Maryland Senate passes bill requiring presidential candidates to release their tax returns

[Anonymous]

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/376953-maryland-senate-passes-bill-requiring-presidential-candidates-release

Transparency on our policymakers' finances is important, and I agree with this bill. Hopefully if the house flips after midterms, there can be something at the national level.

The Maryland Senate passed a bill Monday requiring that all presidential candidates release their tax returns in order to appear on the state’s ballot.

The senate passed the bill 28-17, with all but four Democrats supporting the measure, The Baltimore Sun reported. The legislation also applies to vice presidential candidates.

The bill now heads to Maryland’s Democrat-controlled House of Representatives. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has not said if he would sign the bill into law.

[Anonymous]

The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

Whether Hogan signs it or not really doesnt matter because the bill is unconstitutional grandstanding. Also- it's not like Trump or any other Republican will win MD anyway so this bill is a ceremonial waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

Whether Hogan signs it or not really doesnt matter because the bill is unconstitutional grandstanding. Also- it's not like Trump or any other Republican will win MD anyway so this bill is a ceremonial waste of time.

I'm sick of the president not having to follow ethics laws and make business disclosures like all the members of Congress and every Federal employee over GS-11. How is it unconstitutional grandstanding? No reason that loophole can't be closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

Whether Hogan signs it or not really doesnt matter because the bill is unconstitutional grandstanding. Also- it's not like Trump or any other Republican will win MD anyway so this bill is a ceremonial waste of time.

Why do you assume only Republicans will refuse to release their tax returns?

[Anonymous]

How can a state impose a requirement on a federal candidate? I’m pretty sure that this is unconstitutional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

Whether Hogan signs it or not really doesnt matter because the bill is unconstitutional grandstanding. Also- it's not like Trump or any other Republican will win MD anyway so this bill is a ceremonial waste of time.

Why do you assume only Republicans will refuse to release their tax returns?

Because historically only Republicans have?

[Anonymous]

Dumb and waste

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can a state impose a requirement on a federal candidate? I’m pretty sure that this is unconstitutional.

The individual states get to decide how they choose their own electors, though, don't they? You are really voting for electors when you cast your ballot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can a state impose a requirement on a federal candidate? I’m pretty sure that this is unconstitutional.

States set the rules for appearing on the ballot, even for a Presidential election. Hence why there's no federally-run elections, very few federal election standards (other than anti-discrimination), etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

Whether Hogan signs it or not really doesnt matter because the bill is unconstitutional grandstanding. Also- it's not like Trump or any other Republican will win MD anyway so this bill is a ceremonial waste of time.

Why do you assume only Republicans will refuse to release their tax returns?

Because historically only Republicans have?

+1 lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can a state impose a requirement on a federal candidate? I’m pretty sure that this is unconstitutional.

And you would be wrong. Do some research on Ballot Access Laws. BALs are state laws that regulate how candidates appear on the ballot. There are no federal requirements for who appears on the ballots in each individual state.

https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_access_for_presidential_candidates

www.ballotpedia.og wrote:In order to get on the ballot, a candidate for president of the United States must meet a variety of complex, state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.
These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A presidential candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

http://www.fairvote.org/the-worst-ballot-access-laws-in-the-united-states

www.fairvote.org wrote:Ballot access laws define the scope of voter choice.
...
Ballot access law is state law; every state can decide how candidates achieve representation on their ballots,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MD-House will pass a bill giving the middle finger to Trump.

There will be a yuge court battle, though, over where states can draw the line

Trump may well decide to skip being on the ballot in MD. It would be the first time a major party candidate has NOT been on the ballot in a state since LBJ wasn't on the ballot in Alabama in 1964.

Yeah, but Hogan still has to sign it. Which he probably won't.

Whether Hogan signs it or not really doesnt matter because the bill is unconstitutional grandstanding. Also- it's not like Trump or any other Republican will win MD anyway so this bill is a ceremonial waste of time.

Why do you assume only Republicans will refuse to release their tax returns?

Because historically only Republicans have?

+1 lol

Is Bernie Sanders a Republican?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can a state impose a requirement on a federal candidate? I’m pretty sure that this is unconstitutional.

And you would be wrong. Do some research on Ballot Access Laws. BALs are state laws that regulate how candidates appear on the ballot. There are no federal requirements for who appears on the ballots in each individual state.

https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_access_for_presidential_candidates

www.ballotpedia.og wrote:In order to get on the ballot, a candidate for president of the United States must meet a variety of complex, state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.
These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A presidential candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

http://www.fairvote.org/the-worst-ballot-access-laws-in-the-united-states

www.fairvote.org wrote:Ballot access laws define the scope of voter choice.
...
Ballot access law is state law; every state can decide how candidates achieve representation on their ballots,

The US Supreme Court has narrowly limited what ballot access laws can do. The tax returns law wouldn't pass muste.