Poll Finds Support for CACR 13 Income Tax Ban

Bills, bills, bills. Gov. John Lynch has a stack of them on his desk and people are emailing him, calling him, imploring him to consider their points of view. And as the state candidate filing period plows forth, the "Us versus Them" show gets real juice among the Republicans and Democrats you sent to Concord. But don't worry, it's a traveling road show with 91 days until state primary voting. They'll be coming to a "soap box" near you real soon. But will you be there, or the beach?

Put it on the ballot and they will come? Our poll on CACR 13 had more than 500 responses within 48 hours, and the ayes about have it based on that sample. The constitutional amendment to prohibit a state tax on personal income must garner two-thirds of the vote on Nov. 6 for passage. As of this writing, the question in the unscientific poll was 335 to 180, or 65 percent to 34 percent. The . 

The Constitutional Amendment. The ballot question on CACR 13 has its supporters and its critics. But who among the candidates stands to gain from it? The Democrats running for governor are mixed on a state income tax: Jackie Cilley is not taking the pledge to veto an income tax, but is not lining up behind one at this point, either. Bill Kennedy stands firmly behind an income tax as a means of helping to offset property taxes. Maggie Hassan opposes an income tax. The three discussed it at length during the WMUR forum at NEC earlier this month. GOP candidates Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith oppose an income tax.

What do you think: Will CACR 13 help or hurt any particular candidate or party?

Fate Awaits Medical Marijuana bill. State lawmakers passed the bill to allow marijuana use for medical reasons and it's on its way to Gov. John Lynch, if it's not already in the stack of bills on his desk. Kirk McNeil, executive director of NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, said supporters are working a two-pronged approach:

• they're writing and calling the governor's office to urge Lynch not to veto it, and
• they're touching base again with House and Senate members to build support to override a Lynch veto of Senate Bill 409, in the event Lynch does veto it. (House has set June 27 as a session day for possible overrides and other business.)

McNeil said they are "getting people to call and convince him it (a veto) is not the best idea." He holds out hope, too, that  if Lynch doesn't sign it, he will let the bill become law without his signature. Sponsors of SB409 include Sen. Raymond White, R-Bedford, and Rep. James MacKay of Concord.

See Them Run. Count on the state filing period really cooking this week, as the window for candidates closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 15. Here's a snapshot of some candidates' schedules:

• U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, the Manchester Republican filing for re-election, will hold a kick-off tonight at 6:30 at his campaign office in Manchester.
• Ovide Lamontagne plans to file at 10 a.m., Jackie Cilley at noon, and Kevin Smith at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
• Maggie Hassan will throw a kick-off event at noon on Friday.

Email me at Dan.Tuohy@patch.com and follow me on Twitter.