A House panel again advanced the anti-income tax constitutional amendment brought by House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn), the New Hampshire Union Leader reported. The committee’s vote kept the proposal moving toward a possible spot on the November ballot. Supporters argued the long-running consensus against an income tax in New Hampshire is reason enough to let voters decide, the outlet noted.
The committee’s action kept alive one of the session’s signature Republican proposals, advancing it past a key checkpoint on the way to the ballot. As the New Hampshire Union Leader reported, the amendment would let voters decide directly whether to write a permanent ban on a state income tax into the New Hampshire Constitution.
As the New Hampshire Union Leader reported, the committee acted on Osborne’s CACR 12 by a narrow margin after extended debate.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted, 11-9, in support of the anti-income tax amendment (CACR 12) brought forward by House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
Supporters argued that the question belongs before voters, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader, framing it as a straightforward choice given the state’s history.
“For us in New Hampshire who have not had an income tax in all this time, why is there even a debate? Let the voters decide,” Janigian said.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
Other backers said the debate over whether to even consider the amendment was itself overdue, pressing the case for moving it forward.
“The idea we shouldn’t be looking at this is absolutely insane,” Berry said.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
As the New Hampshire Union Leader reported, the committee vote split along party lines, with all Republican members supporting the amendment and all House Democrats opposed. The outlet noted that the House had already rejected a similar provision in a separate amendment bill, CACR 10, and that an earlier vote of 194-158 had fallen short of the 60 percent majority required to send a constitutional amendment to the voters.
The full report from the New Hampshire Union Leader details the committee’s vote, the arguments on both sides, and what the amendment would need to reach the ballot and become part of the state Constitution.
For supporters, advancing the amendment again kept a long-sought goal within reach despite the steep threshold required to amend the Constitution. The committee’s vote, as the New Hampshire Union Leader reported, ensured the proposal would continue to move forward, setting up further debate over whether to put the question before voters.
The proposal must still clear additional steps before it can reach the ballot, and the New Hampshire Union Leader reported that supporters and opponents alike expect the fight to continue. Backers argued the state’s long history without an income tax makes the question an easy one to put to voters, while opponents countered that the amendment’s language was too broad and that the Legislature already holds the authority it needs.
Another supporter argued the question of whether to allow an income tax should not be left to a future budget crisis.
“Maybe we will have an income tax someday. If that were to happen, how would I want that to happen? I would not want it to happen by a panicked Legislature trying to work out a difficult budget problem,” Smith said.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
Read the full story at the New Hampshire Union Leader.
