Stop the almost doubling of the New Hampshire gas tax!

[Keith and stuff]

Stop the almost doubling of the New Hampshire gas tax!
http://nhfreedom.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/stop-the-almost-doubling-of-the-new-hampshire-gas-tax/

The New Hampshire House voted 207 to 163 to almost double the New Hampshire gas tax. That’s a tax increase of around $1,000,000,000. Yes, Billion with a B. See the roll call. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bil...tion=&txtsessionyear=2013&txtbillnumber=hb617

HB617 now goes to the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee. The hearing is on Thursday, 3-14-2013 at 1:30PM in Representative’s Hall at the New Hampshire State House in Concord. Please show up at the Committee hearing and speak out against this horrendous idea. Please encourage the Committee to reject the almost doubling of the New Hampshire gas tax. This bill calls for increasing gas taxes 4 years in a row! It calls for increasing diesel taxes 6 years in a row! If you cannot testify before the Committee, please email the entire Committee and politely express your opposition to HB617 by sending an email to this address -> [email protected]

HB617 seeks to increase the price of every single good and service in New Hampshire. It will especially hurt the poor and middle class. Also, keep in mind that if HB617 becomes law, gas prices will be higher in New Hampshire than in all of the border states. That means that people that live in VT, ME or MA but work in NH may stop buying their gas in NH and start buying their gas in VT, ME or MA. It also means people that live in NH but work in VT, ME or MA may stop buying gas in NH and start buying their gas in VT, ME or MA. Many, many NH business will be greatly hurt by this tax increase. Many people will have their hours cut or even lose their job. This bill is bad for everyone in New Hampshire!

 

[Keith and stuff]

PDF flyer with info to contact Reps about HB617 http://nhfreedom.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/hb617-notice2.pdf

 

[dannno]

Show them who's boss.

 

[ItsTime]

My rep voted for this and to repeal the scholarships for underprivileged children... Democrats have waged war on the poor.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Imo this is a runaround way and almost better for progressives than pushing an income or sales tax. Raise buco bucks for the state and pretty much no one can avoid it, unlike an income tax. Plus, it's a perfect way to stick it to the FSP and make NH look less appealing. That's the unfortunate aspect of such a state that shifts so massively based on the national political mood and why FSP/NH people need to be a little less NH-centric in terms of activism. There's this attitude that if we just forget the outside world and focus on our state house only that things will be perfect. The broad picture can't be denied and I presume more of this ilk are learning this lesson. That said, Godspeed on stopping this disaster.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Imo this is a runaround way and almost better for progressives than pushing an income or sales tax. Raise buco bucks for the state and pretty much no one can avoid it, unlike an income tax. Plus, it's a perfect way to stick it to the FSP and make NH look less appealing.

They aren't trying to stick it to the FSP or make NH look less appealing. They are trying to fund basic services and help support their union friends. They even created a bogus study that showed the average family loses $300 a year because of bad roads in NH (even though they are better than most states) because of extra repairs. So according to that bogus study, if this fixed all of the roads in NH (which it wouldn't do) than it would save the people of NH money.

You act like this is a Democratic or NH issue. The Republican governor of VA just got a huge tax increase signed. Republican governors in NC and MI are pushing for massive tax increase. Even the GOP governor of ME is trying to push through a measure that will increase taxes. Democrats in MA, VT and CA are pushing for tax increases. The WA Supreme Court just stopped the 1 thing that was preventing massive tax increases in WA. The GOP governor of LA is pushing to create a 13% sales tax down there. People all over the country are talking about tax increases, though I think only the Republicans in VA have managed to do it yet.

Democrats in CO, NY NJ and IL are trying to make gun laws worse. Likely in other states, too. They got the gun laws passed in NY with lots of GOP help. In NH, there is a bill to make gun laws worse (it just repeals something that was just passed in 2011) that might go somewhere (the President of the NH Senate promised to fight it) but there is an even better chance that another gun law, which reduces restrictions, might pass.

NH passed substantially more pro-liberty bills than other states last session. Yes, some bad bills might pass this session. But some good bills will also pass. Wait until next session though, watch a bunch more good bills pass. It takes time. There will be ups and downs. This isn't utopia. We only have 1,100 movers so far, not the 20,000 we are shooting for. We still need to reach the 20,000 signups to trigger the move.

That's the unfortunate aspect of such a state that shifts so massively based on the national political mood and why FSP/NH people need to be a little less NH-centric in terms of activism.

Hardly. What you should notice is that how much less the state shifted left with the 2012 national election compared to the 2006/2008 push against Bush's horrible policies. Plus, instead of 1 FSPer Democrat then, there are 3 now.

There's this attitude that if we just forget the outside world and focus on our state house only that things will be perfect. The broad picture can't be denied and I presume more of this ilk are learning this lesson. That said, Godspeed on stopping this disaster.

There is so much nonsense in the words you type. Maybe us liberty activists should punish you by stopping all liberty activism in NH and just focus on recruiting to the 20,000 number? Maybe we should all resign our NHGOP leadership positions and join the LP? That way, things will get worse in NH but you will be forced to come that much quicker and show us how it is done LOL.

Anyway, if you know anyone in NH, please have them email the Committee and/or show up at the hearing and testify. Some people predict that we will be working against a possible gas tax increase in 1 form or another all of the way to the June budget is signed.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Hardly. What you should notice is that how much less the state shifted left with the 2012 national election compared to the 2006/2008 push against Bush's horrible policies. Plus, instead of 1 FSPer Democrat then, there are 3 now.

I don't base it upon how many FSPers are elected, tho there are less now then last term. I base it on the number of NHLA endorsees there are in there and it's far less then last term. I'll grant you the swing wasn't as bad as the years you mention but it sucks seeing so many libtards smoke out good libertarian-republicans.

There is so much nonsense in the words you type. Maybe us liberty activists should punish you by stopping all liberty activism in NH and just focus on recruiting to the 20,000 number? Maybe we should all resign our NHGOP leadership positions and join the LP? That way, things will get worse in NH but you will be forced to come that much quicker and show us how it is done LOL.

My point was and I've seen it first hand on many occasions, had it on my mind when I lived there and hear it quite often on FTL and you'd be being disingenuous if you don't admit that NH-centrism exists w/i the FSP culture. I respect the attention that's paid to the liberty prez candidate but the prevalent attitude of putting minimal effort into federal candidate races rubs off on the impression people make for themselves in the broader liberty movement about the FSP/NH. I'm merely pointing that out to potentially improve the recruitment effort. I have nothing but respect for those that actually are involved in restoring the GOP there as party officers or doing activism in general. Heck, I'm one of the biggest mouth pieces around here spouting that effort and I have very little care for the LP in general. And please, spare me the "show us how it's done" routine, it ain't my first time to the rodeo. Say what you will, but I've promoted and supported FTL/FSP for a long time and I'd wish nothing less than to see NH turn into paradise. Tho, I'm not above calling out my peeves on certain things.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Thank you for everyone that attended the hearing or emailed/called the Reps on the Committee.

The Committee hearing lasted for close to 4 hours. First legislators testified, followed by lobbyists, followed by the Navy (there is a Naval base in Maine), business owners and regular folks. The prime sponsor of the bill proposed an amendment to use all the money that would be raised by the gas tax increase to actually fix the roads and bridges. A person on the Committee estimated that might mean that if the gas tax was raised by 12 cents instead of the proposed 15 cents, the same amount of money would go to fixing roads and bridges. Unfortunately, some Republicans argued that they could support a smaller tax increase. Bother 3 cents and 7 cents were through out as increases that Republicans might be able to support.

The bridge builders and road builders sent people to testify that giving them more tax money was a good idea. An area grocery store, Market Basket, testified in favor of the bill (it is a low priced store so maybe it thought that less people would be able to afford to shop at nicer grocery stores and this would increase its business) while a grocery association testified against the bill.

If you live in NH and still haven't sent the Committee an email, read the OP http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...-almost-doubling-of-the-New-Hampshire-gas-tax! and see the info with the Committee name, email address and other info. The Committee doesn't vote on the bill until Tuesday so you still have time to email the Committee.

The good news, 1 of the most powerful Republicans in the Senate (and presumably all or most of the other Republicans) and several Democrats in swing districts have come out against the bill. In fact, more Senate Democrats have come out against the bill then in favor of it. If the bill isn't amended to reduce the amount of the tax increase, NH Rep. Steve Vaillancourt wrote, "That means the Senate vote could be as much as 21-3 against it!" Also, the NH chapter of Americans for Prosperity is making this it's top issue at the moment. That should make Republican in the Senate even more likely to oppose the bill.

An interesting development is that the NH Senate just voted overwhelmingly to pass SB3, which eliminates a toll booth in NH. The Senate claimed that there was so much money in the toll system that the booth wasn't even needed.

Keep in mind there is bad news in other states. Legislators that support increasing the gas tax in NH cite this news as a positive development during committee hearings in NH. The Republican governor of VA was able to ran his transportation funding overall tax increase through in VA, despite the C4L efforts to stop it. The gas tax increase automatically every year in CA. Unfortunately, the increase was larger than usual this year, at 3.5 cents. The Republican in WY, with the support of a taxpayer group, passed a 10 cents gas tax increase there.

 

[Keith and stuff]

There is the full blog post by NH Rep. Steve Vaillancourt.

Democratic Senators Will Resist Gas Tax Hike
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 01:22PM
http://www.nhinsider.com/rep-steve-...cratic-senators-will-resist-gas-tax-hike.html

UPDATE--The gas tax hearing is underway. I've now heard that only three of 11 Democratic senators strongly support it...in fact, Senators Pierce and Watters (both from safe Democratic districts) have signed in supporting it. That means the Senate vote could be as much as 21-3 against it!

Even on the House Ways and Means Committee spends the afternoon taking testimony on the House-passed plan from Rep. David Campbell (D-Nashua) to raise the gasoline tax by 83 percent, this blog has learned that any gas increase will be dead on arrival in the Senate but not just due to Republicans who control the Senate 13-11.

At least five Democratic Senators, all from swing districts in which neither party has a lock on power, have either privately or publicly announced their opposition to the overreaching Campbell scheme.

Among the five are both Nashua Democrats, Manchester Senator Donna Soucy (my senator), and District 1 (North Country) Senator Jeff Woodburn. My sources didn't reveal the fifth senator but it's logical to assume it's Manchester's other Democrat, Lou D'Allesandro, especially because many view his gambling bill as an alternate to the gas tax.

Of the five, Woodburn and Peg Gilmour would appear to be especially vulnerable should a gas tax of such magnitude pass, Woodburn because people in his district must travel greater distances to get where they need to go, Gilmour because her Nashua district extends all the way out to highly Republican New Ipswich.

It doesn't take a mathematical genius to figure out that with 13 Republican votes against the gas hike, the five Democrats would make an 18-6 Senate tally against the scheme.

It's true; certain Democrats like Pierce, Kelly, Clark, and Larsen could take the hit, but that's not enough to get the bill passed.

Now it remains to be seen just how willing House Democratic leadership is to put their members in double jeopardy--all but ten of them are already in jeopardy for their initial vote--by having to vote for whatever will come back from Ways and Means.

One can only suspect that Party Chair Ray (Put the Cat in the Basement) Buckley would tell his party to cut its losses and not support the Campbell plan...but then I don't speak for any Democratic leadership (although I did see them all on gambling lobbyist Jim Demers CHAD St. Patty's event moments ago...the corn beef was much more tender this year than last year...the jokes were disposed of this year).

The gas tax is no joking matter, especially for vulnerable Democrats.

 

[Anti Federalist]

All my reps are opposed.

I suppose that dizzy broad will sign this if it passes.

That didn't take long...fucking Massholes.

 

[Keith and stuff]

The Committee voted today to amend the bill from a 15 cent increase down to a 12 cent increase. I thought that might happen. That would make NH gas taxes over a 4 to 6 year period slightly less than gas taxes are right now in ME. ME would likely increase gas taxes by then (in fact, Republican Gov. LePage is pushing for increases in taxes right now...)

So I guess that is a partial victory, so far. The Senate will reject the bill but it might agree to a 2-8 cent gas tax increase over 2-6 years or something similar, especially if the House fails to pass the Senate's slot machine bill. We shall see. Of course, people aren't taking this sitting down. Lots of effort has been used to stop this and the effort will continue!

 

[Keith and stuff]

Here is an article about the hearing.

House Democrats Asleep at the Wheel During Gas Tax Hearings
http://www.newhampshirevalues.org/house-democrats-asleep-at-the-wheel-during-gas-tax-hearings/

Despite vocal public objection to the House Democrats’ plan to increase gas taxes and siphon off the money for other pet projects, House Democrats steamed ahead with raising the New Hampshire gas tax. But some of those Democratic legislators are asleep behind the wheel.

During a recent Ways and Means Committee hearing, a few state representatives simply dozed off while listening to citizen’s objections to the gas tax.

Many people caught Rep. David Karrick (D-Warner) catching a light snooze during the hearing.

But several people didn’t notice that Rep. Susan Almy (D-Lebanon)–the chair of the committee–was sleeping on the job too.

The “gas tax gouging”, which would raise gas and diesel taxes on New Hampshire drivers by over 80%, is the product of Rep. David Campbell (D-Nashua). Campbell publicly stated that all gas tax monies would be used to fix roads.

But in uncovered secret email to his Democratic colleagues, the public learned that Rep. Campbell was actually proposing to gouge drivers with higher gas taxes while siphoning off “bonus monies” for pet projects with a little-known tax loophole. Campbell expected his tax to raise over $800 million, telling his colleagues not to “spend it all in one place.” New Hampshire’s state constitution prohibits spending any gas tax money on non-highway projects.

The tax increase is particularly bad for every-day New Hampshire citizens when the economy is still in a recession. Rising gas taxes increase the prices for goods and services in New Hampshire because most activities–groceries, shipping, services, employees driving to work–uses gasoline and diesel fuels.

At least one corporation, the family-owned Massachusetts business that owns the Market Basket chain of grocery stores, sent lobbyists to the sleepy legislative committee to encourage higher taxes on New Hampshire drivers. Market Basket (and other heavy shippers) uses a disproportionate amount of the New Hampshire public roads without paying their fair share. At least one Republican legislator commented that Market Basket was only there to show support for increasing the Highway Department’s budget because Market Basket wants better highway access to its store in Derry.

The gas tax bill will move on to the New Hampshire Senate.

However, several Republican senators have indicated that Campbell’s gas tax gouging is dead on arrival. Sen. Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith) says that constituents in the 27 towns she represents say, “no”, to a gas tax increase. “And they said no because they don’t believe that the money raised through the gas tax would go to help the community.”

 

[mattgeb84]

aboid the gas tax

Is there any way we can avoid the gas tax altogether by buying gasoline online perhaps

 

[Keith and stuff]

Bad news. The MD House passed a gas tax increase that woul increase taxes forever because after a few years, it would be tired to inflation.

That wholesale tax would increase to 2 percent in 2015, and to 3 percent in 2015, meaning motorists would pay 12 cents more per gallon over today's prices.

The legislation also relies on money from Congress passing a proposal to require Internet retailers collect state sales tax. If Congress fails to pass that, Maryland's wholesale gas tax would increase to 4 percent on Jan. 1, 2016, and 5 percent on July 1, 2016. That means motorists would pay 19 cents more per gallon at the pump over today's prices.

The bill also would index the state's flat 23.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax to inflation.

The package is expected to raise more than $4 billion for transportation projects by 2019. That money is badly needed for projects like the Purple and Red light rail lines in Washington and Baltimore, respectively, and the Corridor Cities Transitway rapid bus system along Interstate 270.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/miller-maryland-gas-tax-could-pass-this-week/article/2525545

Additionally, the proposed gas tax was decreased from 15 cents over 4 years to 12 cents over 3 years. Then, the NH Housed passed it. So in both MD and NH, the bills are on to the Senate.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Is there any way we can avoid the gas tax altogether by buying gasoline online perhaps

Yes. In NH, government vehicles don't pay state gas tax.
Electric vehicles such as bikes, scooters and cars don't pay it.
Off road vehicles such as 4 wheelers and snowmobiles don't pay it.
Boats also don't pay it in NH.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Update on MD. Bad new!

The MD news is horrible. It's even worse than the VA news or the 10 cent increase in WY. "In Maryland, gas taxes are expected to rise by about 4 cents a gallon starting in July. By mid-2016, legislative analysts estimate the tax will rise by 13 to 20 cents per gallon." And then it is supposed to increase every year in the future in MD, just like it does in CA. http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...5a9f5c-a38f-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html

I got an email about this with an update on New Hampshire.

Dear Keith,
We need your help today to stop the proposed gasoline and diesel tax in New Hampshire!

I know we are all busy and pressed for time but this may be our last chance.

If you haven’t already done so, please go to http://www.stopnhgastax.com and sign the petition opposing this tax increase that will be devastating to our taxpayers and businesses. Pass the link on to your friends, family and neighbors and inform them that this is a tax increase that will impact all of us in a negative way.

Tomorrow, May 7 at 10:00am in SH room # 103 the Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the proposed 67% tax hike on gasoline and diesel at the State House in Concord.

If passed, this will affect you in two ways.

First, it will increase the price you pay every time you stop to fill up your tank.

But secondly, and too often over-looked, it will increase the price you pay for many goods you purchase that are transported with diesel trucks.
Remember everything we consume moves on diesel, sometimes as many as five times during processing before we purchase the item. In simple terms, this means that not only will it cost you more to fill up your tank and drive to the store, but when you get there everything you need to purchase will be more expensive as well. This is not the time to be raising gasoline and diesel tax or any other tax on our citizens.

If you agree, I hope you will plan to attend tomorrow’s important hearing at 10:00am in Concord at the State House on the first floor in room #103.

Please join me and other concerned citizens at the hearing tomorrow at 10:00am to oppose this increase in the gasoline and diesel tax.



I truly believe if we take the time to turn out to this important hearing we can defeat this 67% tax increase. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Tom Thomson
Honorary Chairman
Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire

 

[Keith and stuff]

The NH Senate Committee voted the right way on this today. Next week it goes before the full Senate for a vote. Please contact your senator this week. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/Senate/members/wml.aspx

From AFP-NH

Applauds Senate Committee Vote to Block Massive Gasoline and Diesel Tax Hike

May 14, 2013

MANCHESTER – Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire (AFP-NH) is applauding the Senate Ways and Means Committee vote today to re-refer HB 617. The bill, as passed by the House, would have increased the state gasoline and diesel tax 67%.

“We applaud the members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee who voted today to put the needs of New Hampshire working families and businesses ahead of the wants of state government by voting to re-refer this bill which would have constituted the largest tax increase in state history,” said Greg Moore, AFP-NH State Director. “The demands and burdens on our families and businesses should not increase just so we can grow state government. We praise the Senate Committee for putting a stop to HB 617 and hope the full Senate will follow suit when the bill comes before them for a vote.”

HB 617 will next be voted on by the Senate. The gasoline and diesel tax increase contained within HB 617 was also included in the House passed budget.

 

[BAllen]

State by state taxes:

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/web_gas_taxes.php

 

[Keith and stuff]

State by state taxes:

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/web_gas_taxes.php

That was before the bad stuff passed in VA, MD and WY And of course, the increase in CA, as that's yearly and automatic.

 

[Keith and stuff]

More good news. The Republican on the NH Senate Finance Committee voted to remove the gas tax increase from the NH Senate budget. It is still in the NH House budget so this issue isn't resolved.

Americans for Prosperity Applauds Senate Finance Committee for Rejecting House’s Gasoline and Diesel Tax Hike
May 21, 2013
http://americansforprosperity.org/n...ejecting-houses-gasoline-and-diesel-tax-hike/

MANCHESTER – Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire (AFP-NH) is applauding a vote today by the Senate Finance Committee to remove the House-passed gasoline and diesel tax hike from the proposed budget.

“New Hampshire families and businesses should not have to pay more every time they fill up their tank so that state government can grow,” said Greg Moore, AFP-NH State Director. “The Senate Finance Committee deserves credit for putting working families and business owners first by removing this gasoline and diesel tax hike.”

The House passed the 12 cents per gallon gasoline and diesel tax increase earlier in the year. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Morse declared it would be “dead on arrival.” The Senate Finance Committee voted today 4 to 2 to remove the House-supported 12 cents per gallon gasoline and diesel tax increase from the budget.

“We appreciate Senator Morse honoring his commitment to remove this burdensome and unnecessary tax from being placed upon our families and businesses,” added Moore. “As we work to get our economy back on track again, the last thing we need to be doing is hitting people with higher taxes at the pump.”