Today's Call To Action is to ask your senators to cosponsor the Presidential Tax Transparency Act. This is Senate Bill 26, introduced by Senator Wyden from Oregon. It's currently sitting in committee where the same bill introduced by the same senator died last year. Business as usual in DC. Let's not let that happen.
The Indivisible folks have this handy-dandy explanation and script for us.
Presidential Tax Transparency ActDonald Trump must fully release all of his recent tax returns to prove he is working for the American people, instead of getting rich from foreign governments and shady deals. Since 1980, every major party nominee has voluntarily released their tax returns. The recently-leaked two-page summary of his 2005 returns are not enough, and raise more questions than answers.
Donald, how much money are you holding offshore? Which foreign business deals helped you get rich, and how would that affect your work with foreign leaders? How much have you actually given to charity? What special tax loopholes have you used that help the rich and powerful at the expense of the middle class?
The American people deserve to see Donald Trump’s full tax returns, as well as all major party presidential nominees moving forward. Tell your MoC and Senators to cosponsor the Presidential Tax Transparency Act today. This simple bill would require President Trump and future major party presidential nominees to release the three most recent years of their tax returns, with only minor redactions for privacy. If they refuse, the Treasury would provide the returns to the Office of Government Ethics or Federal Election Commission.
SAMPLE CALL DIALOGUE
Caller: Good morning/afternoon! Can you let me know if the Senator is a cosponsor of the Presidential Tax Transparency Act?
OPTION 1: YES. THE SENATOR IS OFFICIALLY A COSPONSOR OF THE BILL (AND LISTED AS SUCH ON CONGRESS.GOV)
Staffer: Thank you for calling! Senator ["Hernandez"] is a cosponsor of the Presidential Tax Transparency Act.
Caller: That’s great! I’m glad Senator ["Hernandez"] agrees, as I do, that the American people deserve to know whether President Trump is working for us, or for special interests, for foreign governments, and companies where he has business deals. Tell the Senator thanks for supporting this bill to require full public disclosure of the last three tax returns for President Trump and future major party presidential nominees.
Will the Senator also commit to opposing Trump’s nominees for both the Treasury and Federal Election Commission positions unless they also support releasing full returns?
OPTION 2: SENATOR DOES NOT SUPPORT FURTHER TAX TRANSPARENCY
Staffer: Thank you for calling! Senator ["Hernandez"] believes tax returns are private and opposes this bill.
Caller: That’s terrible. That means is Senator ["Hernandez"] is helping President Trump hide from the American people his foreign business dealings and special tax dodges. Since 1980, every major party nominee has voluntarily released their tax returns. The American people deserve to see Donald Trump’s full, recent tax returns, and the same for all major party presidential nominees moving forward. Tell Senator ["Hernandez"] to cosponsor the Presidential Tax Transparency Act today.
Staffer: The President’s 2005 tax return summary was already leaked publicly and there is no need to release further tax returns.
Caller: That’s wrong. The recently-leaked two-page summary of his 2005 returns are not enough, and bring more questions than answers. How much money is President Trump holding offshore? Which foreign business deals helped him get rich? How much has he actually given to charity? What special tax loopholes has he used that help shield him from paying his fair share? The American people deserve to know answers. Donald Trump and all major party nominees should release their full, recent tax returns.
OPTION 3: HAS NO POSITION OR SUPPORTS TAX TRANSPARENCY (IN GENERAL) BUT IS NOT YET A COSPONSOR OF THE BILL
Staffer: Thank you for calling! The senator generally wants the President to release his tax returns, but hasn’t yet cosponsored the bill.
Caller: That’s nice to know the Senator is generally supportive, but that’s disappointing to hear the Senator is not yet a cosponsor. This is very import issue for thousands of people in [Senator’s state], myself included. The American people deserve to know whether President Trump is working for his constituents or for special interests, foreign governments, and companies where he has business deals. If the Senator is going to practice what they preach, they need to cosponsor the Presidential Tax Transparency Act. This simple bill would require full public disclosure of the recent tax returns for President Trump and future major party presidential nominees.
Staffer: I don’t know the Senator’s position, but I’m happy to take down your concerns.
Caller: Here’s my concern: Tell the Senator to cosponsor the Presidential Tax Transparency Act. This simple bill would require full public disclosure of the last three tax returns for President Trump and future major party presidential nominees. The American people deserve to know whether President Trump is working for us, or for special interests, for foreign governments and companies where he has business deals. Every major party nominee for president has released their tax returns since 1980, except Trump, and the American people deserve this basic transparency.
Will Senator ["Hernandez"] cosponsor the Presidential Tax Transparency Act to show he’s on the side of people in our state?
Staffer: I will certainly pass on your concerns to the Senator.
The Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund have a similar action that focuses on Mitch McConnell.Caller: Please do, and please take down my contact information to let me know when the Senator has made up his mind. I’m eager to hear what he decides.
Don't forget to take care of yourself first and get your taxes done if you haven't yet. (That's a mental note to myself as much as anything.) Speaking of taxes, you might also read a bit about tax resistance. Here's an article from Popular Resistance entitled "Tax Protest: Refusing to Pay Income Taxes in the Trump Era." I'm not saying that we shouldn't pay taxes. That's illegal and very risky. But it's interesting to read about how other folks using their money as a form of resistance. Hold that thought...more to come.
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