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Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) congratulates state Sen. Jim Banks for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which is a written commitment to the people of Indiana to oppose higher taxes. Banks is running for Rep. Marling Stutzman’s open seat, which he left to run for the U.S. Senate.

Since 2011, Banks has chaired the Taxpayer Protection Caucus in the Indiana Senate. The caucus provides a single voice on tax issues among pro-taxpayer legislators, and forms an entire body of legislators that believe in the same principle: no new taxes.

Sen. Jim Banks also led the fight to repeal Indiana’s death tax. In 2012, ATR urged Indiana legislators to support Banks’ legislation to phase out this punitive tax on hardworking Hoosiers.

“I want to congratulate state Sen. Banks for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Until you take tax increases firmly off the table, true and lasting spending restraint is impossible,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

“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. Signing the Pledge is the first step in that process.”

Candidates running for office like to say they will not raise taxes, but often turn their backs on the taxpayer once elected. The Taxpayer Protection Pledge requires these candidates to put their rhetoric in writing. It is offered to every candidate for state and federal office and to all incumbents. Nearly 1,400 elected officials, from state representative to governor to US Senator, have signed the Pledge.

“Senator Banks is a leader on fiscal issues, and we are ecstatic about his commitment to the taxpayers of Indiana. I challenge all candidates for IN-03 to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” continued Norquist.

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