Vermont mulls making president hopefuls share tax info

MONTPELIER - Vermont is joining a growing number of state legislatures considering measures to force presidential candidates to make public their income tax returns in exchange for a place on the state ballot.

The measure would require anyone seeking the presidency to give the Vermont Secretary of State’s office their tax returns for the past five years. The requirement would apply for both the primary and general election ballot, though a candidate who managed to win an election through a write-in campaign would be exempt from disclosure.

The Vermont bill is rattling some lawmakers who worry about a possible costly legal challenge.

“I am nervous about us taking this on and potentially having to defend it, especially in the Supreme Court, because I think we would lose, given the makeup of the court,” said Sen. Jeanette White, a Windham County Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate committee on government operations.

Read more: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/01/vermont-mulls-making-president-hopefuls-share-tax-info/98562000/