The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, working on behalf of Ohio House Democrats, has falsely attacked State House challenger Mike Dovilla for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The Pledge is a promise to constituents to “oppose and vote against all tax increases.” But the DLCC argues that Dovilla has “pledged to preserve corporate tax breaks and loopholes that encourage outsourcing” in a direct mail piece. In reality, the goal of the Pledge is to protect taxpayers and businesses from tax increases, and does not prevent revenue-neutral elimination of the types of tax credits the DLCC cites.
Mike Dovilla is challenging incumbent Rep. Matt Patten in Ohio’s 18th House District. By signing the “No New Taxes” Pledge, Dovilla has made a written commitment to his future constituents to hold the line against tax increases like Gov. Strickland’s $844 million tax hike in 2009. Rep. Patten voted for the Strickland income tax increase and has indicated he would do so again by refusing to take the Pledge.
Over 50 state legislative candidates have signed the Pledge in Ohio, in addition to gubernatorial candidate John Kasich and Auditor candidate Dave Yost. Additionally, Republican Congressional candidate in Ohio for the 2010 election cycle has signed the Pledge.
Similar claims about the Pledge have been made recently in Hawaii, Michigan, and Nevada. In Hawaii, FactCheck.org, a non-partisan "consumer advocate" for voters, called the attacks “blatantly false.” In Michigan, the Jackson Citizen-Patriot deemed Rep. Mark Schauer’s claims about the Pledge and Tim Walberg to be “not true.” In Nevada, journalist Jon Ralston “reality checked” the Dina Titus campaign ad and found the claims made against the “no new taxes” Pledge to be “thoroughly misleading.”
“These stale Democrat attacks from Washington, D.C. are sad and desperate. The Pledge signed by Mike Dovilla is a promise to constituents and businesses to never raise taxes. Rep. Matt Patten has not only refused to make a similar commitment, he gave us a preview of his second term when he stood with Gov. Strickland and raised taxes on all Ohioans. It’s a shame he is resorting to false advertising from D.C. Democrats to distort Mike Dovilla’s record on taxes.” said ATR President Grover Norquist.
“Mike Dovilla has committed to never raising taxes on his constituents. His Democrat opponent is simply attempting to distract from what a second Matt Patten term means for Ohio: bigger government and higher taxes,” continued Norquist.