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
How Cap and Tax Will Hurt Illinois
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/27/09
In our continuing, daily, state by state, look at the financial impact of the Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade Tax Bill, we will show you the projected losses in Gross State Product, Personal Income, and Non- Farm Jobs in Illinois. Detailed information on this and other energy taxes can be found in the Americans for Tax Reform Energy Tax Analysis, May 2009. Illinois: According to a study by Karen Campbell, Ph.D. and David Kreutzer, Ph.D. at the... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »ILLINOIS |
Obama Spends Big on Oil Exploration-- in Brazil
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/27/09
That’s right, the Wall Street Journal reports, $2 billion of your tax dollars will soon be going to the state-owned Brazilian oil company, Petrobras so they can explore the off-shore Tupi oil field in the Santos Basin. The WSJ wrote, “The U.S. Export-Import Bank tells us it has issued a ‘preliminary commitment’ letter to Petrobras in the amount of $2 billion and has discussed with Brazil the possibility of increasing that... read more »
Protectionist Policies Damage Economy and Cost Jobs
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/25/09
Given his dismal record on free trade issues, perhaps it is not surprising that the current debate surrounding the sugar industry indicates that President Obama will continue to champion protectionist worldview. Last week, food companies sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to increase the stringent quotas in place to insure the amount of foreign sugar entering the American market is restricted. So far, the only action... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Senate Democrats Rumored to be Drafting "Card-Check-Light"
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/25/09
Labor officials and Democratic members of the Senate have agreed the provision of the Employee Free Choice Act, which eliminates secret ballot voting on union membership, is out. Senate Democrats are rumored to be drafting a new version of the controversial bill. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Thomas Carper, D-Del., Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Mark Pryor, D-Ark., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Arlen Specter, D-Pa., are the main forces rumored to be working... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Cash for Appliances Program is On the Way!
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/24/09
Uncle Sam simply wants all Americans to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, right? Well, only if that happiness is sanctioned or incentivized by the government. Rather than implementing broad based tax cuts, or doing something silly like stopping the growing spending problem, the government is going to spend more money on a "cash for appliances" program. According to Business Week: Beginning late this fall, the program... read more »
5 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Immigrants Play a Crucial Role in U.S. Economy
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/24/09
While the immigration debate has taken a backseat to the Democratic agenda of cap-and-trade and government run healthcare, 12 million illegal immigrants are still here, working and secretly contributing to our economy (Ssshhh!). The U.S. government spends substantial resources on building fences, airtight border control, and punishing employers who hire illegal’s. With all the money we spend trying to keep people who want to work out of... read more »
6 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Government Run Health Care Didn't Work in Maine
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/24/09
As the health care debate continues to heat up, we continue to learn more about states that decided to take on a public option. The Wall Street Journal’s article “No Maine Miracle Cure” describes Maine’s failed public option healthcare plan. In 2003, Maine enacted a government run health system under Democratic Governor John Baldacci. “DirigoChoice,” Maine’s public option was originally... read more »
2 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Congress Looks to Slap Fees on Credit Card Users
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/23/09
Take out your wallet. No, this isn’t a robbery. Go ahead, take out your wallet. Pull out a credit card, ATM card, or anything else with a black strip on the back. Now pull out a dollar bill. You might think that the dollar bill and the merchant card will each buy you $1.00 worth of goods and services. Right now, that’s true. But if Congress gets their way, your merchant card will not get you as far as... read more »
5 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Would Obamacare Deliver on Weekends?
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/21/09
“If you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It's the Post Office that's always having problems.” - President Obama, 8/11/09 Obama is right, the post office isn't doing so well. Recently, Postmaster General John Potter requested that Congress end Saturday mail delivery in order to cut costs. As a rule, government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) fail to operate efficiently. GSEs exist... read more »
4 Comments | Related Topics »National |
A Message from Your "Leaders" on Cap and Trade
By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/20/09
Hello and thank you for your time. What we are about to say is very important. If you agree, simply nod your head and if you don't, well, we will probably be able to tell that as well. If you're like most American's, you probably have a monthly budget. However, we think that you can probably afford to spend more money if we have a idea that may or may not help the planet. Now you already look confused, but this cap-and-trade idea has worked in... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
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