Costa calls on Scott Wagner to release his tax returns

State Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa on Tuesday called on GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner to release his tax returns.

Mr. Costa, D-Forest Hills, was flanked by state Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, and Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny/ Fayette Central Labor Council, at a Downtown news conference.

Mr. Costa said Mr. Wagner, a York County businessman and former state senator, should release his tax returns so that voters can examine his business interests.

No law requires candidates to release their returns, although it has been common practice among candidates. Democrats said Mr. Wagner is the first gubernatorial candidate not to release the information since the 1990s.

“That’s wrong and it needs to change,” Mr. Costa said.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who is seeking re-election, has made his 2010 through 2016 tax returns available and will make his 2017 information available in the fall, said Beth Melena, a spokeswoman for Mr. Wolf’s campaign.

At an April 25 debate in Lancaster County — less than a month before the primary — all three Republican candidates for governor said they would not release their tax returns.

“I do not intend to release my

tax returns because I’m complying with all the regulations that are in place,” Mr. Wagner told a crowd gathered at Willow Valley Communities, a senior living complex.

At the same debate, Mr. Wagner said he had filed his required financial disclosure form.

Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for Mr. Wagner’s campaign, said the Wolf administration has not been transparent in its handling of an inspector general’s report into Lt. Gov. Mike Stack’s alleged mistreatment of staff or the secrecy surrounding state incentives being offered to lure Amazon to Pennsylvania.

He also pointed to positive comments made by Mr. Costa when Mr. Wagner left the state Senate in June, praising the tone of their debates and disagreements.