Today, Eric Hovde called into a radio show for an interview with Wisconsin radio show host Jerry Bader. When asked about why he would not join with other Republican Senate candidates in Wisconsin by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, he attempted to distract voters with attacks against Americans for Tax Reform and the Pledge itself.

Bader began the interview by asking Hovde why he wouldn’t sign the Pledge. His response? An attack against Grover Norquist and the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which can be read here.

Contrary to Hovde’s distortions about the effect that the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and Americans for Tax Reform has on tax reform, one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress strongly disagrees with Hovde’s claims.

Dave Camp, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the committee tasked with tax reform legislation, had this to say:

Americans for Tax Reform is really the flagship organization when it comes to tax reform. And as we continue to move toward a comprehensive reform plan, this organization will be a critical ally in the fight to advocate tax relief for individuals, for families, and for job creators of all sizes.

When asked directly why Hovde would not sign the Pledge, he claimed that “it locks in high rates and doesn’t get rid of corporate welfare.”

Similar to the claims made by Democrats in 2010, the non-partisan FactCheck.org would likely agree that this claim is also blatantly false.

According to FactCheck.org, the Pledge “leaves ample room for elimination of any number of special tax breaks so long as the overall level of taxation is not increased. To claim that this "protects" any particular provision of the tax code is simply untrue.”

In an effort to uncover the truth about Eric Hovde’s tax hike agenda, Jerry pressed further. He asked, "What do you say to those, though, Eric, who say that 'closing tax loopholes’ is liberal code for ‘raising taxes on corporations?’”

His answer? A convoluted rant about offshore accounts and thoroughbred racehorses.

Eric Hovde has refused to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Wisconsin voters to oppose higher taxes. He has gone on the record as saying that he would support a tax hike deal with Democrats. He has hit the radio interview circuit and is calling for higher taxes on corporations. All of these things leave voters wondering whether Eric Hovde ran in the wrong primary.

[PDF of Press Release]

Posted by Paul Blair on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 2:52 PM EDT

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