Doug and I are certainly supporters of the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition that had a major announcment in Concord this week (Doug attended and posted here). There is much truth in the famous phrase "lower taxes are the result of lower spending". To this end, the NHAC’s Pledge is simple:
I hereby pledge not to vote for or lend my support to any budget that raises government spending more than the rate of Inflation, as it is defined by the Consumer Price Index-Urban Plus Population Growth.
I’d rather the "Population Growth" with something along the idea of "the assessed value of new building". However, it is a very good idea.
Well, of COURSE those on the other side of the argument are all up in arms, never conceding the truth that while government does have legitimate expense, the government is an expense to the families that fund it – and that expense is almost always rising faster than the average family’s income.
Question to them: why does government always get the first fruits of a family’s labors?
Anyways, a quick witted fellow by the name of Jason Bedrick wrote the following for a Democrat response to the Pledge:
I happen to speak liberalese — allow me to translate:
New Hampshire Democrats Are Sick and Tired of Democracy
(Concord) Rather than abandoning their philosophy of limited government and fiscal responsibility in favor of the Democrat Party’s policies of centralization and increased government authority, the so-called New Hampshire Advantage Coalition has the audacity to fight back and propose alternatives!
The Republican-led coalition is trying to push a spending cap provision in municipalities across the state. A similar proposal was soundly rejected by the RINO-dominated, Democrat-controlled New Hampshire House three years ago.
"Those Republicans just won’t give up! If they’d only join us feeding at the trough of government, we could have a state that looks like Massachusetts in less than a year!" whined State Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley.
"Either this group has forgotten that RINOs have already abandoned Republican principles, or they just don’t understand how fun it is to take other people’s money to do with as you please," Buckley sniffed. "They need to be honest and upfront with the people, like the completely non-partisan Granite State Fair Tax Coalition."
In 2005, the RINO/Democrat-controlled house voted 298-53 to kill CACR 9, which would have amended the constitution requiring the legislature to pass any tax or tax increase by a two-thirds supermajority. The RINO-led House soundly defeated the measure with the support of a host of Marxist interest groups.
"Gov. Lynch and the Democratic majority have shown real leadership in their double-digit increase in state spending based on ridiculously inflated revenue estimates, despite foolish Republican warnings about a downturn in the economy. I know the Governor and Democratic leadership will continue to spend billions of taxpayer dollars, despite the $200 million deficit," Buckley said.
Actually, what the Dems actually said isn’t too far off:
Release Date: May 20 2008
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2008
David Scannell
(603) 225-6899New Hampshire Citizens Are Sick and Tired of Stale, Rejected Political Gimmicks
(Concord) Rather than working together to make real progress on the issues that matter most to New Hampshire families, the so-called New Hampshire Advantage Coalition is trying to resuscitate a stale, rejected political gimmick.
The Republican-led coalition is trying to push a spending cap provision in municipalities across the state. A similar proposal was soundly rejected by the Republican-dominated New Hampshire House three years ago.
"The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition is headed by the same people who brought you Craig Benson and Jim Coburn. This is another failed attempt to play games rather than work together to address the challenges facing the state and New Hampshire families, and quite frankly, I believe the people of this state are sick and tired of it," said State Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley.
"Either this group has forgotten that members of their own party rejected this cheap political gimmick, or they have no real solutions to offer," Buckley said. "They need to be honest and upfront with the people and say exactly which direct services they wish to see cut."
In 2005, the GOP controlled house voted 298-53 to kill CACR 9, which would have amended the constitution requiring the legislature to pass any tax or tax increase by a two-thirds supermajority. The Republican-led House soundly defeated the measure even though it had been supported heavily by former Gov. Craig Benson.
A news conference held by the coalition today featured gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Joe Kenney and Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta.
"During his years in the state Senate, Joe Kenney has shown nothing but a sad devotion to the statewide property tax. Joe Kenney broke a promise to Gov. John Lynch by switching his vote at the last second and voting for an unconstitutional education funding plan that ensured the statewide property taxed continued," Buckley said.
"And the people of Manchester continue to be fleeced by Frank Guinta who has spent more time traveling the state to make cheap political points rather than work to address the budgetary challenges at City Hall. Frank Guinta’s absentee style of governing has allowed money to be stolen right from under his nose and resulted in a disastrous budget he delivered to alderman," Buckley said.
"Gov. Lynch and the Democratic majority have shown real leadership in addressing the state’s financial situation in the face of a severe downturn in the nation economy. I know the Governor and Democratic leadership will continue to effectively manage this financial situation," Buckley said.
