Granite Staters Speaking Out Against Republican State Budget
- Amplify NH
- Apr 28
- 5 min read
Last week was a busy week in New Hampshire. As Republicans in the Senate began their budget deliberations, we also saw movement on misguided, NHGOP-pushed policies that will impact Granite State families’ access to critical health care, as well as jeopardize public education.
Let’s take a look at some of last week’s top headlines:
Senate Budget Debates Begin
New Hampshire’s Senate Finance Committee began scrutinizing the House-approved $15.36 billion budget this week, tasked with dealing with the deep cuts to essential services and costs raised in the House Republican budget.
Among the most controversial of the proposed cuts include Representative Dan McGuire’s pitch to eliminate the Office of the Child Advocate, as well as the Commission on Aging and the Housing Appeals Board.
“There’s a number of these smaller things that are sort of nice-to-haves, but they’re not necessary,” McGuire said in defense of the programs’ elimination. “And so, we need the money. I don’t know how to put it any blunter.”
In terms of other opposed potential cuts, New Hampshire business leaders hosted a press conference this week to publicly urge Senate budget writers to restore $50 million cut by the House to the University System of New Hampshire, noting the potential long term consequences these cuts could have on New Hampshire’s workforce.
“The funding of the University System of New Hampshire is an investment in the future of our state’s economy. USNH is a key partner that attracts talent to New Hampshire and prepares them to join our workforce and help our economy grow,” said BIA President and CEO Mike Skelton. “While we understood this state budget cycle would be challenging, the proposed House cuts to the University System go too far and would harm our state’s economic competitiveness.”
Senate budget writers have remained noncommittal to any changes thus far.
"It is too early in the budget process to say where things will end up,” said Senate President Sharon Carson. “We still have a long way to go, and we need to know where the most recent revenue projections stand before figuring out what will ultimately happen."
Medicaid Remains on the Chopping Block, Jeopardizing Care for Vulnerable Granite Staters
Along with other cuts proposed in the House budget, the House-passed budget seeks to cut Medicaid provider rates by 3%, amounting to a $52.5 million reduction in payments to hospitals, doctors and clinics over two years. In combination with the federal government’s recent decision to cancel $80 million in public health funding for New Hampshire, vulnerable Granite Staters are at risk of losing access to critical care and resources.
Many health care advocates and impacted Granite Staters have spoken out against these cuts, taking to the State House last Thursday to participate in a “Hands Off Medicaid" rally.
“Medicaid is essential for him,” said Seana Hallberg, whose nineteen year old son relies on specialized care through Medicaid. “It’s what allows us as a family to direct our limited financial resources towards his education, towards his future instead of being buried by medical bills. I had to leave the workforce because I needed to advocate for my kids full-time, but his future right now is being threatened. If New Hampshire’s proposed budget cuts to Medicaid go forward, this impact will be devastating, not just for my family, but for tens of thousands of others across the Granite State.”
Seacoast Mental Health Center President Jay Couture also spoke out against these cuts, warning that the proposed cuts to New Hampshire’s Medicaid reimbursement rate for medical providers could lead to the loss of coverage for hundreds, if not thousands, of patients seen by the Seacoast Mental Health Center.
Controversial Education Voucher Debates Continue
Last week, the Senate’s Education Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 115, which would expand the state’s school voucher program, also known as Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), to universal eligibility.
Despite Republicans’ claims in favor of the program, Democratic lawmakers, as well as many educators, argued that the program siphons funds away from public schools, causing the state lawmakers to turn their backs on the constitutional obligation to fund a robust education for public district school students.
“Why do you want to talk about expanding this program now?” Deb Howes, president of the American Federation of Teachers-NH, questioned Republican lawmakers. “You cannot afford two school systems in New Hampshire when public schools are open to every student.”
According to the Concord-based organization Reaching Higher NH, which advocates for public schools, it is estimated that if all private and homeschooled students in New Hampshire were to sign up for a school voucher, it would cost the state about $102 million per year
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Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director