Senate candidate George LeMieux has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for Florida's U.S Senate seat. LeMieux was appointed to the Senate in August 2009, by former Governor Charlie Crist to serve out the remainder of Mel Martinez’s term after he retired. He will face off against former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, retired Army Colniel Mike McCallister, and former Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse CEO Craig Miller in the Republican primary next August.

The winner of the Republican primary will face two-term incumbent Senator Bill Nelson, who won his 2006 election with 60% of the vote against former Secretary of State Katherine Harris.

President Obama won Florida in 2008 with 50.9% and the state is rated as slightly leaning Democratic. However, Republican Marco Rubio won the general election in 2010 by a 19-point margin in a three-way Senate race with Independent Charlie Crist and Democrat candidate Kendrick Meek.

By signing the Pledge, LeMieux commits to the taxpayers of Florida that he will “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.”

Upon LeMieux signing the Pledge, ATR’s President Grover Norquist had this to say:

I want to congratulate Mr. LeMieux for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure last November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs, cut government spending, and get the economy going again.

Adam Hasner has also signed the Pledge for this race. A copy of ATR's official statement on Sen. LeMieux signing the Pledge is below.

Florida Senate Candidate George LeMieux Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

WASHINGTON, DC— Former US Senator, George LeMieux has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat. The Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), 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."

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 41 U.S. Senators and 236 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, thirteen governors and over 1,200 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

“I want to congratulate Sen. LeMieux for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure in November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs and cut government spending,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, George LeMieux demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers of Florida.”

“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.

[Click here] for a printable copy of the press release

Posted by Adam Radman on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 11:43 AM EDT

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