HB617: Thanks to BOTH NH Democrats AND Republicans, filling up is going to cost us all $0.15 / gallon - Granite Grok

HB617: Thanks to BOTH NH Democrats AND Republicans, filling up is going to cost us all $0.15 / gallon

Yup, that’s right.  The NH House’s Public Works and Highway Committee members decided that it was so durn important to fix roads and such, they couldn’t be bothered to really set a priority list and bump down others much less important (remember:  “Maggie the Marxist” – she choose diapers over students??  $2 million for adult diapers? great prioritization)  HB617 was just passed out of that Committee, 17-0, with nary a “limited government / less taxes” Republican throwing a single “Nay!”.  Not one Republican could say “er, is this really not a good thing to do right now with gas quickly heading towards $4 / gallon WITHOUT the State of NH helping it along??  Here are those Republicans:

Gene Chandler (r)
William Friel (r)
Edmond Gionet (r)
John Graham (r)
Walter Kolodziej (r)
Mark McConkey (r)
David Milz (r)
Franklin Tilton (r)
Kevin Waterhouse (r)

Yeah, one of them is “mine”: Frank Tilton from Belknap.  You got one too? Look at the first name, though: Minority Leader, Republican Gene Chandler.I guess in this time of skyrocketing gas prices for the regular folk, an 85% increase in the NH gas tax is but a mere pittance on behalf of the “Live Free or Die Leviathan”, eh? Not one of them asked themselves (as seen by their votes) “who needs their money more – us or them”?  Well, we know now BY THEIR OWN VOTES how they feel about “oh, you guys can make out fine with less“…  The current Highway trust account is so leaky, they have to create a brand new one?  And I forgot – raising ‘some” vehicle registration fees?  And the Republicans went along with this?

Nice messaging, dudes.  Lower income folks are already having to make hard decisions and you Republicans are just about to make it much harder…win friends, influence people, and gain Republican votes – GREAT GOING!  Good thing that Senator Chuck Morse has decided to be the adult Republican in the room and say “DOA when it comes over from the House”.  Yes, this is one bill I will be glad to see the Senate stop dead.

Yeah, I didn’t forget about the Democrats (after the jump)….they are probably loving the fact that the Republicans just gave them cover to raise a tax that hits everyone in the State.  I’m betting that somebody’s gonna have to go over and pick them up off the floor, they’ve been laughing so much….

2 Levy of Tolls and Exemptions. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 260:32 to read as follows:

260:32 Levy of Tolls and Exemptions. There is hereby imposed a road toll of $.18 per gallon upon the sale of each gallon of motor fuel sold by distributors thereof. The road toll on gasoline shall increase to $.22 per gallon beginning July 1, 2013; to $.26 per gallon beginning July 1, 2014; and to $.30 per gallon beginning July 1, 2015. The road toll on special fuel (diesel) shall increase to $.20 per gallon on July 1, 2013; to $.22 per gallon on July 1, 2014; to $.24 per gallon on July 1, 2015; to $.26 per gallon on July 1, 2016; to $.28 per gallon on July 1, 2017; and to $.30 per gallon on July 1, 2018.

Karen Ebel (d)
Marcia Hammon (d)
Patricia Higgins (d)
Virginia Irwin (d)
Martin Jack (d)
Wendy Piper (d)
Peter Ramsey (d)
Mario Ratzki (d)
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