Lawmakers, Business Leaders Applaud Hassan's Vow to Veto Beer Tax Hike

Several state lawmakers and business leaders are applauding Gov. Maggie Hassan's promise to veto legislation that seeks to add 10 cents to the state's beer tax.

Here is what they had to say:

House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett):

“This is exactly the type of burden we should not put on an established and growing business sector in New Hampshire. We should be creating an environment to help these businesses expand and not curtailing their growth with burdensome tax increases. While we’re happy to see that the Governor recognizes that this bill is bad for business and intends to veto it, we will ensure it gets no traction in the House and hopefully kill the bill before it ever reaches her desk.”

Republican Policy Leader Laurie Sanborn (R-Bedford):

“I am pleased that the Governor has committed to vetoing an increase in the beer tax, and hope she will continue to oppose any other tax or fee increases on the businesses and citizens of our state. With our economy so fragile and people taking home less in their paychecks, now is certainly not the time for state government to be taking more of their hard earned income. “

Scott Schaier Beer, Executive Director - Beer Distributors of New Hampshire:

“We're very pleased that Governor Hassan has taken a public position against this proposed tax. It is clear how significantly this tax might negatively affect jobs and the local economy and we value the continued commitment by our elected officials to protecting the NH advantage and the positive impact that it generates for local business owners and the State.”

Dave Currier, Managing Member – Henniker Brewing Company:

"We at Henniker Brewing Company have been navigating our way through countless State and Federal regulations during the process of becoming a licensed brewery here in New Hampshire. Now that we have fulfilled all of these requirements it seems that some legislators in Concord believe that our industry should be unfairly pinpointed as needing even more taxes and regulations. Legislation like this works to disincentivize new businesses like ourselves and would help push away the growing microbrewery industry in this state. This bill is bad for business, bad for consumers and bad for beer."

Corey R. Lewandowski, State Director of Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire:

“Any increase in tax imposed upon a business gets passed along to the consumers. The proposed beer tax increase will be no different. What is especially troubling about this increase is the large number of small businesses from family owned grocery stores to brewery owners who will be impacted and forced to pass along the increase to their consumers.”

House Bill 168 was co-sponsored by Rep. Charles Weed, D-Keene, and Rep. Richard Eaton, D-Greenville. If passed, it would add 10 cents to the state's current 30 cents per gallon beer tax and raise more than $4.2 million for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services alcohol and substance abuse prevention services.

The legislation will be reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee.