Compel pols to show tax returns

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To the editor:

The Democratic Party has constantly demanded that President-elect Donald Trump make public his income tax returns, a position with which I most definitely agree.  Mr. Trump owes financial transparency to the people of this country.  In the same vein, I also strongly believe that not only presidential candidates, but all elected officials including here in New York state be required to reveal their income tax returns, a position with which Gov. Cuomo evidently agrees.

The (Westchester) Journal News recently published an article titled, “Cuomo Proposes Income Disclosure” sub-titled “Governor wants pay of all elected officials revealed” (Nov. 25) which reads in part as follows:

“Tucked into Cuomo’s 1,500 word statement on ethics reform last week was a proposal to broadly expand the state’s Financial-Disclosure Law to include all local elected officials, regardless of the size of the city, county, town or village they represent.  If approved by the Legislature, all elected officials and their spouses would be forced to reveal all sources of their private income.”

It’s no secret to the readers of this community who have read my Letters to the Editor over the years that I consider the New York State Legislature a thoroughly corrupt organization that by rights should be prosecuted under the RICO statute.  In my opinion, most members of the Assembly and State Senate are either criminally corrupt, or morally corrupt for looking the other way and allowing the bribery, extortion and influence peddling that has been going on to continue.  Convicted felons former Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, and former State Senate majority leader, Dean Skelos, are just the most prominent examples of this institutional corruption.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we, the voters, could see the yearly tax returns of our elected officials?  This public disclosure might even dissuade some low-lifes from running for office, or even persuade some current members (especially lawyers) not to seek re-election.

As a parting thought, next year in 2017, there will be a vote as to whether to have a Constitutional Convention.  Vote Yes!  This is our chance to institute term limits, which in turn will cut down on the pervasive democracy-destroying corruption that exists in Albany. What are your thoughts, Assemblyman Dinowitz?

Alvin Gordon

Alvin Gordon

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