NH House votes to approve a 15-cent hike on the tax on gas and diesel over the next few years to help raise funds for repairs on roads and bridges.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) _ After debating for over two hours, New Hampshire's House has voted to hike the tax on gas and diesel fuel 15 cents per gallon to help fix deteriorating roads and bridges throughout the state.
The 207-163 vote Wednesday afternoon sends the bill to the House's tax writing committee for further review before the House takes a final vote.
The bill calls for increasing the tax on gas over four years and on diesel over six years.
New Hampshire has not raised its 18-cent tax in 22 years and supporters say more money is needed to finish expanding Interstate 93 from the Massachusetts border to Manchester and for other highway improvements. The opponents of the bill are arguing that the tax hike will hurt those in the middle or lower income brackets.
