CONTRIBUTOR
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES / NATIONAL IMPACT
ATR
Member For
32 weeks 3 days
Website:
www.ATR.org
Contact:
722 12th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20005
Office: 202-785-0266
Fax: 202-785-0261
friends@atr.org
BIOGRAPHY
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) opposes all tax increases as a matter of principle.
We believe in a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax. We believe that power should be minimized.
ATR was founded in 1985 by Grover Norquist at the request of President Reagan.
The flagship project of Americans for Tax Reform is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a written promise by legislators and candidates for office that commits them to oppose any effort to increase income taxes on individuals and businesses. Since ATR first sponsored the Pledge in 1986, hundreds of U.S. Representatives, more than fifty U.S. Senators and every successful Republican Presidential candidate have all signed the Pledge. In the 111th Congress, 172 U.S. Representatives and 34 U.S. Senators have taken the Pledge never to raise income taxes.
Americans for Tax Reform began promoting the Taxpayer Protection Pledge on the state-level in the early 1990s.
ATR works with state taxpayer coalitions in all 50 states to ask candidates for state legislature and constitutional office to sign the State Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which reads: “I _____ pledge to the taxpayers of the __________ district, of the state of __________, and to all the people of this state, that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”
Additionally, Americans for Tax Reform works with state-based center-right groups to help replicate ATR’s national Wednesday Meeting in the states. Currently, there are over 50 meetings in 45 states. These meetings bring together a broad cross section of the center-right community- taxpayer groups, social conservative groups, business groups, legislators, etc., to promote limited government ideals.
Realizing that Americans not only need to be protected from higher taxes, but from higher spending; Americans for Tax Reform created the Center for Fiscal Accountability (CFA) in 2008. CFA focuses on all central issues related to fiscal responsibility and accountability, especially spending restraint and the promotion of a more transparent and accountable government on the local, state, and federal level through easily searchable online spending and contract databases.
Americans for Tax Reform and Americans for Tax Reform Foundation also sponsor the annual calculation of Cost of Government Day (COGD), the day on which Americans stop working to pay the costs of taxation, deficit spending, and regulations by federal and state governments.
ATR is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) lobbying organization. Contributions to Americans for Tax Reform are not tax deductible. The Americans for Tax Reform Foundation is a 501c(3) research and educational organization. All contributions to the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation are tax deductible to the extent provided for in federal law.
COMMENTARIES
2.7 Million Jobs Lost Since "Stimulus" Bill Enacted
By Americans for Tax Reform | 10/02/09
The U.S. has lost at least 2.7 million jobs since President Barack Obama signed the “stimulus” package into law on Feb. 17. In January, the Obama Administration claimed the $787 billion “stimulus” plan would lead to an unemployment rate of below 8 percent at this point in time. The unemployment rate now stands at 9.8 percent. “I think my initial measure of success is creating or saving 4 million... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Obama's Pepsi Challenge: A Soda Tax on Sugared Beverages
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/28/09
While public attention focuses in on the tax increases in the Baucus healthcare overhaul bill, the threat a tax increase on sugar sweetened beverages got a new lease on life with a recent interview President Obama gave in Men’s Health. In the interview, Obama said that a tax on sugared beverages, often referred to as a “soda tax,” although such a tax could also include fruit juices or flavored milk drinks was “an idea... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Unions Trump Consumer Interests in Obama's Marketplace
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/26/09
As the G20 meets in Pittsburgh, many will be looking to the United States and the Obama Administration to outline its trade policy. President Obama claims to be a supporter of free trade, saying it is vital to the economic health of our nation and he has repeatedly called for countries to avoid protectionism. Unfortunately, those encouraging words are being followed up with less encouraging actions when it comes to trade under this... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »National |
White House Spin: Excise Tax is.....Not a Tax
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/22/09
In a truly brazen and out-of-touch move, the Obama White House continued to dig in its heels yesterday in the face of President Obama’s ridiculous assertion that an excise tax is not a tax. Below we break down how the White House staff fumbles and bumbles a defense of their boss’ willful ignorance of the English language. First, here is what the plan written by Senator Max Baucus’ staff says about the... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
FCC Chairman Signals Big Government Internet Regulation
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/21/09
Today in a speech long on platitudes, but short on specifics, new Obama FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski served notice to privately owned networks, companies and to individuals, that the Obama Public Option meme will soon be turning its eyes toward what has been a safe harbor as the rest of the economy has been driven into the tank by overregulation and government meddling: the Internet. The timing of the announcement may be... read more »
5 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Senator Baucus Wants to Tax Your Medicine Cabinet
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/21/09
Recently, we here at Americans for Tax Reform have been trying to spread the word about the nooks and crannies of Baucus health care bill. The most recent atrocity?: the medicine cabinet tax. As you probably already know, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) released a draft healthcare reform plan that contains many tax increases on working families. One of these would deny 30 million American families the ability to use flexible spending accounts... read more »
The Abysmal Failure of "Stimulus" Spending
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/20/09
At times I think ATR needs to set up a separate website just to keep track of all the articles proving without doubt how President Obama's so-called "stimulus" plan totally, utterly, and abysmally failed. It would seem that every day there is a new report or new evidence that totally decimates President Obama's case. In a Wall Street Journal article, prominent economists John Cogan, John Taylor and Volker Weiland report... read more »
5 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Senator DeMint Looks to Strike Funding for Murtha's "Air-Pork"
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/17/09
Not too long ago, the controversy over John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport about two hours East of Pittsburgh flared up when it was one of the first airports in the country to receive "stimulus" funding: $800,000 to repave a backup runway. Sen. Jim DeMint is now taking on what is one of the most well-known earmarks, and has dropped an amendment to the THUD appropriations bill that would strike funding for the... read more »
4 Comments | Related Topics »National |
High Taxes, Not Yoko, Broke Up the Beatles
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/15/09
Here at Americans for Tax Reform we have worked tirelessly to educate the public about the dangers of excessive taxation: job losses, businesses closing, economic stagnation - effectivly misery all round. Now we have one more thing to blame high taxes on: breaking up the Beatles. That's right, one of the greatest cultural tragedies of the 20th century was caused by big government. In last week's Times of London, Daniel... read more »
5 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Obama Imposes 35% Tax Hike on Tires Imported from China
By Americans for Tax Reform | 09/14/09
On late Friday evening, President Obama made the first major trade decision of his Administration. He decided to impose a 35% tax hike on imported tires from China. In doing so, he not only hurt American families, already struggling with the high cost of transportation, our troubled auto industry, which relies on imports to stay competitive, but also has sparked a major international trade war. Already China announced dumping and subsidy probes... read more »
5 Comments | Related Topics »National |
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