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Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who is seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination, is joining with powerful conservative strategist Grover Norquist for an online town hall tonight.
Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform and one of the most influential figures in American politics, is best known for for his “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” which calls on Republican members of Congress to oppose increases in marginal income tax rates for individuals and businesses, as well as net reductions or eliminations of deductions and credits without a matching reduced tax rate. More than 90 percent of sitting Republican congressmen have signed the pledge.
Johnson established himself as a anti-tax crusader during his two terms as governor of New Mexico. Meanwhile, Norquist has long been sympathetic to Libertarian viewpoints.
In 2001, I interviewed Norquist about the controversial decision of John Dendahl, who was then the New Mexico Republican Party chairman, to join the Republican Liberty Caucus, a Libertarian-leaning political group that recruits political candidates. At the time, Dendahl was under fire among Republicans for supporting Johnnson’s pro-drug legalization views.
Norquist said then that the Liberty Caucus could help Republicans build the party with young people who might find Libertarians appealing.
-- Email the reporter at mcoleman@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 202-525-5633
