Andrews Reveals Eight Years of Federal and State Tax Disclosure

ANDREWS REVEALS 8 YEARS OF FEDERAL AND STATE TAX DISCLOSURE
Calls On Lautenberg To Do Same In The Spirit Of Transparency

CHERRY HILL -- U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews who is releasing his federal and state income tax returns from the years 2000 through 2006 and a summary for 2007 challenged Sen. Frank Lautenberg to publicly release his tax returns for that same period to help assure New Jersey voters that the Senate candidates are acting in the public interest - not for the special interests or for their own personal benefit.

"If Sen. Lautenberg has nothing to hide - if he truly respects the voters of this state - he will join me in this essential act of transparency and full disclosure," said Andrews, who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat, now held by Lautenberg in the June 3 primary. "The voters have a right to know that their elected officials are acting independently of their personal business dealings or other outside interests. There is no responsible reason for any candidate to hide behind his wealth in an open democratic process."

In the 2002 Senate campaign, Lautenberg made tax disclosure an issue in the race with Republican Doug Forrester. Lautenberg went on to attack Forrester for not reciprocating fully.

Lautenberg said then: "Let him [Doug Forrester] lay down his tax reports, show good faith to the people and say, 'This is what I made'. He's willing to say he's not profiteering, let him prove it. That's all we want." (Source: New York Times, 10/24/02)

Releasing personal tax records is a widely accepted practice by candidates for federal office, with the vast majority making them public so that voters can get a complete, unfiltered look at their financial records. Voters in New Jersey and across the nation have come to expect the opportunity to review the information as a window on a candidate's sources of wealth and potential conflicts.

"The voters have every right to believe that an elected official is making decisions that are in the best interests of the public - not in his or her own personal financial interest or to benefit a friend or political associate," Andrews said. "There is no excuse for a candidate to deny the voters this basic but critical information."

"Every day, Congress makes decisions that affect every man and woman in this country. Those decisions also have a major impact on the thousands of industries, lobbyists and other special interests that try to influence our votes. The public should feel secure that their elected officials are making those decisions independent of outside interests. Making their tax returns public is the best way that elected officials can remove any doubt."

"I urge Senator Lautenberg to follow my lead on this issue and show the citizens of this state the respect they deserve. I have always released my tax returns. It is time for the incumbent senator to do the same."