Politics & Government

FIVE QUESTIONS: Question 3 - Taxes

State Senate hopefuls Sandi Martinez and Susan Fargo answer a question about taxes.

As a way to inform our readers about the candidates, Patch asked the three candidates for state Senate five questions.

HERE IS QUESTION 3: 

Do you support repealing the alcohol tax and reducing the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent (Questions 1 and 3 on the ballot)? 

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Susan Fargo (D)

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I support Question 1, but not Question 3, which would create a $2.5 billion budget gap.

Sandi Martinez (R)

I personally support repealing the alcohol tax and reducing the sales tax from 6.25% to 3%.

Alcohol is already subject to prohibitive excise taxes, upwards of 40%.  The 6.25% sales tax for which Senator Fargo voted, over my public objection, has driven business to New Hampshire.  Fargo herself is now calling for repeal.

Regarding the sales tax rate, I note that the reason that this was put on the ballot was because the legislature raised the taxes by 25% in the middle of a recession. Our Senator voted in favor, although she is now trying to position herself as a tax-cutter. At the time, not one legislator asked "what will the taxpayer cut from their personal budgets to afford the decrease in buying power?"

A tax cut will result in additional commerce. Fewer people will find the trip to NH to be of value, and our sales tax will be lower than that of CT, VT, NY, and RI, bringing additional revenue from those states. The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University issued a report that projects passage of question 3 will result in the creation of 27,199 new private sector jobs, exactly what is needed at a time of high unemployment.

As a Senator, I will abide by the will of the voters. If question 3 is passed, I will work for its implementation, if it fails, I will fight to bring the tax back to 5%.

This is a big difference between me and the incumbent.


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