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Lawmakers put off action on income tax, gambling bills
CONCORD — House members Wednesday put off action on two major bills, one to expand gambling and the other prohibiting the state from imposing an income tax.
Instead, lawmakers will vote next week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit the state from instituting an income tax.
The House will vote on House Bill 593, to expand gambling to include video slot machines and two casinos, on Feb. 8.
House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, R-Salem, asked lawmakers to put off the vote on CACR 13 due to a “post-primary hangover” that resulted in 50 to 55 members being absent Wednesday.
He noted that a constitutional amendment needs a three-fifths majority of all House members for approval, not just those present and voting.
“Because of the fact that those members are not here, the courteous thing to do is to wait until next week,” Bettencourt said.
But Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, R-Manchester, objected, saying despite his illness he came to vote on the proposed amendment and had prepared a speech.
He said about 350 people were in attendance, which is larger than the average daily attendance for House sessions. Vaillancourt said there probably would be fewer members in attendance any time in the future.
“We all took an oath of office to do the people’s business, but not on the day after the Presidential Primary?” Vaillancourt quipped. “It’s time for the games to stop and time to get down to the business the people elected us to do.”
He was in favor of delaying action on bills out of courtesy to members who want to participate in the debate but who are unable to so, but the House leadership is now in the habit of playing games to take up a bill when “we can get the most people here,” he said.
The House voted 231-116 to put off action until Jan. 18.
The House voted 246-99 to take up HB 593 on Feb. 8, after the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Stephen Stepanek, R-Milford, said a meeting is scheduled today to discuss the bill and possible amendments.
Instead, lawmakers will vote next week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit the state from instituting an income tax.
The House will vote on House Bill 593, to expand gambling to include video slot machines and two casinos, on Feb. 8.
House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, R-Salem, asked lawmakers to put off the vote on CACR 13 due to a “post-primary hangover” that resulted in 50 to 55 members being absent Wednesday.
He noted that a constitutional amendment needs a three-fifths majority of all House members for approval, not just those present and voting.
“Because of the fact that those members are not here, the courteous thing to do is to wait until next week,” Bettencourt said.
But Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, R-Manchester, objected, saying despite his illness he came to vote on the proposed amendment and had prepared a speech.
He said about 350 people were in attendance, which is larger than the average daily attendance for House sessions. Vaillancourt said there probably would be fewer members in attendance any time in the future.
“We all took an oath of office to do the people’s business, but not on the day after the Presidential Primary?” Vaillancourt quipped. “It’s time for the games to stop and time to get down to the business the people elected us to do.”
He was in favor of delaying action on bills out of courtesy to members who want to participate in the debate but who are unable to so, but the House leadership is now in the habit of playing games to take up a bill when “we can get the most people here,” he said.
The House voted 231-116 to put off action until Jan. 18.
The House voted 246-99 to take up HB 593 on Feb. 8, after the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Stephen Stepanek, R-Milford, said a meeting is scheduled today to discuss the bill and possible amendments.