In the News

The fight by House Democrats to obtain President Donald Trump’s tax returns will go to the courts in a lawsuit soon-to-be filed by the House Counsel’s office.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee made the revelation at the annual meeting of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council in Springfield on Thursday.

A recently enacted New York state law gives Neal the right to ask for obtain his state tax returns, but the Springfield Democrat is reluctant to travel that road.

Obtaining the state tax returns would bolster Trump administration arguments that Congress is on a political fishing expedition — and not, as Neal has maintained, overseeing the Internal Revenue Service’s annual audits of the president.

“We have no oversight over New York State taxes,” Neal said.

The congressman said he is following a well-thought out strategy.

“This is a court case... this is not for debate on cable shows,” he said.

Neal, who oversees one of the most powerful House committees, has not made his own tax filings public.

Asked when he would make those records public, Neal said, “I would at some time down the road.”

As for the pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by some Democrats to launch impeachment proceedings, Neal endorsed her current position.

"(The speaker is) taking a measured approach to this,” said Neal, adding that Pelosi has “been very careful as to how she intends, with the House leadership to proceed.”