House and senate negotiators have completed their work on the state's budget. While Republicans legislative leaders hail the 2.7 billion dollar package as a responsible funding of state priorities, many democrats, including Governor Lynch, have reservations. New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers reports.
The ultimate fate of the state's spending plan remains unclear……Governor Lynch, for his part, says he's yet to rule out a veto should the spending package make it to his desk unchanged..
"I want to know further what the final amendments were in regards to easy pass.There were a number of issues discussed in terms of the powers given to the commissioner of health and human services. I'd like to understand better the disposition of those discussions, ao I'll need to look at HB 2 carefully before making a decision."
The Big Numbers
- $2.7 billion. The total from general tax sources for operating expenses excluding basic education aid. Spending increases about 6 percent over the current budget, or about $153 million.
- $47 million. Roughly the amount cut from Gov. John Lynch's budget, which was about 8 percent higher than the current budget.
- $472 million. The non-property tax school aid to be distributed next year.
- $370 million. The projected shortfall resolved by counting on the economy for higher revenues, limiting spending growth, recouping tax mistakes through auditing, sales and increasing traffic fines.
- 28 cents. The increase in the per-pack cigarette tax dedicated to education aid. New rate would be 80 cents and would raise $87 million. The tax also would be applied to loose tobacco to raise $2 million.
Source: Associated Press
Republican leaders, meanwhile say anyone who does scrutinize the budget should come to a single conclusion. House Speaker Doug Scamman.
"As people look at what's in that budget,be they democrats, republicans, liberals or conservatives, they're going to see they have a pretty good product that meets the needs of the state and didn’t raise a lot of taxes. I can't believe the legislature as a whole won't pass the budget knowing that it's a pretty good package overall."
But according to some Democrats, the Speaker may be getting ahead of himself…..No Democratic budget conferee was willing to sign off on the final proposal…..Among other things, their reservations include concerns over health and human services funding……the failure to fund an additional 14 state troopers……And also decision to not add more money to the L-Chip program…….House Democratic leader Jim Craig says Democrats are also particularly rankled over two last minute budget adjustments.
"I think that 11 million dollars was a kicker for some of us and the granite care issue is in there and that's a problem…..There's lots of things……And right now I think the bad outweighs the good."
Craig is alluding to the push by GOP lawmakers to use an unexpected 11 million dollar surplus in the health and humans services budget for tax relief rather than to fund programs……He's also talking about the decision to include the provisions of a bill to that seeks to keep people out of nursing homes and clamp down of people who hide or divest themselves of assets to become medicaid eligible……GOP leaders insist the moves were prudent……..But some also concede they will defenietly influence the the final vote.
"I think it adds a little more drama to the budget of whether it passes or fails."
…….New Hampton representative Fran Wendelboe is house deputy majority leader……She says the adding the nursing home provision the budget while it also exists as a stand alone measure creates a something of muddle.
"I would have perferred for the governor to have gotten the bill in time for him to make a decion up or down on it and then had the ability to add it to the trailer bill after his action……But if that's the way it ended up, that's the way it ends up."
The legislature as a whole will vote on the budget next week……The fiscal year ends next Friday…….Absent a budget, lawmakers will have to pass a temporary spending plan until an agreement can be reached.
