Only economic growth will deliver permanent rate relief for employers

Concord, NH – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) today applauded the half-percent reduction in Unemployment Compensation Surcharges on New Hampshire business, announced by Labor Commissioner George Copadis.

“I want to thank Commissioner Copadis for his stewardship of the Unemployment Trust Fund, which made today’s announcement possible,” Bradley said. “There’s more work to be done, as all employers are still paying a 0.5% more than they would if the Trust Fund were fully funded. And the rate will automatically increase in three months if we can’t get New Hampshire’s economy moving.”

New Hampshire businesses have been paying higher UC rates since 2004, when the Unemployment Trust Fund dropped below $300 million. As the Trust Fund rebounded, three of the four surcharges have now been removed. But the Department of Labor now projects that the UC Trust Fund will drop below $275 million next quarter, increasing rates by 0.5% for the rest of the year.

“In order to deliver permanent rate relief to New Hampshire employers, we need to not only protect the UC Trust Fund, but grow the New Hampshire economy,” Bradley added. “Republican tax reforms are already helping boost New Hampshire’s economy, and that will be our focus throughout this session.”

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The New Hampshire Senate

REPUBLICAN MAJORITY OFFICE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 21, 2014

Does Governor Hassan want to tax the Internet?

Concord, NH – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley responded today to Governor Hassan’s claim that reductions in business taxes implemented in the current budget are “having a negative impact on the State Budget”, by asking the Governor if she wants to tax the Internet. The Legislature eliminated the Communications Services Tax on Internet Access. Bradley asked if Governor Hassan would repeal that bipartisan tax reform so that the Communications Services Tax would apply again to Internet Access.

“Like all of the recent reforms to New Hampshire’s business tax code, exempting Internet access from the Communications Services Tax passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, and it was included in the budget which Governor Hassan praised last year,” Bradley said. “If Governor Hassan really thinks that these tax reforms are causing problems, she has a duty to tell us specifically which ones she wants to repeal.”

Congress imposed a moratorium on Internet access taxes in 1998. Several years ago, the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration began applying the 1990 Communications Services Tax to Internet access without Legislative approval. Bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate stepped in to correct this bureaucratic overreach with HB 1418, by clarifying that

Internet access was not taxable. In 2012, HB 1418 passed the Senate 23-0 and the House 244-46.

“These tax reforms such as blocking an Internet Access Tax were passed with bipartisan support to spur job creation. New Hampshire has performed poorly in economic growth compared to other states which is why the Legislature led on this issue. Does NH really want to reverse those job growth initiatives when our economy is growing by less than 1% annually?” Bradley concluded.

Rather than blaming job growth measures for potential funding budget shortfalls, Governor Hassan would be better served by providing an update on each departments spending levels for the fiscal year that concluded in July as well as projections on how large the budget deficit in the current fiscal year is likely to be. If indeed there is a $100 deficit looming as some predict, the sooner that information is provided to the Legislature and the public, will make addressing the deficit less painful.

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The New Hampshire Senate

REPUBLICAN MAJORITY OFFICE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2014

CONTACT

Grant Bosse

(603) 748-3659

Bradley to Hassan: Which business taxes would you like to increase?

Governor continues to blame revenues while hiding spending

Concord, NH – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) today called on Governor Maggie Hassan to specify which business taxes she wants to increase. Hassan has been warning of a potential budget deficit since May, but has refused to update the Legislature on state spending. FY14 revenues came in above the conservative forecasts insisted on by Senate Republicans, yet Hassan continues to claim that recent business tax reforms “are having a negative impact on the state’s budget.”

“If Governor Hassan thinks New Hampshire’s business taxes are too low, she should tell us which ones she wants to increase,” Bradley said. “Does she want to start taxing trusts again? That would raise about $5 million a year. Does she want to reduce the Research and Development Tax Credit? She might want to roll back the Net Operating Loss Carry Forward provisions signed by Governor Lynch. the Or maybe she wants to lower the threshold for the Business Enterprise Tax so that New Hampshire’s smallest businesses will pay more.”

“These important business tax reforms had broad, bipartisan support, and were factored into the revenue estimates that proved so accurate for FY14,” Bradley continued. “If Governor Hassan wants to roll back these tax reforms, she should tell us which taxes she wants to increase. In the meantime, I would repeat our request to update the public on how much state departments spent in FY14, which ended 50 days ago.”

Background

In 2011, the Legislature increased the filing threshold for the Business Enterprise Tax from $150,000 to $200,000, providing tax relief for New Hampshire’s smallest businesses.

In 2012, the Legislature voted 23-0 in the Senate and 312-18 in the House to override Governor Lynch’s veto of SB 326, exempting trusts from the Interest and Dividends Tax.

In 2012, the Legislature overwhelmingly approved HB 242, increasing the Net Operating Loss Carry Forward provision of the Business Profits Tax to $10,000,000.

In 2013, the Legislature passed SB 1, doubling the Research and Development Tax Credit and making it permanent. At the time, Hassan called it “a critical component of our innovation agenda.”

In June of 2013, Hassan praised the “bipartisan, fiscally responsible balanced budget agreement” that included all of the tax provisions she’s now criticizing.

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 The New Hampshire Senate

REPUBLICAN MAJORITY OFFICE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 8, 2014

Bradley announces Spending Watch ‘14

Governor Hassan needs to open the books

 Concord, NH – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) today announced the creation of Spending Watch ’14. Bradley will track the number of days since the end of Fiscal Year 2014 until Governor Hassan reports on the amount of money that state agencies actually spent.

“Governor Hassan wants to start writing the next budget without even knowing how much money we spent last year. That is not how to protect hard working New Hampshire taxpayers. We know that New Hampshire revenues were on target, but we still don’t know which state departments met or exceeded their spending limits.

“Senate Republicans will continue to insist on transparency in state spending. If overspending has created a budget deficit, we need to know how big the problem really is if we’re going to address it.”

Spending Watch ‘14

86 days since Governor called for a spending freeze

61 days since the Nashua Telegraph reported state departments would exceed their FY14 budgets

39 days since the end of Fiscal Year 2014

32 days since Sen. Forrester requested an update on state spending

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National Federation of Independent Business Supports Bradley’s Bid for State Senate Re-election

Wolfboro, NH—The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has endorsed Jeb Bradley in his re-election bid for State Senate. Citing his pro-business voting record, the NFIB put its support behind Bradley as the state government continues its work to overturn damaging anti-business legislation of previous legislatures.

“Your voting record indicates that you are committed to the needs of thousands of small businesses and their employees in New Hampshire and the NFIB is confident in your continued support for the small business person when you are serving in Concord.”—NFIB Letter of Endorsement → Read more

CONCORD, NH, September 19, 2012

The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire (HBRANH) today announced its endorsement of Jeb Bradley for Senate District 3.

In announcing the association’s endorsement, Kendall Buck, HBRANH Executive Vice President, stated “Senator Bradley has been a strong supporter of legislation and regulations that assist the home building and remodeling industry here in the Granite State.”

“The association looks forward to continuing its excellent working relationship with the Senator on making New Hampshire a more business friendly environment for our members.”
→ Read more