Lucas,
Donald Trump wants people to forget about his taxes. He is hoping people will forget about his close ties to Russia and ignore
how he is using the presidency to line his own pockets.
We can’t let that happen.
Sign the petition from CREDO and Daily Kos to Congress: Support the Presidential
Tax Transparency Act.
Constantly hammering on Trump’s web of corruption will drive a wedge
between Trump and many of the voters who thought he would “drain
the swamp.” One of the best ways to do that right now is to get
behind Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden’s Presidential Tax Transparency Act,
which would make it mandatory for presidential candidates to release tax
returns – and force every member of Congress to take a stand on
Trump’s taxes.
Trump is trying to
skirt bribery laws by kicking off his 2020 campaign this year, which is earlier than any
president has before. But Trump cannot have it both ways – now as
president and as a candidate, we can up the pressure on him to release
his taxes.
Tell Congress: Support the Presidential Tax Transparency Act.
We’re joining with our friends and allies in the progressive community
to get Congress to force Trump to release his tax returns. Sen. Ron Wyden’s
bill would
require all candidates and sitting presidents to release their last three years
of tax returns or the Federal Election Commission would do it for them.
Republicans who oppose this bill are simply putting partisan loyalties
ahead of allowing Americans to make informed decisions. Trump’s
taxes are the window to his entire web of swampy corruption:
- Foreign entanglements. Trump’s debt load increased from $350 to $630 million in 2016, when American banks were reluctant to extend Trump credit. In 2008, Trump’s son Donald Jr. is claimed to have said “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.” Without a look at his tax returns, the American public cannot know whether Trump’s current debt or his previous business partnerships obligate him financially to Russian oligarchs aligned with Vladimir Putin.
- Tax dodging. The American people who pay their taxes deserve to know if Trump has refused to pay his fair share. Trump has said he is “smart” not to pay taxes – and the campaign has not denied The New York Times reports that he dodged taxes.
- Fitness for the presidency. A government watchdog filed a lawsuit just days after the inauguration claiming that Trump is in violation of the Constitution because any payments to Trump from foreign entities violates the anti-bribery “emoluments” clause of the Constitution. A president using his power to enrich himself while indebted to foreign governments is not normal, and we cannot let Congress and the corporate media pretend it is.
By demanding that Congress act, we can keep the spotlight on Trump’s
outrageous stonewalling, force Republicans to pick between loyalty to
party and country, and lay down a principle for all candidates in future
elections.
Tell Congress: Support the Presidential Tax Transparency Act.
Americans need to get the truth about Trump’s business dealings,
his claims of extreme wealth, how he truly makes his money, what tax loopholes
he is using to dodge taxes and the tax rate he actually pays. As Congress
starts considering massive tax cuts for corporations and Wall Street billionaires,
the American people deserve to know how much Trump stands to personally
profit from Republican tax plans.
We need to put the spotlight on the way Trump is potentially using government
to enrich himself and his well-heeled friends and make sure Trump’s
greed doesn't put our security and safety at risk.
Tell Congress: Support the Presidential Tax Transparency Act.
Thank you for speaking out,
Murshed Zaheed, Political Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets
Paid for by CREDO