Why did House Republicans vote to keep President Trump's tax returns secret ?

House Republicans voted en masse to block a resolution that would have forced Trump to turn his tax returns over to Congress on Monday night.
The measure was introduced by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Under a 1924 law, the Ways and Means Committee is empowered to examine tax returns. The committee could then decide to release them to the full Congress, effectively making them public.
Trump has broken with decades of precedent and refused to release his tax returns, citing an ongoing audit.

1.1 million people have signed an online petition calling for the returns to be released, and 74 percent of Americans in a January poll say Trump should now release his taxes.

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

Predictably the usual people defend Trump at all costs in all circumstances. They ask why he should release them. Why?

1) Its precedent going back many years.
2) It shows responsibility in personal affairs, which is particularly important if you are running a country. (Conservatives are usually pretty hot on this being important).
3) It shows transaparancy.
4) Trump would never have become President if it wasn't for the brag of being a successful businessman. It was central to his campaign.

In addition, [b][i]why not?[/i][/b] If there is a good reason why Trump has not released his returns then I have yet to see one. It follows that there is probably a bad reason...

House Republicans surely know this is dodgy but they want to use Trump for their own ends (abolishing Obamacare, cutting medicare, low corporate tax). Therefore they are happy to use any use any means to protect Trump, and by extension themselves, from any reputation damage.