Yesterday, Human Events highlighted the first round of endorsements made by the House Conservatives Fund, the political action committee associated with the Republican Study Committee in the U.S. House. One of HCF’s first endorsements went to Taxpayer Protection Pledge signer Sean Duffy (WI-07.) Duffy, a former reality TV star and current Ashland County District Attorney, is looking to face off against 21-term incumbent Democrat David Obey.
 
According to the article, Rep. Patrick McHenry, chairman of the HCF, believes that Sean Duffy can be a House version of Senate candidate Marco Rubio. McHenry adds, “It’s the strength of Duffy’s character and how he runs his campaign that will bring him success. When you meet Duffy, when you talk to him, and when you see how his campaign’s been organized, you see the vulnerability of David Obey.”
 
Rep. Obey has been in Congress since before man walked on the moon and his time there has allowed him to become something of an institution in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. Nonetheless, Cook Political Report recently changed the race rating from “Solid D” to “Likely D” indicating the likelihood of a tough race in November. Additionally, the partisan voter index for the district is only D+3. Former President Bush lost the district by only small margins; 50-49 in 2004 and 48-47 in 2000.  
 
To see ATR’s official statement on Duffy signing the Pledge, click “read more.”
 
Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sean Duffy, a Republican running in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional district, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge 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, 37 U.S. senators and 172 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, seven Governors and over 1,100 state legislators have signed the Pledge.
 
“After the passage of the so-called “Stimulus Package,” better known as the Pelosi-Obama-Reid Spending Give-Away, Americans are desperately searching for candidates and politicians that will protect their livelihoods and put their wallets ahead of the federal government’s coffers ,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.
 
“By signing the Pledge, Sean Duffy demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Wisconsin’s 7th district.”
 
“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.