On the recordMarch 28, 2017
I will close that one off and go to the other reason that I am on the floor today. I thank the gentleman again for yielding me the time. I rise in opposition to the rule and, obviously, the underlying resolution; and I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so that my bipartisan bill, the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, can be made in order for immediate floor debate and a vote. Mr. Speaker, my legislation would require the President and all future Presidents and Presidential nominees to publicly disclose their tax returns. It is a very simple bill. This is the third time this year that I have offered this bill as the previous question motion, and for the last several weeks, Members-- including Mr. Polis, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Lofgren, and myself--have offered privileged resolutions directing the House to request the President's tax returns. Nearly every day we give the majority the opportunity to demonstrate leadership on this issue, and nearly every day they continue to help the President hide his tax returns from the public. Now, every President of both parties, since Gerald Ford, has voluntarily made their tax returns public. The President has 564 financial positions in companies located in the United States and around the world, according to the Federal Election Commission, making him more susceptible to conflicts of interest than any President in our history.…
