Norquist Pledge Rejected By Two More Republicans
Several Republican lawmakers have spoken out against Gorver Norquist’s anti-tax pledge.
Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss caused controversy last week when he rejected the pledge but Chambliss isn’t the only Republican who believes that now may be the time to rethink the party’s policy on raising taxes.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said that the world has changed and that an anti-tax pledge is no longer prudent.
“A pledge you signed 20 years ago, 18 years ago, is for that Congress … For instance, if I were in Congress in 1941, I would have signed the declaration of war against Japan. I’m not going to attack Japan today. The world has changed. The economic situation is different … I think everything should be on the table. I am opposed to tax increases. The speaker and the majority leader and the president will be in a room trying to find the best package. I’m not going to prejudge it. And we should not be taking ironclad positions.”
Lindsey Graham also said that he rejected Norquist’s pledge. Graham said that he was against raising taxes but did support a cap to deductions.
“I’m willing to generate revenue. It’s fair to ask my party to put revenue on the table. We’re below historic averages. I will not raise tax rates to do it. I will cap deductions. If you cap deductions around the $30,000, $40,000 range, you can raise $1 trillion in revenue, and the people who lose their deductions are the upper-income Americans … When you’re $16 trillion in debt, the only pledge we should be making to each other is to avoid becoming Greece, and Republicans should put revenue on the table. We’re this far in debt. We don’t generate enough revenue. I agree with Grover, we shouldn’t raise rates, but I think Grover is wrong when it comes to we can’t cap deductions and buy down debt.”
What do you think of Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge? Are you surprised to see Republicans speaking out against the pledge?
