House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to approve a temporary cigarette tax hike to pay for schools. The move comes in the face of a threatened veto by Governor Craig Benson.
The house voted by more than three to one to adopt a 17 cent per pack increase... The hope is to raise some 39 million dollars over three years. Proponents like Colebrook Republican Fred King argue that money is needed to ease the transition into a new school aid distribution formula...
"Without additional revenue we are simply going to have to go back to what is on the books and there's 116 communities in this state that are going to be in trouble."
The towns King cites lie in the middle of the property wealth spectrum. And suffer under the targeted aid plan lawmakers adopted last year - that cut by around 25 million dollars in total education spending...a difference that would likely be made up by locally... Representative John Gibson of Merrimack told colleagues that concerns over the local taxpayer overrode his promise to hold the line on new levies.
"Mr. Speaker I consider myself a good Republican and I took a pledge - and I'm standing here in front of this body...I'm violating that pledge because it's the right thing to do and failure to do so will harm the good folks in out communities."
But for others raising new revenue was folly.
"Were playing games here."
That's Strafford republican Michael Harrington. His town would enjoy no benefit with the additional revenue.
"Everybody knew these cuts were coming, the towns had an opportunity to adjust their spending accordingly. If they chose not to do that now they are going to have to suffer the consequences."
Few, however seemed willing to swallow Harrington's logic...And the measure was adopted by 255 to 69 vote...Afterwards deputy house speaker Mike Whalley was optimistic if guarded in offering his take on the plans' future.
"It's fairly clear to me the vote today would override the Governors veto, but if there is a similar feeling in the senate you may see a similar result."
Earlier this week...key state senators proclaimed any plan with a tax increase would fail in their chamber...But after the vote some in the senate say the plan could have a chance. The Benson administration, meanwhile, reiterated the governor's promise to veto any new or increased taxes.
