Donald Trump was the first major party presidential candidate to refuse to release his tax returns since Richard Nixon was president.
That makes it impossible to know whether Trump’s policy decisions are being made to benefit the public, or his bank account -- and that’s a huge problem.
That’s why Democrats across the nation have introduced various bills that would require Trump, and all future presidential candidates, to release their tax returns. But Republicans have obstructed them all along the way.
A similar bill has been introduced right here in California. The Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act (SB 149) would require all presidential candidates to file their last five income tax returns with the state in order to have their name placed on the ballot. It is up to us to make sure it passes by letting our legislators know, loud and clear, that we support a transparent presidency free of any conflicts of interest.