All but two GOP presidential candidates have committed to voters to oppose income tax increases

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For two decades, Americans for Tax Reform has asked all presidential and federal candidates to commit to their constituents, in writing, to oppose any and all efforts to raise income taxes. On the presidential level, every Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan has made this commitment, including President George W. Bush. In the current Congress, 42 Senators and 196 members of the House of Representatives have made this commitment, including N.H. Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu.

Among the 2008 presidential field, all but two of the Republican candidates -- Sens. John McCain and Fred Thompson -- have made this commitment to the American people, while none of the Democrats have done so. Sen. McCain signed the Pledge as a candidate for president in 2000, and has signed and kept the Pledge as a Senator.

2008 Presidential Candidates Name Party Taxpayer Protection Pledge Affiliation Status Rudolph Giuliani Republican Yes* Mike Huckabee Republican Yes Duncan Hunter Republican Yes John McCain Republican No Ron Paul Republican Yes Mitt Romney Republican Yes Fred Thompson Republican No Hillary Clinton Democrat No John Edwards Democrat No Dennis Kucinich Democrat No Barack Obama Democrat No Bill Richardson Democrat No

*Giuliani did not sign the Pledge per se, but has put in writing his commitment to oppose and veto all tax increases (as did George W. Bush) and ATR considers this to achieve the spirit and letter of the Pledge. New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Name Party Taxpayer Protection Pledge Affiliation Status Sen. Judd Gregg Republican Yes Sen. John Sununu Republican Yes Rep. Paul Hodes Democrat No Rep. Carol Shea-Porter Democrat No

Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all tax increases. For more information or to arrange an interview please contact John Kartch at jkartch@atr.org or via telephone at 202-785-0266 (office) or 202-302-3158 (cell).