Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) commends Rep. Ted Budd and Gov. Pat McCrory for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in their race for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat. The Pledge is a written commitment to North Carolina taxpayers that they will oppose and vote against all income tax hikes. 

Candidates running for public office like to say they will not raise taxes, but often turn their backs on the taxpayer once elected. The idea of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their no-new-taxes rhetoric in writing, so the promise is much harder to break. 

“North Carolina voters are looking for solutions that get Americans back to work and grow the economy. I commend Budd and McCrory for signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and promising to hold the line on taxes,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. “It’s the first step in jump-starting the economy.” 

There are currently 179 Pledge signers in the U.S. House and 44 Pledge signers in the U.S. Senate. 85% percent of all congressional Republicans have made the written commitment to oppose higher taxes. In contrast, ZERO congressional Democrats have made that promise.

“During his time as governor, Pat McCrory signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and kept his commitment to North Carolinians. Not only that, but Gov. McCrory also enacted a multi-billion-dollar income tax cut that remains a national model for pro-growth tax reform,” Norquist said. “Congressman Budd, meanwhile, has maintained the Taxpayer Protection Pledge that he signed as a member of the U.S. House. In addition to keeping that commitment, he voted for the Tax, Cuts, and Jobs Act, the federal tax reform enacted in 2017 that provided a net tax cut to the vast majority of American households.”  

In President Biden’s first year, he championed a multi-trillion tax and spend bill, which includes the largest tax increase since 1968. These tax hikes would disproportionately hurt workers, retirees, consumers, and small businesses. Taxpayers should expect more of the same for the remainder of his presidency. 

“Voters have a right to know where candidates stand on taxes before heading to the voting booth,” added Norquist. “The Taxpayer Protection Pledge is a simple litmus test that tells voters I’ll work to protect your wallet. I encourage all candidates for elected office to make this commitment today.”  

New candidates sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge regularly. For the most up-to-date information on this race or any other, please visit the ATR Pledge Database.