As the Standoff over President Trump’s Federal Tax Returns deepens in Washington, New York State Lawmakers say they intend to Advance a Bill on Wednesday to allow Congressional Committees to see Trump’s New York State Returns.
State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-27th District, Manhattan), confirmed on Tuesday that the State Senate had Enough Votes to ensure Passage of a Bill allowing the Commissioner of the New York Department of Taxation and Finance to Release any State Tax Return requested by a Leader of One of Three Congressional Committees for any “specified and legitimate legislative purpose.”
A Tax Return from New York, the Headquarters of the President’s Business Empire and his Home State, could contain much of the same Financial Information as a Federal Return, which Trump has steadfastly Refused to Release.
On Monday, the Treasury Department Denied a Request from House Democrats for Six years of the President’s Federal Returns, setting up a likely Court Battle that could reach the Supreme Court. “The news of yesterday makes New York’s role even more crucial,” Hoylman said. He has Described his Bill as “assisting Congress in its oversight role.”
The Passage of the New York Legislation could Expose State Lawmakers to Accusations of Partisanship; the State Legislature is Controlled by Democrats, and its Executive Branch is overseen by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), and a frequent Critic of Trump. Cuomo said last month that he would Support the Senate’s efforts so long as it “applies to everybody,” an Opinion his Office reiterated on Tuesday.
The State Assembly has been slower to Publicly embrace the Bill, though Lawmakers there seemed likely to Pass it as well, given the Dominance of Democrats in the Lower Chamber.
“Our members understand the issue,” said Mike Whyland, a Spokesman for the Assembly, on Monday, adding they intend to discuss it “in the near future.”
New York State Law generally Prohibits Private Tax Information from being Released, and Past efforts in Albany to get Trump’s Taxes, via a Bill that would Require Various State and Federal Lawmakers to Release such Information, have Stalled over concerns about the Mass Release of Personal Information about Political Figures.
Hoylman has said he hoped his Bill’s Narrow Focus would Ameliorate those Concerns. Under the Bill, the Returns could Only be Released if Formally Requested by One of Three Congressional Committees: the House Ways and Means Committee; the Senate Finance Committee; and the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Hoylman said his Bill was necessary to Defend “the prerogative of legislative oversight.” It would Cover a Broad Range of Filings including: Corporation Taxes, Real Estate Transfer Taxes, and Personal Income Taxes, a potentially illuminating Trove of Information about Trump.
Newly obtained Tax Information reveals how Trump’s Businesses from 1985 to 1994 were in far Bleaker Condition than was previously known. Trump Tax Figures Show Over $1 Billion in Business Losses.
The New York Senate was also poised to Pass a Second Bill on Wednesday that would Eliminate the so-called “Double Jeopardy Loophole” that gives Individuals who have been Pardoned at a Federal Level Indemnity from being tried by New York State Prosecutors on Similar charges. That Bill also has the Support of Cuomo, and is also expected to Pass the Assembly.
The Bill’s Sponsor, Senator Todd Kaminsky (D-9th District, Long Island) and a former Prosecutor, was troubled by the Prospect of Trump issuing Pardons for “associates who are exposed by investigations into his own conduct.” “Obviously that raises enormous concerns.” Kaminsky said.
Some Lawmakers in Albany have expressed Philosophical Concerns about Passing Legislation that seemed Solely in response to Trump, an Opinion echoed by Republican Officials who have Decried Hoylman’s Bill as a “bill of attainder,” aimed at a Single Person.
On Tuesday, John J. Flanagan (R-2nd District, Long Island), the Minority Leader in the State Senate, called the Congressional Committee Bill “a blatantly political act” that was Out of Step with the Concerns of Many of the State’s Constituents. “We should be spending our time worrying about what we can do for New Yorkers,” said Flanagan.
But Hoylman Denied his Bill was Partisan. “What’s at stake here is the prerogative of legislative oversight,” he said. “And the desire of New Yorkers and the American people to seek the truth behind Trump’s taxes.”
UPDATE
The Bills Passed on March 5th, 2019. Now it waits the Gov. Signature.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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