Biss wants more tax return details
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Biss campaign…
Today, Daniel Biss released a video, “A Guide for Billionaires Releasing Tax Returns,” highlighting what information to look for in a candidate’s tax return releases, as J.B. Pritzker and Chris Kennedy finally bow to voters’ pressure to release their income tax returns after promising to do so over seven months ago.
That’s a big deal, because tax returns let voters know how a candidate makes their money, and who they’re in business with. That’s important information when we’re deciding who will run the fifth largest economy in the country.
See the video, “A Guide for Billionaires Releasing Tax Returns”
But not all tax returns are released equally.
It isn’t enough for candidates to release only some of their tax forms - the voters of Illinois deserve honest, transparent, and full disclosure of tax history.
We should see the standard tax return. Candidates should disclose their sources of income, the deductions they claim, and any businesses they have a stake in.
Bruce Rauner, like Donald Trump, has hidden documents that previous candidates have disclosed for decades. Will Pritzker and Kennedy hide those documents as well, or will they come clean with the voters of Illinois? We’ll find out.
- Anon - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:46 am:
I would just like to see a copy of Governor Rauner’s Schedule CR.
- Saluki - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:48 am:
I really wish Biss would drop out already. His campaign jumped the shark with the prime number funder email the other day. Now he’s arguing semantics of tax return releases. Pitiful.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:50 am:
The wording has a feel of “moving the goal posts”…
Release the returns… no, release all these documents… ok, no, releases all these, and these…
Sounds like whatever is released, it won’t be good enough(?)
- Mouthy - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:52 am:
The rich boys ain’t about to show anybody how they chisel down their tax bills. If this is the best you’ve got in a campaign then you might want to consider another line of work..
- Paul S - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:54 am:
OMG! Is this all Biss is about - whining about tax returns? Let’s have some substance please. BR released tax returns, I’m sure JB and CK will do the same - but Biss will complain it isn’t enough?? He is not looking like Gov material IMHO.
- Reaganing - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:06 am:
Misfire. Who is Biss running against? The narrator talks about rauner and then with 5 seconds left says other democrats.
- Boat captain - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:07 am:
Agree with Saluki. Biss is so lame if this is all he’s got. He would be a disaster like Rauner is for Illinois.
- Yiddishcowboy - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:38 am:
Just when I thought I couldn’t be sicker of/more bored with Sen. Biss, he comes out with yet another rambling statement about tax returns. Don’t you have anything else in your playbook, dude?
- DuPage - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:39 am:
Retired teachers and state employees: “Biss, where did I hear that name before? Oh I remember now, he is the guy that tried to steal our pensions!”
- Amalia - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:40 am:
this is just silly. love that some have endorsed Biss and it appears in some cases that it is to avoid the choice of JB or Kennedy, but Miss really should drop out.
- Honeybadger - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:42 am:
Please, please, please Sen Biss just stop already.
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Needing to tell people that something is a big deal seems like a sign that it might not be a big deal. And their explanation of why it’s important is really lame.
- MG85 - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:05 am:
I’m starting to wonder if Biss merely ran to make sure everyone in the Democratic Primary released all of their tax returns.
Because it doesn’t feel like he ran to become governor.
- Northsider - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:06 am:
From here, it’s only a matter of time until Sen. Biss uses the Duchy of Grand Fenwick Ploy and invades the United States.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:12 am:
Guessing Harvard and MIT would have preferred Biss not release his tax returns.
- Anonish - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:28 am:
OW nailed it.
When Pritzker and Kennedy release tax info when they file petitions in a week the Biss campaign will be down to readily identifiable messages of “They’re rich and the rich can’t be trusted!” and the anti-Berrios/Madigan (almost) trope.
They are fighting with Kennedy for the lead on the property tax reform message.
IMO of the 3 front runners Biss has the least messaging that isn’t anti-someone (Pritzker, Madigan, Berrios, Rauner, repeat)
He needs to develop a better pro-Biss message and this is the campaign buying time.
- downstater - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:47 am:
Biss has been a total disaster. one day he is a hillary supporter, the next, a bernie wannabe. Another day comes and he is a madigan pac hack. Followed by taking credit for dollars he did not raise. ( evident by the lack of $ he currently has). He will find another line of work in March. Politics ain’t it.
- Frankie Bluth - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:55 am:
Yknow, I’ve been hearing the phrase “grasping at straws” a bunch of times over my youth, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it unfold live so perfectly until now
- Responsa - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
If he’s planning to stay in the race Biss needs to move his focus on to something voters actually care about and worry about–and there are many things for him to choose from. But right now his campaign is taking on water and sinking slowly.
- jim - Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
he’s setting a standard he knows Kennedyh and Pritzker won’t meet so he can complain when they don’t meet it.
why does a voter need to know all the businessses Kennedy and Pritzker have invested in. there are hundreds of them, if not more. too bad biss isn’t raising some real issues to distinguish himself from these two.