SCYD Passes Resolution Supporting Requirements for Presidential Candidates to Release their Tax Returns

Resolution to Support the Proposed Legislative Requirement that Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates Disclose Five Years of Tax Returns in Order to Appear on Washington’s Primary and General Election Ballot

WHEREAS a democratic norm has been established in that Presidential candidates of all parties have disclosed their tax returns for over forty years, following the failure of President Richard Nixon to fully comply with the tax code; and

WHEREAS tax returns, as former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has observed, “provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidate’s representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest…” and may reveal…“inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups;” and

WHEREAS the Democratic Party of Washington State has a longstanding tradition of supporting democratic norms and promoting greater transparency in government; and

WHEREAS Washington state Senator Patty Kuderer (48th Legislative District) has introduced SB 5078 in the state Senate in 2019  and Representative Derek Stanford (1st Legislative District) has introduced HB 1698 in the House. This bill will institute a requirement that all future presidential and vice presidential candidates of all parties disclose their most recent five years of tax returns, in order to appear on a primary election ballot in the State of Washington; and

WHEREAS the Democratic Party of Washington State, as well as the 1st and 32nd Legislative Districts have endorsed both Senate bill 5078 and House bill 1698, and 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Young Democrats of Snohomish County goes on record supporting the requirement that Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates release their tax returns before being allowed on primary or general election ballots. The Young Democrats of Snohomish County endorses SB 5078 and HB 1698 bills introduced by Senator Kuderer and Representative Stanford.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Young Democrats of Snohomish County will work with our Legislative representatives, our Governor and others so that they understand that it is our firm belief that requiring presidential candidate tax return disclosure is an essential democratic norm that must be restored and will benefit all voters, of any party.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that our own state legislators be queried as to what action they have taken and intend to take in response to this Resolution

Signed February 17th, 2019

Louis Harris, Chair, Snohomish County Young Democrats

Kevin Phan, Vice-chair, Snohomish County Young Democrats

Jessica Corbman, Treasurer, Snohomish County Young Democrats

Michael O’Gorman, Secretary, Snohomish County Young Democrats

Carsten Glan, Sergeant-at-arms, Snohomish County Young Democrats

Christi Lewis, Young Democrats Liaison to the 1st Legislative District Democrats