After weeks of ducking the media and New York taxpayers, Elise Stefanik confirmed yesterday that she is open to higher taxes by announcing her refusal to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Stefanik hopes to join the paltry 6% of House Republicans leaving the door open to higher taxes.
Stefanik talks of campaigning for limited government and reigning in out-of-control federal spending, yet she refuses to put her “anti-tax” rhetoric in writing. As taxpayers have seen on numerous occasions, candidates often talk one way on the campaign trail and vote another way in Washington. The Pledge keeps candidates and elected officials accountable to the voters.
Voters should also question Stefanik’s decision to parrot the false talking points of President Obama and congressional Democrats in explaining her refusal to sign the Pledge. The Taxpayer Protection Pledge is a solemn promise made by a candidate to his/her future constituents; not ATR or Grover Norquist or some “Washington, DC based special interest group.” Stefanik knows this. It’s printed right on the Pledge.
“When a Republican uses Democrat talking points to explain why they will not put a promise to oppose higher taxes in writing, taxpayers should worry. And that’s exactly what Elise Stefanik has done by refusing to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in her bid for the Republican nomination in the 21st district,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
“Voters have enough to worry about with President Obama and Sen. Harry Reid constantly calling for higher taxes. They don’t need their Republican Representative open to raising taxes too,” continued Norquist.
