Ray McKinney, a vice-president of a large nuclear services company and Georgia native, has taken the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in the contest for Georgia’s 12^th Congressional district.

McKinney is running in the Republican primary to be the nominee in the race for the U.S. House. If nominated he will take on three-term incumbent John Barrow (D-Ga.).  The Cook Political Report gives this district a PVI of D+1 and rates it a “Likely D,” changed from “Solid D” earlier this year. According to Cook, the district tends to be more competitive during midterm elections than presidential years. Indeed Barrow received only 52% of the general vote in 2006, in contrast to his 66% win in 2008.

McKinney joins Carl Smith (R-Ga.), Mike Horner (R-Ga.), and Jeanne Seaver (R-Ga.) in signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge vowing to oppose harmful tax increases for his constituents.

See the official signing press release below:

Ray McKinney (R-Ga.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Ray McKinney, a Republican running in Georgia’s 12^th 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, 34 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, Ray McKinney demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Georgia’s 12^th district.”

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

Copies of the Pledge are available at www.atr.org or by calling (202) 785-0266.

Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all tax increases.  For more information or to arrange an interview please contact John Kartch at (202) 785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org

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