Americans for Tax Reform calls on Congressional candidate Jim Pendergraph to tell voters what taxes he intends on raising. In his bid for the Republican nomination in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District, Pendergraph signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Immediately after signing the Pledge, Pendergraph seemed to walk-back on the promise he made to voters in North Carolina.

On April 28, in an interview with the Charlotte Observer, Pendergraph “said he would consider taxes” if efforts to reduce the deficit failed. What Pendegraph seems to be ignoring is the fact that when tax hikes are on the table, efforts to reduce spending – and in turn the deficit – are doomed to fail. 

This isn’t the first time that Jim Pendergraph has left the door open for higher taxes. In fact, as the Mecklenburg County Commissioner vice-chair, he supported a measure to increase local property taxes, stating, “I think it’s worth” the increase. The higher tax goes into effect on July 1, five days after the Congressional run-off.

Voters in North Carolina deserve to know whether Jim Pendergraph plans on keeping his promise to oppose higher taxes and get serious about spending restraint in Washington. Only by taking tax hikes off the table is this possible.

“By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Jim Pendergraph made a clear promise to oppose efforts to increase taxes,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “Voters deserve to know whether he intends on breaking that promise if he gets to Washington.”

“Taxpayers understand that the biggest problem with Washington politicians is their unwillingness to make the tough decisions about reining in out of control spending. I urge Jim Pendergraph to clarify whether or not he plans on keeping his promise to the voters of North Carolina before they vote in next month’s runoff.”

[PDF of Press Release]
 

Posted by Paul Blair on Friday, May 11, 2012 3:15 PM EDT

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