Gilbert Baker Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
A right of passage for conservative candidates has become the signing of the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. In short, the pledge commits the signer to oppose any increase in federal taxes on individuals and corporations.
“As a strong fiscal conservative, I’m happy to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” Baker said. “While serving as Co-Chairman of the joint budget committee, I worked with my fellow legislators to balance the state budget, without a tax increase. I will fight for a balanced budget for congress which will curb out of control government spending.”
Fellow Republican candidate Curtis Coleman also signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge while state Sen. Kim Hendren has said he would not. “I can’t sign a no tax pledge because that vote does not belong to me,” Hendren told me in a now infamous interview last May, “it belong to the people I represent.”
“By signing the Pledge, Sen. Baker demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers in Arkansas,” commented AFT President Grover Norquist.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
November 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Oh, so now that Gilbert has a tough Republican primary he’ll promise not to raise our taxes. Why didn’t he take this stand years ago?
I’m not going to believe someone election year promises when they got a career that says otherwise.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Isn’t this the guy who voted for the largest tax increase in the history of Arkansas?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
get your facts straight is all im going to say.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This pledge is a day late and several billion dollars short. You can’t vote to raise my taxes for 10 years and then just pretend not to want to raise them again.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Never forget the taxes on charitable bingo. I know a few VFW’s which had to close.
Gilbert?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
This pledge is an insult to our intelligence. Aaaah, Gil-Burt Baker signed a no tax pledge. I guess I was wrong about all of his tax raising votes. He does have the spine to stand up to Democrats and say not to new taxes after all.
What a load
November 13th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Bingo Tax? Is that what this tax raiser stuff is all about? Can someone please list all the votes Gilbert made that raised taxes instead of just some general terms?
Jason, maybe you can research this.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I don’t know why the VFW’s had to close because of the taxes on charitable bingo. It isn’t like they had funds from charitable bingo to begin with so why would it cause them to have to close once it was taxed?
November 13th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
FYI Tom Cox signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge November 10th.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Blanche Lincoln pledged to represent the people of Arkansas and up hold the Constitution.
Actions are the truth!
Raising taxes and voting for raising them are actions. That is the truth. Who ever that is Lincoln, Baker, etc.
Actions. not signing a paper.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Gilbert voted for SB 42 which became Act 59 in 2003. This increased state sales taxes by $441 million a year.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Again I am going to say that you have made it clear Gilbert is not the candidate you want but you have yet to tell me a single positive thing about any of the other 6 candidates in the Republican race. Stop attacking Gilbert and start building your candidates up. You are simply upset because Gilbert is raising money and is the front runner. Tell me why I should take a closer look at the other guys.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
the truth – Looked that one up and could not find the vote but it was sponsored by Bisbee which I thought Baker stabbed in the back or something. Also, it looks like this is the school funding issue that was court ordered. Funny how this somehow should be pinned on Baker.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2003/S2/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=SB42
November 13th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Roll call on the final passage of SB42 on the school funding issue was 31 FOR, 0 AGAINST, 4 ABSENT. Even Jim Holt voted for this one.
http://tolbertreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/RollCallSB42of2004.bmp
November 13th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
The court never ordered the state to raise taxes. That is a complete fabrication.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
the truth – In part, this is correct. In the Lakeview case, the court ordered that the state “adequately fund” education; it did not specify how. However, it would have taken major cuts in the state budget in order to comply without raising taxes.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Not true, Jason. You’re right that Gilbert voted for hundreds of millions in sales tax increases in Senate Bill No. 42, but 11 Senators, including Jim Holt, voted against it.
Go down to the State Capitol and look up Senate Bill 42, call item No. 6 in the Eighty-Fourth General Assembly, Second Extraordinary Session, which passed 1/6/04
Here’s your roll call for the sales tax increase-
Affirmative 21-Argue, Baker, Bisbee, J. Bookout, Broadway, Brown, Bryles, Capps, Gullett, Hendren, Higginbothom, Horn, G. Jeffress, Luker, Madison, Salmon, Trusty, Whitaker, Wilkinson, Womack, Wooldridge
Negative 11- Altes, Faris, Glover, Hill, J. Jeffress, B. Johnson, Laverty, Malone, Miller, T. Smith
Absent 3- Critcher, Steele, Wilkins
November 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
NWA – Point well taken. I actually think we are talking about two different votes on the same bill. The one you reference (linked below) is the Senate vote that sent the bill to the House on 1/6/04. The one I referenced is the final Senate vote on 1/27/04 after the House amended it and was the bill which became the final Act 59. But you are correct that the first vote had some split.
http://tolbertreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/SB42RollCallVote2.bmp
November 13th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Gilbert should have checked with Jim Holt before announcing.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Then I suppose Hendren, Cox, Coleman, Ramey, Reynolds, and the rest should have checked with Jim Holt before announcing.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Holt never voted for that bill. He told me that they took roll, then called for a vote while he slipped out in the hall to take one of his too-frequent cell phone calls. He knew it was passing so there was no point in staying in there. What he did not count on was that another senator (could have been Bryles) went to his desk and voted for him without his permission.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Nice try, statesman. That is why they have keys in the voting machine. It is commonly understood that legislators vote on each others’ machines, and it is commonly understood that if you don’t want your vote to be counted, you need to take the key out.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
The court did in fact order the legislative branch to increase the funding what choice did they have other than raising taxes. Even conservitives have to vote for taxes when they are needed. Without those taxes we would not have schools, roads or important services. You anti tax people do not seem to get that. Do I wish taxes were lower, yeah i do, my wife and I own a business and taxes kill us. I pesonally would not have signed the pledge if I were Gilbert or any other candidate because Congress will have to raise taxes and cut spending both in order to get us out of the whole that Obama has but us in. I wish they would all promise to support a cut of $2 worth of spending for ever $1 raised in taxes. When you promise to not raise taxes you do not take into account things that might happen during a 6 year term in the senate. Why is it that common sense seems to be so uncommon?
November 14th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Baker will win the Republican Primary. I hope when he does that everyone can focus on the real opponent – Blanche Lincoln!! He will win because he is the best candidate to take her on. Look at the big picture – who can win in November. Anyone can get out and talk policy, go to fish frys, etc…. but the complete package has to contain fundraising and electability. Baker has this and Lincoln is the real target!!! This attempt to villanize him is nearsighted… Anyone who really knows him, knows he is a conservative and knows he is real. get Senator Johnny Key (one of the most conservative members of the Legislature) to say Baker is liberal and you might have an argument
November 14th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
The most electable person in the Republican primary is the one who offers the clear alternative to Blanche.
I have met Gilbert, I have met Conrad and I have met Curtis.
Sorry, Gilbert. You ain’t it.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I don’t want a John McCain republican for my senator/ that would just like blanche
I want some one who listens and votes the way the people say
who isn’t a CAReer politician…..
November 15th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Dear Stop,
Dont you get it these people hate Gilbert this has nothing to do with what is best for Arkansas, the Republican party and is sure not about who is the most consevitive. I have asked FSRepublican several times to explain what makes other candidates better and stop bashing Gilbert but he cant. This is just anti Gilbert bashing. And by the way Gilbert isnt a ‘CAReer politician” the state senate is all he has done when I was at UCA he was a professor. Some of these people need to get their facts straight. They want to talk about it but when we elect good people they want to hurt them. Its why the Arkansas Republican Party cannot get ahead.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Wow…from professor who might believe he knows more than the people he supposedly represents to the state senate and beyond.
most from the Academic World, they believe no one should make more than $200,000 thousand dollars a year; even if that is what your small business might make but after paying for employees and insurance and expenses, its $35,000…
I don’t want someone who says one thing but does another and I don’t someone who dreams of being a politician for the rest of his life or her life. I don’t want another Do Gooder,,, that does not work in the real world.
If you are saying Gilbert Baker is one or all of these…Well, I guess you are right ,,,,
Maybe the Republican party needs to rethink …. supporting a McCain type. I will not vote for one.
Is Baker a McCain type Republican…. I guess maybe you have answered some of my questions and concerns with Baker.
Hmmmmmm makes you think hard about who the is the best candidate?
November 15th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Dear Kay, wake up you are in a dream world. First of all John McCain is a great man. If more of your type had not bashed him as you do Gilbert he might have done better. Second, Gilbert Baker is a solid conservitive. I will ask you to tell me good stuff about any or all of the other candidates and stop bashing Gilbert Baker. You are just showing us that you have nothing good to say that you are a negative person. We know you hate Gilbert so now tell us why you are supporting whoever your candidate may be. As far as I am concerned I am supporting Gilbert Baker because he has the right mix of experience, fundraising ability and becasue he is not a professional politician. He has represented the people of his district well in the State Senate and he is not afraid to stand up to people when they are wrong. I firmly believe he is the only candidate in the race who can beat Blanche. Study Arkansas history and the kind of senators we elect and you will see what I mean. I like that you stand up for your values, i wish you would stop trying to tell the rest of us what our values should be, but as a political party we have a job to do, that is electing the best candidate to win the general election. Stop attacking Gilbert and start telling us what you would like us to know about someone else in the race. As I suspect there is very little to tell about most of them so you have to attack the leader. Grow up.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Gilbert Baker voted for the largest tax increase in Arkansas history. It appears his excuse will be that he was ordered to do so by a court. A conservative who bows down to a court on a tax issue? Whatever.
The problem with the Republican party is that they allow those who vote for tax increases to pretent to be conservatives, when in fact they are not. This is the reason my taxes keep going up.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Asking questions and listening to the answers and watching the actions. I have grown up and I do think for myself. Not sure who I am voting for and really considering who will get my vote. I have been a Registered Republican for over 30 years. I am waiting for the person who best presents my best interests. My Conservative views. Alot of people vote simply on party. I did that for years. and now I realize that when I have not been vocal about my concerns as others have, my concerns were thrown side and my Representatives did not hold the same values and did not vote the way I believe they should have. I think this is my fault. In the last few years I have awoke, I believe that we all should be demanding that whoever is elected by the people of their district, represent what We the People want.
I don’t know who that will be. But I want every candidate to know that We will be demanding that each Senator and Representative that is elected be held accountable. I am not going to sit back and be bullied or told that I am hater or I am not smart enough or even that I need to grow up , I am going continue to speak up even if I don’t agree, with everyone. John McCain, is a nice man, I don’t like the way he Plays politics. I think the DC koolaid, is strong, and it makes even good people water down their beliefs because they get caught up in being on the right side or reaching over or whatever the latest catch title is. Career Politicians is one of the problems, I personally, don’t think either party represents me at this time. But I do believe there are others like me who are starting to ask questions and demand results (actions). Thank goodness, my vote still is 1 and so is yours. Look forward to more dialogue and learning more about each candidate in every race.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Conservatives really are their own worst enemy sometimes.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
You said it, JS, and you are right on.
Back to the Holt vote on SB42…
Anyone that has observed the senate should know that the senate does not vote electronically, so there were no keys or buttons, therefore a senator can’t vote for another senator like they do in the house. If he did leave the chamber and the clerk called the roll, then his silence would have been considered a yes vote. Had the bill been defeated at that vote, it would have returned to the House instead of going to the governor’s desk.
Nice try Holties, but a yes vote for final passage of an amended bill has the same effect as a yes vote for the original version.
Gilbert Baker has been a professor of music, teaching college kids the finer points of percussion; does that qualify him as an ‘academic’ who believes nonsense like no one should make over $200K per year? He has been a part-time legislator; does that qualify him as a career politician? From reading this exchange the answer is yes, but only if you support one of the other candidates for senate.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Dear Kay,
My comments were based on your own comments. If you truely have an open mind the you need to stop repeating vailed attacks on Gilbert Baker and dig a little deeper. Ihave had the pleasure of knowing him for 20 years and know what a committed conservitive he is. The issues over taxes are a smoke screen being used by nwa repubicans upset over a leadership race. A race that pitted a tax and spend liberal republican, Bisbee, against a low tax conservitive Dem. The tax and spend Republican is now county judge in Benton County. Even conservitives have to bow to the courts once in a while. The sad fact is that even Republicans have to uphold the law sometimes, even if they dont like the way the court rules. Basicly you live to fight another day. As a conservitive you cannot just always say no. The sad fact is that in this race we have two state senators, Gilbert is one, number 2 is Hendron who is totally unelectable and even the national party will not support him if he were to win the primary, then Curtis Coleman who has a good buisness record. The rest of the feild has no experience making them the kind of candidates we should elect. They need some experience before I trust them to represent me in DC. I feel like the wingnuts have taken over the party and it scares me to death. I just want people to slow down step back and make good informed desisions. Sorry if I offended you but the comments made here about Gilbert Baker offed me greatly. It seems as though everyone wants to bash him but no one has anything to say about the other candidates, good or bad. Im not saying you are but I suspect alot of these people work for Blanche or the Dem party.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
The enemy of conservatives are the ones who raise taxes and then justify it when someone else raises taxes. This is why my taxes go up up up. I will not unify behind someone who votes to raise my taxes. Note to ALL politicians: If you want me to unify behind you DO NOT vote to raise my taxes.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
note to TaserJake, stop driving on the highways and dont use any public service then. This election year is the biggest chance Arkansas Repubicans have ever had to make major changes but with this kind of attitude we will never pull it off. Sometimes taxes must be raised. My biggest regret is that we do not get enough waste cut from the budget along with it. After the spending spree in Congress and the White House whoever we send to Washington will most likely have to raise taxes in order to get us back on the right track. Do I like that, no i dont, but im a realist. I also want to address mindset on this and other blogs. People are great about throwing around their Christanity to justify their politics. I have been there and done that. But if you are attacking someone and only using half truths to do it that is not a very Christian or moral way to act. Lets be the Party of Reagan and stop bashing each other and start building up the candidate you like and start acting like the Christians you claim to be. I have asked time and time again for someone to tell me something positive about one of the other 6 candidates but as of yet none of you have been willing or able.
November 16th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
w – check out Curtis Coleman’s website http://www.curtiscoleman.com and you can see the positive things that people are saying about Curtis Coleman. He has my vote!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I will be proudly supporting Gilbert Baker. That is all.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Dear Coleman supporter, I will check out his website and I like what I know of him. He is my second choice behind Gilbert Baker. I just am tired of people bashing Gilbert Baker on this blog.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Vote for principle – Coleman
November 17th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I like Coleman but I will be voting for the guy with the best chance to beat Blanche. Even with her bad poll numbers she is going to be hard to beat. She has a huge bank account and will get a lot of national support. Only one republican in the race can come close to matching that, Gilbert Baker. He is a proven Conservitive of principle, he is well known with Repubicans in the state, and he can raise money. Not only that he will be able to get the much need votes of moderates and independents. I know what you are trying to say about vote your principle but you are also saying you would rather support a candidate that cannot compeate with Blanche than voting for the most electable and capable candidate. I dont get that.
November 26th, 2009 at 1:25 am
This exchange makes me sad for our party. It seems sometimes that we are less of a party than a bunch of folks who will only vote for someone who they agree with 100%. Personally, I want to win this election, whoever the nominee is. Getting an R beside an Arkansas senator again should be our goal. Any of these guys is conservative enough, remember we have to get independents and possibly some D’s on our side in order to win. I have heard Baker raked over the coals for being too conservative, and these were Republicans.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Some of the comments in favor of Gilbert Baker seem to think that having raised the most money equals election success. That has unfortunately been true too often in the past because too many people have not paid attention. In that environment, the ability to buy lots of TV time has often been decisive. I don’t think we are in that environment any longer. People ARE paying attention and are fed up with both parties. I’ve been voting Republican for several years, but I am tired of the the party having a coronation for their preferred candidate and then expecting the rest of us to vote for them. Gilbert Baker votes the wrong way on raising taxes. I will never vote for him, even if he is the nominee. I will never “settle” for the lesser of two evils again, even if it means the Republicans lose. Of course some reasonable level of funding is necessary to run a campaign but money alone will not win this election; not this year. I have yet to see a candidate that really excites me; some are OK. But Baker is NOT an acceptable candidate. Stay tuned.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I have been trying to research the candidates running on the Republican ticket for Sen Lincoln’s position. After reading through all the posts, I am concerned about Senator Baker’s record. I see a lot of back and forth sniping at each other and I know you may start sniping at me but I need a serious answer. Okay, some of you have know Sen Baker for many years. That is of complete indifference to me. I have a lot of dear friends that I love but would never want as my senator. I do want to make a good choice and would appreciate accurate information on his voting record. I don’t want to vote for someone just because the GOP wants that person. You all saw what happened in New York. This is not a slam against Sen Baker. He might end up as my choice, but I must admit, I am greatly concerned. He may be a nice guy, but is he a true conservative. We are living in serious times and I would like a senator who loves our country and our constitution first and himself last. Is this Senator Baker? Are any of these men of this stature? I don’t mean to offend anyone here, but John McCain is not a solid conservative and neither is his friend Lindsey Graham. Is this the kind of man Sen Baker is? This is a serious question and I would appreciate a serious thoughtful answer. Again, I don’t care if he is a likeable kind of guy and the GOP wants him. What is his record? Thanks.