Once one cuts through the empty political sloganeering this year, the critical issues we face as a nation and state are exposed. Taxation is a big issue to many. At a time when middle-income wages are stagnant and food and fuel costs are eating away at our paychecks, Democrats will not rule out tax increases. They will allow the tax cuts to expire, which will adversely affect everyone who pays taxes. At the state level, the Democrats’ well-documented fiscal irresponsibility will effectively spend us into a broad-based tax. Senate challenger Jeanne Shaheen, as governor once opposed a broad-based tax but later signed into law the statewide property tax, and has even proposed a sales tax.
Fuel is another pain point for all. As the Democrats carp about “big oil” profits and push perpetually not-ready-for-primetime technologies like solar, conservatives advocate for a diverse solution including more drilling, new refineries, wind and nuclear. Congresswoman Carol-Shea Porter has consistently demonstrated her liberal credentials by voting against commonsense energy bills, favoring increased taxes on oil companies–taxes which would be passed along to the consumer.
When considering the candidates, please look past the marketing and think of the future of our nation and state.
Stephen A Poschmann is a member of the Bedford Republican Commitee.