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

11/6/02

Senate Vote 2002: Taxpayers Win! Pledge Signers Win!
Taxpayer friendly candidates across the country sweep into office

WASHINGTON - In a stunning repudiation of historical trends, Republicans won control of the Senate and made significant gains in the House, despite this being an off year election with a Republican president in power. How might we explain this outcome? Taxes.

Taxpayer Protection Pledge signers won hotly contested Senate races in Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. South Dakota appears to have been one by another pledge signer, though a recount will probably be necessary, and another pledge signer, Suzanne Terrell, has forced a run-off in Louisiana. The only pledge signer to lose a competitive race was in Arkansas, but that candidate was tainted by personal scandal. New pledge signers include:

John Sununu (NH)
Jim Talent (MO)
Saxby Chambliss (GA)
Elizabeth Dole (NC)
Lindsey Graham (SC)
Lamar Alexander (TN)
John Cornyn (TX)
Norm Coleman (MN)
John Thune (SD - pending recount)

"The midterm elections were a huge win for taxpayers," said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. "On the heels of the landmark Bush tax cut, voters everywhere rewarded those who promised never to raise taxes, and rejected those who wanted to repeal the Bush tax cuts."

Since 1990, Americans for Tax Reform has sponsored the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, committing 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."

Before yesterday's vote, pledge signers included President George W. Bush, eight governors, 38 Senators, 211 U.S. Representatives, over 1,250 state legislators and over a thousand challengers for office. There will be a net gain of four pledge signers in the Senate, bringing the number to a filibuster-proof 42 Senators.

"The winning theme of the night was 'no new taxes,'" Norquist continued. "But the real winners were the American people. The results of this election should be lower taxes, smaller government, and more prosperity for all."

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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.