NH legislators debate increase on gasoline tax

CONCORD – The legislative campaign for a gasoline tax increase turned into a mini-auction with the bidding going down Thursday. State Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, defended his 15-cent increase to the House Ways and Means Committee as necessary while bipartisan colleagues proposed smaller hikes to try and make it more politically palatable. Supporters are hoping that some give on the tax rate could improve the 207-163 vote the House first gave Campbell’s bill (HB 617) last week. Rep. John Cebrowski, R-Bedford, opened with an ante of a 7-cent increase, 4 in the first year and 3 cents per gallon in the second out of recognition that business owners want better roads and bridges.