Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising to oppose harmful tax increases in his run for South Carolina’s fourth congressional district. Gowdy is the Republican nominee for the seat running against Democrat Paul Corden.

Gowdy won the GOP primary defeating incumbent Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.). Inglis was previously a Pledge signer, but had a history of breaking his promise and refused to re-sign during his first re-election in 2006. He also made the unpopular decisions to support harmful carbon tax legislation and the TARP bank bailout. Gowdy, a state solicitor, made the decision to stand up to Inglis for ignoring the wishes of his constituency time and time again. The voters spoke in the primary and cast their ballots to replace Inglis.

The fourth district is heavily Republican and Gowdy is expected to win the general election. Cook Political Report rates the race as “Solid R” and gives the district a PVI of R+15.

ATR urges all candidates to sign the Pledge vote against higher taxes that will hurt Americans. See the official press release below:

Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Trey Gowdy, a Republican running in South Carolina’s 4^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, Trey Gowdy demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in South Carolina’s 4^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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