RECENT VOTES

ROLL CALL VOTE 101: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair

We have an update on efforts to access President Trump’s tax returns using a 1924 law authorizing the Chairs of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation to obtain the tax return of any individual.

On Monday February 27, 2017, New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell tried to offer what is known as a “privileged resolution” which must be considered within two legislative days. If approved, it would have launched the process of reviewing those tax returns in an Executive Session, closed to the public and subject to secrecy requirements. After that review a vote would be taken on whether to proceed with efforts to release the taxes to the public.

House Republicans objected, arguing that the resolution shouldn’t be considered “privileged”. The Republican Chair agreed with that assessment and tabled the resolution. Democrats appealed the Chair’s ruling and a vote was held. Every Republican (except two who voted “present”) voted to “table the appeal of the ruling of the chair”. What that means in non-legislative terms is that House Republicans stood together in keeping Trump’s tax returns secret, from the House itself and also from the American people.

• Read the Congressional Record on Congress.gov