California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law that requires presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to appear on the ballot in the state.
According to NPR:
A new law in California will require candidates for president to release their tax returns in order to appear on the primary ballot in March, 2020.
“States have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards, and to restore public confidence,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his signing statement Tuesday. “The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interest.”
Candidates will have to submit five years of tax returns by November to be eligible for the primary ballot. California officials will post the information online for the public to access.
Newsom insists the law is constitutional, but it will almost certainly face a challenge in federal court. The law does not name a specific candidate, but opponents say it’s a partisan ploy meant aimed at President Trump. They argue removing Trump’s name from the ballot for failing to release his tax returns would amount to voter suppression.
President Trump’s lawyers have vowed to fight the law and experts have concluded that it could be an easy win for them.
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