About Americans for Tax Reform

We believe in a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today.  The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax.  We believe that power should be minimized.

 

ATR was founded in 1985 by Grover Norquist at the request of President Reagan.

 

The flagship project of Americans for Tax Reform is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a written promise by legislators and candidates for office that commits them to oppose any effort to increase income taxes on individuals and businesses. Since ATR first sponsored the Pledge in 1986, hundreds of U.S. Representatives, more than fifty U.S. Senators and every successful Republican Presidential candidate have all signed the Pledge. In the 111^th Congress, 172 U.S. Representatives and 34 U.S. Senators have taken the Pledge never to raise income taxes. 

 

Americans for Tax Reform began promoting the Taxpayer Protection Pledge on the state-level in the early 1990s.

 

ATR works with state taxpayer coalitions in all 50 states to ask candidates for state legislature and constitutional office to sign the State Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which reads: “I _____ pledge to the taxpayers of the __________ district, of the state of __________, and to all the people of this state, that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

 

Additionally, Americans for Tax Reform works with state-based center-right groups to help replicate ATR’s national Wednesday Meeting in the states. Currently, there are over 50 meetings in 45 states. These meetings bring together a broad cross section of the center-right community- taxpayer groups, social conservative groups, business groups, legislators, etc., to promote limited government ideals.

 

Realizing that Americans not only need to be protected from higher taxes, but from higher spending; Americans for Tax Reform created the Center for Fiscal Accountability (CFA) in 2008.  CFA focuses on all central issues related to fiscal responsibility and accountability, especially spending restraint and  the promotion of a more transparent and accountable government on the local, state, and federal level through easily searchable online spending and contract databases.

 

Americans for Tax Reform and Americans for Tax Reform Foundation also sponsor the annual calculation of Cost of Government Day (COGD), the day on which Americans stop working to pay the costs of taxation, deficit spending, and regulations by federal and state governments.

 

ATR is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) lobbying organization.  Contributions to Americans for Tax Reform are not tax deductible.  The Americans for Tax Reform Foundation is a 501c(3) research and educational organization.  All contributions to the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation are tax deductible to the extent provided for in federal law.