WASHINGTON - Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) applauds the pro-taxpayer policies of Republican gubernatorial nominee Linda Lingle, including her pledge to the taxpayers of Hawai'i that she will "oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes." Lingle signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by ATR on August 30, 2002.

Lingle joins 13 other candidates for governor, nation-wide, all of whom have signed the Pledge. 1279 state legislators, 212 Members of the U.S. House, 37 Senators, and President George W. Bush have signed the Pledge. Over 2000 candidates for state legislature, 30 candidates for state-wide office, and 300 candidates for Congressional office have signed the Pledge this year.

"Linda Lingle has demonstrated her dedication to the taxpayers of Hawai'i by signing the Pledge," commented Grover Norquist, President of ATR. "Taxpayers have a real champion in Linda Lingle. If only all American taxpayers shared that advantage."

Lingle's Democratic opponent in the November 5, 2002 general election, Mazie Hirono, has not signed the Pledge.