It is disappointing that our opponents have decided to spread misinformation concerning bills that came before the Legislature last session. You deserve the truth.
No, Democrats didn’t vote for an Income Tax
SB1 and HB712: Our opponents claim these bills establish a state income tax. False. These bills sought to establish a system of paid family and medical leave insurance. It is not a tax of any kind but an insurance policy. The program would have allowed up to 12 weeks off to care for a sick family member or themselves following the birth or adoption of a child. According to a UNH survey, 78% of Granite Staters support paid family leave.
No, Democrats did not create a Deficit
HB 1: Our opponents claim this bill created a deficit. False. HB1 is the entire budget which passed the house and the senate and was vetoed first and then signed at the last moment by the governor. A compromise budget – HB3 was passed by both the House & Senate and signed by the governor. As required by statute, it is always a balanced budget. Whatever the deficit may be, which is unknowable at this stage, is due to loss of revenue due to COVID. After the budget is passed, it is the governor’s responsibility to enact the budget and make cuts if necessary due to reduced revenues.
Really! This is not an Income Tax either
HB2: Our opponents claim this bill created an income tax. False. This bill is the narrative that accompanies HB1 and explains all the various programs relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures. If you search through the 182 pages of this bill, you will not find the words “income tax” or “sales tax.” You will find that the budget provides revenue sharing to communities designed to lower property taxes.
No, this is false too
HB623: Our opponents claim this bill raised the business tax rates. False. This bill defined the rates of the business profits tax and business enterprise tax. This bill was incorporated into the full budget, which the governor approved and signed. The rates have remained the same.
Returning local control
HB641: This bill, from 2019 (pre-COVID) was enabling legislation which would have allowed municipalities, if they chose, to add $1.00 to the rooms and meals tax. That money would stay in that community to offset the increased costs of law enforcement, emergency medical aid, and other services incurred due to heavy tourism. The bill died in the senate.
And if you really want to find ways to lower taxes
HB186: Our opponents are correct that this is a bill to raise the minimum wage, which would happen over 3 years and is in interim study. The current minimum wage is the federal wage of $7.25. Raising the minimum wage puts more money back into the economy and leads to greater retention of employees and less absenteeism. The claim that raising the minimum wage would result in job loss is unfounded according to numerous research studies. According to a WMUR/UNH Granite State poll, 76% of NH residents support raising the minimum wage. The same poll shows that 91% of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 64% of Republicans also support raising the minimum wage.
Please feel free to ask me about any other bill that you don’t understand, and please, when someone defines their opponent to be such awful Legislators, trying to hurt the state – you have to know there is someting wrong in their their depiction.
