Stevens introduces bill requiring members of Congress to publicly release tax returns

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, introduced legislation Thursday that would require all members of Congress and congressional candidates to publicly disclose their federal tax returns each year.

Stevens says it’s a challenge to a culture of financial secrecy in Washington.

The bill comes days after Stevens voluntarily released her tax return ahead of Tax Day. Her return showed an adjusted gross income of $169,970, a standard deduction of $22,272, and a total tax liability of $28,249. The return showed that she earned no income outside her congressional salary.

“I’m not a millionaire, and at a time when Michiganders are sick and tired of politicians running for office to get rich, we owe the public the transparency they deserve,” Stevens said, announcing the legislation.

Earlier this year, Stevens also introduced a bill that would prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks, though several other efforts to rein in stock trading by Congress are underway.