Posted on 02/15/2017 9:11:56 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Congressional Democrats on Tuesday tried but failed to pressure Republicans into seeking President Donald Trump's tax returns, saying the scandal over Michael Flynn made it imperative to find out whether the president has business ties to Russia.
A day after the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee dismissed the idea, the panel's Democrats proposed an amendment demanding that the committee ask the Treasury Department for copies of Trump's returns by March 1.
"Unless this amendment is adopted, we will never see the president's tax returns while he's in office," Representative Sander Levin, a Michigan Democrat, told committee Chairman Kevin Brady at a public hearing.
"Before you stonewall this, I urge you to think twice," Levin added. "You'll only keep the issue... alive.
Brady strongly rejected the request as an abuse of the committee's authority.
Minutes later, committee rejected the amendment along party lines in a 23-15 vote.
The vote represents only the latest skirmish between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over whether lawmakers should review Trump's tax returns, which critics say would help determine whether the president's sprawling business empire poses any conflicts of interest. House Democratic aides say the political battle will continue.
The resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn on Monday intensified Democratic interest in the documents, with one lawmaker warning about the potential danger of blackmail.
Representative Bill Pascrell, a New Jersey Democrat, issued the first request for Trump's returns in a Feb. 1 letter that Brady rejected on Monday.
Experts say federal law authorizes the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation to examine individual tax returns.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Fine. If they want them, they’ll have to enact a law to enable them the authority to demand them.
Nothing in the Constitution gives them the right. Good luck with that, guys.
The RATs are funny when they cry & moan.
The Democrat Party continues to spiral down into total irrelevance.
Why? Rhetorical question. What can we do?
“House Democrats escalate effort to obtain Trump tax returns”
Just ignore them. Don’t even respond. He is not required to release them and the Democrats don’t want them for a legitimate purpose. They only want to see if there is some way to use them to damage the president. There is NO upside to releasing them.
Fine. I want to see ALL tax returns, side-by-side including Clinton & Obama. And Sanders.
Actually, I’d like for all Representatives, Senators, the President, and cabinet members to shuffle theirs up in public view....all or nothing.
and congress members tax returns as well.... each and every one of them.
I suspect someone at the IRS will give them to the press and be hailed a hero.
What keeps Trump from sealing all his records, like Obama and Cruz?
we're winning, they're losing.
The hypocrisy is breathtaking! Where were they when Obama said he didn’t have to disclose his campaign donations in 2008, because they were ‘all under $200’. Didn’t even have to disclose how much he received from foreign sources. And in addition to that, Timothy Geitner had cheated on his taxes and yet was confirmed as Sec of Treasury! I hope this has taught a powerful lesson to the Republicans in Congress.......you let Dems away with murder and they nitpick every little possible indiscretion when they aren’t even in power. Sadly, I doubt the Republicans have learned from past experiences.
We’ll see....like it our not, it’s our IRS now and it is up to Trump to clean that sh!t out.
Experts say federal law authorizes the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation to examine individual tax returns.
Where? What law?
This means the Russian BS didn’t work
They got their panties in a wad over Kellyanne mentioning Ivanka’s clothing. Ooh, that’s a violation! Yeah, they’re suddenly real sticklers for the law these days so tell us the specific law that requires Trump to turn over his taxes.
Heard these same "Experts" saying the Dems who are asking for this are Homos and Pedophiles? True?
Maybe make a deal—Trump’s tax returns in exchange for Obama’s college transcripts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.