This past tax day, Rep. Henry Burns signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, making a commitment to his constituents, and all Louisiana taxpayers, that he will oppose any and all efforts to raise taxes. With a new legislative session set to convene next week, many challenges await state lawmakers. By signing the Pledge, Rep. Burns joins Gov. Jindal in taking tax hikes off the table in the coming legislative session.

Rep. Burns also joins 237 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 41 U.S. Senators, along with 13 governors and over 1,200 state legislators across the country who have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

“I commend Rep. Henry Burns for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and, in doing so, making it clear to all that he, like Gov. Bobby Jindal, recognizes that the state has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and that raising taxes will only impede economic recovery in Louisiana,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Over the last ten years state spending in Louisiana has increased by over 78%. Opponents of higher taxes point out that had spending been kept in line with the rate of population growth and inflation during that time, Louisiana taxpayers would’ve realized over $30 billion in savings. 

“After watching politicians in Washington raise federal taxes by over $350 billion in the last two years – including more than 20 separate tax increases just due to ObamaCare – it’s imperative that Louisiana legislators not pile on with more job-killing, recovery-impeding tax increases at the state level,” continued Norquist. “I applaud Rep. Henry for making clear to the spending interests set to descend on Baton Rouge next week that he will be putting taxpayers first and that proposals that raise taxes and take more money out of the private economy are a non-starter. I strongly encourage all members of the Louisiana legislature to join Gov. Jindal and Rep. Burns in signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today.”

For a list of Louisiana legislators who have signed the Pledge, Click Here.

Posted by Patrick Gleason on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 12:37 PM EDT

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