump Crime Syndicate.
5
In MN, the department of revenue requires attaching copies of the Federal 1040 and all attachments thereto to be filed with the state return. It would be good to know if this also the case in the state of New York.
78
@Hector
Probably not, but look here: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/default.htm
I do not remember my father sending his Federal Income Tax returns with his New York State Tax Returns, but that was over 30 years ago. They may require it now.
In Colorado, you do have to attach your Federal Tax Return to the State Tax Return.
11
@Nick Metrowsky
I took a look at the primary form, and it seems that a filer need only fill in 19 items from the fed form, and no requirement to submit the 1040. HOWEVER, if one makes $66K or less, one can use FreeFile, so that's probably a digital source of his returns.
3
@Hector
No. See page 37: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/it/it201i.pdf
3
With the way Trump is behaving, I wouldn't be surprised if he vowed to never return to NY again. Then, of course, he'd do what he said he wouldn't and lie about it all.
Well done.
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@Suzanne Moniz
The really good thing is that people with a lot of money will likely decide that they have no need to risk their financial affairs becoming public, either. So, many of them will take their money and move to other jurisdictions. Which is excellent, because who needs these evil money-makers anyway? I mean, it's not as if we depend on these people.
Oops. Sorry.
Wall Street’s Slide Hurts New York; City Loses Nearly $1 Billion in Tax Revenuehttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/nyregion/nyc-revenue-taxes-budget.html
"Nearly two-thirds of New York State’s tax receipts are now generated by the personal income tax, or PIT, which relies disproportionately on the highest-earning one percent of New York taxpayers." https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/exploring-nys-top-heavy-pit-base/
2
@HMI
Wall Street is not going to move to Peoria, or Dubuque, or Sioux Falls, or any of a zillion other towns any time soon. Those guys have to see and be seen, party in the Hamptons, and dine in swanky restaurants.
7
@HMI
Why would they need to move out of the state. All they have to do is be smart enough not to run for public office, and they won't fall under the purvey of this new law.
1