Article snippet: Any candidate who doesn’t comply with the new bill would risk being left off the primary ballot. However, the bill and its concept are not at all new. An identical measure was passed through California’s legislature in 2017. Ironically, the bill did not become law because the state was governed at the time by a Democrat, Jerry Brown, who didn’t want to release his tax returns. Brown said at the time, “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?” Brown’s description of the bill’s partisan nature would become prophetic, as it turned out. Less than two years later. state lawmakers have attempted to thwart Trump’s reelection efforts by offering the bill for approval again, this time to Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom, unlike Brown, has released his income tax returns – a fact that did not go unnoticed by one of the bill’s co-sponsors, Senator Mike McGuire. “I never want to put words into his mouth, but here’s what I’ll say: Gov. Newsom has led by example.” McGuire continued, “We can all debate on the floor about the constitutionality of this bill. But we also have to look at what makes our democracy strong. The foundation of any successful government is transparency.” Newsom’s spokesman Brian Ferguson has made it clear, however, that the bill “would be evaluated on its own merits.” The bill, if... Link to the full article to read more