Don Young Betrays Taxpayers
2007 Hero of the Taxpayer Award winner votes for tax hike in 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Don Young (R-Alaska) violated the solemn oath he took to his constituents by voting for H.R. 2642, the Blue Dog Tax Hike. This income tax hike is a clear violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and considered so serious by Americans for Tax Reform that they will double-rate a vote for this bill in their annual Congressional Ratings. Additionally, any member of Congress that voted for this bill is ineligible to receive ATR’s 2008 “Hero of the Taxpayer Award.”
Roughly 325,000 small business owners including S corporation owners, and sole proprietors pay their business taxes at the individual level and would see a higher marginal tax rate as a result of this tax increase if it should become law.
“Republicans that vote for tax increases are like rat heads in Coke bottles,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “They ruin the Republican brand for all members. It should be readily apparent to a former ’Hero of the Taxpayer Award’ recipient that you don’t vote for tax hikes.”
The Taxpayer Protection Pledge signed by 192 members of Congress and 41 U.S. Senators commits 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."
“Politicians should know the solutions to the government’s current funding problems aren’t related to a lack of revenue,” continued Norquist. “The issue is Congress has elected to go on a spending spree with our money rather than show any fiscal responsibility by cutting taxes and controlling government spending."