Governor Brown releases tax returns, Democrats call on GOP candidates to follow her lead

PORTLAND — The Portland Tribune today reported on the public release of Governor Kate Brown’s last three years of tax returns. Given the Governor’s public disclosure, the Democratic Party of Oregon is calling on the three leading contenders for the GOP nomination for Governor to do the same.

 

“We applaud Governor Brown’s commitment to transparency and her willingness to be up front with Oregon voters about her financial interests,” said Jeanne Atkins, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. “We see on a daily basis in Washington, D.C. what politicians can get away with when they hide their finances and business interests from the public. We need transparency and accountability in Oregon.”

 

The financial interests of the three leading GOP gubernatorial candidates — Knute Buehler, Sam Carpenter, and Greg Wooldridge — are murky at best. Both Buehler and Carpenter are self-described businessmen, yet little is known about their business dealings or ties to special interests.

 

“The people of Oregon deserve transparency from their gubernatorial candidates,” said Atkins. “These Republican candidates have a choice: follow the lead of fellow Republican Donald Trump or be up front with their financial interests and disclose their tax returns to the public.”  

 

According to Buehler’s campaign manager, Rebecca Tweed, Buehler will consider releasing his tax returns after the primary election. Said Chair Atkins, “Voters deserve to know now. If there’s something Buehler’s hiding to improve his primary chances, I guarantee it won’t get any easier if he makes it to the general election.”

 

Despite repeated calls by the DPO for Buehler to take a position on the GOP tax proposal from December, he kept quiet on the bill and he still refuses to let voters know if he will personally benefit from the enormously unpopular tax cuts.

 

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