Utah Taxpayers Association forms PAC

None by KCPW

Endorsements, $$ Forthcoming for Fall '06 Candidates

(KCPW News) For years, the Utah Taxpayers Association has been an advocate for conservative tax policy and economic development on Utah's Capitol Hill. The pro-business group now has decided to move beyond advocacy into raising money and backing those they say "represent the taxpayer and say ‘no' to special interests and ‘yes' to lower taxes."

According to Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association: "This is basically the political arm of the association, which will be recruiting and supporting candidates for elected office."

To the best of his recollection, Jerman says the 84-year-old association has never endorsed candidates, nor made political contributions. So why start now?

"It's one thing to advocate for correct policy and not win as often as you'd like to, in terms of seeing that policy implemented or bad policy defeated," says Jerman, "[and] obviously to have an impact on public policy in Utah, or any state for that matter, getting involved in recruiting and promoting candidates is a necessity."

Formally known as TaxPAC, the new political action committee has begun soliciting contributions which it says will be matched by current donors up to $40,000 through September 30th. Jerman is treasurer of TaxPAC, which will release a list of board members in the coming week, followed by endorsements and contributions in this fall's races.

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