Rep. Walter Jones (R-SC) has become the first House Republican to sign on to the Democratic discharge petition that would force a House vote on a bill requiring Trump to release his tax returns.
Jomes signed the petition to force a vote on the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, which states:
This bill amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require the President and certain candidates for President to disclose federal income tax returns for the three most recent taxable years in reports filed with either the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) or the Federal Election Commission (FEC), in the case of a candidate.
The OGE or the FEC must make the disclosed tax returns publicly available after making appropriate redactions. If the income tax returns are not disclosed as required by this bill, the OGE or the FEC must request the returns from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
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The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the IRS, upon receiving a written request from the FEC or the OGE, to provide any income tax return that is required to be disclosed under this bill.
The bill also establishes civil and criminal penalties for failing to file or falsifying income tax returns that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this bill.
Frank Clemente, Executive Director, Americans for Tax Fairness said in a statement provided to PoltiicusUSA, “Sooner or later, Republicans in Congress will need to put the nation’s needs above a partisan agenda. With President Trump’s ties to Russia now a full-blown national security scandal, it’s never been more crucial for the public to see what President Trump is hiding in his taxes. We thank Congressman Jones for joining the effort to demand President Trump’s taxes, and we hope more of his Republican colleagues will join him.”
There are currently 190 Democrats and 1 Republican who have signed the petition. If the petition reaches 218 signatures
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
