Granite State Taxpayers (GST) joined with former Speaker William O’Brien and Americans for Prosperity on March 5, 2013 to hold a press conference in Concord to oppose HB617, which would raise the state gasoline tax by a total of $.18 per gallon.
GST Vice-Chairman Ray F. Chadwick stated that in both New Hampshire and nationally, certain politicians are committed to raising taxes so as to expand government and protect it from having to make the difficult choices that they expect citizens to make in prioritizing the spending of their remaining funds after the tax increases. “Our citizens are dealing with record high gasoline prices. How can anyone believe that this is a time to reduce the disposable income of New Hampshire families by raising the price of gasoline by additional taxes?” said Chadwick.
Former Speaker O’Brien stated: “Many of us are looking for an alternative that will address the requirement that we maintain our highways and bridges while avoiding what apparently would be the biggest tax increase in New Hampshire history. One alternative – perhaps the only alternative – is that we stop raiding the highway fund for spending not directly related to road construction and repairs.” O’Brien and others drafted a floor amendment to HB 617 to require that all highway fund appropriations after the local highway block grant aid will be given to the Department of Transportation for highway construction and repairs.
Granite State Taxpayers supported the amendment proposed by O’Brien.
The Nashua Telegraph article on the press conference can be found by clicking HERE.
Granite State Taxpayers is New Hampshire’s oldest statewide taxpayer association. Founded in 1990 by former Governor Mel Thomson and former State Senator George Lovejoy, our mission is to inform, educate and motivate New Hampshire taxpayers and to lobby the legislature on their behalf.