Capitol Tax Day rally planned

Release of Trump returns demanded

WASHINGTON - Democrats and liberal advocates plan to use the annual tax filing deadline as a showcase to demand the release of President Donald Trump’s tax returns and to call for more electronic tax filing, as Republicans focus on a legislative overhaul.

Thousands of people are expected at the U.S. Capitol on Saturday, the traditional April 15 filing deadline, to protest Trump’s refusal to release his tax information.

Similar events will be held across the country and in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and New Zealand. Liberal activists are the organizers, backed by more than 70 progressive groups such as MoveOn.org.

“We march to demand that the president release his returns, as he has repeatedly promised, but failed, to do. We march because it is in the best interest of the American people to know what financial entanglements and conflicts of interest our leaders have,” says the website for what’s known as Tax March.

For nearly 40 million taxpayers still working on tax returns, this year’s filing deadline is Tuesday because April 15 falls on a Saturday and Monday is a legal holiday, Emancipation Day, in the nation’s capital.

More than 100.9 million tax returns have been processed as of April 7, according to the IRS, and more than 80.2 million refunds totaling $228.9 billion have been issued.

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., one of the Democrats most vocal about Trump’s tax returns, said he plans to attend the event in Newark, N.J., to promote his resolution that directs Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to release Trump’s returns for the last 10 years. Pascrell has tried different tactics to advance his measure, and each procedural vote results in getting Republicans on the record about the subject.

The New Jersey Democrat said he believed Republicans were shying away from Tax Day events because of splits on issues.

“How can you talk about tax reform without knowing where the president stands on these things and without releasing his tax returns?” Pascrell asked.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Dressed as the “Real Chicken Don,” Shawn Frye joins others earlier this week in calling for President Donald Trump to release his tax returns at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Tax March Sacramento activists are planning to join others Saturday in a...