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| PRITZKER: Will we comprehend his wealth? |
That
is, the public disclosure of one’s income tax returns – as in candidates for
government office releasing for public disclosure copies of the tax returns
filed with the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Revenue.
MANY
POLITICAL OFFICIALS make a point of letting their returns become public right
around Tax Day. It’s usually an attempt by government officials to show some
sense of normality about their lives – something they have in common with those
of us who comprise the electorate and decide who we want in office.
But
in this era of excessively (or is that obscenely?) wealthy people running for
office, the very issue of making details of one’s finances public has become
the equivalent of classified information.
Donald
Trump is most famous for this – what with the way he went through the 2016
election cycle without ever letting the public know just how wealthy he is (he
says his returns are “too confusing” for us mere mortals to comprehend).
But
I can’t help but be amused by the way the Illinois Republican Party has
repeatedly pointed out the degree to which Democratic gubernatorial hopeful
J.B. Pritzker has yet to release his tax returns.
 |
| TRUMP: He started non-disclosure issue |
THE
PEOPLE WHO likely would be the first to defend Trump’s “right” to privacy are
claiming that Pritzker is hiding something from us. Heck, even Democrat Daniel
Biss’ long-shot gubernatorial campaign is starting to try to use the issue
against Pritzker.
Personally,
what I take from that behavior is that Biss isn’t a loyal team player, insofar
as the Democratic Party is concerned.
But
the way some people are determined to keep this issue alive truly makes me
wonder if they just don’t have anything else they can complain about.
 |
| RAUNER: Will he trash J.B. after saying little on Trump? |
Seriously,
it amuses me the way Illinois Republican operatives seem capable of working
this tax return issue against Pritzker on just about every issue. Somehow, they
always seem to find a way to bring the talk back around to that.
EVEN
IN CASES where it is completely irrelevant and the fact they bring it up
reflects more poorly upon them than it ever could on Pritzker.
For
what it’s worth, Pritzker campaign aides tell the Chicago Tribune they plan to
make the disclosure later this year when they file his financial disclosure
forms along with nominating petitions to formally get him on the ballot for the
March 20 primary elections.
That
means some time about Dec. 4, we could finally get to see just how wealthy
Pritzker is – and how much of the Pritzker family fortune he has a piece of.
The sad thing is that a part of me wonders if Trump is correct when he talks
about “too confusing.”
I
wonder how many those of us whose own finances don’t come anywhere near the
complexity of trying to legally hide income in obscure places so as to reduce
one’s tax burden so significantly will be truly capable of appreciating the
Pritzker info?
PERSONALLY,
I THINK that what we’d learn about Trump if we ever get public disclosure is
just how little in taxes he pays, relative to his overall income. While
complaining that the wealthy are being overtaxed, and in need of even more
relief.
 |
| BISS: Dem willing to use issue against J.B. |
Who
knows what we’d learn about J.B. Or even care much. Most of us would probably need a "Cliff's Notes"-type version in order to comprehend exactly what Pritzker is worth.
If
anything, this is an issue where prompt disclosure probably is best. Dump the
raw info that many won’t comprehend, and you erase the issue of non-disclosure.
Most won’t care enough to study the details.
And
as for those who get obsessive over studying the details, it’s more than likely
that the masses will dismiss them as being geeky. It’s like political people
draw more attention to the issue with non-disclosure than the masses would give
it otherwise.
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