Frank Wolf Takes Courageous Stand Against Republican Tax Ideologue

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, whose 10th Congressional District includes McLean, attacked a leading conservative tax activist Tuesday in a blistering speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Wolf excoriated Grover Norquist saying Norquist's no-taxes pledge has “paralyzed” Congress from tackling the deficit, according to a report in Politico.

"In a short but powerful speech, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), laid out a remarkable indictment against one of the most powerful figures in conservative politics," Politico reported. "He cited Norquist’s ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, as well as charges that Norquist was associated with two terrorist financiers. Wolf also raised Norquist’s lobbying for Fannie Mae and the Internet gambling sector, and his reported support of moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States."

“My conscience has compelled me to come to the floor today to voice concerns I have with the influence Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, has on the political process in Washington,” Wolf read from a statement on the floor of the House, according to a report in Bloomberg Businessweek.

Norquist called Wolf’s comments “silly and dishonest,” according to the Bloomberg report.
 
“Frank Wolf is very frustrated,” Norquist said in a phone interview today, because Norquist declined his request about two years ago to support an effort to narrow the federal budget deficit through a combination of tax increases and budget cuts, according to Bloomberg.

The Washington Post reported that Norquist, who runs the advocacy group Americans for Tax Reform, has risen to prominence primarily through advocating a Taxpayer Protection Pledge that has become a touchstone of Republican politics. Pledge-takers promise to oppose tax increases of any kind.

Wolf, who has served in the House for 30 years and is generally viewed to have strong conservative credentials, was pointed in his criticism of Norquist.

“Have we really reached a point where one person’s demand for ideological purity is paralyzing Congress to the point that even a discussion of tax reform is viewed as breaking a no-tax pledge?” Wolf asked, the Post reported.

Here is the link to Wolf's speech.