Americans for Tax Reform

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For at least the third time in the last two weeks, Sen. John McCain pledged to veto any tax increase if elected President.

1) On Sunday, Feb. 17, appearing on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, McCain made an unequivocal promise to oppose any tax increase if elected President:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: So on taxes, are you a “read my lips” candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: No new taxes I do not — in fact, I could see an argument if our economy continues to deteriorate for lower interest rates, lower tax rates and certainly decreasing corporate tax rates, which are the second-highest in the world, giving people the ability to write off depreciation in a year, elimination of the AMT. There’s a lot of things that I would think we should to relieve that burden, including, obviously, as we all know, simplification of the tax code.

MCCAIN: No.

The video clip of this exchange may be viewed at http://youtube.com/watch?v=g_zU-Cov6Cs

2) On Sunday, Feb. 3, during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace had the following exchange with Sen. McCain:

CHRIS WALLACE: “As president, will you veto any tax increase passed by a Democratic Congress?”

The video clip of this exchange may be viewed at http://youtube.com/watch?v=k5_dsxBEJVY

3) Also on Feb. 3, McCain was a guest on CBS’s Face the Nation, hosted by Bob Schieffer. Again, he was asked to commit to veto a tax increase:

BOB SCHIEFFER: “Let’s just say that you do become president and a Democratic congress raises taxes. What would you do? Would you veto it?”

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: “Sure. Sure I’d veto it. I think if we’re gonna be in some shaky times, and by the way I believe the fundamentals of America’s economy are still strong, then the worst thing you can do is increase taxes at that time.”

For two decades, ATR has asked all presidential and federal candidates to commit to their constituents, in writing, to oppose any and all efforts to raise income taxes. Every Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan has made this commitment, as well as over 90 percent of incumbent GOP House and Senate members.

Meanwhile, neither of the two remaining Democrat candidates – Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – has made any form of commitment, written or otherwise, to veto tax increases.

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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.