IMG_1913B by Michael Russell is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Former Congressman Lou Barletta has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his bid for the Republican nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania. The Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform, commits signers to oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes. 

Americans for Tax Reform offers the Pledge to all candidates for state and federal office. Thirteen governors and over 1,000 state legislators have signed the Pledge. Lou Barletta will join more than 30 of Pennsylvania’s state representatives in signing the Pledge this year. 

Attorney General Josh Shapiro and other Democratic contenders for governor do not share Mr. Barletta’s commitment to a pro-growth tax regime. Since taking power in 2014, the incumbent Wolf administration has proposed or supported 14 different tax hikes on Pennsylvania families. The governor’s first proposal – a $4.6 billion tax increase – would have been the largest in state history, burdening a family of four with an additional $1,400 in annual taxes. This February, Democrats proposed another $6 billion in new taxes, including raising the state’s flat personal income tax by a prodigious 46%.  

By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lou Barletta promises to take Pennsylvania in a new direction and prioritize the well-being of working families over unnecessary state spending. 

Before the state Convention, ATR will publish a more detailed evaluation of each Republican candidate’s record and positions on taxes and government spending. 

“I want to congratulate Lou Barletta for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Pennsylvanians deserve better than tax-and-spend policies that fall hard on the backs of hardworking families and small businesses. They want real solutions that create jobs, cut government spending, and make Pennsylvania a more attractive place to live and raise a family,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR. 

“By signing the Pledge, Lou Barletta has demonstrated that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers in Pennsylvania.” 

“Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania have made it clear they will continue to pursue a higher tax and spend agenda that grows government and increases the burden of state spending on taxpayers. This is nothing new for supporters of the Wolf administration, which pursued tens of billions in new taxes over two terms in office,” Norquist continued. 

The taxpayer protection Pledge is a public, written, commitment by an elected official or candidate to the voters of his or her state. The pledge is a commitment to oppose and vote against any tax increase. All candidates for federal and state office are offered the pledge each election cycle since 1986.