Jim Meyers and Kathleen Walter of Newsmax write: “Low-tax crusader and Republican strategist Grover Norquist tells Newsmax that Congress should not raise the ceiling on federal debt without serious reductions in President Obama’s overspending, which will take the country ‘right off the cliff.’ Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, asserts that the Democratic leadership ‘missed the lesson’ taught by the growth of the tea party — that Americans want to reduce spending. And he says the standoff over the debt ceiling will not end in compromise — instead, ‘somebody’s going to win and somebody’s going to lose… President Obama wants the debt ceiling increased so he can continue to spend as he’s been spending over the past two years. The Republicans and [House] Speaker [John] Boehner want to draw down that overspending, and their position is they won’t vote for the debt ceiling increase unless serious spending restraint is imposed.’”
From The Hill, Alexander Bolton writes: “A small group of Republican lawmakers has steadfastly resisted the Taxpayer Protection Pledge that has emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a deficit-reduction deal with Democrats. The Pledge, as it’s often called in Washington, is the brainchild of anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, who has used it for years to pressure Republicans to keep their distance from revenue-raising tax proposals. Only seven Republicans in the Senate and six in the House have declined to sign the pledge, which states that a lawmaker will oppose all legislation that would raise taxes.”
Christ Casteel from NewsOK highlights ATR’s reaction to Sullivan’s natural gas legislation: “Taxpayer watchdog groups and some conservative organizations are lining up against a bill backed by T. Boone Pickens to boost the natural gas vehicle industry, protesting more government preferences in the energy sector. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, sent a letter to lawmakers last month urging them to oppose the NatGas Act. ‘Americans for Tax Reform believes that an energy market which most benefits consumers is one largely absent of government intervention,’ Norquist wrote.”