Prominent Republican David Hess believes he has at least part of the answer to the state's education funding dilemma. But Democrats say he's robbing Peter to pay Paul.
HESS PROPOSES DEVOTING THREE-QUARTERS OF THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE TAX AND THE BUSINESS PROFITS TAX TO EDUCATION. AT THE SAME TIME HE'D TAKE SEVERAL SMALLER REVENUE SOURCES OUT OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING MIX. THE END RESULT WOULD BE AN EXTRA 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR SCHOOLS - JUST ENOUGH TO FILL A CURRENT SHORTFALL. HESS SAYS HIS PLAN MAKES SENSE BECAUSE IT TIES EDUCATION FUNDING TO THE POWERFUL ENGINE OF BUSINESS TAXES.
006 40 that rev source has been the most prolific of any, including the highly touted inc or sales tax. So this is not a source of rev thats going to slow down or is any worse than the others.
HESS HAS A PROMINENT POSITION AS DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER, AND MOST OF THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP TEAM BACKS HIS BILL. BUT THE PLAN HAS AROUSED STRONG OPPOSITION FROM DEMOCRATS. BY SHIFTING 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO SCHOOLS, THE HESS BILL WOULD LEAVE THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND SHORT. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DAVID COTE OF NASHUA PREDICTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO CUTS IN THE STATE'S LARGEST DEPARTMENT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
12 07 I don't think the numbers add up, and the results of that are obvious. They're either going to either require revenue enhancements or some serious cuts.
THE STATE'S TOP DEMOCRAT AGREES. GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN SHOWED UP IN PERSON TO SPEAK AGAINST THE MEASURE.
1 50 Hb 50 does not solve ed funding in long term. it leads us to furhter uncertainty, to further litigation, to further fiscal disruption and I don't believe thats acceptable
ONE SUPPORTER OF THE HESS BILL OBJECTED, SAYING THE GOVERNOR WAS USING THE HEARING TO SCORE POINTS FOR HER OWN SCHOOL FUNDING PROPOSAL . REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE FRANK SAPARETO OF DERRY IS A FINANCIAL PLANNER. HE SAYS THE BILL IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, EVEN IF DOESN'T SOLVE ALL THE STATE'S BUDGETARY WOES.
10 52 It makes sense to take the revenues that grow quickly and match them with the expenditures that also grow quickly to avoid a problem// I was just disappointed the gov tried to turn it into a partisan issue
THE BILL'S SPONSOR ADMITS IT WILL LEAD TO A SHORTFALL IN THE GENERAL BUDGET. BUT HE ARGUES THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. AFTER ALL, HESS SAYS, THE STATE HAS NO CHOICE ABOUT PAYING FOR SCHOOLS - IT'S UNDER A COURT ORDER TO DO SO. SO THE REAL QUESTION FOR LAWMAKERS, HE SAYS, IS WHETHER TO REDUCE SPENDING IN OTHER AREAS, OR TO RAISE MORE MONEY. OPPONENTS BELIEVE HESS'S BILL IS A ROAD MAP POINTING THE WAY TO DISASTROUS BUDGET CUTS. BUT HESS ARGUES IT'S SIMPLY AN ACCURATE SKETCH OF THE STATE'S FISCAL CHALLENGES. FOR NHPR NEWS I'M
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