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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: John Kartch ( jkartch@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

11/21/02

Terrell: Steadfast in Support Of Taxpayers
Candidate Suzanne Terrell has pledged to support Louisiana taxpayers, a pledge Mary Landrieu refuses to take.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Louisiana taxpayers return to the polls on Dec. 7th to elect their next United States Senator, citizens must choose between two distinct candidates: Suzanne Terrell (R), a candidate pledged to support taxpayers, and Mary Landrieu (D), who has consistently refused to take that pledge.

"Suzanne Terrell is a true friend to the hardworking taxpayers in Louisiana," commented Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "Her steadfast pledge to lower taxes and fight on behalf of the taxpayer is not only commendable, but is a model for all elected officials to follow."

Terrell has pledged to support permanently repealing the death tax, fight against double taxation on Social Security benefits and providing further relief to family businesses and taxpayers by supporting making President Bush's tax relief permanent. If made permanent, the tax relief act will lift the $1,400 per year marriage penalty from the shoulders of Louisiana's 325,000 married couples and the overall tax savings an average Louisiana family receives will be over $2,100 per year.

Her dedication to taxpayers should come as no surprise, since Suzanne Terrell signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge committing her 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."

Senator Landrieu claims to support the working families of Louisiana, however her full record does not reflect that statement.
· She voted against the FY 2002 budget, which included the $1.3 trillion in tax cuts over the next 10 years (RC #98, 10 May 2001).
· She voted against marriage penalty relief twice during the 106th Congress (RC #22, RC # 83).
· Landrieu even voted against repealing taxes on Social Security benefits imposed in 1993 (RC #188, 13 July 2000).
· However, Ms. Landrieu had no qualms about defeating an amendment prohibiting taxpayer funding - earmarked for the War on Terrorism - to protect worms at the Smithsonian stored in jars of alcohol.

"The citizens of Louisiana need a principled senator to work on behalf of the taxpayer," commented Damon Ansell, vice president for policy at ATR. "It seems to me that Mary Landrieu votes at the whims of passing public opinion - an indication that she is not a true friend to the taxpayer."

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Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.  For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.