A bill introduced Monday in Salem would require candidates for president and vice president to give a copy of their most recent tax return to the Oregon Secretary of State with written permission that the document can be made public. Alternatively, the candidate could fill out Oregon’s standard income disclosure form for public officials.
The requirement would apply to candidates on primary and general election ballots and those wishing to be in the voters’ pamphlet.
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The Democrat-controlled Oregon Legislature could face legal troubles if it does pass an income tax disclosure requirement.
Former Sen. Ted Ferrioli, the Senate Minority Leader at the time a similar bill was debated last year, submitted as testimony an opinion from the Legislature’s legal office saying the concept “raises serious constitutional questions that do not have clear answers.”
It’s unclear how much power states have to regulate when presidential candidates can appear on ballots, a legislative attorney said in the opinion. A court could strike down Oregon’s attempt to change the rules, they cautioned.
Sal Peralta, secretary of the Independent Party of Oregon, testified on last year’s bill that it is “unlikely that states can add conditions to running for president.” The U.S. Constitution lists three requirements to run for president: be at least 35 years old, have lived in the United States for 14 years and be a “natural born citizen.”
Proposed law would make Trump reveal tax return to be on Oregon's 2020 ballot
The requirement would apply to candidates on primary and general election ballots and those wishing to be in the voters’ pamphlet.
[clip]
The Democrat-controlled Oregon Legislature could face legal troubles if it does pass an income tax disclosure requirement.
Former Sen. Ted Ferrioli, the Senate Minority Leader at the time a similar bill was debated last year, submitted as testimony an opinion from the Legislature’s legal office saying the concept “raises serious constitutional questions that do not have clear answers.”
It’s unclear how much power states have to regulate when presidential candidates can appear on ballots, a legislative attorney said in the opinion. A court could strike down Oregon’s attempt to change the rules, they cautioned.
Sal Peralta, secretary of the Independent Party of Oregon, testified on last year’s bill that it is “unlikely that states can add conditions to running for president.” The U.S. Constitution lists three requirements to run for president: be at least 35 years old, have lived in the United States for 14 years and be a “natural born citizen.”
Proposed law would make Trump reveal tax return to be on Oregon's 2020 ballot
