Democratic Nominee in 2020

Quote: JimRockford

The legal scholars in the New Republic article that I linked disagree As do the ones who wrote this one.

https://www-m.cnn.com/2017/04/14/opinions/state-laws-requiring-tax-return-disclosure-legal-tribe-painter-eisen/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&rm=1

Their argument is pretty thin. That "voters want it" is most of their rationale. But it brings up something I forgot, when SCOTUS threw out states setting term limits for congress. That would be a huge precedent.

Current odds for Democratic nominee:

Kamala Harris +300
Joe Biden +350
Bernie Sanders +400
Elizabeth Warren +710

Quote: Wizard

Current odds for Democratic nominee:

Kamala Harris +300
Joe Biden +350
Bernie Sanders +400
Elizabeth Warren +710

Looks like some value in Biden and Sanders.

Quote: AZDuffman

Looks like some value in Biden and Sanders.

I agree.

Quote: terapined

As much as I dislike Trump
I am against releasing your tax returns as a requirement to run for President.
It should be voluntary.

I think the solution is easy: the political parties should pass a rule that a candidate must release his or her tax returns prior to the nominating convention. If the candidate doesn't want to release his tax returns, that's fine. They can just run as an independent, and the party nomination goes to someone else willing to honor the rule. I don't see how this could be ruled unconstitutional, since the political parties are private organizations, not official government agencies.

The Dems would be wise to adopt this rule ASAP. It would help the political party vet a candidate's financial secrets, it would prevent a tax-related October surprise from occurring the week before the November election, and the party could brag about transparency & honesty.

Quote: reno

a candidate must release his or her tax returns

Totally disagree. It's nobodies business,
and not needed. The IRS goes to great
lengths to protect the privacy of those
filing taxes. Such a rule would never
make it thru the courts.

Quote: Evenbob

Such a rule would never
make it thru the courts.

I'm not proposing a rule enforced by the government. I'm proposing a rule enforced by a political party (for example, the Democrat Party).

So the courts get to decide who the Democrat Party endorses? So the courts get to decide which politicians caucus with the Democrat Party? So the courts get to decide what the rules for joining the Democrat Party are?

If the Democrat Party adopts a stupid rule, it's a free country: the politician is welcome to boycott the party, join a different party, or run as an independent.

Why would the courts be involved?

Quote: reno

Why would the courts be involved?

Because it's a major invasion of privacy,
just like medical records. Your finances are
your own business, not the worlds.
They have nothing to do with running
for office. If you're doing something
wrong the IRS will catch you.

Quote: Evenbob

Because it's a major invasion of privacy,
just like medical records. Your finances are
your own business, not the worlds.

If privacy is the issue, the tax returns are the least of your concerns. Which do you think bothered Bill Clinton more: releasing his tax returns or having the world learn about the cigar & Monica Lewinsky? Jeez, Trump had to endure Stormy Daniels going on TV and describing the shape of his genitals to the world... and you're worried about tax returns?

If privacy is important, don't run for President.

Quote: reno

Iand you're worried about tax returns?
.

That might be the worst logical argument
I've ever seen. Tax returns should be
released because people might find
out even worse things about you?
Really? That's ridiculous.