Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate, has signed Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge committing to oppose and veto any efforts to raise taxes, the group said Thursday.
“By signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to the American people, Senator Santorum continues his tradition of protecting American taxpayers against higher taxes,” said ATR President Grover Norquist.
Mr. Santorum signed the pledge as a U.S. Senator and as a presidential candidate in 2012. He joins Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, as well as former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as 2016 presidential candidates who have signed the pledge.
Mr. Norquist has also offered praise for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, another presidential candidate, who took his own pledge not to raise taxes.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is announcing his 2016 plans Monday, has indicated he does not plan on signing any such pledges, but his team has said his record on taxes is clear.
With each announcement of the 2016 presidential contenders who have signed the pledge, ATR has pointed out that the lone Republican presidential candidate in 2012 who did not make such a pledge was former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who dropped out of the race shortly after a third-place finish in New Hampshire.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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