For me, and probably for most people, what matters the most is the money. Republican-Democrat-Republican-Democrat, eenie-meenie-minnie-moe, show me the money and by that I mean the tax bill, and that's what really counts. No surprise on that.
For some, the New Hampshire system is an advantage, and for others it is a burden. Probably for most, chosing to be a D or an R is determined by the M factor (money). No wonder why so many chose to be undeclared or independants. Does it really matter whether you attach yourself w/ the D's or the R's, when it's really all about the M's.
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From yesterday's
www.cmonitor.com, Jan 27, the last five paragraphs of an editorial that helped me to understand Rep Jessie Osborne"s HB1593 proposal.
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" Osborne's bill is complicated. Unlike the governor's, it won't make a good bumper sticker or campaign slogan. Unlike the governors, it addresses both problems cited in the Claremont school funding litigation: unequal resources for rich and poor school districts and the crushing financial burden on taxpayers forced to pay the lion's share of education costs through the regressive local property tax.
In its' broadest form, Osbornes's bill would establish a statewide educaton property tax at $5.50 per $1,000, with a $200,000 homestead exempton. It would establish a 4 percent income tax with liberal exemptions and a credit for the state wide property tax. It would repeal the interest and dividends tax and business enterprise tax. It would reduce the business profits tax. It would provide abatements for everyone whose total property tax bill was more than 8 percent of their income.
The upshot: New Hampshire taxpayers would contribute to education based on their ability to pay. And New Hampshire government would collect enough money to truly provide an adequate education. It's hard to argue wih common sense.
Osborne isn't under any illusions about her bill's chances this session. She has no slick p.r. campaign or the muscle of heavy hitter political leaders behind her. Even if it reached his desk, the governor wouldn't sign it.
But Osborne wants an honest conversation on school funding and New Hampshire's antiquated tax system. Her bill, unlike the governor's State of the State pitch, could provide just that.
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Concord Monitor
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