House backs $200M in higher taxes

On the Union Leader's online page, Tom Fahey summarizes some of the new taxes approved by the New Hampshire House this afternoon:

The tax changes are expected to raise $202.5 million over the next two years to support government operations. The gas tax increase should bring in another $125 million, with $37 million of it headed to cities and towns for upkeep of local roads.

Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, chair of the House Finance committee, said the tax package does not include a broad-based tax, such as sales or income tax.

“It is the best mix we could come up with of revenues that will not bring harm to our economy or our neighbors,” Smith said.

Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare, criticized the tax plan and the budget. “We have adopted a budget that spends more than we can afford within our existing tax structure, and the response has been to raise taxes to pay for higher spending,” he said.

Democrats argued that in a deep recession in 1990, Republicans raised and created a series of taxes.

”What we have all day long … is ‘Do as I say, not as I did’,” majority floor leader Rep. Daniel Eaton, D-Stoddard, said, prompting a few boos.

Republicans tried to kill each of the tax measures, but were beaten back each time by the Democratic majority.