Filed under: Ballot Measure, Ed Schafer, Organization | Tags: Cut, Ed, First, for, Former, Governor, Income, Initiated, is, Measure, Petition, Schafer, Sign, Taxes, to
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 19, 2007
Contact: Duane Sand, (701) 223-9887
BISMARCK, ND – Former Governor Ed Schafer was the first to sign a petition to lower income tax rates at Americans for Prosperity (AFP) North Dakota state headquarters in Bismarck today. The petition is part of a campaign launched by the grassroots free-market group AFP to leave no taxpayer behind when it comes to tax relief. The measure was approved for circulation by the Secretary of State this morning. The measure will lower state income rates by 50 percent for all taxpayers in North Dakota. The plan would also reduce corporate income taxes by 15 percent.
“When it comes to providing long-term meaningful tax relief for North Dakota citizens, no taxpayer should be left behind,” said AFP North Dakota Director Duane Sand. “Tax rate reductions help spur economic growth. We want to do that, while allowing all North Dakotans to better afford the best quality of life for their families.”
A number of AFP grassroots activists and members of the measure’s sponsoring committee joined former Governor Schafer at the signing event.
“When approved by the people of North Dakota, this measure will not only benefit each and every taxpayer in the state by providing meaningful tax relief that will help them pay their bills, but will also make our state more competitive on a regional and national scale with respect to encouraging corporate investment in North Dakota,” said Sand. “This plan empowers North Dakotans to invest in our state economy, and creates an incentive for others to do so as well.”
AFP has one year to collect the 12,844 signatures necessary to place the measure on the November 2008 General Election ballot.
The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) announced the results of a nonpartisan straw poll taken at The Defending the American Dream Regional Conference on Sunday, June 10th in Bismarck.
Event attendees from both parties filled out the ballots indicating their choice for President of the United States, as well as their approval of President Bush, the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, Senator Byron Dorgan, Senator Kent Conrad, Congressman Earl Pomeroy, Governor John Hoeven, the North Dakota Legislature, and their own unidentifiable legislators. Approval ratings were based on a scale of 1-5 (5 being best).
The straw poll was conducted by AFP employees, and the order of candidate names was determined based on a random drawing. (A PDF image of the straw poll ballot is attached.) Fifty-one completed ballots were submitted.
The results of the non-partisan poll are as follows:
1st Place - Former Senator Fred Thompson (21 votes)
2nd Place – Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (7 votes)
3rd Place – TIE – Congressman Ron Paul (4 votes)
3rd Place – TIE – Former Governor Mitt Romney (4 votes)
4th Place – Congressman Duncan Hunter (3 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Senator John McCain (2 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Former Senator John Edwards (2 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (2 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Governor Bill Richardson (2 votes)
6th Place – TIE – Former Governor, Mike Huckabee (1 vote)
6th Place – TIE – Senator Hillary Clinton (1 vote)
6th Place – TIE – Senator Barack Obama (1 vote)
6th Place – TIE – Senator Sam Brownback (1 vote)
The following are the results of this opinion poll:
President Bush: 2.85 out of 5.
Senator Byron Dorgan: 1.41 out of 5.
Senator Kent Conrad: 1.44 out of 5.
Congressman Earl Pomeroy: 1.24 out of 5.
Governor John Hoeven: 2.95 out of 5.
U.S. Senate (as a whole): 1.58 out of 5.
U.S. House (as a whole): 1.71 out of 5.
N.D. Legislature (as a whole): 2.95 out of 5.
Unidentifiable Legislators of Participant: 3.34 out of 5.
“Achieving the American Dream is a goal that transcends party lines,” said Duane Sand, North Dakota State Director of Americans for Prosperity. “I am glad that Americans for Prosperity could provide this opportunity for North Dakota taxpayers to have their voices heard.”
Americans for Prosperity to Announce “No Taxpayer Left Behind” Initiative
BISMARCK – The grassroots group Americans for Prosperity will hold a news conference in Bismarck on Monday, February 5, 2007, to announce the group’s “No Taxpayer Left Behind” initiative. The citizen group will outline criteria for creating long-term, meaningful tax relief for all North Dakota citizens, as well as highlighting current legislative proposals that address this goal.
Americans for Prosperity – North Dakota State Director Duane Sand will be joined by State Representative Al Carlson (Fargo) at the event to discuss the “No Taxpayer Left Behind” initiative. Americans for Prosperity – North Dakota conducted a statewide Taxpayer Trust Tour in October 2006 to hear citizens’ opinions and concerns over how the state’s $500 million budget surplus should be used. One message was clear: at least some of the budget surplus should be given back to taxpayers in the form of a permanent tax rate reduction.
WHAT: News conference to announce AFP-ND’s “No Taxpayer Left Behind” initiative
WHO: Duane Sand, State Director, Americans for Prosperity – North Dakota
WHEN: Monday, February 5, 2007 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Press Studio – North Dakota State Capitol - Bismarck, N.D.
“When it comes to providing long-term meaningful tax relief for North Dakota citizens, no taxpayer should be left behind,” Sand said. “Americans for Prosperity is here to make sure that lawmakers enact sound, common sense proposals to provide tax relief to all North Dakota citizens.”
