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Why this guy continues to fool the voters as he does is beyond me. As reported in all of the state’s major media outlets at the end of last week, "Republican" Executive Councilor Ray Burton, fresh on the heels of sticking it to motorists with the new toll hikes, now wants to raise the tax on gasoline.
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In response to the "sudden" shortage of funds at the state’s poster child for totally blind fiscal foresight–the NHDOT, long-range highway plans are being revised, and, naturally, the politicians, led by this long-time faux-Republican, are once again poised to head straight for our wallets…
Executive Councilor Raymond Burton, R-Bath, who heads a committee charged with developing the plan, said unless the gas tax is raised, the state will continue to struggle to keep up with highway needs.
Notice he says nothing about maximizing the value for our dollars. He says nothing about eliminating the rampant waste that is obvious to all who have eyes and can see orange. He says nothing about what the DOT can do to regain the confidence of the hapless motorists here in the state. No, all this consummate big-spending, taxpayers-be-damned oily politician can do is TAKE MORE!!!
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And don’t think for a moment that Mr. Burton has taken any sort of a new position in light of present circumstances, either (unless you consider that, given the recent bridge collapse, the time is right for a propaganda campaign using the incident as a scare tactic). No, one thing about Ray Burton is that at least he’s consistent. He’s for screwing taxpayers today, as he was yesterday– as he has ALWAYS been. Consider this from the American Society of Civil Engineers website, dated mid-February, 2004:
"A number of New Hampshire lawmakers are questioning whether to raise tolls and the state gasoline tax to compensate for a shortage of money for all of the state’s road projects. During hearings on the 10 year transportation plan in the House Public Works and Highways Committee last week, increasing state revenues through taxes and tolls was discussed. Executive Councilor Ray Burton (R-Bath) has said he would like to see a 5 cent increase in the gasoline tax with 2 cents of that going to cities and town to help repair secondary roads. It is likely that Governor Craig Benson, who campaigned on the promise of no increased or new taxes, would reject a toll increase or gas tax hike." [emphasis GG]
And this is the topper of them all:
Ray Burton is asking residents to call the governor and the legislature to ask them to raise our taxes!!!
"If people want their highway projects to move ahead, they’re going to have to contact Gov. Lynch and their legislators," he said. "It all comes down to money."
No Ray, it all comes down to fiscal management and proper oversight, which is what YOU should have been doing all these years you’ve been safely ensconced in your seat. For this (and more) Ray Burton earns the coveted GraniteGrok Dope of the Week Award…
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Burton (center) on campaign trail. Yep. That’s his former
driver, the convicted pedophile bringing up the rear.