NH INSIDER

SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW FOR AYOTTE

Announces she has the endorsements of a majority of Republicans in the State Senate

(Manchester, NH)- Former Attorney General, Kelly Ayotte announced today that she has received the endorsements of six Republican State Senators. Ayotte also has the support of Councilor Ray Wieczorek.

“I am honored to have the support of leaders from across our state,” said Kelly Ayotte. “I have worked with them to keep our state safe, and look forward to working with them to ensure that we bring some fiscal sanity to Washington. I made the tough decisions as Attorney General, and I will make the tough decisions to protect the future of our children.”

The State Senators endorsing Ayotte are Sharon Carson, John Barnes Jr., John Gallus, Bob Letourneau, Bob Odell, and Sheila Roberge. The six senators are a majority of the ten Republicans in the State Senate.

“I have known Kelly for many years. She is the type of person who rolls up her sleeves and gets things done. Our state needs leaders who are willing to make difficult decisions to get results, and that’s the type of leadership Kelly would provide for New Hampshire in the United States Senate,” said Senator John Barnes. “Any time I’ve had a constituent who was in need, she was there to help.”

Kelly Ayotte served as New Hampshire’s Attorney General for five years. As the state’s top law enforcement officer New Hampshire was the safest state in the nation each of the last two years. Ayotte lives in Nashua with her husband Joe, and her twenty two month old son and four year old daughter

Concord, NH – Today, Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon released the following statement regarding the Belknap Superior Court ruling that Governor Lynch's plan to seize $110 million dollars from the private Joint Underwriting Association (JUA) to balance the budget was unconstitutional.

"Senate Republicans applaud the Court's ruling to prevent the unconstitutional raid on private funds.

"Responsible leadership would have held the line on spending, just as New Hampshire families are doing with their own budgets. Instead Governor Lynch and the Democrat-controlled legislature raised total spending by $1 billion. If tough but necessary spending cuts were made, there would have been no need to try to steal money from a private organization.

"I once again call on Governor Lynch and the Democratic Leadership to immediately bring the legislature back into session to deal with this $110 million hole in the state budget. Delaying this process through appeals will only exacerbate disastrous fiscal problems facing the State of New Hampshire.”

Concord, NH – Today, Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon released the following statement on Monday's court-ordered freeze of Governor Lynch's plan to seize $110 million from the private Joint Underwriting Association.

"I call on Governor Lynch to veto the budget and immediately bring the legislature back into session to deal with this $110 million hole in the state budget. This court order puts our budget out of balance on day 1.

"Governor Lynch and the big spenders in the legislature satisfied their desire for $1 billion in new spending with numerous accounting gimmicks, including this raid on a private fund. Senate Republicans warned this risky scheme would get tied up in court and could jeopardize the budget, but our attempts to stop the raid were blocked by the Democrats. Monday's court ruling has validated our warnings.

"True budget leadership would have held the line on spending, just as thousands of New Hampshire citizens have had to do this year. Instead Governor Lynch and the Democrat-controlled legislature raised total spending over 10%. If they had held the line on spending, there would have been no need to try to steal money from a private organization."

Background

A Belknap County Superior Court order on Monday blocked the state from seizing money from the JUA fund. [Source: Laconia Citizen]

The 2010/2011 budget passed by the legislature and supported by the governor counted on $110 million of money taken from the JUA fund to help balance the budget. [ Source: Legislative Budget Assistant's Office]

The 2010/2011 budget had over $1 billion more in total spending (all

funds) than the prior budget. [Source: Legislative Budget Assistant's Office]

Concord, NH – Today, Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon issued the following statement in response to Senate passage of the proposed state budget:

"The big spenders in the legislature have once again saddled New Hampshire taxpayers with hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes and fees. While people across New Hampshire are tightening their belts and reducing their spending, state government keeps spending freely. Total spending for the proposed budget is up more than $ 1 billion, or more than 10%, and spending in the state's general fund, once accounting gimmicks are stripped away, is up $ 200 million, or more than 6.5%.”

Background:

The budget passed by the state Senate includes over $300 million in new taxes, including $62 million for a rooms and meals tax increase, $40 million in new business taxes, $85 million in car registration fees and a 14% income tax on gambling winnings.

Concord, NH – Senate Republicans issued the following statements with respect to the home heating oil tax increase passed by the state Senate earlier today:

“Just when we thought Democrats could not find anything else to tax, we now have an increased tax on home heating oil,” said Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon (R-Milford). “This tax preys on people who will struggle to heat their homes this winter while prices are rising and incomes are dropping.”

“I am saddened this tax increase will trickle down to New Hampshire families. Now is not the time for the legislature to further burden New Hampshire citizens,” said Senator Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester).

The home heating oil tax increase included in HB 296 calls for a 25% increase in the tax, from 1 cent to 1.25 cents per gallon.