The New Hampshire Senate
REPUBLICAN OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2019
CONTACT
Bobby Collins
(603) 271-7587
Robert.Collins@leg.state.nh.us
Senate Republicans oppose budget with tax increases and spending deficit
Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed HB 1-A and HB 2-FN-A-L, the state budget and trailer bill. Senate Republican Leader Chuck Morse (R-Salem), Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield) and Senator Bob Giuda (R-Warren) issued the following statements:
“The budget passed today by Senate Democrats repeats the same mistakes they made last time they wrote a budget,” said Senate Republican Leader Chuck Morse (R-Salem). “At a time when we have a $250 million budget surplus, they have raised taxes and fees, raided dedicated funds, increased spending by 13.2% and set up a $76 million structural budget deficit. New Hampshire is dealing with a critical water contamination crisis and instead of prioritizing this in their spending they raided the dedicated fund that pays for water projects across the state. It is discouraging that Senate Democrats have put the thriving New Hampshire economy in jeopardy by raising taxes on all Granite Staters and supporting a budget with unsustainable spending levels.”
“It is unconscionable that 16 days after Governor Sununu signed one of the most sweeping mental health reform bills into law, Senate Democrats would vote to cut funding to mental health patients,” said Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro). “In addition to cutting $3.5 million for designated receiving facility beds, the construction of a new secure psychiatric unit is severely underfunded, an expense that should be restored during the committee of conference process to Governor Sununu’s proposed appropriation. New Hampshire is in the midst of a mental health crisis and underfunding mental health programs is unacceptable.”
“Any budget that creates an income tax, raises business taxes, increases motor vehicle fees and creates a tax on swimming pools is irresponsible with taxpayers’ money,” said Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield). “Their $150 million property tax increase was not enough, so they created an income tax to pay for their bloated budget and still could not close their $76 million structural deficit. It is unfortunate, but Senate Democrats have made clear they have not learned from the last time they wrote a budget when they raised over 100 new taxes and fees and raided every dedicated fund they could find. This is not the way that Granite Staters expect legislators in Concord to operate and the people of New Hampshire deserve better.”
“Senate Democrats are willing to put a thriving New Hampshire economy at risk with their reckless tax-and-spend budget proposal,” said Senator Bob Giuda (R-Warren). “We are required to produce a balanced budget but this legislation, supported by every Senate Democrat, increases spending by 13.2% and sets up a structural budget shortfall of $76 million. Senate Democrats have made promises they can’t keep, underfunded mental healthcare in New Hampshire, raised taxes and raided funds dedicated to solving water contamination issues. We cannot continue to downshift costs to municipalities which result in further property tax increases beyond the $150 million of property tax increases already passed by Senate Democrats.”
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