NJ Senate signs bill to eliminate Pres & VP candidates from ballot, who do not release tax returns
In TheHill;In response to:
NJ Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns
By Aris Folley - 02/21/19 06:35 PM EST
The New Jersey state Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that would keep presidential candidates off the state’s 2020 ballot unless they release their tax returns.
According to the Courier Post, the Democratic-controlled state Senate passed the measure along party lines in a 23-11 vote on Thursday, sending the bill to the Assembly committee and full legislature for a vote before it heads to the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy (D) for consideration.
The controversial measure would deny candidates for president and vice president a spot on the state ballot if they do not publicly release five of their most recent tax returns at least 50 days before the general election in 2020.
The bill, if passed, would also bar the state’s electors from voting for candidates for president and vice president as part of the Electoral College system if they choose not to comply with the legislation.
President Trump has drawn ongoing criticism over his refusal to publicly release his tax returns, the first major-party White House candidate in decades not to do so.
The New Jersey legislature passed the same bill in 2017, but the measure was blocked by a veto from then-Gov. Chris Christie (R), who called it a “transparent political stunt" at the time.
Supporters of the measure have said lawmakers are afforded room under the Constitution to enact such a restriction to ballot access, arguing that voters should have the option of reviewing presidential and vice presidential candidates’ tax returns.
“It is so obvious with this president that had voters known some of what seem to be his business interests, he may not have been elected president,” state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D), a sponsor of the legislation, told the Courier Post......
NJ Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns
By Aris Folley - 02/21/19 06:35 PM EST
The New Jersey state Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that would keep presidential candidates off the state’s 2020 ballot unless they release their tax returns.
According to the Courier Post, the Democratic-controlled state Senate passed the measure along party lines in a 23-11 vote on Thursday, sending the bill to the Assembly committee and full legislature for a vote before it heads to the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy (D) for consideration.
The controversial measure would deny candidates for president and vice president a spot on the state ballot if they do not publicly release five of their most recent tax returns at least 50 days before the general election in 2020.
The bill, if passed, would also bar the state’s electors from voting for candidates for president and vice president as part of the Electoral College system if they choose not to comply with the legislation.
President Trump has drawn ongoing criticism over his refusal to publicly release his tax returns, the first major-party White House candidate in decades not to do so.
The New Jersey legislature passed the same bill in 2017, but the measure was blocked by a veto from then-Gov. Chris Christie (R), who called it a “transparent political stunt" at the time.
Supporters of the measure have said lawmakers are afforded room under the Constitution to enact such a restriction to ballot access, arguing that voters should have the option of reviewing presidential and vice presidential candidates’ tax returns.
“It is so obvious with this president that had voters known some of what seem to be his business interests, he may not have been elected president,” state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D), a sponsor of the legislation, told the Courier Post......
The bill now awaits the governor Murphy's signature to be passed.
Will other states follow New Jersey's lead and adopt similar legislature ?
Will similar future laws apply to Congressional candidates ?
Will similar future laws apply to candidates for governors ?
Should these bills be passed ?
Time will tell.
Comments (13)
Meaningless drivel anyway. If other legal ballot requirements are met I don't believe the Constitution allows forbidding a bonafide Presidential candidate from being voted on. May as well be passing a bill to ban blue skies.
Trump should show his.
"News flash this is America.."
Don't you mean This Is FIJI?
Did you just stick your foot in your mouth?
President Trump has the same constitutional rights to privacy that every other citizen of the United States has. He has the same right to the privacy of his tax returns that every other citizen has and no legal obligation to make them public. PERIOD. Why is it that the socialist tyrannists are always demanding everyone else give up their rights but they never seem to be willing to give up their own?
The bottom line: It is unlikely this legislation will pass in any states — the likeliest would be Hawaii. And none of the states that Trump won in 2016 have a Democratic-controlled state legislature, so he could just pass on being in the ballot in those blue states even if they did approve it.
Indeed, it probably won't even affect Trump, as he will likely be impeached by then anyway.
They are potential PUBLIC SERVANTS with a very important job and there is too much wrong that can go on and has.
They don't need to run for office.
If they do, the public should have extra ways to check their authenticity and know where their incomes have come from.
I hope ALL states follow New Jersey's lead.
Exactly. So sick of legislators in and from every state who never bothered to actually read the Constitution.
Lawmakers in at least 25 states have introduced bills that would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns to appear on the 2020 ballot in that state — a clear swipe at President Trump, the only modern president who's refused to release his personal tax returns.
I suppose it shouldn't surprise me, as such individuals have time & time again demonstrated more interest in berating people than helping people. Perhaps that's why they are partly responsible for
electing a demagogue & conman with Russian & Italian mafia ties and then making lame excuses as each new Trump administration arrest and guilt finding and/or admission is revealed. Truly shameful !
Tax returns are not legal requirements for any one to show unless the IRS is the one asking to see them.
Jersey government needs to have their heads examined.
So sick that governments are NOT doing their jobs for the country and citizens but continually wasting time and dollars on the best ways to secure power and control for their party. Primarily demonrats.
I think it's a very good thing.
The more safeguards ensuring an elected official works for the majority of people, rather than private agendas controlled by the rich, the better. Transparency with regard to elected officials, especially the president, is a good thing. If someone doesn't agree, don't run for president.