More than a dozen members of the Texas House today violated the pledge they made to their constituents not to raise taxes.
You can get the details here about the legislation, but Americans for Tax Reform, Texas Public Policy Action, the House Republican Caucus policy committee, and—of course—Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, all agreed that HB 3536 was a tax increase.
In letter to legislators today, ATR president Grover Norquist warned members that voting for HB 3536 would be counted as breaking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. (TFR is the state record-keeper of the pledge.) More than 1,100 officeholders from around the nation have signed the pledge since 1986. There are 67 pledge signers currently in the House.
Here is what legislators pledge to their constituents:
“I, _________________, pledge to the taxpayers of the _______ District of the state of _____________ and all the people of this state that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”
Here are the legislators who the Texas House records as violating the Taxpayer Protection Pledge:
Bill Callegari
Myra Crownover
Sarah Davis
Larry Gonzales
Patricia Harless
Harvey Hilderbran
Dan Huberty
Kyle Kacal
Jim Keffer
Lyle Larson
George Lavender
Geanie Morrison
Four Price
Debbie Riddle
Ralph Sheffield
Phil Stephenson
John Zerwas
