To the Editor,
Claims by Democrats, most notably the Governor and the House Speaker, but also including State and local Democrat party chairs that this latest State budget is fiscally responsible would be laughable were it not so painful and precarious for New Hampshire taxpayers. With the current economic situation, state budgets across the nation are being reduced by an average of 2% yet New Hampshire spending will increase by over 7%. This follows a grossly irresponsible increase of 17.5% in the previous budget. How can the Governor claim that this is a budget “cut”? This is classic government-speak. If they cannot spend what they wish to spend, it’s a “budget cut”. Given that definition, my household budget suffers massive cuts annually.
In reality, this budget is neither fiscally responsible, nor balanced as the law requires. A recent court decision prevented the State from confiscating $110 million from the Joint Underwriters Association (a fund to assist physicians in purchasing malpractice insurance). Thankfully, the court stopped this theft of a privately owned fund to which the State contributed nothing. This budget was also “balanced” in the last minutes of the legislative session by miraculously discovering $75 million of projected revenue that somehow had not previously been available. Based on the past performance of the Democrats’ revenue projections I would say we’ll be in a mess again early next year when this miracle revenue does not appear. Worst of all, we continue to have a structural deficit of over $500 million which is being filled this budget cycle by one-time federal “stimulus” funds. It appears the only thing this money stimulates is an even more bloated New Hampshire State budget. And let’s not forget the 38 tax and fee increases included in this monstrosity.
The good news is that 7 of 8 State Representatives from the Amherst/Milford legislative district, as well as our State Senator Peter Bragdon voted against this irresponsible budget. Unfortunately, Shannon Chandley complied with the wishes of the Democrat leaders in the House and voted in favor of it. She has helped set us on a course to an income or sales tax in the next budget cycle unless real cuts are made. If Democrats are allowed to control our legislature for one more term, this is a near certainty. Please keep this in mind when you go to the polls in November 2010.
Mark Vincent
Amherst Republican Committee