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U.S. congressional candidate Dan Holtz Wednesday called on Third District U.S. Congressman Tim Roemer to sign the Americans For Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Holtz, who joined six Hoosier congressmen in signing the pledge, said, "I fundamentally believe that taxes are too high and the voters in the Third District deserve a congressman that will fight to bring down the burden of taxes on working families."
Holtz said Roemer has never signed the pledge since he has been in Washington.
He also said Roemer should "recognize that the tax burden on Hoosier families and seniors is higher than it has ever been and sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge."
Chris Mehl, spokesman for Tim Roemer, said that Roemer's "record speaks louder than any pledge."
According to the National Taxpayers Union, Tim Roemer has never voted for any legislation that would raise the marginal income tax rates.
Mehl also responded to the two points of the pledge, saying that Roemer was for both of them.
The pledge states that the signer would "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and oppose any further reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."
It does not stand in the way of any tax decreases or neutral changes that do not affect the income tax rate.
The pledge began in 1986 after President Ronald Reagan's Tax Reform Act of 1986 was passed. Many taxpayers feared politicians would raise income tax rates.
Like Roemer, Fifth District U.S. Congressman Steve Buyer has not signed the pledge either.
Buyer spokesman Mike Copher said that Buyer didn't typically sign pledges.
In regard to this pledge, however, Copher said that Buyer supported both points but felt that it could hinder making technical changes that might arise if he were to commit to it.
