Second-term congressman pledges to "oppose any and all efforts to increase" income taxes.
WASHINGTON – Rep. John Sweeney, a Republican representing the 22nd district of New York, has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the nation\’s leading taxpayer advocacy group.
The Taxpayer Protection Pledge is a pledge from a candidate or representative in any level of government 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."
Congressman Sweeney became the 212th member of the U.S. House to sign the Pledge when he did so on March 7th. Currently, President George W. Bush, 212 U.S. House members, 37 senators, 7 governors and over 1,200 state and local officials have signed the Pledge. Copies of the Pledge and up-to-date lists of signers can be found on ATR\’s website at www.atr.org.
"Congressman Sweeney\’s bold stroke of the pen on March 7th confirms that he will fight for the taxpayers of New York and those living all across America," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads ATR in Washington. "Taxpayers need just six more Pledge signers to insure that no new taxes come out of the U.S. House of Representatives."
Grover Norquist established ATR in 1985 to generate popular support for the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which radically simplified the nation\’s tax code. The group evolved to become one of the most influential advocacy groups in Washington, opposing all tax increases at the federal, state and local levels as a matter of principle. ATR supports a tax structure where taxes are simpler, fairer, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today.
"Taxes are the single most important domestic policy issue in America today," continued Norquist. "Until President Bush\’s tax relief legislation last year, taxes when compared to the economy were at a post WWII high.. But tax levels remain well above the historical average even with the tax cut, and more representatives like Mr. Sweeney are needed to keep the government small and our tax burden under control. I encourage all candidates for public office to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge."