Tax Returns Overdue

[illinoisprogressive]

It's not legally required, but it has become customary for presidential candidates to release their income tax returns in addition to the mandated financial disclosure forms. Unfortunately, this tradition of openness is at risk.

Among the candidates, only Democratic Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut have released their returns. North Carolina Democrat John Edwards is avoiding the issue, saying he has gotten an extension on filing his taxes so there's nothing yet to disclose. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said through a spokesman that, "like past presidential candidates, " she will "release tax information in the election year." Better late than never, but, according to WSJ.com, at this point in the last campaign, Howard Dean, Joseph Lieberman and Edwards had released at least some information about their taxes; John Kerry released his tax returns in December. On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney says he hasn't made a final decision; neither has Rudolph Giuliani or Sen. John McCain.

Making tax returns public is, no doubt, an imposition on a candidate's privacy - but choosing to run for president means relinquishing privacy in all sorts of areas.

There is no excuse for any of the presidential contenders to decline to release their returns. Voters, take note.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/21/Opinion/Tax_returns_overdue.shtml

[glowing]

1. I know the company I work for and subsequently their personal

taxes aren't filled until October...

[Demit]

2. I like how a Democrat "avoids the issue" but the Repubs "haven't made a final decision."

Typical Washington Post.

[LiberalFighter]

3. What is the difference between filing financial information and tax return?

It would seem that financial information provides more than a tax return.

Didn't Hillary file financial information with the FEC?