Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) creates new caucus, organized by Reps Ray Haynes and John Campbell, for Calif. legislators who believe in taxpayers\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ rights and are committed to stop tax hikes.
WASHINGTON – Today, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), America\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s leading taxpayer advocacy organization, announced the formation of the "Taxpayer Protection Caucus" for the California legislature. The caucus will be headed by Reps John Campbell of District 70 and Ray Haynes of District 66.
The creation of the caucus comes as no surprise, as state after state around the nation have fallen victim to overspending in their capitals, which has threatened taxpayers with potential tax increases. Currently, 44 states around the nation are running these potential deficits that threaten taxpayers. California is facing a shortfall that dwarfs every other state.
"Protecting taxpayers should be the first priority of any legislator," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads ATR in Washington. "Reps Campbell and Haynes have shown bold leadership in fighting against tax hikes in California, and taxpayers all across the state owe them debts of gratitude," he continued.
To join the caucus, legislators must sign and keep ATR\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which is a written promise to their constituents to "oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes." Every state (with the exception of Nebraska) will have both a Senate and House Taxpayer Protection Caucus, consisting of all pledge signers in the legislature.
The Caucus will seek to provide a single voice on tax issues among pro-taxpayer legislators. For many, it is difficult to be a stand-alone Pledge signer. The caucus will create an entire body of legislators that believe in the same principle – no new taxes. Considering the budget battles all states will face in the upcoming year, taxes will be very high on the radar screen of the media. Journalists will be able to go to the chair or vice-chair of the caucus for comments on tax issues.
"It is tremendously important that pro-taxpayer leaders in statehouses across the nation are on the same page, not only in terms of rhetoric, but policy as well," continued Norquist. "The best thing is that unless they want to be driven into electoral oblivion, legislative tax-hikers will be left knee-deep in a quagmire. What will they call themselves? The Tax-Me-More-To-Fund-Pork caucus?"