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. 

Here is the list of Nevada office holders and 2008 candidates who have taken the appropriate Pledge already...

Sen. Bob Beers
Sen. Barbara Cegavske
Sen. Warren Hardy
Sen. Maurice Washington

Assembly Minority Leader Garn Mabey
Assemblyman John Carpenter
Assemblyman Chad Christensen
Assemblyman John Marvel
Assemblyman Harry Mortensen
Assemblywoman Valerie Weber
Assemblyman Ty Cobb
Assemblyman Ed Goedhart
Assemblyman James Settelmeyer
Assemblyman Bob Beers

OTHER OFFICES

University Regent Ron Knecht
Carson City School Board member Joe Enge

2008 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

Ed Hamilton - 1st District
James Smack - 2nd District
Carl Bunce - 3rd District
Floyd Fitzgibbons - 3rd District

2008 STATE SENATE CANDIDATES

2008 STATE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES