Today, Maria Rodriguez becomes the second candidate to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in the Republican primary in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District.

While Rep. Melissa Bean won this district in 2008 with 60% of the vote, Cook Political Report rates this district with a PVI of R+1 (subscription needed). Additionally, President Bush won this district in 2004 and 2000 with 56% of the vote.

To see ATR’s official statement on Rodriguez signing the Pledge, click “read more.”

 
Maria Rodriguez (R-Ill.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maria Rodriguez, a Republican running in Illinois’ 8th 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, 33 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, Maria Rodriguez demonstrates that she understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Illinois’ 8th 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.
 
Copies of the Pledge are available at www.atr.org or by calling (202) 785-0266.