All but two GOP presidential candidates have committed to voters to oppose income tax increases
WASHINGTON, D.C. – For two decades, Americans for Tax Reform has asked all presidential and federal candidates to commit to their constituents, in writing, to oppose any and all efforts to raise income taxes. On the presidential level, every Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan has made this commitment, including President George W. Bush. In the current Congress, 42 Senators and 196 members of the House of Representatives have made this commitment, including N.H. Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu.
Among the 2008 presidential field, all but two of the Republican candidates – Sens. John McCain and Fred Thompson – have made this commitment to the American people, while none of the Democrats have done so. Sen. McCain signed the Pledge as a candidate for president in 2000, and has signed and kept the Pledge as a Senator.
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2008 Presidential Candidates |
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Name |
Party Affiliation |
Taxpayer Protection Pledge Status |
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Rudolph Giuliani |
Republican |
Yes* |
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Mike Huckabee |
Republican |
Yes |
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Duncan Hunter |
Republican |
Yes |
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John McCain |
Republican |
No |
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Ron Paul |
Republican |
Yes |
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Mitt Romney |
Republican |
Yes |
|
Fred Thompson |
Republican |
No |
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Hillary Clinton |
Democrat |
No |
|
John Edwards |
Democrat |
No |
|
Dennis Kucinich |
Democrat |
No |
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Barack Obama |
Democrat |
No |
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Bill Richardson |
Democrat |
No |
*Giuliani did not sign the Pledge per se, but has put in writing his commitment to oppose and veto all tax increases (as did George W. Bush) and ATR considers this to achieve the spirit and letter of the Pledge.
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New Hampshire Congressional Delegation |
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Name |
Party Affiliation |
Taxpayer Protection Pledge Status |
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Sen. Judd Gregg |
Republican |
Yes |
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Sen. John Sununu |
Republican |
Yes |
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Rep. Paul Hodes |
Democrat |
No |
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Rep. Carol Shea-Porter |
Democrat |
No |