A Liar’s Promise

Yesterday JMU Duke had a post up on NLS talking about the state budget problems and in particular musing about the fiscal irresponsibility of the Republican transportation bill. I fully agree with the Duke’s main point but I disagree with the contention that there were no new tax hikes in that legislation. In fact I think it would require either a flood of generosity or a disingenuous literalism to contend that the legislation did not raise taxes. The bill, even in it’s form prior to Amendment by the Governor, authorized local authorities to levy new taxes of hundreds of millions of dollars. In truth, the legislation authorized or directly enacted a diverse array of new taxes.

But guess which principled leaders voted for them?

Ken Cuccinelli, the shrill anti-tax conservative & Jay O’Brien, the slightly dopier radical nutcase. (In Cuccinelli’s case he didn’t even have the conviction to stick by his new position and switched again later.) Besides being out-of-touch with reality guess what else these looney toons have in common? They PROMISED, in no uncertain terms, not to raise taxes. They actually signed their name to a pledge that says:

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.

 

“By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. While ATR has the role of promoting and monitoring the Pledge, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate’s constituents, who are entitled to know where candidates stand before sending them to the capitol. Since the Pledge is a prerequisite for many voters, it is considered binding as long as an individual holds the office for which he or she signed the Pledge.“

And without a hint of contritition Senator O’Brien spits out this release- Senator O’Brien Helps Secure $3 Billion For Roads. And funny, no mention at all of his “solemn pledge” to his constituents in the “Taxes” section of his website.

So what are their NoVA constituents to think? They apparently trusted them to stay true to their pledge- however self-serving and unrealistic it was. One constituent wrote a letter to the Examiner proclaiming the basis for his support of Cooch: “Northern Virginia is fortunate to be represented by Republican state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, who embodies the very essence of your editorial. Cuccinelli has twice been elected on a platform of limited government and personal responsibility. His record clearly shows that is campaign promises become his legislative action.“

And what does Rick Santorum’s step-son himself say about his pledge?

Pledge-signer Virginia Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax County) says the pledge helps to “reinforce in the public mind what I already stand for. Thus, you could say it has helped my branding.”

“I signed the taxpayer protection pledge for two reasons,” said California Assemblyman Ray Haynes (R-Riverside). “To announce to the world my intention to vote against all tax increases at all times; and (b) to grant to any who may wish a public promise to which I would be accountable.”

The pledge “helps draw a ‘bright line’ distinction,” explained Cuccinelli.

That it does sir, that it does.