Category: #NoTaxReturnsNoBallot

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Trump Has Already Lost Tax Return Battle

In case you missed it, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in a very encouraging segment recently revealed that despite the unprecedented stonewalling Trump has engaged in regarding the release of his tax returns, there’s strong reason to believe he has all but lost the fight. According to Maddow, a lot of the banks Trump has used for his business dealings over the years have already shared these transactions with the various congressional committees. It therefore turns out that with these treasure troves of Trump’s financial records, we may not even need his actual tax returns to get an accurate picture of his financial dealings–especially with the Russians.

It is very sad that even in this day and age Americans would have to fight this hard to get a public official to release his financial records–records he swore on the campaign trail he would release to the public.

It is also very sad that a major U.S. political party–The GOP–has aided and abetted Trump in this unprecedented stonewalling in total breach of the public’s trust. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in particular has gone as far as violating well-laid IRS statutes in an effort to aid Trumps stonewalling–a total travesty of public service and borderline criminal conduct.

Bottom line if Maddow’s reporting pans out that congressional Democrats do indeed already have much of Trump’s financial records, then this should not only be celebrated as a big win for government transparency advocates, but it should also lead to louder calls for Secretary Mnuchin and others to be held accountable. This is especially so if evidence of criminal conduct is unearthed in Trump’s financial records–a very likely outcome.

For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out.

You may reach the author via email at author@grassrootsdempolitics.com or author@emolumentsclause.com

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Mnuchin Faces Prison Time For Not Releasing Trump’s Tax Returns

An interesting editorial by a Pulitzer winning journalist David Cay Johnston says there’s a U.S. law currently on the books that exposes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , the IRS Commissioner and others to as many as 5 years in prison for failing to release Trump’s tax returns to the various congressional committees requesting them.

The editorial cites 26 U.S. Code § 7214 titled “Offenses by officers and employees of the United States”. Section 7214(a), of this statute says “Any officer or employee of the United States acting in connection with any revenue law of the United States… who with intent to defeat the application of any provision of this title fails to perform any of the duties of his office or employment… shall be dismissed from office or discharged from employment and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years or both.” –see 7214(a)(3)

An even more interesting revelation is that Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and others could still be in legal jeopardy even if they finally decide to furnish Trump’s tax returns to the various congressional committees. This is because a subsection of the same law–7214(a)(4)–makes it criminal for tax officials to conspire or collude to hide tax returns from Congress. Mnuchin is on record as saying his office has been in contact with the White House over Trump’s tax returns. If it can be shown that Mnuchin, the IRS Commissioner or their subordinates conspired with White House officials (including President Trump) to hide the tax returns from Congress, they are in violation of the clear text of 7214 (a)(4).

Bottom line , this is a very important revelation that deserves a lot of mainstream media attention. House Democrats also need to pursue this new avenue brought to light by this Pulitzer winning journalist. Simply put, no stone should be left unturned in the quest for Trump’s tax returns.

For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out. 

You may reach the author via email at author@grassrootsdempolitics.com or author@emolumentsclause.com

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GOP Senator’s Bill Will Mandate Tax Returns For Presidential & VP Candidates

Sen Ben Sasse(R-Neb)

Senator Ben Sasse((R-Neb) plans to introduce a bill tomorrow that will require all future presidential and vice presidential candidates to release their tax returns. This is a very welcome move but as was correctly pointed out in this article by The Hill, it faces an uphill battle in congress


Sen Ben Sasse has frequently made public his disatisfaction with Trump’s unconventional presidency and even said recently that he has contemplated leaving Trump’s GOP on several occasions. It will be interesting to see how his GOP colleagues in congress deal with his bill which is clearly good for government transparency but will undoubtedly also be seen as side jab at Trump. Sen Sasse is also widely rumored to be seeking the GOP presidential nomination in 2020. Is this his way of knee-capping the Trump-Pence train? Interesting.

Bottom line Sen Sasse’s Tax Return idea is a good one and Dems should rally behind him. It will be very interesting to see who opposes this government transparency bill, and on what grounds. Watch out for this tomorrow folks. Fascinating!!

For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out




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Dems Must Pursue No-Tax-Returns-No-Ballot Strategy Against Trump

The recent approval by Rhode Island’s Senate of a measure that would require presidential candidates to release 5 year tax returns in order to be placed on the state’s ballot has received tremendous praise by grassroots Dems, spurring Twitter hashtag #NoTaxReturnsNoBallot, among many others.


As expected, grassroots Dems are now wondering why other “blue states” are not following Rhode Island’s lead compelling Trump to release his tax returns nefore being placed on the ballot

Turns out according to Ballotpedia, that as of June 2018, there are 8  Democrat-controlled states, namely; Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware(see map below)

This means 7 other Dem states could easily follow Rhode Island’s lead and lock Trump out of their 2020 ballots, effectively killing his chances of securing the GOP nomination in 2020

Yours Truly will definitely reach out to the Dem Governors of the said states urging them to follow Rhode Island’s lead. For therecord this would by no means be a walk in the park if TeamTrump challenged it in court

However it presents a win-win situation for Dems because it would force Trump and his GOP to essentially defend lack of government transparency. It would also force Trump to finally take concerns about his emoluments clause violations seriously

Bottomline these 7 blue states should join Rhode Island’s #NoTaxReturnsNoBallot campaign

For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out




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Meet the 23 House Republicans Hiding Trump’s Tax Returns

After news that Rhode Island’s Senate approved a measure requiring all presidential candidates to release 5 years of their tax returns in order to be placed on the state’s ballot, the focus has again shifted to Trump’s tax returns, a major campaign issue during the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections. Grassroots Dems including Yours Truly, ecstatic about Rhode Island’s decision are now pushing for other states to follow Rhode Island’s lead and lock Trump out of the 2020 ballot unless he releases the tax returns he promised to–the #NoTaxReturnsNoBallot campaign


Their efforts to block moves by Congressional Dems to have Trump's tax returns released to the public were reported in this February 15, 2017 piece by the DailyKos. As you can see from the article, the DailyKos has done all the legwork in exposing these shameful GOP members of congress. Yours Truly is simply hitting you with a reminder now that midterms 2018 are around the corner. As usual they will be coming begging for your votes claiming they stand for "transparency in government." They will be hoping off course that you've long forgotten about their lack of transparency re Trump's tax returns. Boy are they in for a rude awakening this fall?!

Here is a handy list of the names and office phone numbers of the #WallOfShame members

U.S. Representative Devin Nunes (CA-22)

Phone: (202) 225-2523

U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (TX-08)
Phone: (202) 225-4901

U.S. Representative Sam Johnson (TX-03)

Phone: (202) 225-4201

U.S. Representative Pat Tiberi (OH-12)

Phone: (202) 225-5355

U.S. Representative Dave Reichert (WA-08)

Phone: (202) 225-7761

U.S. Representative Peter Roskam (IL-06)

Phone: (202) 225-4561

U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (FL-16)

Phone: (202) 225-5015

U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03)

Phone: (202) 225-6435

U.S. Representative Lynn Jenkins (KS-02)

Phone: (202) 225-6601

U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03)

Phone: (202) 225-2871

U.S. Representative Kenny Marchant (TX-24)

Phone: (202) 225-6605

U.S. Representative Diane Black (TN-06)

Phone: (202) 225-4231

U.S. Representative Tom Reed (NY-23)

Phone: (202) 225-3161

U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03)

Phone: (202) 225-5406

U.S. Representative Jim Renacci (OH-16)

Phone: (202) 225-3876

U.S. Representative Pat Meehan (PA-07)(resigned in disgrace)

U.S. Representative Kristi Noem (SD-AL)

Phone: (202) 225-2801

U.S. Representative George Holding (NC-02)

Phone: (202) 225-3032

U.S. Representative Jason Smith (MO-08)

Phone: (202) 225-4404

U.S. Representative Tom Rice (SC-07)

Phone: (202) 225-9895

U.S. Representative Dave Schweikert (AZ-06)

Phone: (202) 225-2190

U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski (IN-02)

Phone: (202) 225-3915

U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)

Phone: (202) 225-2778

Bottomline folks, #NoTaxReturnsNoBallot is a win-win fight for Dems because it puts the GOP in the unenviable position of defending a public official(Trump) who promised to release his tax returns while campaigning but now chooses to hide them, even as questions about his corrupt business practices continue to pile up. Dem State Reps across the country must introduce bills like the one in Rhode Island so as to get Republicans go on the record with a vote to hide Trump's tax returns--a vote for lack of transparency in government. Dems can rest assured that midterms 2018 voters will not be happy with pro-secrecy in government candidates--the GOPers hiding Trump's tax returns.

Folks see if one of these #WallOfShame bums is your Rep in Congress and if they are, make sure to vote them out this Midterms 2018!!

For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out




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You may also reach the author directly via email at author@grassrootsdempolitics.com or author@emolumentsclause.com