In their bid to secure the Republican nomination in North Carolina’s 9^th Congressional district, both Ric Killian and Edwin Peacock refuse to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. By examining their websites, it is now clear why. Both Killian and Peacock admit that they think the best solution to our fiscal crisis is a $2 trillion tax hike.

According to Ric Killian’s website, he believes that we should “adopt fundamental Simpson-Bowles fiscal recommendations.” According to Edwin Peacock’s website, the Simpson-Bowles fiscal recommendations are “the roadmap to correct this problem.”

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, who voted against Simpson-Bowles, writes:
“Relative to a current policy baseline, the proposal would increase revenues by $2 trillion over 10 years.” [“Expanded Views on the Fiscal Commission,” by Paul Ryan, Dec. 4, 2010]

The Heritage Foundation scored Simpson-Bowles as a $3.3 trillion tax increase over ten years:
“Overall, the fiscal commission would raise taxes by $3.3 trillion over the decade.” Heritage also wrote that Bowles-Simpson would be “the highest sustained tax burden in American history.” [“Fiscal Commission Report: Too Much Taxes, Not Enough Spending Cuts,” by Brian Riedl, Dec. 3, 2010]

 Americans for Tax Reform calls on Ric Killian and Edwin Peacock to side with the taxpayers of North Carolina by renouncing the Simpson-Bowles plan and signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. 

 “By supporting the Simpson-Bowles recommendations, Ric Killian and Edwin Peacock demonstrate that they are out of touch with the taxpayers of North Carolina,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “Voters should know that by voting for either Killian or Peacock, they are voting for a candidate who promises to raise their taxes when they get to Washington.”

In the crowded primary, Dan Barry, Andy Dulin, Ken Leonczyk, Richard Lynch, Jim Pendergraph, Robert Pittenger, and Mike Steinberg have all signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge 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.”

“I urge Killian and Peacock to join with the others in promising never to raise taxes on the voters of North Carolina,” continued Norquist. “All candidates should recognize that higher taxes are not the solution to Washington’s problems.”

Posted by Paul Blair on Friday, May 4, 2012 4:47 PM EDT

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