Archie Keltz: House candidate Hayward and the ‘3-3 Tax Savings Plan’

To The Daily Sun,

In March of this year, Laconia House candidate Marcia Hayward shared an income tax plan on her Facebook page, facebook.com/marcia.hayward.543/posts/pfbid0rkcuygtgf58miyiJXJoxqHhrnY748k7qq3otPLV7E96uSsSeqNiU98gjMfe4c5jUl#

The timing was significant. On March 3, former Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky and other advocates unveiled the “3-3 Tax Savings Plan” at the Statehouse. It proposed a 3% tax on New Hampshire residents’ income and a statewide property tax of $3 per $1,000 of equalized property value.

The proposal was so controversial that even Democrat leaders quickly distanced themselves from it. House Democrat Leader Alexis Simpson and Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka both said they were against an income tax.

Just two days later, Republicans defended our state by advancing a constitutional amendment that would prohibit a tax on personal income. The amendment received strong support from Republicans. By opposing it, Democrats killed the measure.

Six days later, on March 11, Ms. Hayward shared the 3-3 Tax scheme on Facebook, linking to the Substack of self-styled "progressive" policy insider Volinsky, an author of the plan of whom she appears to be a fan. As of this writing, the post remains published on her page.

Sharing a proposal without context does not necessarily mean endorsing every provision, but given that the plan had just been unveiled and was part of an active debate over a New Hampshire income tax, voters have a right to know where Ms. Hayward stands.

Does Ms. Hayward support the 3-3 plan and its 3% income tax?

Will she clearly state that she opposes establishing a New Hampshire income tax?

Would she support a constitutional amendment prohibiting one in the future?

Archie Keltz

Laconia