On Wednesday the New Hampshire Senate voted almost unanimously in favor of CACR 13, a Constitutional ban on a state income tax.  The Senate amended the House version of CACR 13 to ensure that the ban does not apply to taxes on business.  The Senate version of CACR 13 will now return to the House.

New Hampshire is unique in that the state government does not levy income or sales taxes.  Pledging to oppose any sales or income tax is an unofficial requirement for any candidate for state office.  However, opponents of CACR 13 worry that enshrining this tradition in the New Hampshire Constitution will tie the government's hands in any future budget crisis.

Do you support CACR 13?  CLICK HERE to discuss the income tax ban on Facebook.

CLICK HERE to learn more about New Hampshire's reliance on property taxes.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

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Last week New Hampshire implemented the federal Secure Communities program, which requires local police departments to share fingerprints with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

The Obama administration has promoted Secure Communities as a way to focus immigration enforcement on criminals.  Opponents of Secure Communities note that any arrested individual, guilty or not, will have his or her fingerprints shared with ICE.  Opponents therefore argue that immigrant communities will become hesitant to contact the police for fear of racial profiling and arrest.

The LFDA recently asked our Facebook fans what they thought of New Hampshire enforcing Secure Communities.  CLICK HERE to join that discussion.

CLICK HERE to learn more about immigration law in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

The New Hampshire Motorcycle Rights Organization supports lowering the decibel limit on motorcycles.  However, President Candy Alexander said that HB 1442, a New Hampshire bill that changes the regulation of motorcycle exhaust noise, will not lead to quieter riders.  She says offensively loud motorcycle noise is caused by riding behavior such as racing between stoplights, not by bike mechanics. 

HB 1442 passed both the House and Senate and is waiting for Gov. Lynch's signature.

A few weeks ago the LFDA asked about HB 1442 on Facebook.  CLICK HERE to join that discussion.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

Interested in other motorcycle issues in New Hampshire?  CLICK HERE to see the LFDA issue page on a motorcycle helmet law.

Last week Democratic challenger Carol Shea-Porter asked her opponent U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta to join her in publicly demanding that so-called 'Super PACs' do not advertise in the District 1 Congressional election.

Super PACs (Political Action Committees) spend money independently from campaigns, so any demands from the District 1 candidates would be symbolic.

Guinta's campaign manager called Shea-Porter's statement hypocritical because a California-based Super PAC (CREDO) has already started campaigning on her behalf.

Independent expenditures from Super PACs are expected to play a significant role in the 2012 elections. 

CLICK HERE to learn more about campaign finance law in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to see a list of all the 2012 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

CLICK HERE to read related coverage from the Union Leader.

The 2012 Legislative Session is drawing to a close, and this week the New Hampshire House and Senate must take final action on any bills.

Of particular note is SB 295, a bill that would have doubled the research and development business tax credit.  After the Senate rejected a bill from the House to mandate a 24-hour waiting period on abortions, the House reinstated the 24-hour waiting period as an amendment to SB 295.  SB 295 had the support of Gov. Lynch and many business advocacy groups; now the future of the bill is uncertain.

CLICK HERE to discuss the House plan to require a 24-hour waiting period before abortion.

The House also resurrected a bill that would allow New Hampshire municipalities to establish a moratorium on refugee resettlement.  After the Senate sent the House moratorium bill to interim study, the House added the provisions of the moratorium bill to SB 155, a bill regulating deductions under the business profits tax.

CLICK HERE to discuss a possible moratorium on refugee resettlement.

If the House and Senate disagree on bills such as SB 295 and SB 155, both bodies can vote to establish a Committee of Conference.  The Committee of Conference then has until the end of May to forge a compromise between the House and Senate.

CLICK HERE to read related coverage from the Union Leader.