Americans for Tax Reform
Description
Grover Norquist, on how he's shaped the national agenda.
Question: Why has Americans for Tax Reform been so successful?
Grover Norquist: Well I think you have to constantly remember why everybody's in the room and not assume that other people are in the room for the same reason you are. My taxpayer group, Americans for Tax Reform, deals with the central dividing issue between the two parties. We have 95 percent of Republican congressmen, senators, presidents take the pledge to never raise taxes and keep it. And 95 percent of Democrats will not make that commitment because they do want to support tax increases.
When there's a vote on tax increases recently, every last Democrat votes for it, and darn near every last Republican votes against it. It is the central issue that divides the parties more than anything else. There are 30 Republicans who aren't pro-life, and there are 30 Democrats who are pro-life, and so you'll have some overlap. But on taxes, no. That's the central dividing question between the two political parties.
Recorded on: September 12, 2007
Question: Why has Americans for Tax Reform been so successful?
Grover Norquist: Well I think you have to constantly remember why everybody's in the room and not assume that other people are in the room for the same reason you are. My taxpayer group, Americans for Tax Reform, deals with the central dividing issue between the two parties. We have 95 percent of Republican congressmen, senators, presidents take the pledge to never raise taxes and keep it. And 95 percent of Democrats will not make that commitment because they do want to support tax increases.
When there's a vote on tax increases recently, every last Democrat votes for it, and darn near every last Republican votes against it. It is the central issue that divides the parties more than anything else. There are 30 Republicans who aren't pro-life, and there are 30 Democrats who are pro-life, and so you'll have some overlap. But on taxes, no. That's the central dividing question between the two political parties.
Recorded on: September 12, 2007
Question: Why has Americans for Tax Reform been so successful?
Grover Norquist: Well I think you have to constantly remember why everybody's in the room and not assume that other people are in the room for the same reason you are. My taxpayer group, Americans for Tax Reform, deals with the central dividing issue between the two parties. We have 95 percent of Republican congressmen, senators, presidents take the pledge to never raise taxes and keep it. And 95 percent of Democrats will not make that commitment because they do want to support tax increases.
When there's a vote on tax increases recently, every last Democrat votes for it, and darn near every last Republican votes against it. It is the central issue that divides the parties more than anything else. There are 30 Republicans who aren't pro-life, and there are 30 Democrats who are pro-life, and so you'll have some overlap. But on taxes, no. That's the central dividing question between the two political parties.
Recorded on: September 12, 2007
Question: Why has Americans for Tax Reform been so successful?
Grover Norquist: Well I think you have to constantly remember why everybody's in the room and not assume that other people are in the room for the same reason you are. My taxpayer group, Americans for Tax Reform, deals with the central dividing issue between the two parties. We have 95 percent of Republican congressmen, senators, presidents take the pledge to never raise taxes and keep it. And 95 percent of Democrats will not make that commitment because they do want to support tax increases.
When there's a vote on tax increases recently, every last Democrat votes for it, and darn near every last Republican votes against it. It is the central issue that divides the parties more than anything else. There are 30 Republicans who aren't pro-life, and there are 30 Democrats who are pro-life, and so you'll have some overlap. But on taxes, no. That's the central dividing question between the two political parties.
Recorded on: September 12, 2007
More from User
08:39
Is reality real? These neuroscientists don’t think so.
Big Think
06:37
Your reptilian brain, explained | Robert Sapolsky
Big Think
05:35
3 brain hacks to control your Amazon addiction (from a neuroscientist)
Big Think
06:36
Isolating carbon from human ashes to create diamonds
Big Think
05:28
What charity does to your brain
Big Think
05:49
How to trick your brain into saving money
Big Think
Related Videos
00:35
Trump Pitches Major Tax Reform That Could Cut Taxes for More Than 90 Million Americans
Benzinga
00:40
U.S. Taxes for Worldly Americans: The Traveling Expat s Guide to Living, Working, and Staying Tax
zedagude
00:47
IRS Collects Over $1 Billion in Tax Debt from High-Income Individuals, Expands Scrutiny on Wealthy Americans with $250,000 in Tax Debt
Benzinga
00:42
Most Americans, Including Republicans, Support Democratic Police Reform Proposals
Wochit Entertainment
00:42
Most Americans, Including Republicans, Support Democratic Police Reform Proposals
Wochit
01:02
Americans Are Abandoning These High Tax States
Buzz60