Budget Battle Begins

By Trish Anderton on Thursday, February 15, 2001.

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Many House Republicans sat silent as Governor Jeanne Shaheen unveiled her budget proposal. NHPR's Trish Anderton reports this year's could be the most heated and partisan budget debate in memory.

EVERYTHING STARTED OFF WELL FOR GOVERNOR SHAHEEN; MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEAPED TO THEIR FEET AND APPLAUDED AS SHE ENTERED A CROWDED REPRESENTATIVES HALL. THEY LISTENED QUIETLY AS SHE TOUTED THE LEANNESS OF HER PLAN.

This budget is honest, its balanced and fis responsible. It holds rate of gen fund growth to less than rate of inflation. It meets challenges we face and reflects the values and priorities of our great state and its people.

BUT AS THE BUDGET SPEECH WENT ON, PARTY LINES IN THE HOUSE BECAME CLEARER AND CLEARER. DEMOCRATS STOOD AND CHEERED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY; REPUBLICANS SAT QUIETLY, GIVING TEPID APPROVAL EVEN TO POPULAR IDEAS LIKE REPEALING THE INHERITANCE TAX. FINALLY THE GOVERNOR TOOK A JAB AT HER UNRESPONSIVE AUDIENCE.

001 2017 gee I thought getting rid of taxes was something you repubs liked to do too

THAT NOT ONLY FAILED TO MOVE THE CROWD; IT ELICITED GRUMBLING AND CATCALLS. AFTER THE SPEECH REPUBLICAN TONY SOLTANI OF EPSOM SAID IF THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO SCORE POINTS FOR CUTTING TAXES, SHE SHOULD HAVE SIGNED A REPEAL OF THE INHERITANCE TAX WHEN IT WAS SENT TO HER LAST YEAR.

She vetoed the death taxes and I thought that was an unfair attack on repubs. But to this gov hypocrisy dosnt matter, making false promises doesnt matter, just symbolism and no substance, thats all it is. It was very upsetting..

BUT MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WERE OUTRAGED BY THE HOUSE'S BEHAVIOR. REPUBLICAN LIZ HAGER OF CONCORD.

002 102 I just thought it was unconscionable that people in our party wouldnt even politely clap for things they're supportive of as she is. // 002 140 the message is we're going to fight anything the gov thinks she can make pol hay out of and I don't think thats fair at all. I totally agree with her that we shd be working together in bipartisan fashion.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HER BUDGET WILL RAISE GENERAL FUND SPENDING BY 5-POINT-6 PERCENT, SOMEWHAT LESS THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION. THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 10-MILLION DOLLARS TO BRING THE NEW STATE PRISON IN BERLIN TO FULL OCCUPANCY; A 24-MILLION DOLLAR INCRASE IN BUILDING AID, KINDERGARTEN AID AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL ASSISTANCE, AND A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE EACH YEAR FOR THE STATE'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. THERE'S ALSO THREE-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE, AND OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO OPEN A NEW WING OF THE STATE VETERANS HOME. THE PROPOSAL WON PRAISE FROM DEMOCRATS LIKE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER PETER BURLING OF CORNISH.

005 20 heres a budget that comes in under inflation and meets the needs of the state. // the govs done a crackerjack job with numbers. This is a doc, these are principles, we can fight for.

BUT SKEPTICS IMMEDIATELY DELVED INTO THE NUMBERS AND SUGGESTED THAT THE BUDGET'S RATE OF GROWTH WAS HIGHER THAN THE GOVERNOR CLAIMED. REPUBLICAN NEAL KURK OF WEARE, THE POWERFUL CHAIR OF THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SAID CHANGES TO SOME DEPARTMENT STRUCTURES MAKE IT HARD TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE INCREASE.

Until we look at those unclear how signif changes are. I suspect they're going to be very much greater than 9 pct when we do an apples to apples comparison.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR JUST WHAT ROLE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WILL PLAY IN THE FISCAL PROCESS THIS YEAR. KURK HAS TAKEN THE UNUSUAL STEP OF BYPASSING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. INSTEAD THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL USE THE CURRENT BUDGET AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DEBATE.

13 237 we're breaking with tradn, and part of reason is I over years have been uncomf with thinking that the leg shd start its const repsons to devel a budget with someone else's idea. // we'll look at govs proposal, we'll look at other proposals, and come out with our own budget.

KURK ACKNOWLEDGES SOME DEMOCRATS ARE OFFENDED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN ISN'T GETTING THE DEFERENCE IT USUALLY DOES. HE EXPRESSES HOPE THE BUDGET DEBATE WON'T BE OVERLY PARTISAN. BUT WITH SO MANY SIGNS OF STRIFE IN THE AIR, FEW LAWMAKERS EXPECT AN AMICABLE PROCESS. REPUBLICAN FRANK SAPARETO OF DERRY.

I think we're gearing up for one of the most partisan batles of the century - well its a short century (laughs ) - the biggest i've ever seeen.

THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN WORK ON THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK. FOR NHPR NEWS I'M