Sununu Signs $13.5B New Hampshire Budget Into Law

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire has a new budget for the next two years and, not unlike prior state budgets, some politicos are happy and others are not.

Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) signed the $13.5B biennium New Hampshire budget as well as a trailer bill (HB 1 and HB 2) on Friday. He announced the signing with a single sentence statement: “Historic tax cuts, property tax relief, and Paid Family Medical Leave delivered all in one sweeping action is a win for every citizen and family in this state.”

New Hampshire Republicans applauded the budget’s signing calling it “transformational” and “balanced and fiscally responsible.”

“Republicans delivered on tax cuts, reduced spending, education freedom, much needed mental health services and more without raising taxes or increasing spending,” House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) said. “This is one of the most comprehensive budgets we have seen in years, and it will be the strong foundation needed to help get New Hampshire families and Main Street businesses back on their feet and thriving.”

Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) said, when the NH GOP candidates were elected to the majority in 2020, it was because they promised to cut taxes, “(rein) in the Democrats’ bloated spending,” and protect the New Hampshire Advantage. The budget, he stated, cut from every tax on the books while still funding New Hampshire’s needs.

“We empowered families to find the best fit for their child’s educational needs, passed some needed reform to the governor’s emergency powers, and put an end to teaching the unfounded idea that an individual is inherently racist simply due to the color of their skin,” he said. “We delivered a $100 million statewide property tax cut, giving our residents direct relief. Our constituents demanded results on these issues, and House Republicans united to make sure we delivered. Granite Staters will be reaping the rewards of this transformational symphony of reforms for years to come and I look forward to building on our success next year.”

Not everyone though was happy about the budget.

Activists were at the Statehouse on Thursday protesting both inside and out the building upset about a 24-week abortion ban included in the budget bill as well as tax cuts for businesses, education vouchers, and language that bans public employees from teaching or training that any individual, by virtue of his or her age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. Five people were arrested during the protests.

House Democratic Leader Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) said he was “disappointed” in the governor’s decision to sign the bills.

“As our members explained on the House floor yesterday, this budget harms our state by cutting education funding, raising property taxes, and forcing right-wing ideology on the people of New Hampshire,” he said.

Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, called the bills “the most extreme, anti-choice budget New Hampshire has ever seen” while adding Sununu now had “the unique dishonor of passing an abortion ban and forcing New Hampshire women to undergo mandatory ultrasounds.”

Buckley said, “This budget doesn't just attack women’s reproductive freedom, it also prevents important conversations about the history of our country and cuts funding for public schools to send money to private and for-profit schools, raising property taxes on hardworking Granite State families. By signing this budget, Governor Sununu has shown his true colors as an anti-choice, anti-public education extremist — and rest assured New Hampshire voters will spend the next 18 months holding him accountable.”

Zandra Rice Hawkins, the executive director of Granite State Progress, said the budget had “some of the most extreme and devastating policies to ever be considered in New Hampshire.” She said, “from corporate tax giveaways to abortion bans to defunding public education and censoring discussions around systemic racism, sexism, and ableism, Governor Chris Sununu and his Republican majorities in the State House are pursuing a reckless agenda that puts our families and communities at risk.”

Members of the New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus, who were not completely happy with the budget proposal until the governor agreed to work toward future pandemic emergency power reforms, said the budget was a victory for some of their issues.

“We look forward to working with the Senate and the governor on further state of emergency reforms,” state Rep. Leah Cushman (R-Weare) said. “But this budget is a great first step for the people and the businesses of New Hampshire.”

State Rep Andrew Prout (R-Hudson) added, “Businesses, who struggled throughout the pandemic, no longer have the burden of charges and fines for violating orders We are leaving this pandemic behind with all citizens united and charges forgiven.”

ALSO READ:

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• Hundreds Protest New Hampshire Budget; State Police Called
• 5 Activists Arrested At Statehouse Protesting The State Budget
• RebuildNH Celebrates Meaningful Reform in 2021 Session
• Democrats Argue State Has More Pressing Needs Than Compensating Victims Of FRM Fraud
• NH ACLU Calls Anti-Discrimination Bill 'Crazy Pants Town,' Falsely Claims It Restricts Teaching History
• Text: The Language Of The So-Called ‘Divisive Concepts' Legislation In HB2
• Donor Towns, Tax Cuts, And The Elusive NH Education Funding Solution
• Podcast: NH Speaker Packard, Leader Osborne Talk 'Most Conservative Budget In 50 Years'
• O'Brien: Two Transformative New Hampshire Budgets
• Feltes: Setting The Record Straight On New Hampshire's Budget
• Manuse: For Liberty Activists, Senate Budget Deal = 'No Deal'
• Huyett: If Republicans Destroy The NH Budget, Sununu Will Look To The Democrats

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