DEMS/STEVE MNUCHIN/TRUMP TAXES: “Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin clashed Thursday with House Democrats over their plans to seize President Donald Trump’s tax returns. Mnuchin, who would field the Democrats’ coming demand for the returns, repeatedly declined to detail how he would handle the request since he has yet to receive it, though he appeared to imply the administration intends to fight it…Mnuchin told lawmakers Trump has not directed him to reject their demands and said he has not discussed the issue with anyone at the White House. He also said he didn’t know if Trump’s tax rate went down in the wake of the new tax law. His comments came as Democrats prepare to try to use an arcane law to seize Trump’s returns, which Trump has repeatedly declined to make public despite a decades-old tradition of presidents releasing their tax information. Though such filings are normally confidential, a nearly 100-year-old law allows the heads of Congress’ tax committees to examine anyone’s returns. Experts say lawmakers can vote to make those filings public. Democrats are now preparing their formal request.”
–Brian Faler, “Mnuchin tussles with House Democrats over Trump’s tax returns,” Politico, March 14, 2019 1:17 pm