Yesterday, Americans for Tax Reform received former State Sen. Jonathan Paton’s signed Taxpayer Protection Pledge for his race in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Paton becomes the third candidate in the GOP primary to sign it. The other signers include veterans Jesse Kelly and Brian Miller.
 
The winner of the GOP primary will face off against incumbent Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who won the seat in 2006 after Republican Jim Kolbe retired. Cook Political Report ranks this race as “Lean D” with a PVI of R+ 4. Additionally, former President Bush won this district with over 50% of the vote in 2000 and 2004, and Sen. McCain took the district with 52% of the vote in 2008.
 
Giffords’ decision to vote for ObamaCare could be a major factor in November as a recent poll conducted by The Tarrance Group showed that 52% of voters in AZ-08 were opposed to the health care bill and another 14% were unsure. Furthermore, 60% of those polled in the district opposed Democrats using the reconciliation process to pass the bill.
 
To see ATR’s official statement on Paton signing the Pledge, click “read more.”
 
Jonathan Paton(R-Ariz.) Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate promises to protect taxpayers’ wallets
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jonathan Paton, a Republican running in Arizona’s 8th Congressional district, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge commits signers 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.”
 
ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 34 U.S. senators and 172 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, seven Governors and over 1,100 state legislators have signed the Pledge.
 
“After the passage of the so-called “Stimulus Package” better known as the Pelosi-Obama-Reid Spending Give-Away, Americans are desperately searching for candidates and politicians that will protect their livelihoods and put their wallets ahead of the federal government’s coffers ,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.
 
“By signing the Pledge, Jonathan Paton demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Arizona’s 8th Congressional district.”
 
“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.