William Russell, a congressional candidate in Pennsylvania, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his bid for the open seat in the “Keystone State’s” 12^th district. Russell becomes the second pledge signer, in a contest that will be held in just a little more than two months.

Russell, a businessman and the 2008 GOP nominee for the 12^th district, will be competing in an open to all Special Election, being held on May 18^th, to replace the late Rep. Jack Murtha. Murtha recently passed away, so the Pennsylvania Primary will also serve as a venue for a free-for-all race for the open seat in the 12^th district. The Cook Political Report has designated the race as a “Toss Up” and the PVI sits at R + 1; so certainly the chances of the 12^th switching to a Republican held seat after more than 30 years are possible, if not likely.

With his signing of the pledge, Russell has made clear to the taxpayers in the 12^th district that he will be fighting for them if elected. Pledge takers make a promise, once elected, they will fight against an out of control Congress that has hijacked billions from the pockets of taxpayers all over the country and wasted those dollars on legislation like the “stimulus”; which has been a failure by even the Obama Administration’s standards. ATR continues to reach out to candidates in Pennsylvania, and all other states to encourage those running to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge; making that same promise that hundreds of candidates have already made.

The official release from ATR on William Russell can be seen below:

William Russell(R-Penn.) Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – William Russell, a Republican running in Pennsylvania’s 12^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, William Russell demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Pennsylvania’s 12^th 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.