Make government officials accountable

Friday, September 21, 2012

To the Editor:

As the election draws closer, it is no wonder the Republicans are running away from their record in the Statehouse. This months’ state financial reports showed a $5 million loss, $3 million being revenue lost from the lowered cigarette tax. A budget crunch is no time to reduce revenue.

Sen. Jim Luther, R-Hollis, recently communicated to constituents that he voted against the cigarette tax cut.

This is not accurate. Sen. Luther and his Republican colleagues created and unanimously voted for HB1 (the budget). Besides reducing the cigarette tax, this poorly crafted budget reduced funding to the university and community college systems by the largest amounts in national history, levied a $250 million tax on our hospitals, causing massive layoffs across the state and reduced support for the developmentally disabled and victims of domestic violence.

Sen. Luther and his colleagues supported downshifting nearly $6 million in retirement costs to the local taxpayers of the Hollis and Brookline Senate district. We must hold Sen. Luther and his fellow Republican officials accountable for the effects of the budget they created. They owe voters the truth, not a “run and hide” from their voting record.

All voting records can be checked at www.gencourt.state.nh.us.

JERRY AMOS

Hollis