GraniteGrok

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Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta and GOP gubernatorial hopeful Senator Joe Kenney at yesterday's New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's official rollout of their "Defending the New Hampshire Advantage Pledge" (photos by GraniteGrok)

The pushback begins... Yesterday morning in Concord at the Legislative Office Building, putting the proverbial money where his mouth is, Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, along with probable GOP gubernatorial candidate state Senator Joe Kenney, joined the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition (NHAC) in unveiling their new statewide spending cap pledge aptly called the "Defending the New Hampshire Advantage Pledge."  Along with a number of state legislators, potential candidates, activists, and even an elected town official (yours truly), the group took turns signing the new pledge that seeks not to replace the traditional anti-tax pledge made famous by Mel Thomson and the Union Leader, but instead to supplement it. While the former carries a promise of no new broad-based taxes, the new pledge calls for politicians to say no to any spending increases beyond the average Consumer-Pricing Index plus the value of new growth.

Continuing, he warned, "New Hampshire is in jeopardy of losing one of the pillars our our New Hampshire Advantage-- our low tax status-- if the current rate of spending is allowed to continue."

Picking up on the same theme, Mayor Guinta, the honorary chair of the NHAC, added the governor and Democratic-led legislature into the mix. "After watching the last year and a half of this legislature and governor spending a half a billion dollars in new spending, we have to stand up for those families, for those taxpayers, and for everyday members of our communities that cannot afford, cannot accept those policies and those positions currently taken by the majority hhere in New Hampshire."

Guinta went on, "Elected officials are not here to fleece the taxpayers. They are here to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money."

"What we've seen for the last year and a half is the fleecing of the taxpayers of New Hampshire. It's not right, we shouldn't stand for it, and we are coalescing a group of individuals in this state who are going to stand up for individuals who believe in limited government; who believe in effective management of our resources; the utilization of those resources, and believe in government efficiency."

To the pledge itself, Guinta stated, "If you're going to serve the people of New Hampshire-- Republican, Independent, or Democrat, you ought to take the pledge that you're not going to spend any more money than is required. It's very reasonable to say no to spending over the average CPI plus the population growth. It's a standard we all should live by. If you can't do that," he plainly said, "I don't think personally you ought to be elected."

Following Guinta was probable GOP gubernatorial candidate Senator Joe Kenney who announced, "I am proud to sign this pledge today." He then declared, "This pledge is an idea whose time has come. It is a movemnet to keep New Hampshire New Hampshire." He further announced "It is clear there is a tax revolt going on here in New Hampshire," refering to the several cities and towns currently considering tax cap charter amendments.

As of yesterday, prior to the event where some dozen or so signatures were added to the pledge, the NHAC reports over forty current office holders and future candidates have signed. In addition to Kenney, his probable opponent seeking the GOP nod for governor, Jim Adams, has also signed the pledge.

 View and download a copy of the pledge by clicking here.

It sure made me feel good to be in a room full of people that really do understand that high taxes are the result of high spending. The battle for the very soul of New Hampshire has been joined!