White House to Democrats seeking Trump tax returns - 'Never'

[Becker]

9 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

What is wrong with these people?  This is self destructive behavior.  While China is working harmoniously toward world economic domination these idiots via the Democrats and mainstream media are pitting Americans against Americans.  And on top of it they are trying to get rid of their own leader.  China is laughing... they couldn't have created a better scenario for themselves.

I'm sure they're thanking Putin.

[riclag]

3 hours ago, suzannegoh said:

Can congress compel any citizen to make their tax returns public or is this something special for the president?

My guess is the job outlook for future CPA's has increased 10 fold in DC

[Spike1938]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

JFK & FDR never released their tax returns.

Trump needs to continue to tell those people looking for any earthly reason to find dirt on him to pound some more sand.

JFK and FDR were never suspected of violating the emolument clause of the constitution. Unlike this selfish greedy man they divested themselves of their business interests. And that is just one reason among many others that make seeing his taxes relevant.

[wayned]

3 hours ago, Redline said:

It’s an investigation, so they can ask for anyone’s returns.  What is Donny boy afraid of?  He said he would release them anyway.  Cohen said he’s been ripping off the taxpayers for decades, and his father as well.  The southern district will be asking for them as well, as he is from NY, and his businesses are in NY.  They want his business records too???? 

 

Yep, they can ask but tax returns are really protected and they are not just released because there is an investigation.

 

But Rep. Neal approached the request in a very different manner.  As head of the  committee he is one of the few that can request the returns.  He approached it from a clear oversight commitment where he wants to investigate whether the IRS has been performing their duties in auditing Trump's tax returns.  Trump's lawyers will fight it to the supreme court, but I doubt that they will win as the rules clearly state that the Director of the IRS "shall" release the returns, but it might take years.

 

Even if Trump's taxes were squeaky clean he would fight it just to create more chaos as he thrives on it and wants to draw it out as long as possible in the news cycle.

[riclag]

7 minutes ago, wayned said:

Yep, they can ask but tax returns are really protected and they are not just released because there is an investigation.

 

But Rep. Neal approached the request in a very different manner.  As head of the  committee he is one of the few that can request the returns.  He approached it from a clear oversight commitment where he wants to investigate whether the IRS has been performing their duties in auditing Trump's tax returns.  Trump's lawyers will fight it to the supreme court, but I doubt that they will win as the rules clearly state that the Director of the IRS "shall" release the returns, but it might take years.

 

Even if Trump's taxes were squeaky clean he would fight it just to create more chaos as he thrives on it and wants to draw it out as long as possible in the news cycle.

This sounds sensible ! But one must wonder about civil liberties and privacy rights! But who knows maybe the POTUS can claim harassment since he and only he is being singled out!

I do appreciate your comment

Edited April 8, 2019 by riclag

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, riclag said:

This sounds sensible ! But one must wonder about civil liberties and privacy rights! But who knows maybe the POTUS can claim harassment since he and only he is being singled out!

I do appreciate your comment

 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

never a mention of how to make the country and people of the US more prosperous, more safe, and better educated. 

Why is that?

Not enough Norwegians want to emigrate to the US?

[heybruce]

4 hours ago, suzannegoh said:

Can congress compel any citizen to make their tax returns public or is this something special for the president?

Yes, but it is a power that is rarely used:

 

(f) Disclosure to Committees of Congress(1) Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Tax-ation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any re-turn or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.   https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2011-title26/pdf/USCODE-2011-title26-subtitleF-chap61-subchapB-sec6103.pdf

[heybruce]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

I would think Americans here would be more concerned about the civil liberties issues involved as opposed to glorifying another attempt to bend the laws to get Trump.

 

Right.  Just another example of white billionaire men being repressed and discriminated against.

[wayned]

18 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Not enough Norwegians want to emigrate to the US?

They are no longer welcome as the US is "FULL"!

[Nyezhov]

21 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Right.  Just another example of white billionaire men being repressed and discriminated against.

Remember the apocryphal words of Pastor Niemöller.

 

Today Trump.... tomorrow? O wait,no problem, you trust .gov

Edited April 8, 2019 by Nyezhov

[keemapoot]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Conservatives like private enterprise, don't like socialism, don't like unfettered illegal immigration, don't want terrorists or drugs entering the US, want conservatives on the SCOTUS, support owning guns, support religion.

What's he doing against any of that?

My kind of conservatism loves private enterprise, but also loves globalism and all the opportunities for capitalist expansion that offers (as most of my fellow traditional conservatives also believe and unlike Trump); I don't care about socialism for other countries to practice, but I never worry about the US even approaching anything remotely like socialism (just scare mongering by Trump); yes, don't like unfettered illegal immigration, but there is more to stopping it than a symbolic wall, sure don't want terrorists or drugs entering the US, but shutting borders as idiot Trump proposed is just plain stupid; sure am ok with conservatives on the bench, so long as the bench is balanced (who wants a loaded court in either direction?), and anyway, studies have proven that once on the bench, you cannot depend on conservatives voting reliably that way on every issue anyway, so that's kind of a dumb one; and finally, yes I love guns and support owning them, but think there should be some reasonable restraint in this age of mass school yard killings; and frankly don't give a crap about religion, never did but think evangelicals are wackos.

 

I voted for and supported Reagan and Bush Sr., and other conservatives. I also liked Bill Clinton, but hated Bush Jr.. I hate Trump. Now, tell me, what am I, liberal or conservative, and why do I hate Trump so much?

 

 

[riclag]

My kind of conservatism loves private enterprise, but also loves globalism and all the opportunities for capitalist expansion that offers (as most of my fellow traditional conservatives also believe and unlike Trump); I don't care about socialism for other countries to practice, but I never worry about the US even approaching anything remotely like socialism (just scare mongering by Trump); yes, don't like unfettered illegal immigration, but there is more to stopping it than a symbolic wall, sure don't want terrorists or drugs entering the US, but shutting borders as idiot Trump proposed is just plain stupid; sure am ok with conservatives on the bench, so long as the bench is balanced (who wants a loaded court in either direction?), and anyway, studies have proven that once on the bench, you cannot depend on conservatives voting reliably that way on every issue anyway, so that's kind of a dumb one; and finally, yes I love guns and support owning them, but think there should be some reasonable restraint in this age of mass school yard killings; and frankly don't give a crap about religion, never did but think evangelicals are wackos.
 
I voted for and supported Reagan and Bush Sr., and other conservatives. I also liked Bill Clinton, but hated Bush Jr.. I hate Trump. Now, tell me, what am I, liberal or conservative, and why do I hate Trump so much?
 
 

Exposing the status quo by a non politician !who would in a million years thought they would put up with it

[heybruce]

32 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Remember the apocryphal words of Pastor Niemöller.

 

Today Trump.... tomorrow? O wait,no problem, you trust .gov

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

This only applies to Trump in the sense of "First they came for the Muslims...."

[heybruce]

32 minutes ago, keemapoot said:

My kind of conservatism loves private enterprise, but also loves globalism and all the opportunities for capitalist expansion that offers (as most of my fellow traditional conservatives also believe and unlike Trump); I don't care about socialism for other countries to practice, but I never worry about the US even approaching anything remotely like socialism (just scare mongering by Trump); yes, don't like unfettered illegal immigration, but there is more to stopping it than a symbolic wall, sure don't want terrorists or drugs entering the US, but shutting borders as idiot Trump proposed is just plain stupid; sure am ok with conservatives on the bench, so long as the bench is balanced (who wants a loaded court in either direction?), and anyway, studies have proven that once on the bench, you cannot depend on conservatives voting reliably that way on every issue anyway, so that's kind of a dumb one; and finally, yes I love guns and support owning them, but think there should be some reasonable restraint in this age of mass school yard killings; and frankly don't give a crap about religion, never did but think evangelicals are wackos.

 

I voted for and supported Reagan and Bush Sr., and other conservatives. I also liked Bill Clinton, but hated Bush Jr.. I hate Trump. Now, tell me, what am I, liberal or conservative, and why do I hate Trump so much?

I'd label you as rational.  Currently that is not a popular stance.

[Puchaiyank]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Not enough Norwegians want to emigrate to the US?

Ese, me think you put cucumber too deep...????

[farcanell]

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

JFK & FDR never released their tax returns.

Trump needs to continue to tell those people looking for any earthly reason to find dirt on him to pound some more sand.

Lots of things change in fifty years..... transparency in presidential conduct being one of them, even if this has been largely voluntary until now. 

 

Much like we all have to wear motorbike helmets because too many dicks killed themselves, public figures need to be transparent, because too many are crooks..... Nixon being the one responsible for starting the craze of tax transparency for presidents, after being busted.

 

your examples are from a time when release wasn’t a “norm”, otherwise those presidents may have, either voluntarily or when asked by congress, so your examples are dubious whataboutism.

[Nyezhov]

3 hours ago, heybruce said:

Yes, but it is a power that is rarely used:

 

(f) Disclosure to Committees of Congress(1) Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Tax-ation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any re-turn or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.   https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2011-title26/pdf/USCODE-2011-title26-subtitleF-chap61-subchapB-sec6103.pdf

I'm sure the lawyers will argue that the Committee has violated or will violate that statute

[atyclb]

7 hours ago, Katipo said:

As someone viewing this from the outside, to me, Trump withholding his tax returns looks highly suspicious, it not outright illegal.

 

 

i believe his tax return will show income from putin for doing consultant work and thus the reason he has not released it.

[atyclb]

could argue all those on thai retirement visas are actually full time plus overtime "trump derangement syndrome" professionals given how hard they work at it here.

 

fyi; i am a lifelong registered usa democrat

[wwest5829]

8 hours ago, Redline said:

It’s an investigation, so they can ask for anyone’s returns.  What is Donny boy afraid of?  He said he would release them anyway.  Cohen said he’s been ripping off the taxpayers for decades, and his father as well.  The southern district will be asking for them as well, as he is from NY, and his businesses are in NY.  They want his business records too???? 

 

Too bad so many Americans don’t study their history. Remind me again on how they finally jailed Al Capone???

[opalred]

want a bet/ his assets are less than his dept/loans

i would call that broke 

[TPI]

What collective insanity! As HRC said "what difference does it make?" He can't be impeached in the time remaining in this Presidency and obviously he is going to be re-elected as the Democrats don't have anyone to seriously threaten him! That means that they're going to be still at it from 5-9 years after he was first nominated? Why don't they push for more bills to cover the renewal of basic infrastructure, or are these people so unbalanced that they'd rather gain a couple of political points rather than improving the transport and city infrastructures that bedevil their everyday lives? 

Like I said...collective insanity!

[riclag]

2 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Too bad so many Americans don’t study their history. Remind me again on how they finally jailed Al Capone???

He will run again and can't possibly be forced to show his taxes! There is no law that says a candidate for POTUS must release his returns!

 https://www.robertreeveslaw.com/blog/candidates-tax-returns/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3-reasons-its-unconstitutional-to-require-presidential-candidates-to-release-their-tax-returns

 

"The federal authorities became intent on jailing Capone and prosecuted him in 1931 for tax evasion. During a highly publicized case, the judge admitted as evidence Capone's admissions of his income and unpaid taxes during prior (and ultimately abortive) negotiations to pay the government taxes he owed"

 

The POTUS has been under audit for many years, no probable cause that he evaded taxes!

 

[riclag]

1 hour ago, TPI said:

What collective insanity! As HRC said "what difference does it make?" He can't be impeached in the time remaining in this Presidency and obviously he is going to be re-elected as the Democrats don't have anyone to seriously threaten him! That means that they're going to be still at it from 5-9 years after he was first nominated? Why don't they push for more bills to cover the renewal of basic infrastructure, or are these people so unbalanced that they'd rather gain a couple of political points rather than improving the transport and city infrastructures that bedevil their everyday lives? 

Like I said...collective insanity!

Insanity ! Mr. Romney called the dem move "Moronic"

[keemapoot]

1 minute ago, riclag said:

Insanity ! Mr. Romney called the dem move "Moronic"

Is that the same "Mr. Romney" that most Trump supporters have been trashing for all these years?

[riclag]

5 minutes ago, keemapoot said:

Is that the same "Mr. Romney" that most Trump supporters have been trashing for all these years?

Yup, he's the nevertrumper who's sticking up for American laws (no law says a candidate for POTUS must show Tax returns) .

[candide]

I appreciate level of energy spent by Trumpists to state arguments against releasing Trump's tax records. It is a good indicator that they are themselves convinced there is something fishy. ????

[keemapoot]

27 minutes ago, riclag said:

Yup, he's the nevertrumper who's sticking up for American laws (no law says a candidate for POTUS must show Tax returns) .

He's simply doing what is politically expedient. He knows in his heart Trump is a POS, but also knows the prevailing wind is with Trumpism because it's allowing he greater GOP and even Romney's political agenda to move forward. He and everyone else in the traditional GOP would dump Trump in a New York heartbeat if they had the chance. 

 

Unfortunately they do not have that chance.

[riclag]

14 minutes ago, candide said:

I appreciate level of energy spent by Trumpists to state arguments against releasing Trump's tax records. It is a good indicator that they are themselves convinced there is something fishy. ????

 There is no Law that says a current candidate for POTUS has to show his taxes to the moon howlers(Dem Congress) that want to score political points