Sen. Vitter (far right) pictured with Grover Norquist (far left).
Image courtesy of the AP
BATON ROUGE, LA – After noticing the havoc of Washington special interests on Louisiana’s state budget, Sen. David Vitter decided that his close friendship with Grover Norquist needed a break. When asked if he will renew his pledge to Norquist’s lobbyist group, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), to oppose any and all tax increases, Vitter stated:
“I’ve made it crystal clear that, as Louisiana’s next governor, I’ll make Louisiana-based decisions that are best for us here, not ones based on what some Washington group dictates.”
But just two years ago, Vitter and Norquist were close allies in their effort to shut down the government, holding a joint press conference to deliberatively triple the cost of health care for government workers.
“Sen. Vitter is basically admitting that he has not been making Louisiana-based decisions that were in the best interests of his constituents as a Louisiana senator and that his actions will only change if he is elected governor,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Carter Peterson. “Telling Louisianians that you will only look out for their interests if elected governor is disgraceful, just like shutting down the government.”
Vitter, along with Gov. Bobby Jindal and 32 other state and federal elected officials, have signed the ATR pledge. The pledge binds candidates to oppose any and all tax increases, even in the event of a crisis or natural disaster. The pledge has come under scrutiny recently from state legislators because of its influence on Jindal’s decisions concerning a $1.6 billion budget shortfall.
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