House Majority Leader and Salem Legislator to Sponsor 'Pro Economic' Initiative​s

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (North Salem) today released legislation that he will sponsor during the upcoming 2012 legislative session and the initiatives reflect reform to a wide range of issues currently facing the State of New Hampshire. The four-term member of the N.H. House, who has sponsored more than 50 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law, will keep the focus of the Republican Caucus this session on job creation and the economy.

"The pro-growth, pro-economic initiatives that I have chosen to sponsor are indicative of the focus of the Caucus as a whole. Ensuring job growth and overall improvement in the state's economy remains our absolute first priority.

"Additionally, making state government more efficient, accountable, and ethical are also among our top priorities in 2012," said Rep. Bettencourt.

The Salem legislator also intends to pursue important and innovative infrastructure and education initiatives to ensure that a high quality of life is maintained in New Hampshire.

Job Creation and Tax Reform:

- Relative to the credit for the business enterprise tax against the business profits tax.

- Relative to protected shoreland permitting fees.

- Increasing the threshold amounts for taxation under the business enterprise tax.

- Relative to underpayment of estimated taxes and
equalization of valuations administered by the department of revenue administration.

- Establishing a committee to study administration of the business profits tax and the business enterprise tax.

- Reestablishing the exemption from property taxation for telecommunications poles and conduits and establishing a committee to study how utilities are taxed by the state and municipalities.

Government Reform:

- Making changes to the administration of the University System of New Hampshire

- Relative to preparation of fiscal notes.

- Relative to protection of private property from the use of eminent domain

- Prohibiting the enforcement of out-of-state laws, rules, codes and fess not approved by the New Hampshire legislature.

- Relative to the default budget in certain towns.

Health:

- Relative to the interstate Health Care Compact

- Relative to destination cancer hospitals.

- Relative to confidential prescription data

Infrastructure:

- Reinstating the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge Authority

Education:

- Establishing an education credit against the business profits tax.

Public Safety:

- Establishing a criminal offense for failure to report a missing or deceased child.

- Establishing a criminal offense for vandalizing or defacing state, municipal, or commercial property.

"These two years are about 'promises made, promises kept,'" said
Bettencourt.  “The people of this state sent us to Concord to fix the problems created by the overspending and and increased taxes of the previous Democrat administration. During the coming session we intend to remain focused on job creation, the economy and fulfilling the promises we made to the voters a year ago."