WASHINGTON, D.C.—Americans for Tax Fairness Executive Director Frank Clemente made the following statement on today’s announcement from House Democrats that they will use a discharge petition to try to force a vote on HR 305, The Presidential Tax Transparency Act, sponsored by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA):
“We applaud Leader Pelosi and the House Democrats for trying to force a vote on the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, which would require all presidents and major-party presidential candidates to release their tax returns. The American people want and deserve transparency in their government. This should not be a partisan issue, and numerous polls have shown it is not. Unfortunately, President Trump has made it partisan by failing to do what all presidents and presidential candidates have done for the last 40 years—release their tax returns.
“The American people are fed up with the lack of transparency from the Trump White House. One million people have signed a petition on the White House website demanding that the president release his tax returns. Citizens have organized Tax Marches in Washington, D.C., and in cities across the country on April 15 to demand that President Trump release his tax returns. They will also tell Congress it is time to fix a tax system rigged to benefit the rich and powerful at the expense of the rest of us.
“The Tax Marches will call attention to tax reform as Congress prepares to debate wide-ranging tax plans. The American people reject the attempt by Trump and Republicans in Congress to take away healthcare from 24 million Americans to give $600 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations. We believe they won’t accept a similar tax giveaway plan that provides massive tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations.”
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Americans for Tax Fairness is a diverse coalition of 425 national and state endorsing organizations that collectively represent tens of millions of members. The organization was formed on the belief that the country needs comprehensive, progressive tax reform that results in greater revenue to meet our growing needs. ATF is playing a central role in Washington and in the states on federal tax-reform issues.
MEDIA CONTACT
TJ Helmsetter, Communications Director, Americans for Tax Fairness
thelmstetter@americansfortaxfairness.org