House Chair Says Personal Tax Filings a Private Matter
House Administration Committee Chairman Charlie Geren sent a letter to his House colleagues on Friday saying he would not accommodate a request by The Texas Tribune to release his federal income tax returns, and reminding his fellow lawmakers that they were "under no legal obligation" to do so either.
"I will not be providing mine to them," Geren, R-Fort Worth, wrote in a letter to the other 149 members of the House. "It is up to you as an individual to make this choice."
Geren's letter came the same day that the Tribune asked him for his last three ...
Comments (12)
Debbie Spencer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I don't know why they won't release them. If you've got nothing to hide, why not?
Jon Dye via Texas Tribune on Facebook
i thought tax returns were public record anyways? are they not?
Steven Kite
. "I think that people should be confident in their elected officials and know that we’re doing the business of the people."
History, especially Texas Republicult history, says it's a whole LOT more likely they're doing the business ON the people.
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No they are not. Would you want yours to be? All I need to know is he filed and complied....not a claim all treasury dept officials and IRS employees can claim. If romneys tax records are the burning issue for the country we r truly doomed.....
Lawrence L Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Then you don't get MY Vote !
T D
Romney's taxes are a burning issue for me, Lori, because the presidency is our most important job, and because what Romney has done to shelter himself from taxes tells me a lot about his priorities.
We're far from "doomed" if we want to know this stuff.
Megan Luke via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Once again the GOP setting a new standard of low. Typical.
Proud Texan
It's ironic that Governor Perry is talking about transparency given his office policy of deleting emails every 7 days to avoid disclosing them to the public. Oh, let's not forget his resistance to disclosing the cost of his taxpayer funded security detail.
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Megan, have the Democrats all released their own?
Christie Goodman via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Again, I think we are focused on the wrong issues. These are personal tax returns. If they are not complying with tax law, it is not the voters job to police that...that is why we have a enormous IRS. They have audit power. If they are in compliance, then that is all I need to know. Their personal income and their spouse's income is their business. Talk about the issues. If they are an incumbent, look at their voting record. Determine if they are or would represent their constituency well. The details of their income don't accomplish that. What do we gain by having this information? It seems it is aimed at either an attempt to exaggerate class differences or it is the ever reaching goal to make a public servant's life 100% public. If we go that route, then every state, federal and local employee should do the same. After all, they receive a big portion of the tax payer dollar.
Jerry Greenspan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I gotta say I'm not in-step with the Tribune on this one. Legislators already have to fill out pretty detailed reports about how and from where they make their money, where there money is (IRAs, Stocks, etc) property ownership, business associations, loans, leins, etc...I think this is a bit much. How much money my legislator has or doesn't have is none of my business.
Next thing you know, the media is going to want their medical records. I will not choose to vote for/against a candidate based on their tax returns.....oh and if your asking legislators for their records, I hope you're asking their opponents as well....
Harsh Times via Texas Tribune on Facebook
+1 to Christie - the enormous organization known as the IRS is tasked to review and determine legality of our personal tax returns. Not the Texas Tribune and sure as hell, not an activist out of Austin. The disclosures already provided are more than enough for me.