Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of four California voters to prevent the California secretary of state from implementing a new state law requiring all presidential candidates who wish to appear on California's primary ballot to publicly disclose their personal tax returns from the past five years.
The suit alleges that the law unconstitutionally adds a new qualification for candidates for president.
Under the law, known as the Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act, candidates who do not publicly disclose their tax returns are barred from having their names printed on California's primary ballots.
Judicial Watch alleges that SB 27 imposes candidate qualifications beyond those allowed by the U.S. Constitution and impermissibly burdens a voters' expressive constitutional and statutory rights.
Today we require tax returns, but what would be next? Five years of health records? A certified birth certificate? High school report cards? And will these requirements vary depending on which political party is in power? A qualified candidate's ability to appear on the ballot is fundamental to our democratic system.
None of the interests proffered by the California legislature for requiring the disclosure of candidates' tax returns is related to election procedure or administration.
"California politicians, in their zeal to attack President Trump, passed a law that also unconstitutionally victimizes California voters," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-over-california-law-requiring-presidential-candidates-appearing-on-primary-ballot-to-disclose-tax-returns/
The suit alleges that the law unconstitutionally adds a new qualification for candidates for president.
Under the law, known as the Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act, candidates who do not publicly disclose their tax returns are barred from having their names printed on California's primary ballots.
Judicial Watch alleges that SB 27 imposes candidate qualifications beyond those allowed by the U.S. Constitution and impermissibly burdens a voters' expressive constitutional and statutory rights.
Today we require tax returns, but what would be next? Five years of health records? A certified birth certificate? High school report cards? And will these requirements vary depending on which political party is in power? A qualified candidate's ability to appear on the ballot is fundamental to our democratic system.
None of the interests proffered by the California legislature for requiring the disclosure of candidates' tax returns is related to election procedure or administration.
"California politicians, in their zeal to attack President Trump, passed a law that also unconstitutionally victimizes California voters," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-over-california-law-requiring-presidential-candidates-appearing-on-primary-ballot-to-disclose-tax-returns/
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