California lawmakers have approved legislation requiring all presidential and gubernatorial candidates to release their tax returns in order to be eligible to get on the state’s primary ballot.
The measure mandates that candidates release the previous five years of their tax returns, according to HuffPost. The legislation passed both the Assembly and state Senate and now awaits the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
President Donald Trump has refused to release his returns.
“What does President Trump have to hide?” Democratic State Sen. Mike McGuire is quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The newspaper noted a similar measure was vetoed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown two years ago. Brown had suggested it might be unconstitutional.
Eighteen other states have similar legislation, but none has become law, according to the HuffPost, which attributed the information to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“Presidential candidates need to put their own interests aside in the name of transparency,” McGuire said. “So far, our current president has done the opposite. It’s time that President Trump steps up, stops with the obstruction, and follows through with 40 years of time-honored tradition that has made this nation’s democracy stronger.”
The measure includes an urgency clause, which allows the legislation to take effect immediately if and when the governor signs it, ABC 7 reported.
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