DEMS/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP TAXES: “New Jersey Democrats are restarting their efforts on a bill that would force President Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns. The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation voted 3-0, with one abstention, on Thursday [1-31-19] to approve the bill, NJ S119 (18R), which would require candidates for president and vice president to disclose their tax returns for the previous five years in order to appear on the ballot in New Jersey. The bill would also bar New Jersey’s electors from casting votes for a candidate who did not submit the returns. Trump broke with decades of precedent by refusing to disclose his tax returns when he ran for president. Similar legislation has been introduced in other states, though it’s not clear if the bills would pass constitutional muster. The New Jersey Legislature passed a bill in 2017, only to see former Republican Gov. Chris Christie conditionally veto it. Christie called the measure unconstitutional and a ‘political stunt’ and instead recommended the Legislature be subject to the state’s Open Public Records Act — which exempts many if not most legislative records. He also suggested requiring legislators, who are only required to file vague financial disclosure forms, to release their tax returns. The Legislature did not concur with his recommendations.”
–Matt Friedman, “Trump’s tax returns again targeted by New Jersey Democrats,” Politico, January 31, 2019 2:00 pm