Paint over clear finish?

You can paint over it, but you should scuff-sand the existing finish to give the primer something to bite onto. Benjamin Moore makes Fresh Start primer that supposedly can be used directly onto semi-gloss finishes and Formica. I'd still sand - belt and suspenders.

Leave the clear on. The next owner who wants to take them back to clear finish will appreciate that. Makes the paint a lot easier to strip.

But seriously, short of a chemical conflict that makes the surface self-destruct, a degreased and slightly scuffed finish should hold any good paint.

aem sends....

Painting over a clear finish can be troublesome depending upon the finish. Typically, the best course of action is to sand aggressively, prime with a pigmented shellac primer such as BIN, then top coat as required.