Huckabee Buckles under Heat from Club
Mike Huckabee Buckles under Heat
from Club for Growth
Washington – Feeling the heat from the Club for Growth’s presidential white paper on his tax-and-spend record, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee pledged today at the CPAC Conference to rule out raising taxes if elected president. Club for Growth President Pat Toomey commended Governor Huckabee’s pledge as an important step in the right direction. “We hope this is evidence that Governor Huckabee appreciates that Americans are overtaxed and neither want nor need higher taxes,” Mr. Toomey said.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on January 28, 2007, Tim Russert challenged Governor Huckabee’s fiscal conservative credentials, citing the Club for Growth’s repeated criticisms of his tax-hiking record, including a 37% increase in the sales tax, and a 16% and 103% increase in the motor fuel and cigarette taxes. Despite his glaring record, Governor Huckabee refused to rule out raising taxes at the time. His pledge today demonstrates the important role the Club for Growth plays in protecting American taxpayers on the national stage.
Still, Mr. Toomey warned that it is easy and common for candidates to make campaign promises. “We certainly appreciate Governor Huckabee’s conversion,” Mr. Toomey continued, “but we believe a candidate’s record in public office is often more indicative of his philosophy than his pledges on the campaign trail.”
