Charleston County Councilman Paul Thurmond recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for South Carolina’s First Congressional District. Thurmond is looking to replace retiring Congressman Henry Brown, but must first get through a crowded GOP primary field that includes several other candidates and two other Pledge signers: Carroll Campbell and Stovall Witte.
 
Cook Political Report ranks SC-01 as a “Solid R” district with a PVI of R+ 10. Brown has won reelection over the last two election cycles with at least 52% of the vote. Former President Bush carried the district in 2000 with 59% of the vote, 61% in 2004, and Sen. John McCain took the district with 57% of the vote in 2008. The winner of the GOP primary will be the heavy favorite in November.
 
To see ATR’s official statement on Thurmond signing the Pledge, click “read more.”
Paul Thurmond (R-S.C.) Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Paul Thurmond, a Republican running in South Carolina’s 1st 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 173 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, Paul Thurmond demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in South Carolina’s 1st 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.
To obtain a printable pdf version, click here.