California could require presidential candidates to release tax returns under new bill

A new state bill would force disclosure of tax returns for those running for president in California.|

North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire and another state lawmaker on Wednesday officially introduced legislation requiring future presidential and vice-presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns in order to appear on the California ballot.

The bill from McGuire, D-Healdsburg, and Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, is in direct response to President-elect Donald Trump’s refusal to release his returns during the 2016 presidential campaign, despite a long history of precedent from prior candidates for the White House. The legislation is modeled after a New York bill known as the TRUMP - Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public - Act.

Under the bill, presidential and vice-presidential candidates would have to file their income tax returns for the five most recent taxable years with the Secretary of State at least 70 days before the election in order to get their names on the ballot in California.

McGuire and Wiener announced their intention to introduce the bill in December.

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