New Hampshire Fights Back Against Massachusetts Sales Tax Plan (The Border War is on) Part 2

For background on this issue you can read my previous posts on this issue here, here, and here.

The border war between New Hampshire and Massachusetts is heating up. New Hampshire legislators are furious at Massachusetts’ attempt to sue New Hampshire businesses and force them to collect Massachusetts sales taxes for them, a clear violation of the United States Constitution.

Governor Lynch has already announced that the New Hampshire attorney general will file a motion in the court case to “ensure that New Hampshire businesses will not become agents of Massachusetts tax authorities,” and today he has announced that he is in favor of legislation to protect New Hampshire businesses from the communist down under.

The fight against collection efforts north of the border by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue now involves the New Hampshire Legislature as well as the Bay State’s top court. Today, Lynch said he favors a change in state law to protect New Hampshire businesses from being required to collect Massachusetts sales taxes.

This is Governor Lynch’s statement from today:

We need to send a clear message that Massachusetts and other states shall not impose their sales taxes on New Hampshire businesses

All comments to every article that I have read about this issue signal a verbal call to arms. Residents of New Hampshire are just as upset about this as Massachusetts residents. The New Hampshire government is just as upset about this as the people.

For the first time as governor, John Lynch is taking a stand. For the first time I agree with him. It is kind of ironic however because the man who has brought increased taxes and fees and spending to New Hampshire residents is now trying to stop Massachusetts from enforcing a tax law. It is also ironic because if John Lynch doesn’t reign in his out of control spending he may be the governor that implements a New Hampshire sales tax.

The question is, if Massachusetts loses this court case does it really help the residents of Massachusetts? It may because there is no way that the state will be able to enforce the “use” tax on the individual residents, that is why they are trying to thwart the constitution in the first place. I feel that if this attempt by Massachusetts fails than the state will be forced to abandon the notion of the “use’ tax.