Diminishing Republican Support for Tax Reform Pledge
By Lauren Moore | 07/08/2012 | Headline, Legislators, Taxes | 3 Comments
Tax reform lobbyist for Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, speaking at CPAC.
Republican Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia has revoked his signature from Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform pledge, and he isn’t the only one. Until recently the pledge had been signed by every Republican in, or wishing to be in, Congress. Now, just 45 of 83 of the Republican National Congressional Committee’s current group of up-and-coming politicians, known as the “Young Guns”, have signed the no-tax pledge.
By taking his name off the pledge in January, Rep. Rigell says his “advice and counsel to ‘Young Guns’ would be to not sign the Americans for Tax Reform pledge.” According to the Huffington Post, he says that he “objects to the pledge’s prohibition against eliminating corporate loopholes or government subsidies unless the change in the tax code is revenue-neutral.”
Revoking his signature was specifically against his campaign advisers’ orders, who urged him to wait until after the November’s election.
“If they want me with my convictions to represent them, that’s wonderful. I’d be honored,” said Rigell. “If they know I’m repudiating and distancing myself from the ATR pledge, and in their wisdom, if they want someone else to represent them, they need to have that opportunity.”
Other Republicans have recently spoken out against the pledge. “I’m not signing any pledges, I’m just promising to use my best judgment as a congressman. And I think that’s the problem in Washington right now. You have both Democrats and Republicans that are inflexible on certain issues,” said Richard Tisei, a Republican candidate from Massachusetts.
“To me, pledges, can be gimmicks,” Perry told the York Dispatch in April. “It is easy to candidates to sign pledges and make promises. The proof is in my record.”
That said, there is still a lot of GOP support on this pledge. Mia Love, Mayor of Utah’s Saratoga Springs is a Young Gun who’s goal is to be the first black Republican woman in Congress. While not opposed to taxes personally, as she approved a 116% property tax recently, she is in favor of the pledge.
“I signed the pledge for the very simple reason that I firmly believe the federal government has a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” Love said in the statement. “As our national economy continues to struggle, we do not need further tax increases.”
Fans of the pledge have pointed out that there are still 100 more politicians who have signed the pledge now, than there were two years ago.
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3 Comments
eugene-patrickdevany
07.08.2012
@eugene-patrickdevany
Mr. Norquist’s no-tax pledge applies to the income tax rates and does not have any application to real tax reform. The top 10% now have 75% of the wealth (as they did just before the Great Depression of 1929) and 60% share 3%.
The no-tax pledge does not prevent an 8% corporate income tax and 4% VAT to produce 20% of government revenue and make American business the most competitive in the world.
It would not prevent an 8% individual income tax and 2% net wealth tax (excluding $15,000 cash and retirement funds).
This 2-4-8 Tax Blend enables the elimination of the AMT, regressive payroll taxes, and estate, gift and capital gains taxes which interfere with investment freedom. A typical family would save or spend $640 more per month. Businesses would add jobs to meet the increased consumer demand. By eliminating the tax on the sale of assets (capital gains) business decisions can be made solely on factors relating to the best use of capital and tax free transfers of assets can be made to heirs before death. The low income tax rate provides a high rate of return (92% of profit) so as to encourage risk in all types of business. Lastly, rich and poor pay exactly the same rates yet the tax liability remains progressive.
The new economic ecosystem would be self sustaining, with no need for the government to borrow to finance (Democratic) government stimulus or (Republican) tax expenditures.
No person has identified a legal, logical or economic reason why this 2-4-8 Tax Blend would not produce sustainable economic recovery as promised.
Eugene Patrick Devany, JD, MPA
http://www.TaxNetWealth.com
Craig D. Schlesinger
07.09.2012
@craigschlesinger
In the past, Republicans just signed the pledge while campaigning and forgot the whole thing once in office. Ah, politics.
Bob Jackson
07.10.2012
Despite would could be an informed lecture, it DOES NOT address the Issues for the Majority of the “Fright-WingNUT’s” who proudly carry the banner of “NO New Taxes, NO!” So, just what does it say about the political party that’s controlled by Crass and Vulgar Radio hosts, and an Un-Elected Dictator who Demands Tax Pledges from nearly ALL of the politicians in their party? …….