Orlando Sentinel: Grayson foe Todd Long signs no-climate change tax pledge

Orlando attorney Todd Long has promised to oppose any climate-change legislation that ends up increasing government fees or taxes.

Americans for Prosperity applauded the Republican who wants to knock off U.S Rep. Alan Grayson, saying all elected officials should agree “global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses.”

Long joins six other Florida politicians in signing the group’s pledge, including Winter Park Commissioner Karen Diebel, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach.

Other Florida elected officials — and all of them are Republicans, so far — who have signed on to the pledge include: U.S. Reps Bill Posey, C.W. “Bill” Young, and Jeff Miller. Here’s the full release on Long.

Long, who already nabbed a prominent endorsement from former presidential candidate and U.S. Rep Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., could end up using this issue as a political club if he makes it through a crowded primary field of lesser-known Republicans to take on Grayson next fall.

Grayson has staked out a controversial position on the recent U.S. house climate change legislation, by backing it only after securing an assurance that the bill contained a $50 million pledge for a new hurricane research center in Orlando.