Today, taxpayers expressed disappointment that Gov. Charlie Crist went against his commitment to Floridians on Wednesday and broke his Pledge as governor to “oppose and veto any and all tax increases.” The news was particularly surprising since two weeks ago, Gov. Crist also signed the federal Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for the U.S. Senate.

 

The $65 billion-plus fiscal year FY2010 budget Crist signed requires a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase estimated to cost the taxpayers of Florida $2 billion over the next two years. In addition to the tobacco tax increase, the budget requires an estimated $800 million in “fee” increases, many of which are actually mislabeled tax increases. Because of this, in signing the bill, Gov. Crist broke the Pledge he made during his gubernatorial campaign to “oppose and veto any and all tax increases.”

 

“I’m deeply disappointed Governor Crist broke the Pledge he made to Floridians about how he would govern,” said Christopher Butler, Chief of Staff at Americans for Tax Reform. “The crisis in Florida is too much government spending, not insufficient taxation.” 

Americans for Tax Reform offers all candidates for both state and federal office a chance to sign a Pledge to their future constituents that they will oppose tax increases. The gubernatorial Pledge, which Gov. Christ signed several years ago during that campaign, binds its signatories to oppose “any and all tax increases.” The older federal Pledge, signed by Crist for the U.S. Senate race this May 14, applies only to income tax increases. The tighter language of the state Pledge is necessary since many states, like Florida, do not have income taxes.

“Taxpayers are pleased he took the Pledge as a federal candidate,” said Butler. “The last thing people from Florida need is higher taxes imposed on them from Washington DC.”

Marco Rubio, the other announced Republican primary contender for U.S. Senate signed the federal Taxpayer Protection Pledge shortly after Gov. Crist did so.

Disappointed??? Taxpayers aren't dissapointed - they are are outraged that Gov. Crist is not only committing economic vandalism to Florida through stifling high taxes, but that he broke his word to us. If Governor Crist breaks his word so easily on this, how can we trust him on anything else?
>> Outraged Friday, May 29, 2009 3:18 PM Report Comment

I don't know why anyone is "disappointed"... they voted for this guy knowing his thin record on promises. You get what you pay for, as they say
>> MikeFL Friday, May 29, 2009 3:27 PM Report Comment

Oh, but that $2 billion is mostly "user fees," not taxes! If it looks like a tax and smells like a tax, it's a tax. Next up: SB 360, the "builder bailout bill," that's nothing more than a giant government subsidy and an unfunded mandate for local gov'ts to raise another billion or so in taxes each year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01EhpYxih_o In the Tampa area alone, this taxpayer backstabber of a bill will increase the tax burden by $500-800 for every man and woman over 18 in the county -- and all to bail out developers who don't understand supply and demand and built thousands of now-vacant homes and now want to build even more.
>> TaxationWithoutRepresentation Friday, May 29, 2009 3:41 PM Report Comment

The Federal cigarette tax increases this year, jumping over 100%, from 39 cents a pack to $1.01 a pack with several states following suit. Granted, it's an easy way to gouge a little more money to pay off budget shortfalls, but tax increases are known to decrease cigarette smoking, and that means fewer deaths from smoking.Teen smoking has dramatically decreased, but some will still think about a quick payday loan thanks to cigarette tax increases. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/05/27/tax-increase-ups-ante-smoking/
>> Sonia F. Saturday, May 30, 2009 6:01 AM Report Comment

Of course he 'broke his promise'...he's a politican!
>> dennisl59 Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:26 AM Report Comment

Taxpayers should be disappointed, but not suprised. Like dennis159 said, he's a politician, of course he is going to break his promises and loot the people every chance he gets. Sad thing is, if he runs for office again the people in Florida who are outraged today, will probably still vote for him as the "lesser of two evils."
>> TCH Monday, June 1, 2009 4:07 PM Report Comment

The real problem is that he still WILL be the lesser of two evils. Consider Obama vs McCain. McCain campaigned with a promise to pass a less bad health care bill. We would have been better off with McCain but it's a pity there was no really good option. D
>> David Dennis Thursday, April 8, 2010 4:54 PM Report Comment