It’s Time for HB-202 and Presidential Tax Transparency

On Tuesday at 10am, I’ll be testifying for HB-202—a bill I’m cosponsoring with Rep. Peter Somssich that would require presidential candidates to disclose their previous 5 years of federal income tax returns as a condition for appearing on the ballot. I’ve included a draft of my testimony below. But if this issue is important to you too, I strongly urge you to testify in room 308 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord. Change happens when we show up in real life—not just on social media!

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Good morning. My name is Rep. David Meuse and I’m proud to be a cosponsor of this bill.

Americans understand that their leaders can be flawed. They understand that people make mistakes. They also understand that very few of us don’t have a moment in our past that we’re not especially proud of. As a private citizen, it’s perfectly understandable for someone to want to avoid disclosing information—including tax information—that could be potentially embarrassing or, worse, in conflict with our laws.

But when you run for the highest office in the land, transparency also becomes a factor. Transparency helps create confidence in our public officials. It shows that their public face is their true face.

In 2018, fully one-half of the states in the US considered presidential tax transparency legislation. Also in 2018, Senator Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican who votes with the president 86% of the time, introduced the Presidential Tax Transparency Act. This comprehensive ethics legislation, among other things, would have required candidates for president to release their federal tax returns. Less than a month later, Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced the Legislative and Public Integrity Act. This legislation would have required the IRS to release eight years of federal tax returns for presidential and vice presidential candidates. Unfortunately the clock ran out before either bill could be considered. But in January, House Resolution 1 was introduced. Among other reforms, it would require presidential candidates to release 10 years of tax returns.

While support clearly exists for legislation like this in both parties at the federal level, our current political climate and a likely presidential veto make its passage extremely unlikely.

Will information in tax returns provide a complete picture of the financial dealings of a candidate?

No.

Will it reveal criminal activity?

Probably not.

Could this information raise questions that could lead to more questions and a fuller understanding of whether or not a candidate is playing it straight with the public?

Absolutely. And that’s why I’m cosponsoring this legislation.

The bottom line is that the violation of this norm in 2016 put a spotlight on a problem that decreases confidence in our government and makes an already cynical public even more suspicious of its leaders. Allowing it to keep happening on our watch would be a mistake.

New Hampshire is in a unique position among the states to end this by taking the issue right off the table at the earliest point in the presidential election process. By requiring candidates to present their last five years of federal tax returns in time for next year’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary, we can send a strong message to all presidential candidates that you can’t run if you’re just going to hide,

HB-202 simply requires presidential candidates to do something every major candidate with the exception of Gerald Ford has done since 1976–release their federal income tax returns. With multi-millionaire Democrats like Michael Bloomberg, John Delaney, and Tom Steyer also considering presidential runs—and Democratic candidates required to release their returns too—this is not just a partisan issue.

HB-202 would give the New Hampshire Secretary of State the authority to implement this legislation in a fair and timely way.

Let’s make New Hampshire first in the nation and first in transparency.