Sam's Club Republican, by J. A. McClure: on Tax Reform


Jesse Ventura: OpEd: Reduction of deficit were "Jesse taxes"

Post 9-11-01: we face a "big honkin' budget deficit" Only a week after the race began, the political landscape was dramatically changed by the attacks of September 11. Pawlenty cancelled events for weeks afterward, as any politicking would have appeared in poor taste. "People's sense of what's important faced a $2 billion deficit--as Pawlenty termed it, a "big honkin' budget deficit." Nonetheless, he refused to move from his anti-tax stance. When Governor Ventura proposed a series of taxes to adjust for the deficit, Pawlenty attacked the "Jesse taxes" as harming "Jane and Joe Six Pack."
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 24-25 May 10, 2010

Tim Pawlenty: Increase taxes only if necessary; & with automatic repeal

In his words [in a 1992 article on Pawlenty], "what we have become is accountants for Democrats. We are the ones saying we can't do this or that because it's too expensive. That's an important function, but that's all we're perceived as saying. Most people don't want accountants as leaders."

Pawlenty was a strong proponent of limited government and lower taxes. He was asked before the election: "If a tax increase is absolutely necessary to balance the budget, what kind of tax hike would you favor? His response: "Taxes should be increased only if absolutely necessary. Under such circumstances, any tax increase should be temporary and have an automatic repeal provision. As to the types of taxes that might be increased in emergency circumstances, very small increases on a variety of taxes should be considered to avoid a disproportionate impact by any one tax-paying sector of the state's economy."

Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 12 May 10, 2010

Tim Pawlenty: Tax cuts stimulate economy; create jobs; & raise revenue

In 1999, Pawlenty wrote: "Pres. Clinton should sign the Republican tax plan. Presidents Kennedy & Reagan were both tax cutters and knew that tax cuts stimulate the economy, produce more private investment, start more businesses, create more jobs--and create more tax revenues! That's right, serious students of the Reagan & Kennedy tax cuts know that tax revenues increased after the tax cuts were enacted. The same will be true in MN. Even after huge tax cuts, tax revenues in MN will increase."
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 17 May 10, 2010

Tim Pawlenty: No-new-tax pledge, but increased 60 fees

The critical test of Pawlenty's first term was whether he would honor his no-new-taxes pledge. Democrats, the media, and special interest groups applied constant pressure on Pawlenty to raise taxes. Pawlenty was resolute in his no-new-taxes pledge. Democrats and Republicans alike doubted he could make it through his first legislative session without agreeing to the endless demands for tax increases. He did. No tax hike was signed into law.

The only catch was that his pledge didn't apply to state fees, tuition, or local property taxes, all of which rose. Pawlenty's 60 fee increases in the first year were especially irksome, labeled by some as "stealth taxes." Pawlenty said there was nothing stealthy about them: "People will know exactly what they are paying for the services they get."

Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 33-34 May 10, 2010

  • The above quotations are from Governor Tim Pawlenty:
    The Sam's Club Republican    ,
    by J. A. McClure.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Tim Pawlenty on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Jesse Ventura on Tax Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 22, 2019