JOHN LET’S TURN TO TEXAS.
WH SPECIFICALLY NOW -- A WIKI FOR THE PRIMARY -- WILL YOU PROPOSE TO RELIEVE THE TAX BURDEN ON THOSE WHO NEED IT
MOST?
COUNCILOR VOLINSKY IT KEEPS US FROM BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORKING PEOPLE NEED.
IT HURTS US DEVELOPING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ALSO CREATE JOBS BURDEN.
THE PROPERTY TAX IS NEW HAMPSHIRE’S BROADEST BASED TAX.
IT IS UNFAIR AND IMMORAL.
I WOULD SAY THIS.
ABOUT A WEEK AGO, EXPERTS FOR THIS SCHOOL FUNDING COMMISSION SAID TWO THINGS.
ONE, THAT WE SPEND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND TWO, WE CAN SOLVE THE SCHOOL FUNDIN CONSTITUTIONALLY WITHOUT AN INCOME OR SALES TAX.
JOHN: SENATOR, YOU SAID THAT YOU CLOSED TAX LOOPHOLES TO TRY TO RELIEVE THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN.
COULD YOU GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THAT?
WHICH ONES YOU WOULD CLOSE AND HOW MUCH THAT WOULD RAISE?
SEN. FELTES: SURE, THANK YOU.
THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN 20 YEARS.
WE CLOSED LOOPHOLES FOR CORPORATIONS IN TH SYSTEM, INCLUDING CORPORATIONS LIKE NETFLIX WHO CLEARLY HAD A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THERE ARE A LOT MORE OF THOSE LOOPHOLES TO CLOSE.
I DON’T SUPPORT A BROAD-BASED INCOME TAX.
LAST NIGHT AT A FORUM, ANDRU SAID HE WOULD CELEBRATE A BROAD-BASED INCOME TAX.
I DON’T THINK WE SPENT THE RIGHT AMOUNT ON SCHOOLS.
I THINK THE STATE SHOULD STEP UP AND SPEND MORE.
>> I THINK THE QUESTION WAS HOW MUCH IN THE LOOPHOLES WOULD YOU DEVELOP?
SEN. FELTES: ANDRU, A LOT MORE THAN YOU ARE SHUFFLING AROUND PROPERTY TAXES.
COUNCILOR VOLINSKY: IT DEALS WITH THE PROBLEM AS THE EXPERTS INDICATED LAST WEEK.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU DEVELOP FOR THE BUDGET FOR SCHOOLS?
WHY HAVEN’T YOU CLOSED THE LOOPHOLES UNTIL NOW?
SEN. FELTES: WE DID CLOSE THE IT IS ONE THING TO LITIGATE AND FUND A CASE.
IT IS ANOTHER TO ADD FUNDING.
ANDRU YOUR IDEA IS TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES IN SOME AND REDISTRIBUTE IT.
I THINK T STATE SHOULD STEP UP AND SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION.
THIS IS ABOUT ALL OUR KIDS’ FUTURE THEY DESERVE A FOUNDATION FOR OPPORTUNITY AS STRONG AS OUR GRANITE STATE SOIL.
WE WILL BUILD ON THAT AND MOVE FORWARD.
COUNCILOR VOLINSKY: MOST OF THAT PROGRESSIVE BUDGET LEAVES U 50TH IN THE NATION FOR STATE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IT IS MOSTLY ONE-TIME MONEY.
IT CAME AFTER MULTIPLE YEARS OF CUTS.
REALLY YOU WERE GIVING BACK MONEY THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN PRIOR YEARS WHILE YOU WERE IN THE SENATE.
SEN. FELTES: THAT IS NOT TRUE.
I KNOW YOU NEVER WORKED ON A STATE BUDGET, BUT THIS IS THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN 20 YEARS.
FOR ANDRU SAY WE ARE 50TH AFTER THIS BUDGE AND THEN SAY WE SPEND THE RIGHT AMOUNT ON SCHOOLS DOESN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM ANDRU ABOUT PLEDGE THIS, PLEDGE THAT.
DON’T HEAR ANY PLANS.
TALKING ABOUT THE PLEDGE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS IS POLITICS AS USUAL.
COUNCILOR VOLINSKY: I AM HAPPY TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL FUNDING.
LET’S ALLOW THE NEXT QUEST