For Immediate Release – Nov. 5, 2008
Contact: Ed Frank (202) 349-5880

Americans for Prosperity Responds to Election Results

WASHINGTON – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) President Tim Phillips tonight released the following statement in response to the election results:

“We congratulate both Senator Obama and Senator McCain on what they have achieved during this long campaign, and we look forward to working constructively with both of them on behalf of America’s taxpayers in the months and years ahead.

“We especially hope that President-elect Obama lives up to his central promise to represent all Americans in the White House – not just those who supported his campaign.

"There will be many battles to wage for free-market principles in the upcoming months, but we will find common ground with Obama on tax cuts, earmark reform, and greater transparency and accountability in government spending.

“While we do have some concerns about Obama's tax plan, we look forward to working with him on the worthy goal of providing broad middle-class tax relief. Redistributing wealth through higher taxes is not the path to prosperity, but reducing taxes will help stimulate economic growth.

"Unaccountable pork-barrel earmarks breed corruption and lead to even more wasteful spending. We are hopeful Obama will embrace comprehensive earmark reform and shrink the number of earmarks larding spending bills.

"That said, however, if he decides to follow through on his stated intention to support a cap-and-trade regulatory regime that will cause electricity prices to ‘skyrocket’ and force an entire sector of the energy industry to ‘go bankrupt,’ we will make sure the voice of the American energy consumer is heard loud and clear in Washington.

“And if he decides to follow through on past liberal efforts in Washington to eliminate the secret ballot for rank-and-file union members, we’ll make sure the voice of America’s real working men and women is heard loud and clear in Washington.

“What is needed during these challenging times is to give individual citizens the freedom and the opportunity to make America better than it’s ever been – just as they’ve done every other time circumstances have been less than ideal.  It’s the American people – not a big and ever-growing federal government – that will ultimately lead to a higher standard of living for the greatest number of citizens, and we hope that President-elect Obama and Members of Congress in both parties remember that when they return to Washington.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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