Grover Norquist’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge has another signer: Florida Senate candidate George LeMieux.
By signing the pledge, candidates commit 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.”
The pledge came under intense scrutiny during the debt limit debate when some accused Republicans of having tied hands during negotiations over revenue raisers. The anti-tax pledge that most Republican lawmakers signed prevents them from agreeing even to close loopholes in the tax code, since that would be the equivalent of a tax increase.
“President Obama and Senator [Bill] Nelson believe that higher taxes are the solution to our fiscal crisis. Their view would further burden our economic recovery,” said LeMieux in a statement. ” In the United States Senate, I voted against tax increases at every turn. I will stand up to the tax-raisers in Washington who are mortgaging our nation’s future.”
LeMieux, who was appointed to the Senate in 2009 by then-Governor Charlie Crist to finish out former Sen. Mel Martinez’s term, is running again to defeat Nelson in 2012. One of his challengers, Adam Hasner, signed the pledge earlier this summer.
On Wednesday Hasner also announced a new leadership slate for his South Florida team. Heavyweights like businessman Norman Braman and former Ambassadors Al Hoffman, Earle Mack and Ned Seigel have all signed on to be Team Leaders in South Florida.