The New Hampshire Union Leader published the following commentary by Granite State Taxpayers Chairman Jim Adams on October 28, 2016
Another View — Jim Adams: NH taxpayers would get some help with Ayotte and Sununu
GRANITE STATE TAXPAYERS (GST) is one of the oldest taxpayer organizations in the state, working every day to enlighten and educate New Hampshire taxpayers as to the effect that low spending, which equates to low taxes, will have on their day-to-day lives.
We rate the candidates, those willing to increase the tax burden on the already beleaguered taxpayers and those who believe in low spending and low taxes. You can find the ratings of the candidates for the New Hampshire House and State Senate who responded to the GST survey at our website www.granitestatetaxpayers. org.
The races for U.S. Senate and New Hampshire governor are so important in this election year that GST has chosen to point out the stark differences between these candidates relative to spending and taxes.
Gov. Maggie Hassan has a long record of spending and increasing taxes for the taxpayers of New Hampshire.
As a state senator, she was instrumental in increasing taxes and fees by a whopping 35 percent when the Democrats controlled the State House.
As governor, Hassan submitted a budget for the present biennium that would have added $100 million in spending. Most of that new spending was not in the final budget, which she subsequently vetoed.
Three months later, with no substantial changes, Democrats joined Republicans in overriding her veto.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, on the other hand, has worked every day to address the $19 trillion national debt while not losing sight of the importance of our national security and the need to grow our economy without raising taxes.
Ayotte has also never lost sight of this nation’s responsibility to help those most in need in our society.
She has and continues to work across the aisle to address the critical issues facing our nation. She and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen have worked tirelessly to improve health care for our veterans.
Do we need a free spender like Hassan; or Ayotte, who will work hard every day for a balanced budget?
We in New Hampshire have never seen a more day-night difference in the choice for governor. They are totally opposite from one another.
Colin Van Ostern believes in Obamacare and wants to make Medicaid expansion permanent, costing New Hampshire taxpayers millions. He wants rail service from Concord to Boston, once again costing the taxpayers millions. Van Ostern says that he is against any new broadbased tax but has no new revenue source to fund his above-mentioned wish list.
Chris Sununu is against making Medicaid expansion permanent. He believes the people should be able to pick the coverage they want by allowing interstate insurance competition without federal interference.
He believes New Hampshire should continue to lower the business tax and reduce the number of burdensome unnecessary regulations businesses must contend with. That would bring more and new businesses to New Hampshire, so not as many of our citizens would have to drive south every day.
Sununu realizes, by finding ways to lower energy costs, we can grow the state’s economy. He will keep spending under control and will make New Hampshire the business-friendly place it once was.
Once again, the options for taxpayers are clear: candidates with good intentions but no idea how to fund them or two proven conservatives, Ayotte and Sununu, with proven track records of low spending, which means low taxes.
GST recommends Sen. Ayotte and Executive Councilor Sununu, who will keep spending in check, never forgetting those most vulnerable in our society while at the same time realizing that government cannot grow faster than the people’s ability to pay for it.
Jim Adams is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Granite State Taxpayers
The New Hampshire Union Leader Opinion article by Adams can be viewed by clicking here.