Dem state lawmakers try to get Trump tax returns

Congress won’t be seeing President Donald Trump’s tax returns any time soon, but that request isn’t the only way Democrats are trying to pry them loose.

So far this year, lawmakers in at least 20 states have introduced bills that would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns as a condition for appearing on the state ballot. Critics say such laws could run afoul of the U.S. Constitution and lead future legislatures to place all kinds of other restrictions on candidates.

But that hasn’t stopped Democratic lawmakers from trying.

“I would like to see it passed and signed into law and send a very strong message as to how we believe candidates for office should behave,” said New Jersey state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat and sponsor of legislation passed by the state Senate in February.

Her measure would require presidential and vice presidential candidates to disclose five years’ worth of returns at least 50 days before the general election. It hasn’t received a hearing in the Assembly, which also is controlled by Democrats.