Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!
News from everywhere *but* Central New Hampshire.

Ayotte: We Have Divided Government And Lots Of Challenges

Chris Jensen for NHPR

Sen. Kelly Ayotte says she's optimistic that a deal can be reached to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff at the end of the year.  Ayotte held a town meeting in Pittsburg Friday and the major topic was the economy.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen was there.

Talking to about 150 people in the tiny Northern town, Kelly Ayotte said the Democrats and the Republicans got the country into the debt crisis together.

“It is going to take two parties to get us out of it. We have divided government in Washington and we've got a lot of challenges.”

She said she isn’t sure how President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner will work out their differences.

“I’d like to remain hopeful because it is so important that we resolve these issues.”

But Ayotte said raising taxes on couples making more than $250,000 a year is not the answer.

Credit Chris Jensen for NHPR
Some at the meeting expressed concern about cuts to benefits and said taxes should be raised on the wealthy.

Ayotte said such an increase would hurt small businesses.

Several in the crowd refuted that, saying  only a very small percentage of those who would be affected own small businesses.

For NHPR News this is Chris Jensen

Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.