Josiah Bartlett Center - The Budget, HHS Spending, and Back of the Budget Cuts

Weekly Update from the
Josiah Bartlett Center

Keeping you up to date on our latest research
on the issues impacting New Hampshire

Political Analysts Deliberately Mislead you on the Budget

New Hampshire’s state budget always looks very different at each step of the process. The Governor, House, and Senate each have a very different approach to the budget whether they are of the same party or not. The final product, whether we have it by the June 30 deadline or not, won’t look like one side or another “won” but rather will resemble a patchwork quilt of changes and compromises. Rejecting gambling one side and tax increases on the other hasn’t caused chaos and isn’t petulant retribution.... Click here to keep reading.

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Gov,House & Senate HHS Budgets Largely the Same

Major Difference on Uncompensated Care

The spending levels  for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended by the Governor, passed by the House, and proposed by the Senate Finance Committee are actually quite similar. The notable exception to this is the Uncompensated Care Fund, which are payments to hospitals to help pay for charity care.... Click here to keep reading

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Back of the Budget Cuts at Heart of Current Dispute

HHS Spending in the Spotlight

Governor Maggie Hassan had some harsh words for the Senate Finance Committee this week. But the “sweeping, across the board cuts” to Health and Human Services programs aren’t in the line by line budget headed to the Senate floor, which actually spends more than the Governor’s budget on HHS programs.... Click here to keep reading.

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The State's Online Checkbook

JBC's Transparency Project

With the budget process underway here in Concord are you curious where all that money is spent? Look no further than NHOpenGov. We have data on every last check the state wrote going back to 2009.... Click here to start looking!

NHGOP STATEMENT REGARDING HASSAN COMMENTS ON HER FAILED FISCAL LEADERSHIP

Concord - New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement in response to comments made today by Governor Maggie Hassan about her failed fiscal leadership. In an interview with the Portsmouth Herald, Hassan indicated that she would step back from the budget process and let the House and Senate work on the budget without her without her guidance.

"The fact that the Democrat-controlled House rejected the irresponsible Hassan budget proposal doesn't mean that the governor should remove herself from the budget process. The people of New Hampshire elected Maggie Hassan to be an executive, not to sit on the sidelines and refuse to provide the fiscal leadership that they expect from their governor. Governor Hassan was foolish to base her proposal on an illegal revenue scheme, and she should have developed a "Plan B" to balance our books months ago. 

"Governor Hassan needs to stop blaming others for her own incompetence, mismanagement and inability to pass her reckless proposal through a legislative body controlled by her own party. She needs to immediately outline a new plan and work with the legislature to pass a responsible budget that controls spending and doesn't raise taxes."

Rep. William O'Brien's Comments on President Obama's FY 2014 Budget Proposal

Rep. William O’Brien’s Comments on President Obama’s FY 2014 Budget Proposal

“President Obama has once again failed the American people,” said Rep. William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon).  “We need leadership in Washington that recognizes that, when we have just learned that the number of Americans forced out of the work force is at an historical high, now is not the time to propose another round of economically destructive tax increases, cuts on Medicare providers to our senior citizens, and deficits that never end and will grow by $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years.”

“What is particularly disappointing to New Hampshire citizens in the Second Congressional District is to hear of the immediate support given by our member of Congress, Ann Kuster, to the President’s reckless lack of leadership,” O’Brien added.  “She called a lifetime of permanent deficits adding up to $5.3 trillion in more borrowing against our children’s future over the next 10 years ‘a balanced approach.’  With a budget that never balances and nearly $600 billion in new taxes, one has to wonder what a liberal approach would look like.”

 “Ann Kuster has once again shown that her years as a lobbyist in Concord looking to grow government on behalf of her paid special interest clients did not give her the traditional New Hampshire value of fiscal responsibility, for it is clear she does not even know what a balanced budget would be,” O’Brien continued.  “Permanent deficits are not a balanced approach.  Neither is borrowing an additional $5 trillion a balanced approach.  New Hampshire needs Congressional representation in Washington that knows what it is to make spending choices and that the fiscal irresponsibility of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi are not New Hampshire choices.”

William O’Brien is a state representative from Mont Vernon, serving his fourth term in the New Hampshire House.

NH Senate Finance Chairman Morse Statement on Passage of House Budget Bills

The New Hampshire Senate

Majority Office

Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Morse (R-Salem) issued the following statement today after House passage of HB1 and HB2, the biennial budget bills:

“While it represents an improvement over the Governor’s original budget submission, the House’s budget still increases spending by nearly a billion dollars while relying on inflated revenues.  Between inflated Medicaid Enhancement Tax (MET) revenues – which were criticized by the state’s hospitals – as well as increases in the gas tax, tobacco tax and others, the House budget looks to spend millions of dollars in revenues the Senate will not approve and the state should not expect.  I also have concerns with a number of policies included in the House budget, such as allowing the Governor significant latitude to raid dedicated funds as well as the suspensions of the newly enacted school building aid program and job-fostering business tax reductions.

“Beginning next week, Senate Finance will take a fresh look at the budget in an effort to create a document that funds state government within our means while protecting the reforms implemented last session.  At this time, one thing the House can do to make that process slightly easier would be to take up and pass SB152, which would provide the state with millions in non-tax revenue allowing us to fund our priorities, from education to infrastructure, without increasing taxes on New Hampshire citizens.”

NH House Republican Leaders Comment on Passage of Fiscally Irresponsible Budget

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) and Ranking Republican on the House Finance Committee, Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare), offered the following comments in reaction to the passage of HB1 and HB2, the bills dealing with the State budget.

Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), House Republican Leader

“When 40,000 people in our State are looking for work, this budget will squeeze an additional $39million out of our small businesses that they would have otherwise been able to reinvest to grow and create jobs. When incomes are stagnant, this budget raises the gas tax, tobacco taxes and down shifts costs that will raise property taxes. When our roads and bridges need attention, this budget diverts and additional $27million from the highway fund to other agencies. When our economy is struggling to grow at 2% per year, this budget grows government by more than 5% per year. It’s not a logical plan to grow our economy.”

“Republicans have fought for a more affordable, more efficient and more accountable state government, but being in the minority, we don’t always win. The majority party, unfortunately, has created and passed a budget that overspends, expands government and adds taxes and fees on our already over taxed families and businesses. This is not the right direction for New Hampshire. House Republicans will continue to bring attention to what we believe are better ways to help our citizens and our economy.”

“Today, Republicans offered several amendments to make reasonable changes to the budget, all of which were defeated. Unfortunately, the majority party does not seem interested in listening to New Hampshire citizens or observing what is happening in the real world outside of Concord.”

"Our amendments included provisions to avoid downshifting costs to county governments, which would avoid higher property taxes. It was rejected. We offered to restore school building aid, which was also rejected. Amendments that would have prevented the raiding of dedicated funds, such as LCHIP, State Parks and other funds were also defeated, giving the Governor carte blanche to turn these fee based funds into taxes by funding general government. Our amendments to keep school choice tax credits and continue funding for new charter schools were denied. Lastly, our efforts to lessen increases in the tobacco tax and keep in law business tax reforms set to take effect this year fell flat. These amendments failed not because they were unreasonable or egregious, but  because the majority party doesn't seem interested in creating jobs, a friendlier business climate, and lowering the tax burden on our citizens."

Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare), Ranking Republican on House Finance

“This budget is balanced on unrealistic revenue estimates that simply put off the eventual day of reckoning. It includes millions in increased taxes on working families and businesses that will hurt the economy and job creation. It spends 10.2% more money than the previous state budget. This budget also increases the state’s exposure to massive future liabilities as a result of expanding Medicaid. It suspends new school building aid imposes a moratorium on charter schools. It shifts costs of nursing home services to county property tax payers. It  purposefully underfunds line items that can be paid for later, outside of the more transparent budget process. We have a real concern about where this budget will lead our State. It’s unaffordable and sets us up for failure both in the short and long terms.”