I realize Jim Forsythe is no longer running for Congress this year, however, it was good to see him mentioned in this article for his role in keeping NH from having an income tax. It's good to see him continuing with liberty-oriented pursuits!
May 20, 4:08 PM EDT
New pledge, same goal: No income tax for NH
By HOLLY RAMER
Associated Press Writer
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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- An anti-tax coalition is pushing New Hampshire's elected officials and candidates to sign a new pledge with an old goal - stopping the state from adopting an income tax.
More than 40 office holders and candidates have signed the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's new pledge, promising to oppose any budget that includes spending increases above the rate of inflation adjusted for population growth. Although the spending cap pledge does not replace the decades-old pledge against an income or broad-based sales tax, supporters who spoke at a news conference Tuesday clearly had both on their mind.
"We are being backed into a sales or income tax by Governor John Lynch's spending," said state Sen. Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, who is hoping to challenge Lynch in November. "They want an income tax, there's no doubt about it. But as long as people like myself ... sign that pledge and stand up for New Hampshire families for New Hampshire values, there will not be an income tax here in New Hampshire."
The current two-year state budget is $10.3 billion, an increase of 11 percent over the previous budget. When it was passed in June, the consumer price index was 7.1 percent higher than it was two years earlier.
Facing a possible $180 million revenue shortfall, Lynch has proposed cutting spending by $125 million, borrowing $80 million to pay the state's share of school construction costs and hiking the cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack. He said repeatedly that he would veto any general sales or income tax.
"Governor Lynch has been focused on ensuring that we continue to be fiscally responsible and working to ensure we're going to have a balanced budget," said his spokesman, Colin Manning.
The new pledge follows efforts by the conservative anti-tax group to get communities to enact local spending and tax cuts. Jim Forsythe, the group's new finance chairman, said those who abide by the new pledge will relieve the pressure being put on the old one.
"What we have now is a situation where the old pledge, the no broad-based tax pledge, has been very effective at keeping us away from a broad-based tax," he said. "That's held in place, but meanwhile, people have just spent more and more and that's putting pressure on. People are starting to feel the pain and call out for more taxes or different sorts of taxes, but that's not the answer."
Both Kenney and Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta pointed to last weekend's state Democratic convention as evidence that the state is headed toward an income tax. On Saturday, Democrats voted to support consideration of "all potential sources of revenue," but that amendment did mention an income or sales tax, and the group also rejected another amendment that called for creating a commission that would look into establishing a state income tax.
Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley noted that three years ago, the Republican-controlled Legislature rejected a spending cap measure that would have required the Legislature to pass any tax or tax increase by a two-thirds majority.
"Either this group has forgotten that members of their own party rejected this cheap political gimmick, or they have no real solutions to offer," Buckley said. "They need to be honest and upfront with the people and say exactly which direct services they wish to see cut."
In supporting the pledge, Guinta had harsh words for the Democratic-led Legislature.
"What we've seen in the last year and a half is nothing more than the fleecing of the taxpayers of New Hampshire," he said. "It's not right, we shouldn't stand for it and we are coalescing a group of individuals in this state who are going to stand up for those who believe in limited government, who believe in effective management of our resources, who believe in proper utilization of those resources and who believe in increasing government efficiency."
Asked to give examples of such fleecing, Guinta mentioned a bill to overhaul the state's retirement system. Kenney, who voted for that bill, added several examples of his own, including money to preserve land and historic places and a workers' compensation bill that he says cost businesses thousands before it was repealed this year.
Link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...OL-?SITE=NHNAS&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
May 20, 4:08 PM EDT
New pledge, same goal: No income tax for NH
By HOLLY RAMER
Associated Press Writer
Advertisement
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- An anti-tax coalition is pushing New Hampshire's elected officials and candidates to sign a new pledge with an old goal - stopping the state from adopting an income tax.
More than 40 office holders and candidates have signed the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's new pledge, promising to oppose any budget that includes spending increases above the rate of inflation adjusted for population growth. Although the spending cap pledge does not replace the decades-old pledge against an income or broad-based sales tax, supporters who spoke at a news conference Tuesday clearly had both on their mind.
"We are being backed into a sales or income tax by Governor John Lynch's spending," said state Sen. Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, who is hoping to challenge Lynch in November. "They want an income tax, there's no doubt about it. But as long as people like myself ... sign that pledge and stand up for New Hampshire families for New Hampshire values, there will not be an income tax here in New Hampshire."
The current two-year state budget is $10.3 billion, an increase of 11 percent over the previous budget. When it was passed in June, the consumer price index was 7.1 percent higher than it was two years earlier.
Facing a possible $180 million revenue shortfall, Lynch has proposed cutting spending by $125 million, borrowing $80 million to pay the state's share of school construction costs and hiking the cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack. He said repeatedly that he would veto any general sales or income tax.
"Governor Lynch has been focused on ensuring that we continue to be fiscally responsible and working to ensure we're going to have a balanced budget," said his spokesman, Colin Manning.
The new pledge follows efforts by the conservative anti-tax group to get communities to enact local spending and tax cuts. Jim Forsythe, the group's new finance chairman, said those who abide by the new pledge will relieve the pressure being put on the old one.
"What we have now is a situation where the old pledge, the no broad-based tax pledge, has been very effective at keeping us away from a broad-based tax," he said. "That's held in place, but meanwhile, people have just spent more and more and that's putting pressure on. People are starting to feel the pain and call out for more taxes or different sorts of taxes, but that's not the answer."
Both Kenney and Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta pointed to last weekend's state Democratic convention as evidence that the state is headed toward an income tax. On Saturday, Democrats voted to support consideration of "all potential sources of revenue," but that amendment did mention an income or sales tax, and the group also rejected another amendment that called for creating a commission that would look into establishing a state income tax.
Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley noted that three years ago, the Republican-controlled Legislature rejected a spending cap measure that would have required the Legislature to pass any tax or tax increase by a two-thirds majority.
"Either this group has forgotten that members of their own party rejected this cheap political gimmick, or they have no real solutions to offer," Buckley said. "They need to be honest and upfront with the people and say exactly which direct services they wish to see cut."
In supporting the pledge, Guinta had harsh words for the Democratic-led Legislature.
"What we've seen in the last year and a half is nothing more than the fleecing of the taxpayers of New Hampshire," he said. "It's not right, we shouldn't stand for it and we are coalescing a group of individuals in this state who are going to stand up for those who believe in limited government, who believe in effective management of our resources, who believe in proper utilization of those resources and who believe in increasing government efficiency."
Asked to give examples of such fleecing, Guinta mentioned a bill to overhaul the state's retirement system. Kenney, who voted for that bill, added several examples of his own, including money to preserve land and historic places and a workers' compensation bill that he says cost businesses thousands before it was repealed this year.
Link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...OL-?SITE=NHNAS&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
