Adrian Smith Wins Primary on Anti-Tax Platform
WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Adrian Smith, a Republican running for Nebraska’s 3rd congressional district, appealed to voters using his anti-tax platform in the five person primary. John Hanson and Jay Vavricek, both Taxpayer Protection Pledge-signers as well, took second and third place, respectively. Key components of Smith’s platform include voting to make President Bush’s tax cuts permanent, repealing the death tax, and simplifying the tax code.
The Taxpayer Protection Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform, 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, President George W. Bush, 47 U.S. senators, and 222 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, six Governors and over 1,260 state legislators have signed the Pledge as well.
“America needs leaders who are committed to protecting taxpayers, and signing our Pledge demonstrates that kind of leadership,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.
"Protecting taxpayers should be the first priority of any legislator, whether at the state or national level," Norquist continued. "Adrian Smith understands this important notion, and this is why he has taken the Pledge. I strongly encourage every candidate for federal and state elective office to sign.”