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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: John Kartch ( jkartch@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

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Congressman Fortenberry Votes to Raise Taxes for the Third Time on Nebraskans
Congressman Breaks “No New Taxes” Pledge Again

 Washington, DC – Rep. Fortenberry (R-NE), has once again voted with Nancy Pelosi and against taxpayers in the N.E. 1st District. This makes the third time the Nebraskan Congressman has broken his Pledge not to raise taxes.

First, with H.R. 6, the so-called “CLEAN Energy Act of 2007”; Rep. Fortenberry voted to raise taxes on publicly-traded oil companies, whose shares are owned by millions of investors through their 401(k) plans, retirement plans and pension funds. “By taxing away the earnings of those companies, Rep. Fortenberry has dug a proverbial financial hole for retirees and other senior citizens,”Grover Norquist said.

“Second, by voting “aye” for H.R. 2419, the “Farm Bill”, Rep. Fortenberry is saying that he is 100 percent behind the $7.5 billion tax hike the bill calls for over the next decade,” says Grover Norquist, President of ATR. “Good thing there aren’t any farms in Nebraska.”

Most recently Rep. Fotenberry voted for H.R. 3221, the alleged, “New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act”. This egregious tax-laden, anti-consumer piece of legislation will increase the cost of appliances and decrease consumer choice, regulate corporate business models of the auto-industry, and mandate local utilities use a certain percentage of “renewable” energy which passes the cost and taxes directly onto the consumer.

Rep. Fortenberry went as far as saying in 2006, “My priorities are good tax policy, fiscal responsibility… As your Congressman, I voted to prevent tax increases on families and small businesses.”

“Then why did he vote for three separate tax increases in three separate bills within four months?” Norquist asks.  

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Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.  For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.