CONCORD, NH- House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman John Janigian (R-Salem) announced the public hearing on The New Hampshire Advantage Amendment to CACR 12. Members of the public are welcome to share their opinions on whether or not New Hampshire should ban income taxes in perpetuity.
Majority Leader Osborne:
“I would like to personally invite Minority Leader Alexis Simpson and Deputy Minority Leader Laura Telerski to join me in co-sponsoring the New Hampshire Advantage Amendment. Two weeks ago, both Democratic Leaders claimed they did not support an income tax. Despite this, they refused to vote against an income tax ban on the House Floor, claiming that the amendment did not receive a public hearing. We heard their concerns, and I am pleased to announce that on tax day, April 15th, the New Hampshire Advantage Amendment will have the hearing it deserves. I look forward to seeing our counterparts from across the aisle, and every-day Granite Staters, at the public hearing.
Chairman Janigian:
“Two weeks ago, several of my Democratic House colleagues, including some from my committee, joined income tax crusader and Governor Candidate Andru Volinsky on the steps of the State House to propose a billion-dollar income tax and a billion-dollar property tax hike. House Democrat leadership swiftly opposed the idea, yet they refused to vote against an income tax ban on the House Floor. When the New Hampshire Advantage Amendment goes to the House Floor, our Democratic colleagues will prove to Granite Staters whether or not they support an income tax. I invite any House Member and member of the public to join the Ways and Means committee for a public hearing on the New Hampshire Advantage Amendment on April 15th.”
Background:
The New Hampshire Advantage Amendment will place a question directly to the voters, asking voters directly if they want to impose a permanent ban on income taxes, codified in the New Hampshire Constitution.
If passed by the House and Senate, the question on the ballot shall be: Are you in favor of amending the second part of the constitution by inserting after article 18-a a new article to read as follows:
[Art.] 18-b. [Taxes Based on Personal Income Prohibited.] The house of representatives shall not adopt a tax on wages, earned income, personal income, or other income of individuals. This prohibition shall apply to any tax measured in whole or in part by personal income, regardless of its designation. Nothing in this article shall prohibit the taxation of businesses, corporations, or other non-individual entities as otherwise permitted under this constitution.”