Leading gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal (R) is signer of ATR\’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge
WASHINGTON – Bobby Jindal, a signer of the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) no-tax-increase pledge, rose decisively to the front of the pack in Louisiana\’s open primary this week. Jindal, a Republican, beat his next closest opponent in the race by close to a 2-to-1 margin. Jindal will face Democrat Kathleen Blanco, who has not signed the Pledge, in the runoff election to be held on November 15.
"When given a clear choice between more freedom or more taxes, Americans choose freedom. More and more, Americans are saying that their tax burden is too high, not too low," said taxpayer advocate and ATR President Grover Norquist. "First, in Alabama voters soundly rejected a much ballyhooed tax increase. Now, in Louisiana voters have trounced the conventional wisdom and handed a victory to taxpayer champion Bobby Jindal, who beat his closest opponent by nearly 2-to-1."
To date, President George W. Bush, 42 U.S. senators, 217 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, eight governors, and more than 1,190 state legislators have signed the Pledge. It 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."
"When government raises taxes, a worse climate for business and industry is created, which results in fewer job opportunities and results in more children leaving the state, Jindal said in signing ATR\’s pledge. "Fewer people staying in our state results in less revenue for the government, which results in career politicians calling for more tax increases to cover the deficit, which again makes it harder to create good jobs. Somebody has to have the courage to prevent this madness. I do, and I hope others will also," he said.
With the runoff date fast approaching, ATR noted that Louisiana voters will soon be offered a clear choice when it comes to taxes. "It\’s simple," said Norquist. "There is one candidate in this race who has taken the Pledge and one who hasn\’t. Candidates offer a variety of excuses as to why they won\’t sign it, but the truth is: The only reason they don\’t sign is they want to be free to raise your taxes. I think Louisianans are going to keep that in mind when they go to the polls."