NH House Leaders Respond to Senate Vote Against Repealing Cap and Trade Program

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) offered the following statements after the State Senate failed to override Governor Lynch’s veto (15-9) on Senate Bill 154, which would remove New Hampshire from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap and trade program that encompasses 10 Northeast states.

 House Speaker William O’Brien

 “We’re obviously disappointed that New Hampshire ratepayers will continue to be stuck with higher electricity costs as a result of keeping this failed cap and trade program around.  At a time when we should be doing everything possible to make New Hampshire more competitive in order to create more good jobs here, getting out of this cap and trade scheme that increases costs on employers and our citizens should be a slam dunk.  We will be back next year to get rid of this job-killing income redistribution ploy once and for all.”

 House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

 “The evidence is mounting that RGGI is now a colossal failure for reducing carbon emissions and has been only a success in one area – creating a slush fund for green pork.  As someone who voted for the initial bill to create this program, I can now say that it was a huge mistake for New Hampshire to join this cap-and-tax scheme.  It’s a shame that Governor Lynch was more interested in protecting special interests than offering rate relief to our hard-working citizens, but House Republicans will make defeating cap-and-tax a top priority next session.”

NH House Republican Leaders Respond to Release of August State Revenue Figures

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) today offered statements in response to the release of the state’s revenue receipts for the month of August.  Figures released by the Department of Administrative Services show that, for the month, the state took in $9.6 million in more than plan, led by business taxes, which were 34% higher than plan.  For the year, the state is now $5.1 million ahead of revenue estimates.  The report also showed that tobacco sales reversed a 5-year trend of falling and have started to increase, after the state passed a tobacco tax reduction in the recent budget.  For the month, tobacco revenues were $1.8 million higher than the state plan.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“While it’s good news that August revenue figures are ahead of the budget plan, we are coming off July figures that fell short.  This validates the legislature’s decision to use responsible revenue estimates well below those proposed by the Governor and House Democrats.  With a national economy that the struggling, as evidenced by today’s national unemployment figures that show that no new jobs were created last month, we need to take a cautious view of the months to come.  We expect that there will continue to be good months and bad months coming.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“Last month, the Democrats screamed that our efforts to make New Hampshire’s cross boarder sales advantage even more competitive by lowering the tobacco tax would lead to the crashing of our tobacco revenue.  I hope they take a moment today to wipe the egg off their faces and realize that our state always benefits by having lower prices and by seizing on opportunities to further capitalize on the willingness of our high tax neighbors to give their citizens an incentive to shop in New Hampshire. While they are openly disdainful of the idea of the New Hampshire Advantage, because they want to turn the Granite State into ‘Massachusetts-North,’ thankfully Republicans know that having lower taxes gives us a huge advantage over our neighbors, and we are now seeing some results of that hard work.”

House Majority Leader Blasts Governor's Choice of Gas Tax and Toll Supporter to Head the Department of Transportation

CONCORD – House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) and Salem Selectman Stephen Campbell today blasted the decision by Governor Lynch to nominate a supporter of “any and all sources of revenue,” including tolls, as the next Commission of the Department of Transportation.  At last Thursday’s hearing for his nomination, Chris Clement indicated that he would wait for additional revenue – higher taxes, fees or tolls – to complete the expansion of Route I-93.

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“It’s clear that Governor Lynch is committed to increasing the cost to New Hampshire’s citizens to drive in their own state with his choice for DOT Commissioner.  Mr. Clement has indicated his willingness to "hold hostage" the I-93 expansion project until he can dig more deeply into the pockets of our taxpayers, and that’s an outrage.  The governor has always said he opposed a gas tax increase, so that’s clearly off the table.  The Republican legislature just repealed the massive car registration fee from the Democrats this year, so they have to know that’s a non-starter.  That leaves toll hikes as way to get more funding.  Mr. Clement  needs to receive the same lesson that his predecessor, George Campbell learned when he planned to put a toll on I-93 in Salem – that the communities of Southern New Hampshire will not tolerate a new tollbooth, and that Governor Lynch needs to be clear exactly what his nominee means when he claims to support ‘any and all sources of revenue’ need to be raised.”

Salem Selectman Stephen Campbell

“The idea that the I-93 project would be stopped as a way to leverage more money from taxpayers should offend everyone who uses the highway.  This is clearly the most important infrastructure project in New Hampshire and it is critical to both the residents and businesses of Salem.  There is no way we will stand for a tollbooth in our community, and the notion that the two should be linked is irresponsible.  Governor Lynch should reconsider this nominee and come back with someone who is more committed to meet the transportation needs of the state and not growing a bureaucracy with more taxpayer dollars.”

House Leaders Statement on Local Businesses Support for Tobacco Tax Reduction to Grow Economy, Jobs

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) today offered the following statements in response to a press conference held by the state’s grocers and convenience stores owners discussing how a reduction in the tobacco tax will result in increased economic growth.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“The House is absolutely committed to meaningful tax relief to let our employers grow and create new jobs.  With four tobacco tax increases in the past six years, our business owners told us that we were losing our competitive edge and it was hurting other sales, beyond just tobacco products, including and liquor and lottery sales, which cuts state revenue and means fewer jobs.  This tax cut is an important step to regain our advantage and bring business here to New Hampshire.  We strongly believe that reducing this tax will result in more revenue, more economic growth and more tax cuts.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“Coming from a border community, I hear firsthand from small business owners just how much the erosion of the price differential between New Hampshire and other states hurts our sales and our economy.  We want people to come to our state to do their shopping, which will result in more jobs and more growth.  The tax cut send a clear signal that Republicans are re-opening New Hampshire for business.  However, we aren’t done – we will continue to look for more opportunities to help our employers grow strong here.”

House Leaders Comment on Governor's Signing of First Cut in New Hampshire Taxes in Years

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) today offered the following statement in response in learning, according to a report in the New Hampshire Union Leader, that Governor Lynch had signed House Bill 229, repealing the state’s gambling winnings tax.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“After over 100 tax and fee increases that became law over the prior four years, this tax cut sends a clear message about the new direction we are taking in New Hampshire.  We are totally committed to protecting our low tax status and lifting the burden of government off the back of the working families of the state.  We are working to ensure that this is just the first tax cut of many for our citizens and employers, so that we can grow our economy and create good, new jobs.”

“I am baffled, though, why the governor would choose to sign this bill in secret.  The Lottery Commission has consistently told us that this tax was depressing cross-border sales with people unwilling to come here to buy tickets since the gambling winnings tax took effect in 2009.  One would think that Governor Lynch would want to promote this publicly in order to get the message out to folks in Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont that this tax has been repealed. The journey to fiscal responsibility now begins.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

 “This tax cut is merely a first installment in our plans for tax relief for New Hampshire citizens.  Help is on the way and we are going to get back to being a low tax, business friendly state.  We want people from across New England and the country to come here to visit, to shop and to bring their businesses.  We are just getting started.”

 “I also share the concern that we should be working harder to get word out about this tax cut.  Coming from Salem, I see firsthand the impact of out-of-staters coming here to buy lottery tickets.  I encourage Governor Lynch to travel around the border communities and get the word out about this pro-business tax cut.  I’d be happy to work with local merchants in my hometown to set up an event with the governor to let people know about this tax cut that the Republican legislature has delivered to the people.”