Gas Tax Hike Faces Senate Hurdle

The New Hampshire Senate may nix the 12-cent gas tax increase proposed in House Bill 617, which Rep. David Campbell (D-Nashua) sponsored as a means of tackling transportation improvements around the state.

On Tuesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 3-2 to recommend the full Senate re-refer the bill to committee. The House  previously passed the bill.

Campbell, in a statement issued this afternoon, notes that the proposed gas tax increase is also included in the state budget trailer bill, House Bill 2. His statement:

"The Senate still has the opportunity to act to fix our roads and bridges and invest in our state’s deteriorating infrastructure. I believe that the vote shows many Senators recognize that:

1) NH has an Infrastructure Crisis, which will become an economic catastrophe if the Legislature continues to ignore the problem; and

2) HB 617 raises the critically needed revenue to fix our crumbling roads and bridges, while ensuring that every penny of the phased-in 12 cent gas tax increase is spent exclusively on the maintenance and construction of state and municipal roads and bridges."

The state's gas tax has not been increased in 22 years, but critics said now is a bad time to increase the rate because of the economy and the effect on families and the business community.