The following was originally published this morning on The Flash Report, the preeminent political news source in California:

WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO HOLD THE LINE ON TAXES? PEOPLE WHO SIGN THE PLEDGE...

Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform

Every election cycle Americans for Tax Reform asks all candidates for state legislature to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a written promise that candidates and incumbents make to voters and constituents to “oppose any and all efforts to raise taxes.” The simplest utility of the Pledge is that it allows all voters to know where candidates stand on two key issues of the day: taxes and spending.

The good news is that Pledge takers tend to keep their commitment and when they fail, punishment has been swift from voters and fellow legislators; the most prominent example being George H.W. Bush’s broken “read my lips” statement and voters’ subsequent denial of a second term in 1992. When Senator Cogdill and Assemblyman Villines broke their Pledges last year by voting for the largest state tax increase in U.S. history, they were appropriately removed from their leadership posts. The Pledge will certainly help those trying to decide on a preferred candidate for Lt. Governor this year. While it was unfortunate that Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado broke his Pledge when he cast the deciding vote for last year’s budget, at least it will be clear to voters that his word is worthless.

To continue reading Grover's piece in today's Flash Report, Click Here.

To read Flash Report publisher Jon Fleischman's commentary on the importance of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in California, Click Here.

Posted by Patrick Gleason on Monday, May 17, 2010 12:45 PM EDT

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