(TOWNHALL) – The Rhode Island state Senate passed legislation this week that would require presidential and vice presidential candidates to release five years’ worth of tax returns in order to appear on the state’s ballot.

State senators voted 34-to-3 in favor of the legislation.

Democratic state Sen. Gayle Goldin, the bill’s lead sponsor, noted that every presidential candidate since Richard Nixon voluntarily released their tax returns—until Donald Trump’s presidential run.

Trump has argued repeatedly that he could not release his tax returns because he was being audited.

"I've had it for years. I get audited. And obviously if I'm being audited, I'm not going to release a return," he said. "As soon as the audit is done, I love it."

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