New Hampshire Governor Denies Examining a Sales or Income Tax

 New Hampshire faces a huge budget deficit this year and and even larger one next year under Governor Lynch’s fiscally irresponsible budget passed last year. When asked recently if he would look at tax increases or new taxes to fix the budget deficit he created he responded, “Well, I’m going to be looking at everything.” Needless to say, this is very worrisome and he needed to clarify his statement as word circulated that Lynch was preparing to look at the possibility of a sales or income tax.

“I’ve said I’ll veto a sales or income tax, and I’ll say it again. It’s very definitive,” Governor Lynch assured New Hampshire voters. And that is a good start, however he still has not ruled out raising all of the other taxes and fees that he raised just last year. As New Hampshire Advantage Coalition’s statement below says, it is time to cut spending not raise taxes.

“People all over this state have to make tough financial decisions due to the rising cost of living and an uncertain economic outlook. It is about time Gov. Lynch and the leaders in our Legislature realize this and pull back the reins of their out-of-control spending,”

 Governor Lynch has done what many Democrats have done over the last several years, he blamed the president instead of looking in the mirror and realizing that he was wrong. He blames President Bush’s policies for the downturn in the economy, and the downturn on the economy for New Hampshire’s budget problem. The truth is that Governor Lynch told the legislature that he opposed a sales or income tax but he didn’t tell them he opposed any additional taxes. This gave the legislature free reign to spend, spend, spend. And spend they did. The estimated revenues received by these new taxes was ballooned to make the spending look legitimate.

 However Governor Lynch was warned from the very beginning by Republicans that the revenue estimates could never be gained, but he ignored the warnings. Now that the warnings have become reality Governor Lynch blames the national economy.

 An under reported truth in this whole story is that New Hampshire revenues are up this year, they are not down as is being suggested. They just aren’t up enough to support Lynch’s irresponsible spending. If Governor Lynch had only been responsible New Hampshire would not be in this situation.

“We’re $43 million ahead of what we took in last year at this point. We just pumped up our estimates as an excuse to spend more,” Senate Minority Leader Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester, said. “If we had reduced revenues to a realistic level, we wouldn’t be in this position.”

 The way for Governor Lynch to solve this problem is to cut some of the spending in his budget. The budget contained a spending increase of 17.5%. Start there, governor. New Hampshire residents don’t need to pay even more, you need to spend less.

 It is time to do the right thing for New Hampshire residents, Governor Lynch. Admit you screwed up and fix the problem. You knew New Hampshire could not support your spending proposal but you passed it anyway. New Hampshire never was going to reach the revenues you said it would even without the down turn in the economy.

 You were warned and you didn’t listen. Will you listen now?