Former Rep. Richard Pombo recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his bid to replace retiring Rep. George Randanovich in California’s 19th Congressional District. Taxpayers should be quite familiar with Rep. Pombo as he was named “Hero of the Taxpayer” ten times over his seven terms in office. He has a lifetime rating of 91% with ATR.

Cook Political Report (subscription needed) ranks this district as a “Solid R” district with a PVI of R+9; making this the 126th most Republican district in the country. Swing State Project reports that President Bush won the 19th district with at least 58% of the vote in 2000 and 2004. McCain garnered 52% of the vote in 2008.
 
Pombo is the first candidate in the 19th district to sign the Pledge.
 
To see ATR’ official statement on Pombo signing the Pledge, click “read more.”
 
Richard Pombo(R-Calif.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Richard Pombo, a Republican running in California’s 19th 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, Richard Pombo demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in California’s 19th 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.