On Thursday, January 31, the New Jersey Senate Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee will hear SB 119. This is the bill to require general election presidential and vice-presidential candidates to reveal their tax returns for the last five years. The bill does not apply to the presidential primary. It also forbids presidential electors from voting for a candidate who has not released his or her tax returns.

It is foolish for any state legislature to include minor party and independent presidential candidates in legislation like this, because that provides a pool of potential candidate-plaintiffs who will be eager to challenge the law as an unconstitutional qualification. By contrast, the congressional bill on this topic only applies to the nominees of parties that polled at least 25% of the vote in the preceding election. Thanks to Derek Muller for the news about the bill.