Granite Staters expect their elected leaders to understand the challenges they face and work everyday to fight on behalf of the hardworking people that elected them. But what we have seen over the first few weeks of Governor Kelly Ayotte’s tenure has been the exact opposite: failing to stand up to the chaos and reckless policies of the Trump administration that harm Granite Staters and failing to live up to the promises she made as a candidate to lower costs.
Rather than lead, Ayotte has become a bystander. Let’s take a look at just some of the ways she’s let down Granite Staters over the last few weeks:
With Health Care Cuts for Granite Staters On The Line, Ayotte Fails to Protect NH from Damaging Federal Actions
A new Congressional proposal for federal Medicaid cuts as part of the Trump Administration’s spending reduction mandate is threatening the existence of New Hampshire’s Medicaid expansion program, which provides health insurance coverage to more than 60,000 Granite Staters. Thanks to Republicans insisting on a 90% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, New Hampshire is the only state in New England that would trigger Medicaid expansion elimination as a result of funding cuts. In response, Kelly Ayotte “acknowledged widespread uncertainty” about the future of Medicaid expansion in an interview with the Boston Globe.
“Uncertainty” is not an acceptable reaction from Ayotte — it’s her job to create certainty and deliver results. Instead of fighting for the hardworking people of New Hampshire and advocating with her Republican allies in the Trump Administration and in Congress to stop cuts that could eliminate health care coverage for more than 60,000 Granite Staters, Kelly Ayotte has opted to become a bystander in the process. Granite Staters will remember how Ayotte didn’t fight for them when it mattered.
Rather Than Act to Reduce Property Taxes, Ayotte Passes the Buck
With hardworking Granite Staters bearing the brunt of an ever-increasing property tax burden, Ayotte had an opportunity with her budget proposal to make a meaningful commitment to reducing property taxes. Instead, she criticized and “issued a finger wagging warning” to our town officials to do more with less state funding.
That’s right, instead of taking some responsibility as Governor to reduce property taxes, she passed the buck and opted to continue Republican policies of cutting needed revenues while downshifting costs to taxpayers, as well as funnelling money into programs that siphon funds away from local communities.
As an example, Ayotte proposes expanding the state’s ill-advised Education Freedom Account program, which passed the Legislature under the guise of being a tool to help the state’s poorest families afford alternative schooling. This program is diverting tens of millions of dollars from public education, and placing responsibility on taxpayers to ensure a quality education for Granite State students.
“But the biggest downshift of all has been the utter refusal, for many decades now, to face up to the constitutional responsibility to pay for the education of its children. This, more than any other action or inaction, has kept the weight of education squarely on the backs of local property owners and, by extension, renters as well,” said the Keene Sentinel’s editorial staff in response to these shortcomings in Ayotte’s budget address. “For Ayotte then to tell municipalities they need to do more for taxpayers is rich indeed as those taxpayers buckle under the weight of the state once again doing less.”
Ayotte Silent When Granite Staters Need A Strong Voice
This past week, the Trump Administration and DOGE blanket-fired probationary federal workers, including 400 employees at the Federal Aviation Committee (FAA). Among those fired were employees critical to airline safety, employees working on a classified radar system to detect cruise missiles, Granite Staters, and high-performers whose probationary status was a result of them getting promoted.
Amidst two recent commercial airline crashes early in the Trump Administration that resulted in 67 casualties and 21 injuries, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has made no public statements assuring Granite Staters about airline safety or providing clarity and leadership in response to the Trump Administration’s federal grant and loan freezes, mass layoffs, imminent trade wars with key New Hampshire trade partner Canada, or Congressional proposals to cut Medicaid that would trigger the elimination of New Hampshire’s expanded Medicaid program that covers 60,000 residents. Ayotte did make time, however, to appear with Trump at the Republican Governors Association meeting.
As news and confusion continue to trickle out from the reckless and chaotic decision-making of Trump and Musk, the picture of New Hampshire residents facing federal layoffs is coming into focus. Among those laid off have been Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees from New Hampshire, White Mountain National Forest employees, National Nuclear Security Administration employees in charge of our nuclear stockpile, Department of Agriculture employees helping to prevent bird flu and protect our food, and Department of Energy employees responsible for nuclear power inspections and implementing the State and Community Energy Program. All eyes are on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where the Navy is asking for an exemption, but confusion and anxiety still loom over them amidst anticipated cuts at the Defense Department.
New Hampshire families deserve to know that when they step on a plane, their safety is a top priority. But the reckless Trump cuts have made air travel in America less safe. Governor Ayotte once again seems to be remaining silent and complicit. Will Ayotte return from her Trump meeting in Washington with answers and assurances for New Hampshire? Or will she continue to make excuses for him while he jeopardizes our safety?
What’s Happening in NH
Tax free haven? New Hampshire has fourth highest property taxes in country, study finds- Seacoast Online: Despite New Hampshire’s reputation for its tax-free lifestyle, a new report found that New Hampshire has the fourth highest property taxes in the country, with an effective real-estate tax rate of 1.77%. These high property taxes impact Granite Staters’ rising housing costs.
Federal budget cuts could trigger a N.H. law to end state’s Medicaid expansion - The Boston Globe: If Republicans in Congress enact even a modest reduction in the federal match for Medicaid expansion benefits, roughly 60,000 Granite Staters would stand to lose coverage. Unlike the rest of New England, New Hampshire would automatically shutter its Medicaid expansion program if the federal government’s match ever falls below 90 percent, thanks to a trigger clause.
Trump administration yanks CDC flu vaccine campaign- NHPR: The Trump Administration has elected to stop a successful flu vaccination campaign that juxtaposed images of wild animals with tame counterparts as an analogy for how immunization can help tame the flu. This comes in the midst of a raging flu season, where during the week ending February 8, more than 50,000 patients were admitted to hospitals for influenza, the highest level in 15 years.
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Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director