Speaker Sherman Packard and House Majority Leader Jason Osborne made their case for a budget they described as the most conservative in 50 years, citing the phase-out of the interest and dividends tax, property tax relief and business tax cuts. NH Journal reports leadership worked to hold a slim majority against both Democratic opposition and reluctant Freedom Caucus members.
Speaker of the House Sherman Packard says it’s “the most conservative budget we’ve produced in the past 50 years.” Members of the libertarian-leaning House Freedom Caucus say it’s “D.O.A.” And if the House GOP leadership can’t hold enough votes in their slim 212-186 majority, a budget that cuts spending, cuts taxes, limits the governor’s emergency powers and bans late-term abortions could die at the hands of their own party.
NH Journal
In an interview with NH Journal, the leaders detailed the budget’s contents.
We’ve been talking for almost as long as I’ve been in the legislature about phasing out the interest and dividends income tax over a five-year period,” Packard said. “That is going to help a lot of people who are retired and living off [their savings] actually stay in the state of New Hampshire.”
NH Journal
Packard argued the plan reaches a broad range of residents, the outlet reports.
We’re giving help to just about every segment of society. We’re giving property tax reductions, helping people maintain their incomes and their way of life. I don’t remember the last time we had a budget that was so helpful to so many citizens.
NH Journal
Democrats lined up against the package, according to NH Journal.
Our House and Senate Republican colleagues came to an agreement on a budget that not only fails to meet the needs of the vast majority of hardworking Granite Staters but it is also being used as a vehicle for an extremist policy agenda that we should all find alarming,
NH Journal
Leadership made its case as it worked to secure the votes needed for passage in a closely divided chamber, NH Journal reports.
Packard and Osborne pointed to the phase-out of the interest and dividends tax and to property tax relief as central selling points. Democrats stood united in opposition, while some Freedom Caucus members remained skeptical, leaving little margin for defections.
The slim majority meant leadership had to manage both ends of its own caucus while fending off the Democratic minority.
The outlet quotes Democratic senators objecting to the tax cuts and the policy provisions attached to the budget, framing the package as an extension of priorities they opposed.
Leadership cast the package as the culmination of long-standing Republican goals.
Packard and Osborne pointed to the interest and dividends tax phase-out and property tax relief.
Democrats stood united in opposition while some Freedom Caucus members remained skeptical.
The slim majority left little margin for defections heading into the vote.
Leadership worked both ends of its own caucus while fending off the minority.
Democratic senators objected to the tax cuts and the policy provisions attached to the budget.
The leaders made their case in an interview ahead of the floor vote, NH Journal reports.
Leadership made its case in an interview ahead of the vote.
Read the full story at NH Journal.
