Today, I have asked my opponent, Democrat Jerry Parisella, to join me in signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge states that a representative will "oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes." I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in December, helping to earn him the endorsement of Citizens for Limited Taxation, the state's leading taxpayer advocacy group.

I am asking my opponent to make the same commitment to the taxpayers of Beverly that I have made and sign his name to the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. By doing so, he can demonstrate that he is not like all of the others on Beacon Hill who have raised taxes during this recession to cover their failure in dealing with budget reform and that he will support the message that the voters of Beverly do not want new taxes.

Beverly's current state representative has failed to deliver that message over the last eight years by voting to raise, or going on record to indicate support for raising, at least a dozen different taxes. And this was despite admitting in an interview that she received a clear message from voters in Beverly during her first campaign that they don't want new taxes. It's time that someone finally deliver that message and I am committed to doing that by working to balance the state budget without tax increases. The question remains as to whether my opponent is committed to that as well.