In the Concord Monitor, Lauren Dorgan reports that the House Democratic budget has something for everyone...to hate:
Liberal critics said that budget writers cut too much from the needy and from state employees and should have turned to income taxes or taxes on the rich to fund state operations fairly. Conservatives contended that the taxes contained in the budget were excessive and that one of the taxes - a 5 percent levy on capital gains - is an income tax. Others balked at cuts to local aid, which they said would drive up property tax bills.
For their part, House Republicans unveiled a budget plan of their own that they heralded as "truly balanced," which they said would increase no taxes and maintain $123 million worth of aid to cities and towns not included in the Democratic budget, $83 million of which is school building aid. There was just one catch: Republicans called for more than $300 million worth of cuts to the budget without specifying what should go, instead calling on the leaders of most state agencies to figure out how to institute 13.5 percent across-the-board spending reductions.
In the Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan writes that the Finance Committee's plan was attacked from the right and the left:
"We are living in a recession, and in a time of recession, it is bad public policy to raise taxes," said Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare.
The House budget would impose a new 5 percent tax on capital gains of more than $5,000 a year, an 8 percent tax on estates worth more than $2 million and a 10 percent tax on gambling winnings greater than $600 at one time.
The House budget also would raise existing taxes on gasoline, cigarettes, hotel room rentals and restaurant meals and suspend for two years a planned cut in the insurance tax.
In state spending, the proposal of House budget writers would raise spending 3 percent over the next two years. The House GOP alternative would cut state spending 2 percent.
In the Union Leader, Tom Fahey says Democrats attempt to share the pain, while the GOP has picked a budget battle:
Democrats admit there's a lot to dislike in the $11.5 billion budget they want the House to pass this week, but they say it's better than the Republican alternative.
The GOP, however, says Democrats have balanced their two-year budget plan with a critical misstep of raising taxes during a recession, and by holding money back from communities.
The two sides exchanged criticisms yesterday, as Democrats outlined their version to more than 100 lawmakers at a budget information session. Republicans declined the chance to make their case at the session, and held a news conference afterward.
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