* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Stokes
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Require Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns
For the purpose of supporting the longstanding tradition requiring that presidential candidates release tax return information to allow serious and informed discussion about their financial history, and calling on the General Assembly to adopt, and the Governor to sign, the Presidential Candidate Tax Transparency Act, or similar legislation, to give this tradition the force of law.
body
Recitals
Leading presidential candidates from both major parties have voluntarily released multiple years of their tax returns for the better part of two generations. This gives voters an objective record to evaluate how they have earned their money, what conflicts of interest they would face if elected, what charities they support, and how they have conducted their finances.
Unfortunately, in the most recent election cycle this important tradition was not universally complied with, undermining the longstanding norm that disclosure of financial information is required of serious contenders to lead our nation.
Without tax information critics and supporters of presidential candidates are left without any objective facts with which to discuss important elements of a potential president’s history, leading to speculation and unfounded assertions that demean our democratic proc...
Click here for full text