Committee Votes To Release Trumps' Taxes 24-16. Tell Me Why ThisI isn't Partisan Bullsh#T

[Moonglow]

And this is why we are stuck choosing between such bad choices for POTUS.

The relevant statute, Section 6103(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, instructs the IRS to release otherwise-confidential tax returns or return information to three congressional tax committees—the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation—upon written request from the chair of any of those panels. The statute also instructs the IRS to release returns or return information to other congressional committees under a narrower set of circumstances.

The key language regarding the receiving committee’s confidentiality obligations lies in Section 6103(f)(4). That paragraph says that any return or return information obtained by the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, or Joint Committee on Taxation “may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both.” It goes on to say that any return or return information obtained by another committee “may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer, shall be furnished to the Senate or the House of Representatives only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure” (emphasis added).

House Democrats Can Release Trump’s Tax Returns. But Should They?

A victory at the Supreme Court has set up a quandary on Capitol Hill.

www.lawfareblog.com

 

[Harpy Eagle]

The relevant statute, Section 6103(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, instructs the IRS to release otherwise-confidential tax returns or return information to three congressional tax committees—the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation—upon written request from the chair of any of those panels. The statute also instructs the IRS to release returns or return information to other congressional committees under a narrower set of circumstances.

The key language regarding the receiving committee’s confidentiality obligations lies in Section 6103(f)(4). That paragraph says that any return or return information obtained by the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, or Joint Committee on Taxation “may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both.” It goes on to say that any return or return information obtained by another committee “may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer, shall be furnished to the Senate or the House of Representatives only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure” (emphasis added).

House Democrats Can Release Trump’s Tax Returns. But Should They?

A victory at the Supreme Court has set up a quandary on Capitol Hill.

www.lawfareblog.com

Still nothing in there giving them the right to release it to the pubic

 

[Moonglow]

And this is why we are stuck choosing between such bad choices for POTUS.

It is mostly due to the establishment choosing who they want to run by providing financial support to their candidate. Which pretty much reduces the amount and type of candidates we get to vote on.

 

[Moonglow]

Still nothing in there giving them the right to release it to the pubic

The committee that has the tax returns can vote on who they want to release the information to if they release them at all as long as personal information is redacted.

 

[ThisIsMe]

Trump promised to release his taxes as soon as the IRS audits are over

Well, they are over

Ok, so you should be pressuring him to release his taxes, not using the government to force them out into the public.

 

[ThisIsMe]

Is it illegal to 'release' a public document to the public?

If that document is private protected information....yes

 

[ThisIsMe]

The committee that has the tax returns can vote on who they want to release the information to if they release them at all as long as personal information is redacted.

No. They can't. Please point to the specific code that allows them to do this.

Besides, what good is redacting if you already know who the information is about?

 

[Moonglow]

No. They can't. Please point to the specific code that allows them to do this.

Besides, what good is redacting if you already know who the information is about?

In the definitive scholarly treatment of Section 6103(f), longtime University of Virginia law professor George Yin, who served as chief of staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation from 2003 to 2005, concludes that the choice to allow the three tax committees to publish private tax information was a “conscious decision” by Congress. Prior to 1976, Yin explains, the president—along with the three congressional tax committees—had statutory authority to make return information public. A 1976 amendment eliminated the president’s authority to publicize return information but preserved the power of the three tax committees. “Congress no doubt felt compelled in 1976 to preserve some outlet for Congressional disclosures to the public,” Yin writes, and it “was natural to give this authority to the tax committees.”

House Democrats Can Release Trump’s Tax Returns. But Should They?

A victory at the Supreme Court has set up a quandary on Capitol Hill.

www.lawfareblog.com

 

[Harpy Eagle]

The committee that has the tax returns can vote on who they want to release the information to if they release them at all as long as personal information is redacted.

That is your claim, but your link does not mention that.

Plus, every number on a tax form is personal information.

 

[mudwhistle]

Again, you're talking about your subjective pseudo-legal opinions about what the law is supposed to mean. Citing yourself, of course.

And your personal opinions have zero legal relevance. No one is being arrested or charged with any crime because you have an opinion. You're quite literally irrelevant to this entire process.

Back in reality, the Ways and Means Committee findings on the legislative processes authorizing their access to Trump's tax returns are immediately and legally relevant. As affirmed by the 3 judge panel that sided with the committee on that authority. With the full appellant court upholding that ruling. And the Supreme Court upholding that ruling, without dissent.

Its not all of them that are wrong. Its just you.

Of course you know that this opens up a precedence that establishes that current presidents and former presidents like Biden, Obama, and Clinton can come under similar attack from the House Ways And Means committee and go thru their returns and release them to the public, right?

I expect the GOP House Ways & Means Committee to demand 6 years of Biden, Obama, and Clinton's returns and then release them to the public whenever they decide it is politically expedient, and this smear campaign has to be assumed to be a legitimate legislative process. Fuck separation of powers.

 

[ThisIsMe]

The relevant statute, Section 6103(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, instructs the IRS to release otherwise-confidential tax returns or return information to three congressional tax committees—the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation—upon written request from the chair of any of those panels. The statute also instructs the IRS to release returns or return information to other congressional committees under a narrower set of circumstances.

The key language regarding the receiving committee’s confidentiality obligations lies in Section 6103(f)(4). That paragraph says that any return or return information obtained by the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, or Joint Committee on Taxation “may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both.” It goes on to say that any return or return information obtained by another committee “may be submitted by the committee to the Senate or the House of Representatives, or to both, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer, shall be furnished to the Senate or the House of Representatives only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure” (emphasis added).

House Democrats Can Release Trump’s Tax Returns. But Should They?

A victory at the Supreme Court has set up a quandary on Capitol Hill.

www.lawfareblog.com

You folks always cite this law, but leave out critical information....such as that if this information could identify a person, which this does, then the request mist be made in closed executive session, and it CAN furnish that tax information to other committees, if THEY are in closed executive session.

Closed executive session means that any information gain within that committee cannot be shared outside of that committee. Secrecy rules apply.

 

[Moonglow]

That is your claim, but your link does not mention that.

Plus, every number on a tax form is personal information.

On top of all this, the Speech and Debate Clause immunizes lawmakers from liability for statements they make in committee and on the House or Senate floor. So even if it weren’t for Section 6103(f)(4), a Ways and Means Committee member could—without legal consequence—read Trump’s tax returns aloud, line by line, with the C-SPAN cameras rolling. But House Democrats don’t need to rely on constitutional super-immunity here: The relevant statutory provisions clearly empower the Ways and Means Committee to enter Trump’s tax returns into the public domain.

 

[Moonglow]

Of course you know that this opens up a precedence that establishes that current presidents and former presidents like Biden, Obama, and Clinton can come under similar attack from the House Ways And Means committee and go thru their returns and release them to the public, right?

I expect the GOP House Ways & Means Committee to demand 6 years of Biden, Obama, and Clinton's returns and then release them to the public whenever they decide it is politically expedient.

They have already voluntarily given the tax return information, only Trump refused.

 

[ThisIsMe]

In the definitive scholarly treatment of Section 6103(f), longtime University of Virginia law professor George Yin, who served as chief of staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation from 2003 to 2005, concludes that the choice to allow the three tax committees to publish private tax information was a “conscious decision” by Congress. Prior to 1976, Yin explains, the president—along with the three congressional tax committees—had statutory authority to make return information public. A 1976 amendment eliminated the president’s authority to publicize return information but preserved the power of the three tax committees. “Congress no doubt felt compelled in 1976 to preserve some outlet for Congressional disclosures to the public,” Yin writes, and it “was natural to give this authority to the tax committees.”

House Democrats Can Release Trump’s Tax Returns. But Should They?

A victory at the Supreme Court has set up a quandary on Capitol Hill.

www.lawfareblog.com

No, you posted a wild goose chase. You posted that in hopes that someone would follow the goose chase and read that jumble of 20+ pages. If you've read it and have the relevant information, then it should be easy for you to simply Quote the passage that specifically allows them to release his information to the public.

 

[Viktor]

Again...I'm talking about apples and you keep talking about oranges.

Just because you think you're right doesn't mean we have to go along with it and not point out the flaws in your 2 dimensional argument.

You cannot reason with Democrats. All they know how to do is chant slogans.

 

[Moonglow]

No, you posted a wild goose chase. You posted that in hopes that someone would follow the goose chase and read that jumble of 20+ pages. If you've read it and have the relevant information, then it should be easy for you to simply Quote the passage that specifically allows them to release his information to the public.

Your inability to reason is also noted.

 

[ThisIsMe]

On top of all this, the Speech and Debate Clause immunizes lawmakers from liability for statements they make in committee and on the House or Senate floor. So even if it weren’t for Section 6103(f)(4), a Ways and Means Committee member could—without legal consequence—read Trump’s tax returns aloud, line by line, with the C-SPAN cameras rolling. But House Democrats don’t need to rely on constitutional super-immunity here: The relevant statutory provisions clearly empower the Ways and Means Committee to enter Trump’s tax returns into the public domain.

No, they dont, and you can't use one law to excuse someone from breaking another law. So, no, a congressman cannot use the speech or debate clause to do something against the law.

 

[Biff_Poindexter]

Remember when racist right-wingers got all pissed and demanded Obama release his birth certificate?? There wasn't any law that required him to do so....what's up with that?


And remember how some insecure fat orange narcissist fed on that racist birther bullshit in order to gain relevancy in the GOP?? All behind a birth certificate?

Anywhoo, back to this pearl clutching over tax returns being released

 

[ThisIsMe]

Your inability to reason is also noted.

My ability to reason here is sound. I'm asking you to Quote the relative passage here. That's perfectly reasonable.

 

[Moonglow]

My ability to reason here is sound. I'm asking you to Quote the relative passage here. That's perfectly reasonable.

I already have, get a grip.

here is another

U.S.C. Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

www.govinfo.gov

(1) In general​

Returns and return information with respect to taxes imposed by chapters 1, 2, 6, 11, 12, 21, 23, 24, 31, 32, 44, 51, and 52 and subchapter D of chapter 36 shall be open to inspection by, or disclosure to, any State agency, body, or commission, or its legal representative, which is charged under the laws of such State with responsibility for the administration of State tax laws for the purpose of, and only to the extent necessary in, the administration of such laws, including any procedures with respect to locating any person who may be entitled to a refund. Such inspection shall be permitted, or such disclosure made, only upon written request by the head of such agency, body, or commission, and only to the representatives of such agency, body, or commission designated in such written request as the individuals who are to inspect or to receive the returns or return information on behalf of such agency, body, or commission. Such representatives shall not include any individual who is the chief executive officer of such State or who is neither an employee or legal representative of such agency, body, or commission nor a person described in subsection (n). However, such return information shall not be disclosed to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosure would identify a confidential informant or seriously impair any civil or criminal tax investigation.