With the government shutdown now in its second week, there’s growing bipartisan concern in New Hampshire about the impact on state tourism and the local economy.
But there’s a difference of opinion on who’s to blame in Washington.
With Columbus Day weekend approaching, nearly two dozen campgrounds on federal land in the White Mountain National Forest remain closed due to the shutdown.
State Representative Warren Groen of Rochester says the state’s tourists and business owners are paying the price.
“This is not about a lack of funding due to Congressional inaction. This is about malicious Washington bureaucrats with marching orders to inflict maximum damage is what this is all about.”
Joined by a small group of House Republicans at a Concord press conference, Groen said President Obama must “play ball” and negotiate with the GOP.
In a statement, Governor Maggie Hassan says the shutdown is hurting the state’s economy in several ways, from workers not getting paychecks to small businesses not being able to access loans.
But Hassan, a Democrat, says it’s up to Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the federal government.
Columbus Day weekend is historically the third-biggest for tourism in the state.
