CONCORD – Today House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) and House Republican Policy Leader Laurie Sanborn (R-Bedford) offered the following comments on the passage of HB617, a bill that would raise the gas tax by 12 cents. The bill passed by a vote of 206-158.
House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett)
“Before we start imposing huge tax increases we need to make sure we are complying with all current state laws and constitutional provisions to assure that the current and future gas tax revenues go towards roads and bridges. Without this fix, we are just growing government on the backs of the highway fund users.”
“Taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of the pockets of New Hampshire consumers during these tough economic times is not the appropriate solution to fixing our roads and bridges. Quite simply, this is the wrong bill at the wrong time.”
House Republican Policy Leader Laurie Sanborn (R-Bedford)
“This is yet another tax increase on the backs of those who can least afford it. We are very concerned about the impact of a gas tax increase on the working families and small businesses in our state during these tough economic times. Now is not the time to be discouraging economic growth. We need to focus on getting the 40,000 people in New Hampshire who are looking for work back to work. Further burdening our business community and forcing our consumers to pay more at the pump is a step in the wrong direction.”