Expansion Of R&D Tax Credit Tops BIA Policy Priorities

The Business And Industry Association has released its list of public policy priorities for the 2013-2014 legislative session. Expansion of the state’s research and development tax credit is at the top of that list, says spokesperson Adrienne Rupp, who adds “it’s very beneficial particularly to the manufacturing sector.”

The BIA continues its tradition of opposing tax increases and supporting tax credits for businesses. Meanwhile, the BIA is hoping for state investment in initiatives that:

  • Expand public transportation systems, including rail and air travel, as well as New Hampshire’s road and bridge network, and support efforts to increase federal transportation aid to the state
  • Expand telecommunications infrastructure throughout the state to improve access and reliability
  • Improve job readiness skills for a multi-generational workforce including: improving links between New Hampshire’s education community and employers to foster work-readiness skills
  • Recruit, retain and train younger workers

When asked how the state should fund such initiatives while providing tax credits to businesses and minimizing taxes, Rupp deferred to lawmakers, saying “we certainly don’t have the in-depth knowledge of the budget and the way the state government operates that the policy makers do, so we would not be very specific in saying you should fund it in this manner.”

When it comes to unions, the BIA:

  • Supports private sector right-to-work legislation in New Hampshire
  • Opposes National Labor Relations Board rulemaking or congressional proposals that favor organized labor interests over those of business

With energy and the environment, the BIA hopes to:

  • Promote efforts to ensure that New Hampshire’s environmental regulations and statutes are not more burdensome than federal environmental regulations
  • Challenge environmental fees that inappropriately target any one sector of the population or economy
  • Water/sewer – Educate policy leaders and the public about water and wastewater treatment systems that are at the end of their design life and/or exceeding capacity

CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this blogpost, we misspelled Adrianne Rupp’s first name.

 

 

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