Ethan Hastert, son of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge for his race to retake Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. Hastert faces several other candidates in the Republican primary; but becomes only the second candidate to sign the Pledge. ATR strongly encourages all candidates in the race to sign the Pledge and make a real commitment to protect taxpayers from the unnecessary burden of higher taxes.

 
Cook Political Report ranks this as a “Leans Democrat” race with a PVI of R+1 while CQ Politics see this race as “Democrat Favored.” However, Hastert repeatedly won this district with over 60% of the vote from 2002-2006 (74% in 2002, 69% in 2004, and 60% in 2006).
 
To see ATR’s official release on Ethan Hastert signing the Pledge, click read more.
 
 
Ethan Hastert (R-Ill.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ethan Hastert, a Republican running in Illinois’ 14th 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, Ethan Hastert demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Illinois’ 14th 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.