Cantor: Keep word on no-new-taxes pledge

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said lawmakers who signed a no-new-taxes pledge with conservative activist Grover Norquist should honor their commitment.

Cantor, who signed the pledge, said during his weekly media briefing Monday the issue isn't about a person, but about keeping one's word, The Hill reported.

"It's not about Grover Norquist. It's about commitments that people make to the electorate that they represent, to the people that sent them here," Cantor said. "That's what this is about. Your word should be good to your constituents, and that's what we're dealing with here."

Several House members told The Hill last week they didn't feel compelled to honor Norquist's pledge, saying they considered it binding for only one term, not their entire time in office. Their comments prompted a sharp denunciation from Norquist, who said members must keep a promise they made to their constituents and that they were told of the pledge's conditions when they they signed it.

Norquist has become a political focal point in the contentious debate over tax policy, with Democrats arguing his influence is blocking a balanced deficit reduction deal, The Hill said.

House Speaker John Boehner recently called Norquist "some random person" while arguing that the House GOP's opposition to tax increases was based only on policy beliefs.