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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: Christopher Butler ( cbutler@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

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2/21/02

MINNESOTA SLAPPED BY CIGARETTE TAX INCREASE PROPOSALS

WASHINGTON - Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) strongly opposes per-pack cigarette tax increase legislation in the Minnesota state House and Senate. House Bill 2641 and Senate Bill 3274 will cost consumers 38 cents more per pack of cigarettes and 28% more for other tobacco products.

House Bill 2641 and Senate Bill 3274 are tax increases. Legislators who have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by ATR will break that pledge by voting for H.B. 2641 and S.B. 3274. Seventy-seven legislators have signed the Pledge in Minnesota promising to "oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes." A complete list of these Pledge-signers is available at www.atr.org.

Grover Norquist, President of ATR, issued the following statement: "I remind these Pledge signers that H.B. 2641 and S.B. 3274 include tax increase provisions and if they vote in the affirmative, they have broken their pledge to the taxpayers of Minnesota and all of the people of that state. Taking the Pledge is an acknowledgement of the principles of limited government and the ability to make legal choices independent of government intervention; Pledge-signers agree that both of these principles contribute to a better vision of society. I encourage all legislator, and particularly those who have signed the Pledge, to consider this vision of society carefully when it comes time to vote for H.B. 2641 and S.B. 3274."

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