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

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10/25/04

Ashe Hungry for Taxpayer’s Lunch
Americans for Tax Reform confident Drake would fight for taxpayers in Congress

WASHINGTON – Today, Thelma Drake (R-VA) was applauded by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) , the nation’s leading taxpayer group, for her outstanding record as a state legislator. Drake is vying against newcomer David Ashe for Virginia’s second district seat in the House of Representatives.

Since she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1995, Drake has consistently voted in favor of taxpayers. Through a written letter, she has made a commitment to ATR’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge," a vow to the taxpayers in her district that she will oppose any and all tax increases, joining President George W. Bush, 42 U.S. senators, and 218 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have all signed the Pledge. Ashe refuses to take the Pledge.

“It’s really very simple. Drake promised not to raise taxes, Ashe won’t make that commitment to American families,” said Grover Norquist , president of ATR .

Drake has proven herself to be an advocate of the taxpayer. This May she took a tough and uncommon stand by voting against the $1.3 billion tax hike that was pushed through Virginia’s delegation. She understands that the best way to generate government revenues is by allowing taxpayers to keep and invest more of their own money. She is for making President Bush’s tax cuts permanent and would work to simplify the tax code if elected.

“While the rest of the Virginia Delegates were bullying taxpayers for their lunch money, Drake rejected greed and stood firmly for conservative values,” stated Norquist.

Ashe would reverse the tax cuts implemented by the Bush administration, placing further strain on hardworking Americans. He would start from the top, rolling back the tax relief program that has pulled the U.S. out of an inherited recession. Additionally, Ashe supports a system that forces Congress to hike taxes when spending is increased, ensuring that taxpayers pay for government over-spending.

“Ashe’s plan will force the government to binge on the paychecks of American families,” continued Norquist. “He claims that he would only increase taxes on top-bracket earners, but his ideas won’t seem so grand when he must turn to the middleclass to feed the bureaucrats their lunch.”

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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.