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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: John Kartch ( jkartch@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

11/04/02

"Taxpayer Hero" Saxby Chambliss Declares "No New Taxes" in Race for Georgia's Senate Seat
Saxby Chambliss (R) competes for highly competitive Senate seat in last day of campaign.

WASHINGTON - Control of the United States Senate hinges on just a few close races that will be decided tomorrow, November 5th 2002. Georgia voters may cast the deciding vote, as taxpayer-friendly candidate Saxby Chambliss (R) has climbed in the polls against incumbent Senator Max Cleland (D).

Chambliss has signed the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which is a written commitment from candidates and elected officials to oppose new efforts to raise taxes. Chambliss signed the Pledge both as a congressman from Georgia's 8th congressional district and as a candidate for U.S. Senate. His opponent, Max Cleland, has repeatedly refused to sign the Pledge.

Currently, President George W. Bush, eight governors, 38 Senators, 211 U.S. Representatives, over 1,250 state legislators and over a thousand challengers for office have signed the Pledge, including 61 members of Georgia's state legislature and eight members of Georgia's delegation to the U.S. Congress.

"Signing the 'No New Taxes' Pledge is the greatest way for a candidate or elected official to show his or her commitment to taxpayers on the issues that matter most," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads ATR in Washington. "Saxby Chambliss has signed the Pledge and has been a true ally of taxpayers in Washington throughout his career. But Max Cleland continually refuses to sign the Pledge and has a lousy record as well," he continued.

Chambliss backed up his Pledge repeatedly, by scoring a 95% on ATR's congressional scorecard during his last two years in Congress. Cleland averaged a 20% rating over the same period. The congressional scorecard is a non-partisan calculation of votes by senators and representatives on issues important to taxpayers, including tax relief and retirement savings issues. The complete congressional scorecard, with explanations of the votes, can be viewed on ATR's website at www.atr.org.

"Saxby Chambliss has not only shown his commitment to Georgia taxpayers in writing, he has backed it up with one of the best records for taxpayers in Congress. When will Max Cleland back up his campaign rhetoric with a signature and voting record? Action speaks louder than words in politics."

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Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.  For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.