Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) creates new caucus, organized by Sen. Robert Boyce and Reps. Timothy Easson and John Gibson, for New Hampshire Legislators who are committed to stop tax hikes.
WASHINGTON – Today, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), America\’s leading taxpayer advocacy organization, announced the formation of the "Taxpayer Protection Caucus" for The New Hampshire Legislature. The House caucus will be headed by Representatives Timothy Easson (Strafford-68) and John Gibson (Hillsborough-58) in partnership with the Senate Taxpayer Protection Caucus, headed by Senator Robert Boyce (Senate District 4).
"New Hampshire doesn\’t have a revenue problem; New Hampshire has a spending problem," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "The Taxpayer Protection Caucus will fight for families and businesses to keep more of their hard earned money."
The creation of the caucus comes after New Hampshire fell victim to government overspending under former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. Currently, 44 states around the nation are running potential deficits that threaten taxpayers. New Hampshire is one of only seven states that does not impose an income tax on its residents – allowing it to remain competitive in the nation.
"Protecting taxpayers should be the first priority of any legislator elected to a state legislature," said Norquist, who heads ATR in Washington. "The members of the Taxpayer Protection Caucus defines exactly who truly is a taxpayer-friendly legislator, and who just says they are," Norquist continued.
To join the caucus, legislators must sign and keep ATR\’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which is a written promise to their constituents to "oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes." Every state (with the exception of Nebraska) will have both a Senate and House Taxpayer Protection Caucus, consisting of all pledge signers in the legislature. Currently, Governor, Craig Benson, seven State Senators and 64 House member members have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
The Caucus will provide a single voice on tax issues among pro-taxpayer legislators. It is often difficult to be a stand-alone Pledge signer. The caucus will create an entire body of legislators that believe in the same principle: No new taxes. Considering the budget battles all states will face in the upcoming year, taxes will be very high on the radar screen of the media. Journalists will be able to go to the chair or vice-chair of the caucus for comments on tax issues.
"It is tremendously important that pro-taxpayer leaders in statehouses across the nation are on the same page, not only in terms of rhetoric, but policy as well," continued Norquist. "The best thing is that unless they want to be driven into electoral oblivion, legislative tax-hikers will be left knee-deep in a quagmire. What will they call themselves? The Tax-Me-More-To-Fund-Pork caucus?"