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Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:36 AM

Critics Won't Release Returns

Source: The Fresno Bee

Critics of Mitt Romney won't release own tax returns

By Kevin G. Hall and David Lightman - Bee Washington Bureau

Wednesday, Jul. 18, 2012 | 11:02 PM

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi was emphatic. Mitt Romney's refusal to release more than two years of his personal tax returns, she said, makes him unfit to win confirmation as a member of the president's Cabinet, let alone to hold the high office himself.

Sen. Harry Reid went farther: Romney's refusal to make public more of his tax records makes him unfit to be a dogcatcher.

They do not, however, think that standard of transparency should apply to them. The two Democratic leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives are among hundreds of senators and representatives from both parties who refused to release their tax records. Just 17 out of the 535 members of Congress released their most recent tax forms or provided some similar documentation of their tax liabilities in response to requests from McClatchy over the last three months. Another 19 replied that they wouldn't release the information, and the remainder never responded to the query.



Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/18/2914418/critics-wont-release-returns.html



Sorry, boys and girls but if we are going to call for financial transparency those rules should apply to everyone holding elected office. JMHO.

LTH

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Arrow 52 replies Author Time Post
Reply Critics Won't Release Returns (Original post)
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 OP
Enrique Jul 2012 #1
DURHAM D Jul 2012 #2
elleng Jul 2012 #18
MADem Jul 2012 #28
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #35
DURHAM D Jul 2012 #44
Ian David Jul 2012 #3
elleng Jul 2012 #19
drm604 Jul 2012 #4
PoliticAverse Jul 2012 #9
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #17
kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #27
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #36
Psephos Jul 2012 #47
Katashi_itto Jul 2012 #5
bemildred Jul 2012 #6
progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #25
trumad Jul 2012 #7
muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #8
elleng Jul 2012 #20
LineReply .
NRaleighLiberal Jul 2012 #10
mac56 Jul 2012 #11
eaglesfanintn Jul 2012 #12
sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #13
SoapBox Jul 2012 #14
progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #23
lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #15
MADem Jul 2012 #29
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #38
lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #45
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #46
lark Jul 2012 #16
hughee99 Jul 2012 #21
csziggy Jul 2012 #33
hughee99 Jul 2012 #34
progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #22
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #39
Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #24
kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #26
closeupready Jul 2012 #30
musiclawyer Jul 2012 #31
progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #37
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #42
Son of Gob Jul 2012 #32
Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #48
progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #40
JoePhilly Jul 2012 #41
6000eliot Jul 2012 #43
NYC_SKP Jul 2012 #49
bigwillq Jul 2012 #50
liberal N proud Jul 2012 #51
high density Jul 2012 #52

Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:40 AM

1. so Mitt won't pick Pelosi for VP?

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:42 AM

2. This is drivel.

Members of congress provide comprehensive financial disclosure information annually.

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Response to DURHAM D (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:21 PM

18. Thanks. Correct.

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Response to DURHAM D (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 03:04 PM

28. Yes--and if you are in a "key and essential" position, even in the military, you are forced to fill

out those forms....even to get a clearance, you have to fill out questionnaires that are more intrusive than a colonoscopy.

http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF86.pdf




These are the questions on the short form SF 86. The long one is even worse.


Also, you can see Congresspeople's financial disclosure statements on the internet. You can't see RMoney's!

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/index.php

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Response to DURHAM D (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:40 PM

35. Actually, according to the article, they don't.

McClatchy began this quest 3 months ago -- long before this issue with Romney surfaced. Here's the quote:

"What's required by law is written by Congress itself, a broad financial-disclosure statement that offers no direct information on tax liabilities and no requirement for reporting spousal income other than the source -- but not the amount -- of any income above $1,000. There's little way of knowing whether that spousal income is $1,001 or $1 million.

Only 17 members shared their detailed tax information with McClatchy.



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Response to Le Taz Hot (Reply #35)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 05:34 PM

44. Are you a democrat?

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:42 AM

3. They are not running for President or Vice President. n/t

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Response to Ian David (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:22 PM

19. Right. No analogy.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:43 AM

4. So just because others, of whatever party, are guilty of this means that it's okay?

You're using a logical fallacy known as tu quoque.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque

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Response to drm604 (Reply #4)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:46 AM

9. The poster appears to be arguing that they all should be releasing their returns the opposite

of what you claim.

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Response to drm604 (Reply #4)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:30 AM

17. The Poster is saying

that this base issue is transparency. If they can't cover their OWN asses on this issue it opens them up to the obvious counter-charge of hypocrisy.

I think most Americana are sick and tired of these bastids profiting from their time in office to the expense of the U.S. taxpayer. These people are SUPPOSED to be representing US but I think even the most ardent partisan out there has got to admit that most legislation does NOT represent our best interests. Payola isn't new and it isn't a secret. Why try to assert that it is? My personal solution for this problem is to call for transparency and no elected official is exempt.

That's pretty much it.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Reply #17)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 02:48 PM

27. You seem unaware that members of Congress are required to release their financial info every year.

And they do so.

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Response to kestrel91316 (Reply #27)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:41 PM

36. I answered that in Post 35

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Reply #17)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:37 PM

47. Well said.

Wow, you get my respect for holding to principal.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:45 AM

5. I'm sorry, I didnt realize these two were in running for president or VP...

Last edited Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:46 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

friggin twit.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:45 AM

6. This argument won't save his ass either.

Not that it's a bad argument, but it won't rescue Mitt.

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Response to bemildred (Reply #6)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 02:01 PM

25. especially because the partisan twit doesn't mention the Republicans who are calling for them....

If he was truly a fan of transparency, he would list the republicans from the list of those calling for his returns, as well.

It's a bad argument. They are not running for President. They are not in an election, and they are required to release their tax information as part of their position anyway. he is trying to equate a request for them from a private news corporation, to vetting for the presidency. Not the same thing... . they are not running for prez.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:45 AM

7. Really---Didn't think they were running for President?

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:45 AM

8. They do release their sources of income, by law

By May 15 of each year, congressional members, key staffers and top officials in the executive branch must file forms covering the preceding calendar year that detail their personal finances. By law, they must list their assets and liabilities, their income (excluding their government salaries, oddly), asset transactions, gifts they received and more. They need not list property unless it produces income, meaning their primary residence is generally not listed. They must include the source of their spouse's income, but need not report the amount.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/why.php

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Response to muriel_volestrangler (Reply #8)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:24 PM

20. Thanks for this detail.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:49 AM

10. .

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:51 AM

11. Un-MITT-igated BS.

See what I did there?

Members have to do this every year.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:52 AM

12. What about non-elected officials?

Should every judge, justice, cabinet member also release theirs? Guess I'd like to see where Sheriff Arpaio is getting his money from. But, I think there's been a precedent set when running for President and the least Mittens could do would be to release his previous 8 years as Obama did when he was running. That same precedent hasn't been set in Congressional races.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 10:57 AM

13. Neither Pelosi nor Reid are running for president.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:14 AM

14. Do as I say...Not as I do...

typical...and I'm not surprised at all.

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Response to SoapBox (Reply #14)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:58 PM

23. wait.. what? They're not running for president. n/t

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:23 AM

15. They're accountable to their voters.

If you're not from Utah or San Fransisco, STFU.

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Response to lumberjack_jeff (Reply #15)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 03:07 PM

29. And their financial intimacies are available, for all to see, on the net.

UNLIKE RMoney's...!

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Response to lumberjack_jeff (Reply #15)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:44 PM

38. Oooh! Aren't you just the badass!

If you (and the rest of the wolf pack) would have actually read the article, it mentions that only 17 members of Congress complied with McClatchy's request.

And this is a message board. If you don't like my message there's always Ignore.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Reply #38)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 05:44 PM

45. I don't get to vote for either Reid or Pelosi. They are not really my business.

I do get to vote for the president. That is my business.

Romney apologists in the media are doing everything they can to distract attention and draw false equivalencies. They send their thanks.

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Response to lumberjack_jeff (Reply #45)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 08:08 PM

46. One more time . . .

IF YOU HAD ACTUALLY READ THE ARTICLE it states that McClatchy has been trying to obtain this information for three months . . . .long before the Romney issue.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:25 AM

16. False equivalency

Running for congress is not the same as running for the most powerful office in the world - President of the United States. The std. for running for president is to release many years worth of returns, what's Mitt hiding and why are you trying to muddy the waters?

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Response to lark (Reply #16)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:44 PM

21. I'd like to see the standard for all high ranking politicians be that they

release many years worth of returns, but that's not the current standard.

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Response to hughee99 (Reply #21)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:09 PM

33. It already is the standard for members of Congress

As mentioned in multiple messages in this thread (maybe not earlier than your message). ALL members of Congress have to release their information and it is available online - see http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=171101

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Response to csziggy (Reply #33)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:36 PM

34. Abbreviated financial disclosers aren't the same as full returns.

Although certainly those in congress have provided more info than Rmoney has.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:58 PM

22. "Fresno Bee" enough said. Right wing rag in a right wing town.

Last edited Thu Jul 19, 2012, 02:04 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

And last time I checked, Pelosi and Reid aren't running for President.

Right wing garbage. And of those REPUBLICANS that are asking???? How many of THEM have responded to McClatchy's requests???

I wouldn't turn mine over, either, unless I was actively running for office. This is the usual BS.

Though the comments on the story are priceless!!
"fresno bee is a liberal rag."

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Response to progressivebydesign (Reply #22)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:47 PM

39. The Fresno Bee is part of

the McClatchy Group which also includes the Sacramento Bee. The organization is not known to be either right or left. They have leftward-learning columnists and rightward-leaning columnists.

As for the comments, this is the type of story the right wing would salivate at as apparently it has some of the Third Way "liberals."

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 02:00 PM

24. Does this guy REALLY expect people to believe this?

Congress critters are CONSTANTLY monitoring each other for ANY sign of taking a bribe so they can clobber each other with it.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 02:45 PM

26. What DURHAM D said: Members of congress provide comprehensive financial disclosure information

annually.

But thanks for your "concern".

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 03:14 PM

30. Oh, give me a fucking break.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 03:17 PM

31. Fresno is not right wing, it's politicians and newspaper are

Fresno is like 75 latino and 1st second generation immigrant but they DO NOT VOTE. This is not a voter suppression state. They just don;t vote and thus get the represention they deserve.

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Response to musiclawyer (Reply #31)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:42 PM

37. In2004, they went 57% for Bush, but in 2008, 51% Obama.

The area is dominated by right wing politicians, and business owners, as it has been for decades. you're right, the hispanics don't vote which actually creates a right wing area because of the predominance of republicans that control the County and cities there. I've lived within a few hours of Fresno for 20 years, and where I'm from is considering their playground. Summer and spring break is the only time you'll see Confederate flags on trucks in my area.

Wish the hispanics would vote.. could turn that area upside down.

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Response to progressivebydesign (Reply #37)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:50 PM

42. Intersting.

I've been here for 37 years and I've only seen one confederate flag. It's also interesting that when you spot a confederate flag you automatically assume the owner is from the Valley.

The reason Hispanics don't vote is that there is very little voter outreach by your own party. We're hicks, remember? Rednecks. Freepers. Uneducated hayseeds. If the Hispanics aren't voting I would think the Party Faithful would ask why that is.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 03:25 PM

32. What a pathetic attempt to smear Democrats.

Thanks for exposing yourself though.

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Response to Son of Gob (Reply #32)

Fri Jul 20, 2012, 03:49 AM

48. Well, actually, I'm fully clothed

at the moment.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:48 PM

40. I just realized how inane it is that Obama has had to respond to people re: birth certificate

but they're making excuses for Romney not releases his tax returns. He has estimated 2011, and given an incomplete 2010. But the media seems to be fine with forcing someone to prove they are born in America, repeatedly? President Obama was probably the most-vetted person in history for the job, but they're protecting Romney for not divulging even the minimum info.

Wow...

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 04:50 PM

41. We should make them release their TRANSCRIPTS too!!!!!

ridiculous.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 05:30 PM

43. They aren't running for President.

False equivalency.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Fri Jul 20, 2012, 09:55 AM

49. "Dear Mitt, Never mind that tax return thing, you are now off the hook."

Somebody said that until all members of congress do it, you don't have to.

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:13 PM

50. All US Congress people should release tax returns (nt)

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Sun Jul 22, 2012, 12:15 PM

51. They are not running for President!

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Response to Le Taz Hot (Original post)

Sun Jul 22, 2012, 03:15 PM

52. Those people aren't running for Prez

Kthx.

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