ALG Praises New Hampshire House for Passing Bill Allowing Local Tax and Spending Caps

March 22nd, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement praising the New Hampshire House for passing legislation that would allow municipalities to enact tax and spending caps (HB 341) that had been overturned by the state’s Supreme Court:

“The New Hampshire House has acted appropriately to return control over municipal fiscal and budgetary matters where it properly belongs: with the municipalities. In 2008 and 2009, then-mayor of Manchester, Frank Guinta, now Congressman Guinta, spearheaded and fought to enact a strict caps on taxes and spending to an index of inflation for his city.

“Thanks to Guinta’s leadership, such laws have been enacted in a total of seven towns and cities in New Hampshire, until the Supreme Court intervened under specious grounds to block the municipalities from deciding what’s in their own charters. Now, the House bill offers an opportunity for the state’s elected representatives to right that wrong.

“The bill proceeds to the Senate for action and then to Governor John Lynch to sign. This must not be blocked. Members should pass the legislation and return authority to the citizens of New Hampshire to decide what limits they wish to place on their own governments. A vote against this bill is a vote against self-government.”

Attachments:

“The Conservative Conundrum,” by ALG President Bill Wilson, November 4th, 2009.

“A Fundamental Right to Limit Government,” by ALG Senior Editor Robert Romano, November 21st, 2008.

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

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