Vern McKinley Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge
December 13 , 2007
Brad Jansen
703-470-5042
vern@mckinleyforcongress.com
Ashburn, VA—Vern McKinley, who is the Republican challenger to incumbent GOP Congressman Frank Wolf in the Tenth District of Virginia, has signed the Americans for Taxpayer Reform (ATR) Pledge to oppose tax increases. “Americans, now more than ever, need leaders committed to fiscal responsibility and pro-growth economic policies,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR. “By signing the Pledge, Mr. McKinley demonstrates his allegiance to hard-working taxpayers nationwide, as well as dedication to taxpayers in Virginia. I applaud him for his leadership and dedication to the ideals of limited government.”
The ATR Pledge is a rite of passage for Virginia Republican candidates. For example, during the recent 2007 Virginia state races, many of the key state senate candidates took the Pledge: Patricia Phillips, Jill Holtzman Vogel, Ken Cuccinelli and Bob Fitzsimmonds. The ATR Pledge is a rite of passage for everyone, that is except Congressman Wolf. He is one of only eight Republicans in the House of Representatives, and he is the only member of the Virginia House Republican delegation who has not signed the Pledge. President Bush has also signed the Pledge.
“I think there is a very good reason why Congressman Wolf has not signed the Pledge as he is leaving the door open to increase taxes, especially in the context of addressing entitlement spending,” notes McKinley. A recent joint press release issued by Congressman Wolf and his co-sponsor on an entitlements proposal Congressman Cooper (D-TN) clearly states: “Every day that we do nothing means bigger tax hikes and more draconian benefit cuts in the future.” So the Wolf-Cooper plan clearly puts tax increases on the table. A recent article entitled “Congressman Wolf’s Bill Opens Door to Massive Tax Increase,” summarizes this plan well.
“I think most people, and certainly nearly all Republicans, agree that the problem with runaway entitlements is not that we are taxed too little in the form of payroll, Medicare or income taxes, but that the programs are just out of control on the spending side. Republicans in Virginia are looking for leadership and vision that are consistent with traditional Republican principles,” McKinley concluded.
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