A Look at the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

The "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" was authored by Grover G. Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR).

According to their website, Americans for Tax Reform was founded by Norquist in 1985 at the request of President Ronald Reagan. ATR "is a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at the federal, state and local levels."

The Americans for Tax Reform group offers every candidate for state office and all incumbents the opportunity to sign the pledge.

The "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" is this:

"I, ____, pledge to the taxpayers of the (____ district of the) state of _____ that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."

According to the Americans for Tax Reform website (www.atr.org), 236 Representatives and 41 Senators in the 112th Congress have signed the Pledge.

Sen. John McCain, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Pat Toomey are some of the current members of Congress who have signed the Pledge.

According to their website, more than 1,100 state officeholders, "from state representatives to governor", have signed the Pledge.

In the recent fight over raising the nation's debt ceiling, Republicans were united in their opposition to the introduction of new taxes or removal of certain tax deductions. It's not hard to see why, as the vast majority of Republican Representatives and Senators have their names on Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge."