Rep. Kelly opposes Democrats' bill that would expose Americans' private tax returns

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted against the Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act of 2022, legislation that has the potential to expose Americans' tax returns and private information to the public.

The vote comes just days after Democrats on the House Ways & Means Committee rushed a closed-door hearing in an attempt to release six years of former President Donald Trump's tax returns.

"There is a real concern that the IRS is becoming weaponized. Where is the outrage?" Rep. Kelly said. "If this can happen to a former President, this can happen to anyone. This relentless six-year chase shows Democrats are willing to expose a private citizen’s tax returns for political gain."

WATCH: Rep. Kelly speaks following the Ways & Means Committee hearing reviewing former President Trump's tax returns.

BACKGROUND

On Tuesday, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee voted behind closed doors in a rushed committee meeting to publish six years of the former President’s complete private tax returns.

Democrats’ Only Purpose Is to Expose the Private Tax Information of a Political Rival

• Ways and Means Democrats voted to publish a taxpayer’s full tax returns into public
  view for the first time in the history of the country
• This is nothing but revenge politics and will leave a stain on the historic Ways and
  Means Committee
• Democrats walked out of the meeting having failed to do what they promised to do –
  protect a minor child’s personal information

Democrats Brought the Political Enemies List Back to Washington

• After Democrats’ reckless precedent, leaders of congressional tax-writing committees now have nearly unlimited power to target and publicize confidential tax information of private citizens, political enemies, business and labor leaders, or even the Supreme Court justices themselves
• This unleashes a cycle of political retribution that will make our politics more divisive

Republicans Insisted that Democrats Protect Children’s Identities

• Ways and Means Democrats voted to publish confidential tax returns with names and Social Security numbers—including those a minor child—without redaction
• Republicans tried to force Democrats to remove personal information prior to their vote to make the documents public, but Democrats refused Republicans continue to fight to protect the sensitive information of Americans, especially our most vulnerable.