This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a result of the recent redistricting, we were moved from the 2nd Congressional District to the 3rd, and thus, are represented by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who was on our ballot on Nov. 6. As new constituents, we are interested in becoming acquainted.
Since Chaffetz will not accept letters from new constituents until he is "sworn in as their official Representative on January 3, 2013," we find it necessary to pose these questions concerning his signing of the Grover Norquist pledge not to raise tax rates:
• Are there limits to the pledge? Is there a time limit?
• Are there exceptions to the pledge, say, national emergencies?
• If you run for a different office, does the pledge become null and void?
• To what degree do you feel bound by the pledge? Does it hold for you the same gravitas with which you would regard the Pledge of Allegiance? Your oath of office? Your marriage vows?
• Does the language of the pledge leave any room for interpretation on your part? In other words, is it absolute?
Specific answers to these questions would help us very much.
Jim and Bonnie Despain
Cottonwood Heights