For the last several weeks Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has been critical of the General Assembly and Governor Bob McDonnell for raising taxes to fund a new transportation infrastructure plan. Cuccinelli has remained strident in his belief that new taxes are not the way to fill new government needs.
The decision by McDonnell brought and continues to bring swift and harsh criticism from conservatives and anti-tax activists. In fact it was part of what kept McDonnell from getting an invitation to speak at the popular CPAC conference, the very conference Cuccinelli will kick off tomorrow morning.
One of McDonnell's harshest critics has been Grover Norquist, president of the powerful group Americans for Tax Reform. Norquist solicits candidates for office to sign pledges promising that they will not seek to raise taxes under any circumstances during their time in office. McDonnell did not sign the pledge, but during the run up to the transportation vote it was pointed out that Cuccinelli had. Cuccinelli signed the pledge in 2003, 2007 and 2009.
In fact up until a report today by Politico he was listed as having signed on for 2013 as well...but not so fast.
Cuccinelli's staff told Politico and confirmed to me this evening that the Attorney General never signed the 2013 pledge. Even though the group's website clearly states that he has.
Norquist himself was mystified in a quick e-mail to Politico, but two different staff members at Americans for Tax Reform confirmed for me tonight that Cuccinelli had indeed not signed the pledge for 2013. The group said they will release a statement on the matter tomorrow morning.
Thursday is of course the day that Cuccinelli kicks off CPAC.
We will keep a close eye on the developments.
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