This just in from longtime FR friend Grover Norquist, who calls on Sam Blakeslee to sign the No New Taxes pledge signed by virtually every other Republican officeholder in California…
Blakeslee Can Protect Taxpayers And Unify The Party By Signing The Pledge
Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
All Republicans in the state Senate have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. In doing so they have sent a clear message to legislative Democrats and the rent-seeking lobbyists trolling Sacramento that they will not vote for net tax increases on already heavily-burdened California families and businesses.
There are two things preventing a windfall of job-killing tax increases on Californians. The first is the 2/3rds constitutional vote requirement to raise taxes. Democrats have long sought to eliminate this and are attempting to do so again this November. The second safeguard is the fact that all legislative Republicans, save for one, have joined together in opposition to higher taxes by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. This united front against higher taxes, in conjunction with the supermajority vote requirement that necessitates some Republican votes to pass tax hikes is what has saved California taxpayers and made the GOP relevant in a legislature where Democrats hold large majorities in both chambers. It’s hard to imagine the Golden State’s tax climate becoming more hostile to businesses and taxpayers, but that would certainly be the case without Republicans acting in lockstep as a backstop.
The upcoming August 17 runoff for the 15th district Senate seat holds tremendous implications for this Republican unity on taxes and for all California taxpayers. The Republican nominee in this race, Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, to his credit, has been a steadfast defender of taxpayers during his tenure in the state’s lower chamber. However, he has yet to indicate that he will continue this commitment if elected to the Senate. With over $600 billion in higher taxes being passed out of Washington in the past year, 15th district voters are looking for candidates that will not pile on with further tax hikes at the state level. The best way for Blakeslee to provide such an assurance to voters is by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his bid for the Senate.
Republican unity against higher taxes has been the only thing preventing the tax hike floodgates from opening up on California families and employers. Sam Blakeslee can protect Golden State taxpayers and preserve Republican unity by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his bid for the Senate.
August 12th, 2010 at 12:00 am
This is an issue that should have been addressed before the primary.
Sam is not a newcomer and is aware of the pledge. This guy wants to keep tax hikes as an option. When you do that, you become more valuable to the democrats and thus have more negotiating strength to benefit yourself rather than the the citizens of the district and the State as a whole.
You can always sign the pledge while holding your fingers crossed behind your back as Anthony Adams did. Signing a piece of paper means little except to use against you in your next recall.
A true conservative would jump at the chance to sign the pledge in his blood and walk through the chamber with it proudly taped to his chest with no embarrasment whatsoever.
Having to beg a nominee to sign the pledge is living proof enough for me to move Sam into the just another empty suit category.
The execution of the pledge does not mean much, but the hesitation of a candidate to do so tells you all you need to know.
I would encourage all the other legislators who have signed the pledge to tape a copy of theirs all around the perimeter of his door on the wall in the hallway.
If one legislator sends an email to the others, it could be accomplished in a few hours.
That would show unity and let him know it is what it is.