Having weighed in for a meaningful committee assignment, my first choice came through, which is Ways and Means. What that means is the way the State raises revenue, otherwise called taxes and fees.
Remember the Beatles song "Taxman"? It comments on the tax situation in Britain in the 1960's with lyrics such as "One for you, nineteen for me" and "Does 5% appear to small? Be thankful I don't take it all". They were not referring to a 5% tax, but a 95% top tax rate. We need to go the other way, cutting taxes.
So New Hampshire needs to get our fiscal act together, and the first House bill, HB-1 will be on the source of revenue for the 2011-13 Fiscal year. The second House bill, HB-2, will be on how that revenue will be spent. Ways and Means will do the leg work on HB-1, Finance will recommend the spending priorities for HB-2. The full House will decide.
I've pledged to vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes. In fact, I want to roll back some of the more outrageous taxes and fees that occurred during the last few years. It's going to be tough. I've been receiving invitations to meet with organizations that will not want their budgets cut. However, the NH budget has increased 24% during the last four years, a time when most other states have cut spending. Just like our hardworking taxpayers during these tough times, the State will have to cut back as well.
Stay tuned...
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