House Republicans (and a few Dems) Repeal Camping Tax

When all was said and done (depending on which of four recorded votes you look at), it wasn’t even close.  All Republicans except one (Ken Gould of Derry) stood together in repealing the nine percent campground tax this morning.

Realizing they were going to lose on a straight up or down vote, Democrats tried to table the bill, which in effect would have killed the repeal.  24 Democrats joined 147 Republicans to kill the tabling motion 171-153.

Next came a vote on the Ways and Means Committee recommendation (by a 10-9 margin) to kill the bill.  35 Democrats joined 146 Democrats to kill that motion, setting up the ought to pass motion.

Realizing they were thoroughly beaten and the repeal was going to win, 55 Democrats mustered the courage to stand up against Dan Eaton and Democratic leadership and oppose their party.  They were joined by 147 Republicans to make the ought to pass motion 202-125.   To make sure the bill wouldn’t come back later (perhaps after people had gone home) under reconsideration, a reconsideration request failed 215-112.  Since any bill by rules may only be reconsidered once, the repeal is a done deal in the House.

Arguably the critical vote was the one against tabling (offered by Finance Committee Chair Marjorie Smith).  Significantly, 44 Democrats (including 13 of the famous AWOL Manchester Democrats) were absent for the vote while only 27 Republicans were absent.

By far the greatest number of Democrats (percentage-wise) to bolt Eaton and the party were from camper friendly Sullivan County.  Four of the nine Democrats there voted against tabling.

Ways and Means Democrat Susan Price, of Barrington, did not speak on the floor but was leading the fight behind the scenes to get the tax repealed.

Speaking eloquently in favor of the repeal was Herb Richardson, of Lancaster.  Will Infantine of Manchester and I also spoke in favor of repeal.

I wasn’t planning to speak until another Manchester Representative, Ways and Means Democrat Robert Walsh (father of the Hillsborough County attorney), contended that the tax would raise more than $3 million this year and then he refused to take questions.

As I had learned from the Legislative Budget Office, the tax in fact raised only $500,000 in the first four months of the fiscal year (the summer months) and at the end of February (eight months), it had raised only $770,000.  My point was that this tax is falling way short of the $4.5 million we were promised by Revenue Commissioner Kevin Clougherty when the tax was first proposed last spring.   This tax is generating so little revenue that it’s hardly worth the cost of administration and the black eye it gives to New Hampshire tourism.

Ways and Means Chair Susan Almy, of Lebanon, contended that by June 30, the tax would bring in $2.5 million, so the estimate had gone from $4.5 million to $3.1 million to $2.5 million, and apparently House members thought Almy was fudging the numbers.  After all, her projection would mean taking in $1.7 million in the (non-camping late winter and spring months), four months when we’ve only generated $770,000 in the first eight months!

Go figure!

No wonder Almy’s committee was off $300 million in revenue estimates last year, a whopping and unprecedented 12 percent, and is heading toward being off another $100 million this year.

While a slap at Almy, Smith, Eaton, and Speaker Norelli, the camping tax repeal is not yet a done deal.  With 14 Democrats marching in lock step yesterday, the Senate did info act table the bill.  Let’s see if they withstand the pressure and keep it on the table.

If so, it’ll certainly be used against them come November.