Politicians often ay whatever they think voters want to hear on the campaign trail only to do whatever the lobbyists and special interests want once in office, hoping (or plotting) how to hide it or "explain" it to voters in the next election.  Especially when it come to tax hikes.

The idea of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their "no-new-taxes" rhetoric in writing. Voters have learned that it's not enough to read a politician's lips; they want to read their signature.

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.

Today the Pledge is offered to every candidate for state office and to all incumbents. More than 1,100 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.

Frequent (Lame) Excuses Candidates Make for Not Signing the Pledge 

Why should I make a Pledge to some organization or group?

The Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate's constituents, not to the sponsoring organization which circulates the Pledge and encourages candidates to sign it.  Those voters are entitled to know where candidates stand before electing them, not after.

My word is my bond.  I don't need to sign any piece of paper to commit to something.

A quaint sentiment undermined by one politician after another who have given their word on the campaign trail only to break it once in office.  Remember President Bush's verbal "Read my lips" comment in 2000?  Or Sen. Bill Raggio's verbal "guarantee" that he wouldn't raise taxes in 2008?  And look where that got us?

A signed commitment to taxpayers is a much better way to hold politicians accountable for their actions.  Words mean nothing - but a contract with taxpayers?  That's a whole different level of accountability.

Politicians who say their word is their bond and, therefore, they don't sign pledges of any kind are forgetting about the pledges sign when buying a house or a car or even using their credit cards in the grocery store.  Why should voters have more faith in the word of a politician than the check-out woman at WalMart?

What if I sign the Pledge, become elected, and then raising taxes becomes necessary?

If you actually believe that the state government in Nevada has a revenue problem and not a spending problem, well then, you shouldn't sign the Pledge.  Just be honest enough to tell voters that you believe raising taxes might be necessary and let the voters decide, fully informed, whether they agree with you or not.

Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers in 2010

(I) = Incumbent

Governor

Gov. Jim Gibbons (I)

Mayor Mike Montandon
Flyod Fitzgibbons

Lt. Governor

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (I)
Barbara Lee Woolen

Secretary of State
Joel Hansen

U.S. Senate

John Ensign (I)
Sharron Angle

Chad Christensen

Sue Lowden

Danny Tarkanian
Ed Hamilton
Bill Parson

Congressional District 1

Michele Fiore

Craig Lake
Joseph Tatner

Congressional District 2

Rep. Dean Heller (I)

Congressional District 3

Dr. Joe Heck

Ellie Ahern
Steven P. Nohrden
John Beard

State Senate Capital District
Cody James Quirk
Steve Yeater

State Senate District 1
Tom Koziol

State Senate District 4 (Washoe)

Todd Taxpayer Bailey

Ty Cobb

State Senate District 5 (Clark)

Mike Roberson

State Senate District 8

Barbara Cegavske (I)

State Senate District 9 (Clark)

Elizabeth Halseth

State Senate District 12

Patrick McNaught

State Senate District 7
Tony Wright

State Assembly District 2

Annie Black

John Hambrick (I)
Jon Kamerath

State Assembly District 3

Eric Morelli
Andrew Prato

State Assembly District 4

Dick McArthur (I)

State Assembly District 5
Tim Williams

State Assembly District 10

Tyler Andrews

State Assembly District 13

Leonard Foster

State Assembly District 15

Stan Vaughan

State Assembly District 16

Glenn Greener                 

State Assembly District 21

Cherlyn Arrington

Les McKay

State Assembly District 22

Calanit Atia

Scott Chappell
Salli Durbin

State Assembly District 26
Robb Archie

State Assembly District 31
Randi Thompson
Gary Duarte

State Assembly District 33

Dale Andrus

Janine Hansen

State Assembly District 34

Richard Deeds
William Hols

State Assembly District 36

Ed Goedhart (I)

Dave Vanderbeek

State Assembly District 38

Gary Gladwill
Dennis Gomez

State Assembly District 39
Barbara Smallwood
Jim Wheeler
David Schuman

State Assembly District 40
Pete Livermore
Amy Clemens

State Assembly District 42
Kathy Njus

Incline Village General Improvement District
Joe Wolfe