As reported by Charles Riley in CNN Money: “Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan is gaining traction, but not in every quarter.  One very influential member of the Republican establishment remains unconvinced:  Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform. 

A kingmaker on tax issues, Norquist is concerned that Cain’s 9-9-9 plan would open new avenues for taxation – something he says is a major strategic error in the fight for lower rates.”

The Hill’s Vicki Needham reports: “Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, who is hawking a Taxpayer Protection Pledge to legislators around the nation to oppose all tax increases, urged lawmakers to lower the corporate tax rate, which, he said, is hurting competitiveness and creating job losses”.

“Norquist likened the stimulus to a sharing-the-wealth policy that won’t create economic growth.

‘It doesn’t work,’ Norquist said.”

Erica Wisniewski writes in The Hill: “Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, called GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax reform plan ‘very dangerous,’ likening the proposal to ‘tapeworms.’”

“Norquist, a prominent anti-tax advocate, said there could be troubling consequences from adopting Cain’s plan.  He said it was unlikely that taxes would stay at 9 percent, claiming that lawmakers could increase the rates leaving voters with a ’10-10-10’ tax rate or worse.”

Patrick Gleason, Director of State Affairs for Americans for Tax Reform writes in The Daily Caller: “President Obama, in keeping with his recent habit of only visiting states that are important to his electoral prospects, is back in North Carolina this week.  During previous presidential visits to the Land of the Pines, Americans for Tax Reform has highlighted the damaging economic effects that Obama’s fiscal policies have had – or will have – on the Tar Heel State.  During Obama’s June visit to Durham, N.C., I noted in The Daily Caller the adverse impact that the president’s FY 2012 budget proposal would have on the small businesses that drive North Carolina’s economy.” 

Jessica Bruder writes in the Christian Science Monitor: “Grover Norquist, the father of Republican tax policy, has rallied legislators behind these arguments and others. Of the 292 Republicans in Congress, all but 13 have signed a pledge committing to oppose ‘any and all tax increases.’ That pledge is circulated by Mr. Norquist's advocacy group, Americans for Tax Reform.

In a recent interview with The Christian Science Monitor, Norquist said, ‘Obama promised you recovery. He didn't get you recovery. He made things worse.’ Norquist next compared the president to Joseph Stalin, saying:

‘So it's somebody else's fault. 'Get the Kulaks!' The Kulaks were wealthy peasants that Stalin had murdered by the hundreds of thousands. He ran a campaign saying 'Are you not doing well? Are you starving to death? Oh, it's those wealthy Kulaks. Get them!' It distracts people from who's responsible. He's responsible for the problem. Not the Kulaks. And dividing the country against each other to distract people from the failure of leaders is the kind of thing that we expect people to do in other countries that wear funny uniforms. We do not expect that from Americans. I mean, it's repulsive.’”

As reported by Ralph Benko in Forbes: “Let’s hope that America rallies to the support of Americans for Tax Reform (with whom this columnist once was professionally associated and at other times, on certain non-tax-related issues, is at loggerheads with Norquist).  More to the point, lets hope any attempted tax increase fails.  A tax hike almost certainly would send this teetering economy plummeting off the cliff into another massive recession.  It certainly wouldn’t contribute to cutting the deficit.” 

“All versions of ATR’s pledge are very simple and very clear.

I, ______, pledge to the taxpayers of the ___district of the state of _____, and to the American people that I will:

ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and

TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

ATR’s website http://www.atr.org/taxpayer-protection-pledge#ixzz1azc3OK6X explains the significance:

Politicians often run for office saying they won’t raise taxes, but then quickly turn their backs on the taxpayer. The idea of the Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their no-new-taxes rhetoric in writing.

In the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. While ATR has the role of promoting and monitoring the Pledge, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate’s constituents, who are entitled to know where candidates stand before sending them to the Capitol. Since the Pledge is a prerequisite for many voters, it is considered binding as long as an individual holds the office for which he or she signed the Pledge.”

“The Taxpayer Protection Pledge, by the way, is crystal clear, and Norquist never has muddled it.  Any deduction may be eliminated, any loophole closed, provided that the savings are used to reduce tax rates.  So any claim that Norquist is against tax reform is either ignorant or disingenuous.  He adamantly stands against tax increases.  Period.  How admirable!”