Congressional Delegation, Save One, Sign Anti-Tax Pledge

Jerry Bohnen
Contributing Editor

While some top Republicans in congress have now become reluctant to sign the anti-tax pledge pushed by Americans for Tax Reform and its leader Grover Norquist, most of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation are not.

Five of the six from Oklahoma in the U.S. House and Senate have put their names on the line.  Both U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn have signed the pledge along with Representatives Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Representative-elect Markwayne Mullin.

The name of Representative James Bridenstine in the 1st congressional district is not listed on the tax pledge shown on the Americans for Tax Reform website.  And his campaign staff has not responded with a comment or explanation.

But in light of the reported fiscal cliff fast approaching the federal government, some congressional Republicans are voicing a lack of willingness to sign the once popular pledge.  Most noted among them is Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.  “I will violate the pledge, long story short, for the good of the country, only if Democrats will do entitlement reform,” he said Sunday on ABC’s This Week.

New York Rep. Peter King, another Republican is against signing the pledge saying times have changed since the ATR was formed during the Reagan administration.  “A pledge you signed 20 years ago, 18 years ago, is for that Congress,” explained King during Sunday’s Meet the Press on NBC.

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  1. Richard Engle, 27 November, 2012

    The time for Peter King to have decided to remove himself from the pledge previously taken is prior to the recent election – not right after it.

    Voters have cause to think you are going to stand by your word for the upcoming term if you don’t tlell them otherwise when running for re-election.

    I am very concerned that the compromise will be worse than the cliff!

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