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Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) congratulates former Jackson City Councilman Quentin Whitwell for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which is a written commitment to the people of Mississippi to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.” Whitwell is running in the May 12 special election to fill the seat vacated by the recently deceased Alan Nunnelee in Mississippi’s first congressional district.

Candidates running for office like to say they will not raise taxes, but often turn their backs on the taxpayer once elected. The Pledge requires these candidates to put their rhetoric in writing and provide an additional layer of accountability to the taxpayer.

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. Currently, 48 U.S. Senators and 219 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, fourteen incumbent governors and over 1,000 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

I want to congratulate Whitwell for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people are tired of the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington and they are looking for solutions that create jobs, cut government spending, and get the economy going again,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.

ATR will continue to follow this race closely and will provide additional updates as more candidates sign the Pledge.