OUR PRESIDENT, OUR RESPONSIBILITY

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER

 "The Presidential campaign is over and the fear that a political opponent will try to use tax returns for electoral benefit is passed. President Trump is now governing while also owning a business with international investments. The Constitution faces unprecedented threats due to this arrangement. I believe the powerful Ways and Means Committee has the responsibility to use that power to ensure proper oversight of the executive branch by requesting a review of President Trump’s tax returns and moving towards a formal release of these documents to the public."   – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, member of the Ways and Means Committee

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT?

President Trump has chosen to keep an ownership stake in his businesses, the scope of which we have no knowledge of as he has refused to disclose his tax returns. We believe that it is imperative for the public to know and understand his 564 financial positions in domestic and foreign companies, and his self-reported net worth of more than $10 billion. We know that state-owned enterprises in China and the United Arab Emirates are involved in his businesses, and that his business ties stretch to India, Turkey, the Philippines, and beyond. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan may also have ties to his businesses.

These foreign entities are paying rents, licensing agreement payments, and issuing permits for developments -- effectively giving them a tool to influence our new President. None of these potential conflicts can be verified until and unless we have disclosure from President Trump. Every major Presidential candidate since Richard Nixon, with the exception of President Gerald Ford who released a summary of tax data, has released his or her tax returns for public review. Until now.

A CHRONOLOGY OF ATTEMPTS

1. February 1, 2017 – LETTER (BRADY) - Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter to Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) asking him to use his authority under Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code to request ten years of tax return documents for President Donald Trump in order to review them in closed committee for conflicts.
2. February 3, 2017 – AMENDMENT (COMMITTEE) - At the subsequent Ways and Means Committee, during a markup of a Views and Estimates Letter, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced amendment that would have forced Chairman Brady to obtain Trump's tax returns for review by the committee. It was vote down on party lines, but every Democrat spoke in favor of it, dragging the markup out into the evening. 
3. February 13, 2017 – LETTER RESPONSE (BRADY) - Chairman Brady commented to the press that he would not use his authority to seek President Trump's tax returns.
4. February 27, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Pascrell offered a Privileged Resolution that would have forced a release of Trump's tax returns. Republicans voted it down on party lines (voted to table the appeal), 229-185, with two Republicans, Walter Jones (R-NC) and Mark Sanford (R-SC), voting "present."
5. March 1, 2017 – LETTER (HATCH) - Pascrell attended a press conference with Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tom Carper (D-DE) to discuss their efforts to obtain Trump's tax returns via Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
6. March 2, 2017 – LETTER (BRADY/HATCH) - Pascrell sent a second letter to Chairmen Hatch and Brady asking them to use their authority under Section 6103 to request Trump's tax returns. 165 members signed on to the letter, including two Republicans (Jones, Sanford).
7. March 3, 2017 – LETTER RESPONSE (BRADY/HATCH) Chairmen Brady and Hatch responded formally to Pascrell letter saying+ they believed using Section 6103 would be an abuse of the committees' powers.
8. March 7, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) offered a privileged resolution similar to the one Pascrell offered the week before. This was also tabled along party lines, 227-186, though Jones voted with the Democrats opposing the motion to table, and Sanford again voted present.
9. March 8, 2017 – AMENDMENT (COMMITTEE) - The Ways and Means Committee met to markup the American Health Care Act. Doggett again offered an amendment to force request of Trump's tax returns. It was also voted down on party lines.
10. March 9, 2017 – RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY (COMMITTEEE/FULL HOUSE) - Pascrell introduced a Resolution of Inquiry, which would force the Ways and Means Committee to vote on whether to obtain Trump's tax returns within 14 legislative days. If they do not meet to do so, any member can bring the resolution to the floor for a full vote.
11. March 15, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) offered a Privileged Resolution similar to Pascrell. This was also tabled along party lines, 227-186, though Jones voted with the Democrats opposing the motion to table, and Sanford again voted present.
12. March 21, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) offered a Privileged Resolution similar to Pascrell. This was also tabled along party lines, 227-186, though Jones voted with the Democrats opposing the motion to table, and Sanford again voted present.
13. March 27, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) offered a Privileged Resolution similar to Pascrell. This was also tabled along party lines, 227-186, though Jones voted with the Democrats opposing the motion to table, and Sanford again voted present.
14. March 28, 2017 – RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY RESPONSE (COMMITTEEE/FULL HOUSE) Ways and Means markup Pascrell Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 186). After extensive discussion, measure defeated on party lines in committee and will not be voted on by the full House.
15. April 3, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) offered a Privileged Resolution similar to Pascrell. This was also tabled along party lines, 227-186, though Jones voted with the Democrats opposing the motion to table, and Sanford again voted present.
16. April 5, 2017 – DISCHARGE PETITION (FULL HOUSE) - Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) offered a discharged petition, which Leader Pelosi and you signed, to force a vote on her bill, the Presidential Tax Transparency Act (H.R. 5386), which would require any major candidate for President to provide a copy of their tax returns for the three most recent years as of the date of their nomination.
17. May 16, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) - Pascrell offered a Privileged Resolution that would have forced a release of Trump's tax returns.
18. May 23, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) – Rep. Linda Sanchez offered a Privileged Resolution that would have forced a release of Trump's tax returns.
19. June 7, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) – Rep. Mike Capuano offered a Privileged Resolution that would have forced a release of Trump's tax returns.
20. June 13, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) – Rep. Lloyd Doggett offered a Privileged Resolution that would have forced a release of Trump's tax returns.
21. July 11, 2017 – PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION (FULL HOUSE) – Rep. David Cicilline offered a Privileged Resolution that would have forced a release of Trump's tax returns.
22. July 27, 2017 – RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY (COMMITTEEE/FULL HOUSE) - Pascrell introduced a resolution of inquiry (H. Res. 479), which would force the Ways and Means Committee to vote on whether to obtain Trump’s personal and business tax returns within 14 legislative days.
23. September 7, 2017 – RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY (COMMITTEE) Ways and Means markup Pascrell Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 479). The measure was defeated on party lines in committee and was not voted on by the full House.
24. November 9, 2017 – AMENDMENT (COMMITTEE) The Ways and Means Committee met to markup the H.R. 1 (tax reform). Mr. Pascrell offered an amendment to force request of Trump's tax returns. It was also voted down on party lines.
25. December 20, 2017 – LETTER (TRUMP) Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to release his tax returns in the name of transparency, citing Trump’s many promises to release his tax returns for public analysis.
26. March 27, 2018 – LETTER (BRADY) - Pascrell issued a letter to Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX-08) calling for the Committee to conduct oversight of foreign profits President Trump and the Trump Organization have received and to seek Trump’s tax returns, citing a series of articles highlighting questions about profits the Trump family has reaped from foreign entities.
27. July 26, 2018 – LETTER (IRS/FEC) - Pascrell led 94 Members of Congress in sending a letter to the heads of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) demanding they launch an investigation of Donald Trump and the Trump Foundation, including a formal probe into Trump’s tax returns.
28. September 13, 2018 – AMENDMENT (COMMITTEE) Ways and Means markup amendment offered by Pascrell, Doggett, Crowley would require Ways and Means Chairman to request President's tax returns and those of his business. The measure was defeated on party lines in committee and was not voted on by the full House.

WATCH NOW

CNN: SHOULD CONGRESS FORCE RELEASE OF TAX RETURNS?

TO THE POINT: ALL OF THE PRESIDENT'S TAXES

VIDEO: SENATORS JOIN CALL FOR TAX RETURNS

TO THE POINT: WHITE HOUSE ETHICS

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