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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.A spending summit: Let's have one
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Reader commentsNow that Rep. Susan Almy's tax summit is over, let's see if anyone in the legislative leadership will hold a summit to look at the other side of the budget. You know. Spending.
No thorough examination of state finances would consider only one side of the ledger. Yet that lopsided view is what we will end up with if legislators go into the upcoming session without giving state spending the kind of once-over Rep. Almy's House Ways and Means Committee gave state taxes.
We were happy to see that so many competing points of view were presented at this week's tax hearing. We'd be surprised if any Ways and Means Committee member had his or her view changed, but at least there was a wide-ranging discussion of how the state's revenue structure works and how the state would change if its tax base changed.
Legislators would benefit from a similar, but not identical, hearing on spending. The thoughts of analysts and economists are useful. And we might be able to learn a thing or two from the experiences of other states. But given the economic reality facing the state -- revenue declines with no end in sight -- the most useful presentations might come from administrators and other employees tasked with finding better ways to spend what money we have.
Sure, let's hear from those who say any cut will devastate state services. It just wouldn't be the same without those Chicken Littles. But legislators have an obligation not simply to provide services, but to provide them at the best possible cost. If we're looking at better ways to raise money, we should look at better ways to spend it, too.
It isn't enough that the Republican opposition plans to put on its own spending summit. Legislative leaders need to make improving the spending side of the ledger an official priority. This is too important to get lost in the typical Concord political games.
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YOUR COMMENTS
$top the $pending” $ummit
Grappone Conference Center
70 Constitution Ave.
Concord, NH
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
8:30-9:30 am Coffee and Donuts
9:30-9:40 Welcome/Opening Remarks:
House Republican Leader Sherm Packard (moderator)
Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon
9:40-10:00 Steve Norton, Executive Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies, whose mission is to raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire’s future
10:00-10:10 Q & A session
10:10-10:30 Charlie Arlinghaus, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a non-partisan, independent think tank focused on state and local public policy issues that affect the quality of life for New Hampshire's citizens
10:30-10:40 Q & A session
10:40-10:50 Break
10:50-11:10 John Stephen, former Commissioner of Health & Human Services
11:10-11:20 Q & A session
11:20-11:30 Reps. Neal Kurk and Doug Scamman, House Finance committee
11:30-11:45 Q & A session
11:45-Noon Wrap-up/closing comments
Rep. Gene Chandler, Senior Assistant Republican Leader
*****
Personal Note, as a Republican member of the House Finance Committee, we fought to cut the spending in this budget and gave dozens of suggestions in many areas and then an across the board reduction in others. The dems voted us down every time. Matter of fact, I think 99% of all Republicans voted AGAINST the democrats bloated budget---both this past cycle AND the last one.
- Representative Fran Wendelboe, New Hampton
Jim (GraniteViewpointNewHampshire): I personally, in my humble opinion, think that you were the one taken to the woodshed and locked in. Almy is coming in with an income tax - mark my words and she will use George Soros minions to back her up.
- Sandy, Thornton
I attended both days of the tax summit and I challenge anyone else who was there, to say it wasn't a useful and worthwhile event.
Here are just a few takeaways that haven't received much coverage:
1) Nearly every economist stressed that ill-advised tax changes could have dire consequences on job growth in NH. I think only one of the 7 or so economists presenting at the summit recommended an income tax.
2) Another theme that came up repeatedly was the importance of the "NH Brand" and the importance of maintaining the perception that NH is a low tax state to attract new residents and businesses. One economist likened introduction of a sales or income tax to "unilateral disarmament."
3) Lots of data was presented that compared NH to other states in terms of tax competitiveness and economic advantage. As the article noted, lawmakers were surprised by NH's steep drop in "tech economy" measures (patents, IPOs, science & math degrees, etc) compared to other states.
4) Several business owners expressed dismay that the elimination of the BET credit was proposed and almost enacted with little discussion and no hearings. The message was that rushed and reactive tax changes can be very dangerous for the economy. In a sense, I think lawmakers got taken to the woodshed on this one and will be less likely to rush-through major changes without hearings.
- Jim (GraniteViewpoint), Portsmouth
Jay Collins - well said.
- Tom, Campton
A spending Summit.....An idea who's time has come. The problem is, it would take genuine leadership at the Legislative and Executive branches to address the increasing tax burdens on NH citizens. Hey, I just registered my car. The tax to get the sticker for the license plate cost me $100, just about 100% higher than last year!! What a great value......
- gr chase, Exeter
If your so-called spending summit does take place, the it needs to define the priority list of essential core services. If any result develops without the that list being adopted, then your summit is a waste of time. NH needs to know what services are essential BEFORE a budget is created. Because only with that list is any realm of reality understood. Else, it is simply politics as usual without the needy being served, and political uselessness abounding.
- Gary L. Kerr, Chichester
Jay Collins is right.
- Bob, Salem
Spending? Review Spending? but that is how politicians buy votes and power! Why on earth would they want to reduce spending? Heck, we'll just tax "the rich" more and more, while constantly reducing how much income it takes to be rich (If you earn a dollar more than your neighbor you are rich, or so it seems the current democratic national administration defines rich). Good luck on that. Maybe we can review spending when and if the people of NH wake up and realize that the democrats in Concord are taking them for deep pocketed fools. Not sure the GOP is that much better but it usually is much slower to spend more.
- Jeff, Goffstown
The next summit of any consequence is going to be in November 2010 when NH citizens vote out of office the most worthless group of democratic reps & senators this state has ever had to suffer....and I mean suffer. From the 37 tax hikes over the last 5 years to the bathroom bill foolishness to this tax summit where nothing was accomplished except wasted time.
- Jay Collins, Laconia
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