The Pledge is a term used in the U.S. state of

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...

for a promise by politicians not to support

income taxes An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) in respect of the income or profits earned by them (commonly called taxable income). Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times the taxable income. Ta ...

sales taxes A sales tax is a tax paid to a governing body for the sales of certain goods and services. Usually laws allow the seller to collect funds for the tax from the consumer at the point of purchase. When a tax on goods or services is paid to a gover ...

or other forms of what are known as "broad-based taxes." It has long been an important part of state politics, dating back to the 1950s, although it only become prominent in the 1970s. Advocates describe it as an important tool in New Hampshire's budgetary process, an embodiment of the state's tradition of frugality and local control. Opponents say it creates a lop-sided and unfair tax structure, overly dependent on property taxes on individuals.

References

Politics of New Hampshire Taxation in New Hampshire {{NewHampshire-stub