KINGSTON – Following a dozen or so roll call votes on the subject of gay marriage spanning three months or so, we are finally able to put the controversial issue behind us, at least for now, so we can hopefully move on to the crucial debates on the budget and the financial future of our great state. Interesting enough, the print wasn’t even dry on the final roll call vote of HB73 when the Governor jumped into his chair, got his pen, and stroked his signature, before a large audience, to the three bills that comprised the gay marriage legislation, weaseling out of his promise to veto these bills. I am appalled at the Governor’s decision, disgracing the citizenry of our great state, and going against his word to veto this legislation.
So why do I think he signed these bills? With his next political step of running for Congress, and all the out of state big money that was poured into the state supporting this legislation, he’s now looking for their support as he runs for Congress. And guess who will be running to fill his shoes as Governor- you got it, the liberal Democrat from Exeter, State Senator Maggie Hassan.
While this was happening, the Senate Democrats were not-so-quietly making their big spending move, passing their own version of the state budget for 2010-2011, a whopping $11.6B (B as in billion) plan that raises a multitude of taxes and fees, relies on a half-billion dollars in one-time money and sends New Hampshire further down the road toward an Income Tax. Hopefully, the House side can focus our attention on matters that really touch the lives of every single resident of NH – the crazy overspending and increased taxation that the Democrats insist on including in the next biennial budget.
Already, acrimony is building as the state grapples with the 2010-2011 budget. You may think it looks bad now, but it is set to get worse. The bulk of funds from the federal government’s stimulus package will be allocated by 2011, but tax collections have become more sensitive to the business cycles and most likely won’t match the spending, and aren’t likely to be enough to take their place. How will we match the stimulus funds’ expansion of programs that won’t have the federal largesse after 2011?
The problem that we face is the way the Democrats are trying to paint the picture, that our only choice is between gambling, and a capital gains tax or an income tax. When in fact as I see it, the choice should be between cutting spending or raising taxes, and I don’t mean pushing the bills off to the county or municipality level. We must cut spending to make the budget balance; that’s the only way we can get through this tough economy. I will not be voting for any increase in spending.
In the last three years, the Democrats in Concord have increased spending by nearly 24%, rather than cutting spending trying to force us into an income tax. With the proposals, the Senate is counting on $536.9M in One Time Money to balance the 2010-2011 budget, setting the state up for a huge problem in the following biennium.
As you know from previous articles, the State Representatives from the towns within the county are all Delegates of the county responsible for the county budget. We have just received a letter from the Rockingham County Commissioners advising us of the continued cost shifting, from the state level, down into the county budget. I have spoken previously that this was coming. One potential risk for increased costs is for Nursing Facility and Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) in the coming fiscal years, which will add about $2M a year starting in 2011. The 10% additional cost for the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) employer contributions shifting from the state to municipalities will cost the county about $200K, and each municipality will also get this 10% cost increase to their town budget. The state will no longer be funding coverage for Medicaid eligible “over-the-counter” items, which will cost the county over $9K a year. The state will not provide staffing to complete the medical eligibility determinations for Medicaid eligibility, therefore the county will have to pick up the cost needed to provide staff training, time, and mileage which is in excess of $4K a year. The backlog of Superior Court cases due in part to shortages in judges and reduced jury trials, and funding cuts result in longer housing of inmates awaiting trial. A murder case now takes approximately 2-3 years to resolve, that’s about twice as long as it previously took.
Rockingham County currently has over 12 detainees in this situation, which will add up fast into hundreds of thousands of dollars. By closing the Superior Court jury trial cases in February, at least six felony level trials were delayed by as much as 7-10 months each, which cost the county upwards of $15K per detainee. This short term closing may take place again in the next few months, costing the county even more money. The NH Department of Corrections is considering ending funding of the Academy Program which creates the potential for a daily population increase of 25 prisoners which equals 9,125 bed days and approximately $550K. I will keep you updated on these and any other downshifting costs as I learn of them.
Lastly let me say, at a time that people are really struggling to pay their bills, property tax, and mortgages, and are worried about losing their jobs, or finding one if out of work, why would we spend more and more of our hard earned dollars? The Democrats are really working hard to spend your money by increasing the fees and taxes on things including: expanding the real estate transfer tax to include refinancing, motor vehicle, tractor trailer, and motorcycle registrations, drivers licenses, boating licenses, capital gains, inheritance tax, gun permits, vanity plates, a new saltwater fishing license, a toll increase in addition to eliminating EZ-PASS discounts, and another bill passed earlier that raised the tax on home heating oil.
Also as I said before, how about the plan to raid the medical malpractice fund of $110M, which is Not state money, to help fill this years budget deficit? I’m sure the doctors are already busy working on a lawsuit to prevent the taking of this money, which will leave an additional $110M hole in this years budget ending on June 30th. This is Wrong; we should be reducing spending by eliminating programs and services we can’t afford, or are no longer needed, and hold the line on taxes and fees. Even reducing any that are already too high.
(Editor’s Note: NH State Representative Mike Kappler can be reached at l.mikekappler@comcast.net)
