Businessman Tim Burns recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge for his special election race against Democrat, and former Murtha aide, Mark Critz. The candidates are seeking to replace the recently deceased Congressman Jack Murtha in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, which was the only district in the country carried by a Democrat in the 2004 Presidential contest to flip to Republican in 2008.
 
Cook Political Report ranks this race as a “Toss Up” with a PVI of R+1. The district has grown increasingly competitive for Republicans as former President Bush won 44% of the vote in 2000, 49% in 2004, and Sen. John McCain carried the district in 2008 with 51% of the vote.
 
For additional history on the district, check out Bill Pascoe’s post on the similarities between this special election and the 1974 special election that enabled Murtha to become the Congressman for the 12th Congressional District.
 
To read the ATR’s official statement on Burns signing the Pledge, click “read more.”  
Tim Burns(R-Penn.) Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tim Burns, a Republican running in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional district, 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, 33 U.S. senators and 172 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, seven 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, Tim Burns demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional district.”
 
“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.