Scozzafava signs pledge not to raise income taxes

Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava said she decided Thursday to sign a pledge not to raise income taxes if elected to Congress because it was consistent with her opinion and it sent the right message to voters.

But Ms. Scozzafava's decision to sign the oath after initially refusing to provided her two opponents with an opportunity to question her motives.

"This latest flip-flop makes one thing crystal clear: Dede Scozzafava actually has no principles and will say anything to pander to right-wing extremists in a lame attempt to score political points and financial backing," said Jay Jacobs, state Democratic Party chairman, who is supporting his party's candidate, William L. Owens.

The pledge was developed by Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative advocacy group. By signing it, a candidate promises to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses" and to oppose any reduction or elimination of tax credits — unless that reduction is offset by reduced tax rates.

Ms. Scozzafava said she's "always had a hesitancy" to sign pledges, but thought "some people weren't willing to believe, look at the record and see that I voted against (Gov. David A.) Paterson's budget and see that I really was more of a conservative on a lot of the issues."

The pledge, she said, became "a sign" to those skeptical that she said "shows that I'm going to be very careful as far as increasing income taxes."

Douglas L. Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, had asked Ms. Scozzafava and Mr. Owens to take the pledge after he signed it in August. Matthew A. Burns, Ms. Scozzafava's spokesman, decried Mr. Hoffman's action at the time as "a stunt."

Twelve days before Ms. Scozzafava took the pledge, the state assemblywoman told the Adirondack Daily Enterprise that she would never sign it because more constituents could be affected by refusing to raise income taxes and being forced to raise other taxes and fees instead.

She said Friday she "doesn't feel that it does bind my hands."

Mr. Hoffman said Saturday that Ms. Scozzafava's willingness to sign now was directly related to her "dropping in the polls."

"We have a career politician that is doing what they always do," he said. "They want to tell you what you want to hear. And then they get elected and they do what they want to do to promote their career."

Ms. Scozzafava's campaign did not announce the pledge signing Thursday. Instead, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was the first to note Ms. Scozzafava's signing Friday as part of his rationale for endorsing her candidacy.

Mr. Jacobs claimed Ms. Scozzafava signed the pledge to ensure Mr. Gingrich's backing, a charge she denied. She said "a lot of people" had asked to her to reconsider the pledge, which caused her to look at it again.

She said people asked her, "'How do you feel about the repeal of the Bush tax cuts?' I don't support it. I think the tax cuts should stay in place," Ms. Scozzafava said. "I was there from the very beginning. So they're like, 'If you're really there, why aren't you willing to just say that?'"

Ms. Scozzafava said signing the pledge does not complicate her support for items such as the federal stimulus bill and congressional earmarks, both of which can fuel bigger deficits that need more revenue from taxes to offset.

"When you look at legislation, you have to look at entire legislation," she said. "Some people opposed the stimulus package, yet it included income tax cuts for most middle-class families."

Mr. Owens, Plattsburgh, remains the only candidate who has not signed the pledge.

ON THE NET

Read the pledge:

www.atr.org/userfiles/

Congressional_pledge.pdf