Harry Reid Could View Romney Tax Returns, With Help From Senate Republicans

[maddezmom]

Source: Huff Post

WASHINGTON -- Although Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney refuses to release his tax returns from the years prior to 2010, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, President Barack Obama and key members of Congress could all view any tax document that Romney has filed. Under some circumstances, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could even verify whether his anonymous Bain investor was telling the truth that Romney "didn't pay any taxes for 10 years."

According to Title 26 of U.S. Code Section 6103, the treasury secretary can disclose any personal tax return to the president "or to such employee or employees of the White House Office as the President may designate."

Members of Congress can also access Romney's earlier tax returns by making a written request to Geithner. The Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation are all mentioned as committees that can access individual tax returns. The chairman of any other congressional committee can also obtain access for his or her entire panel, provided the request meets one caveat:

"A request by anyone except a tax-writing committee has to be accompanied by a Senate or House resolution," said Rebecca Wilkins, senior tax counsel at Citizens for Tax Justice.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/harry-reid-romney-taxes_n_1821491.html

[matt819]

1. Not acceptable

Gives Rmoney an out that he doesn't deserve, and Harry Reid's activism on this issue aside, I don't trust the Mormon bond between the two.

[mim89]

2. .

"I don't trust the Mormon bond between the two."


wait, what?

[Iggo]

9. Sound of brakes screeching.

Looks into the back seat and says, "Okay, what now?"

[Iliyah]

3. I'm pretty sure "Dirty" Harry knows exactly whats in Mitten's taxes

Keep the pressure up!

[greymattermom]

4. A member of congress

So, any congressional committee chair could ask for the returns? Any member of congress could just ask Geithner? Why haven't they?

[GOTV]

7. it "has to be accompanied by a Senate or House resolution"

so you need the cooperation of Republicans

[DallasNE]

24. Could This Be Filibustered?

Otherwise the Democrats control the Senate and could in theory pass the resolution. I think this would send the wrong message to the country and be viewed as abuse, absolutely if more than 2009 was requested. That is the year that would determine whether Romney was a tax cheat. Even there I am not sure there is enough evidence yet for use of this extreme measure.

[thecrow]

5. And if they did this?

The fur would really fly.
Maybe they already have loked at romney's taxes, but they could never say that.
But they could surmise where the money went.

That would be the big gummint being tyrannical and marxist

note: I used the sarcasm thingie. I did.

[vlyons]

6. Obama probably already knows

what's in Romney's returns. Obama is, afterall POTUS.

[Journeyman]

8. Very good start. Only 319 million more to go and we'll have all seen them. . .

[bucolic_frolic]

10. This won't happen too soon.

It would create a precedent that all of Congress might be subject to.

And as long as one side is winning the debate, why would they choose
to alter the game?

Using it to keep Mitt off balance while laundering him in public is about
the best they need to do.

Now, if Mitt surges ahead, all bets are off, and a leak or two near
election day is to be expected in a matter so secretive.

[Retrograde]

11. Consider this scenario

Reid gets a look at Romney's tax returns. Reid says, yup, he didn't pay one thin dime, or he has a billion dollars in Helvetia Savings and Loan, or he really did live in two places at once for tax purposes. The Romney campaign counters with "Oh, just the DemocRAT party telling lies, lies, and more lies about poor Mitt again".

Reid is not a financial analyst AFAIK, nor are most senators. Make the returns public so people who do know something about financial shelters, offshore trusts, and arcane deductions can take a look at them and interpret them. Otherwise, no dice.

[hughee99]

12. Nice, we should get the government to look into someone's taxes strictly for political purposes.

Yes, that will go over real well. Let's turn Romney from the suspected criminal to the victim, here.

[FreeBC]

13. Exactly

I concur.

[madmom]

18. That is exactly what would happen.

[JDPriestly]

20. Don't worry. That is not going to happen.

Of course, then there is the Valerie Plame matter and constant copying of everything we put on the internet, etc.

I suppose if you do your taxes online, the folks who read our online scribbling know what is in them. But they have too much to read to notice the numbers of tax returns.

Also, I suppose that the checks and drafts you write that are over $10,000 are monitored somewhere. Most IRS payments over $10,000 would be known to someone somewhere outside the IRS. But that is farfetched beyond reality also.

[democrat_patriot]

14. Let the story get out there - it will all bring up his taxes again - but Dems

should say "We won't do it, set's a bad precedent etc...if Romney wants to 'evade' the American public, that's his choice."

[Qutzupalotl]

15. Agreed. Restraint here is better than overreach. n/t

[Historic NY]

16. The sound you will hear is Republican heads popping....

(g) Disclosure to President and certain other persons
(1) In general
Upon written request by the President, signed by him personally, the Secretary shall furnish to the President, or to such employee or employees of the White House Office as the President may designate by name in such request, a return or return information with respect to any taxpayer named in such request. Any such request shall state—
(A) the name and address of the taxpayer whose return or return information is to be disclosed,
(B) the kind of return or return information which is to be disclosed,
(C) the taxable period or periods covered by such return or return information, and
(D) the specific reason why the inspection or disclosure is requested.

Its not above board but I wonder ... I really wonder if Rmoney knew.

[evilhime]

17. So if I'm reading this right

the president can see it without any approval . . . by extension that "could" mean he KNOWS the secrets hidden therein and is baiting Romney with cause AND proof. Hmmmmmm . . .

[cosmicone]

19. October Surprise! n/t

[HenryWallace]

21. You have got to be kidding!

Viewing confidential information for political gain would be a disaster! Whatever the problem on the returns are, they would be immediately ignored in favor of a "abuse of power" narrative. And rightfully so!!!

Isn't this, in part, what Nixon did?

Everyone in Washington knows what are in his tax returns, off the record. He was vetted four years ago by operatives who studied his tax returns and have now moved on to other campaigns and/or positions. The guy is not likable! These people have talked!

Leave well enough alone! When was the last time the majority leader of the Senate did real damage in a Presidential election? Hint: Try never.

[redwhiteblue]

22. Taxes

Funny, I am just now reading about J.Edgar Hoover supplying FDR, Nixon, Kennedy, And Johnson Eisenhower and Truman using these tactics politically. If you want interesting reading on J.Edgar, read this book"Official and Confidential" by Anthony Summers.

[Uncle Joe]

23. NO! This issue of disclosure belongs to the American People not Reid, "key members of Congress," nor

even Obama, we're being asked as a nation to elect the next President.

Thanks for the thread, maddezmom.

[ahmet2]

25. Spam deleted by Warren DeMontague (MIR Team)

[jberryhill]

26. Abuse of power is improper.

[unblock]

27. to do this for purely political purposes stinks of nixon.