Alaska’s Joe Miller recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his bid for U.S. Senate. He is running against incumbent Senator and Pledge signer Lisa Murkowski in the primary which will be held August 24, 2010. Murkowski has an 80% rating from ATR.

The Cook Political Report rates the senate race as “Solid Republican” implying that whoever emerges victorious from this primary should have a likely shot at winning in the general election. The Republican candidate has won the past three senate races in the state, though Murkowski’s win over Democrat Tony Knowles in 2004 was close with only a three percent margin. Such a competitive race is not expected this November.

ATR continues to reach out to candidates from every state urging them to stand with the taxpayer and sign the pledge.

Read ATR's official release on Miller's signing below:

Joe Miller (R-Alaska) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Senatorial candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Joe Miller, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate in Alaska, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge 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, 34 U.S. senators and 173 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, nine Governors and over 1,100 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

“After the passage of the so-called “Stimulus Package,” better known as the Pelosi-Obama-Reid Spending Give-Away, Americans are desperately searching for candidates and politicians that will protect their livelihoods and put their wallets ahead of the federal government’s coffers,”said Grover Norquist, President of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, Joe Miller demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Alaska.”

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