Democratic legislators looking to keep Trump off 2020 ballots unless he releases taxes

[Mr. Morden]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/03/blue-state-lawmakers-want-to-keep-trump-off-2020-ballot-unless-he-releases-tax-returns/

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[LLR]

Ridiculous, absurd, awful, and undemocratic. This is why i can't stand the Democratic Party

[NeverAgain]

Kay. It has no chance in hell of working, but in the case of Trump's refusal to honor a 5 decade tradition that allows for clearer transparency, it will be interesting.

[For Trump, everything. For immigrants, the law]

This is not the way to fight Trump. Put pressure on him to not be a hypocrite, but don't try to force him off of the ballot for this. That just comes across as cowardly.

[Flake]

Oh my god I know you don't like Trump but this is exactly the wrong way to do this (not only to mention unconstitutional)

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

It might be able to work but if it does it'll probably just piss off the republican base in states that could swing the election.

Also Maine is the only state where it even has a chance to swing an electoral vote.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Raise Hell however possible. I support this move.

[SCNCmod]

I don't see anything wrong with this in general... requiring the person who wants to lead our country to release their taxes... seems obvious.

But- It won't have any effect as Trump was never going to win a deep blue state.  If you have a swing state added to the mix- that's a different story.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Give me a break.

[Devout Centrist]

Is it 1860 again?

[Vosem]

The transparently partisan motivation here is ugly, but I don't really think this is a bad idea. Legislation that will let the public know candidates better should always be pushed forward.

[Mr. Smith]

Could you wait until 2018's in the bag and you've got the legislations back for sure first?

[Lief 🗽]

Do whatever the hell you need to do to win. You know they'd do the same!

[Red Willow]

Raise Hell however possible. I support this move.

Yeah okay and by raising hell make deeper divisions in an already divided country.

It's your kind that's creating the divisions.

[JustinTimeCuber]

it's not like this only applies to Trump
If a Democrat didn't release their tax returns the Republicans would LOVE this idea.

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

This has passed the NJ legislature, and now goes to Christie to sign or veto:

http://fortune.com/2017/03/17/donald-trump-taxes-new-jersey/

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[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

I'm OK with this.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Christie will obviously veto but they can just pass it next year then. Sadly probably won't survive a court challenge.

[GoTfan]

Change your name to the Undemocratic Party first.

[Ebsy]

Probably unconstitutional.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

A better case was to be made in 2004 when they had to change the deadlines in some states to allow for Bush to have his national convention as close to 9/11 as possible.

[oraclebones]

Probably unconstitutional.

To those who say this is unconstitutional or likely wouldn't survive a court challenge, please explain why. People can say it's bad for whatever reason, but how exactly is it unconstitutional?

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

Probably unconstitutional.

To those who say this is unconstitutional or likely wouldn't survive a court challenge, please explain why. People can say it's bad for whatever reason, but how exactly is it unconstitutional?

Probably one could argue that for practical purposes such a requirement might run afoul of the 'qualifications' thing in the Constitution. Like, the Constitution has no text on whether you need to release your tax returns to show up on the ballot. So why require that?

[Transgender for Everybody]

Change your name to the Undemocratic Party first.

Some Republicans call us the Democrat Party. We're halfway there.

[oraclebones]

Probably unconstitutional.

To those who say this is unconstitutional or likely wouldn't survive a court challenge, please explain why. People can say it's bad for whatever reason, but how exactly is it unconstitutional?

Probably one could argue that for practical purposes such a requirement might run afoul of the 'qualifications' thing in the Constitution. Like, the Constitution has no text on whether you need to release your tax returns to show up on the ballot. So why require that?

A requirement to get on the ballot is much different than a qualification to be president. The Constitution doesn't require a person to gather a certain number of signatures or pay a certain fee to be president, but every state has some such requirement to appear on the ballot.