PRESS RELEASE

Arthur Purves, candidate for the Republican nomination in Virginia's 35th Delegate District and long-time anti-tax activist, has announced that he has decided not to support tax-cap pledges in candidate surveys. He rescinded his signature on the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge and is withholding support from the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), which limits state spending increases to population and inflation, and laws and constitutional amendments to limit increases in real estate assessments and taxes.

"I of course applaud and do support the goals of Americans for Tax Reform, the Eagle Forum, VOTORS (Virginians Overtaxed on Residences), and others, but these pledges have been ineffective in preventing real-estate tax hikes and state tax hikes. They allow anti-tax candidates to dodge the crucial issue: where would they actually cut spending," Purves said. He continued: "When anti-tax candidates do get elected they find that most tax increases are for third-rail social programs - public schools, welfare, and healthcare - which they are unprepared to oppose."

Instead, Purves challenges the anti-tax movement to ask candidates to pledge to cut wasteful public-school, welfare, and healthcare spending. This would force candidates to discuss these issues during campaigns, become knowledgeable about them, and develop the mandate to defeat tax hikes.

Over the past two decades, public-school spending per student, after adjusting for inflation, has doubled. Public-school staff has increased four times faster than enrollment. Yet the National Center for Education Statistics reports that two-thirds of Virginia students achieve below grade level. Students are unnecessarily stigmatized as "learning disabled" only because they were denied phonics-based reading instruction. There is still a large minority student achievement gap, and 35 percent of college freshmen don't graduate. Welfare destroys families. Government meddling in healthcare has increased medical costs 50 percent. "Big government is wrecking schools, families, and healthcare. We need to stop forfeiting the debate on these crucial issues," Purves said.