Mark Greenberg has become the first candidate in the race for Connecticut’s 5^th Congressional seat to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Incumbent Representative Chris Murphy announced he was running for Senate in January, making the 5^th district an open seat. Greenberg is running against two other announced candidates for the Republican nomination. Farmington Town Council Chair Mike Clark, 2010 Lt. Gov. Candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley, and Ex-State Military Affairs Director Justin Bernier have already entered the race with several other potential candidates considering a run.

Connecticut’s 5^th Congressional district, which is located in the northwestern part of the state, is rated as lean democrat but could get more competitive as we get closer to the election. Rep. Chris Murphy won the district in 2010 with 52% of the vote, 59% in 2008, and 56% in 2006.

At this point, there are a number of declared Democrats vying for Murphy’s seat including State House Speaker Chris Donovan, Ex-State Rep. Elizabeth Esty, P.R. Executive, Dan Roberti, and Foreign Policy Analyst Mike Williams.

By signing the Pledge, Greenberg commits to the taxpayers of Connecticut that he will “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.”

Upon Greenberg signing the Pledge, ATR’s President Grover Norquist had this to say:

I want to congratulate Mark Greenberg for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure last November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs, cut government spending, and get the economy going again.

Connecticut Congressional Candidate Mark Greenberg signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

WASHINGTON, DC— Connecticut businessman Mark Greenberg has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for Connecticut’s 5^th Congressional seat. The Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), commits signers 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."

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 41 U.S. Senators and 235 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, thirteen governors and over 1,200 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

“I want to congratulate Mark Greenberg for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure in November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs, cut government spending and get the economy going again,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, Mark Greenberg demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers of Connecticut.”

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

[PDF of Press Release]

Posted by Paul Blair on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 1:30 PM EDT

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