THE TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE

About the Pledge (from Americans for Tax Reform)

Politicians often run for office saying they won't raise taxes, but then quickly turn their backs on the taxpayer. The idea of the Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their no-new-taxes rhetoric in writing.

In the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. While ATR has the role of promoting and monitoring the Pledge, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate's constituents, who are entitled to know where candidates stand before sending them to the capitol. Since the Pledge is a prerequisite for many voters, it is considered binding as long as an individual holds the office for which he or she signed the Pledge.

Since its rollout with the endorsement of President Reagan in 1986, the pledge has become de rigeur for Republicans seeking office, and is a necessity for Democrats running in Republican districts. Numbers in Congress are approaching 50% in each house.

Today the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is offered to every candidate for state office and to all incumbents. More than 1,200 state officeholders, from state representative to governor, have signed the Pledge. Statehouse tax-and-spend interests have to contend with Pledge signers in every state.

Citizen Outreach is sponsoring and promoting the Pledge in Nevada.  There are three versions of the Pledge...a federal, a state legislative, and a generic - “I [insert name] pledge to the taxpayers of the state of Nevada and all the people of this state that I will oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes” - for any and all other office holders. 

COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE
TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE

When and where did the Pledge originate?

The first anti-tax Pledge was first used in the New Hampshire governor’s race in 1972. Since then, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge has been distributed to state-wide and state legislative candidates and incumbents in all fifty states. Similar Pledges are distributed to U.S. Congressional and presidential candidates.

How many government officers and representatives have taken the Pledge?

Over 1,100 incumbent legislators have signed the state Pledge. Since 2002, well over a thousand candidates have signed the Pledge every election year. Thirty-four U.S. Senators and 172 U.S. Representatives have signed the federal version of the Pledge. Numerous statewide office holders as well as county and local legislators have also taken the Pledge.

What does the Pledge commit a candidate or incumbent to do?

The Pledge commits an elected official or candidate for public office “to oppose [and vote against/veto] any efforts to increase taxes.”

What if the people themselves want to raise taxes?

The short and simple answer is that if the people want their taxes raised, they should vote for candidates who promise to raise their taxes, preferably telling citizens before the election exactly which taxes they intend to raise and by how much.

In states which have a citizen initiative option to place tax measures on the ballot, citizens have the power to raise taxes on themselves and by themselves by gathering enough valid signatures on a petition and then garnering a majority vote in an election on the initiative.

Any vote to place a tax increase on the ballot which circumvents the state's citizen signature-gathering requirement is a violation of the Pledge.

A vote to grant the citizen initiative option to local jurisdictions allowing the people to vote to either increase their taxes or to decrease them is not considered a violation of the Pledge.

Does the Pledge stand in the way of tax reform?

No. While ATR opposes any tax increase as a matter of principle, the Pledge does not require opposition to revenue neutral reform. However, for tax reform to be considered revenue neutral, a tax increase must be tied to an offsetting tax cut of at least equal size. Generally, the offset must be specified in the same piece of legislation. Furthermore, tax increase and tax cut must occur in a reasonable and corresponding time window, meaning a tax increase cannot simply be offset by a tax cut in the out-years.

Can the language of the Pledge be altered to allow exceptions?

No. There are no exceptions to the Pledge. Tax-and-spend politicians often use “emergencies” to justify increasing taxes.

In the unfortunate event of a real crisis or natural disaster, legislators should cut spending in other areas instead of aggravating the situation. In the face of natural disasters, governors like Haley Barbour or Jeb Bush have demonstrated such fiscal leadership and have worked through the problems without raising taxes.

Are ‘user fees’ considered taxes?

No. However, ATR defines the term ‘user fee’ very narrowly: To qualify as a fee, a charge must fund a specific service, with no excess going into a general fund; the charge must be paid only by those who use that specific government service; and individuals must have the choice whether to purchase the service from government (and thus pay the fee) or to purchase the service from a private business. Excise taxes, sales taxes or taxes levied on businesses to pay for government regulation are not user fees.

How long am I bound to the Pledge?

Pledge signers are bound for the duration of their tenure in the office to which they were elected. For example, if a Pledge signer runs for the state house of representatives, wins the election, and two years later decides to run for the state senate, he /she must sign the Pledge again for it to apply to his/her tenure in the senate.

Here is the list of Nevada office holders and 2010 candidates who have signed Pledge...

INCUMBENT STATE LEGISLATORS

Sen. Barbara Cegavske
Sen. Maurice Washington

Assemblyman John Carpenter
Assemblyman Chad Christensen
Assemblyman Don Gustavson
Assemblyman Harry Mortensen
Assemblywoman Dick McArthur
Assemblyman Ty Cobb
Assemblyman Ed Goedhart
Assemblyman James Settelmeyer

Sharron Angle - U.S. Senate
Danny Tarkanian - U.S. Senate
Ed Hamilton - U.S. Senate

2010 GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES

Joe Heck

2010 STATE SENATE CANDIDATES

2010 STATE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES