Carroll County Republicans

Republican Speaker Nominee, Rep. Bill O’Brien (Mont Vernon) today announced that he was appointing Rep. Pamela Tucker (Greenland) as his Deputy Speaker and Rep. Gene Chandler (Bartlett) as his Speaker Pro Tempore in the 162nd Session of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

“I greatly look forward to working with Representatives Tucker and Chandler, two top notch Republicans, over the coming biennium,” stated O’Brien, entering his third term in the New Hampshire House. “We have a great opportunity before us, to right the many wrongs of the last four years, and I am confident that working with Rep. Tucker, Rep. Chandler and every other member of our caucus, we will be successful in making New Hampshire great again.”

Rep. Pamela Tucker, entering her second term in the NH House added, “I would like to thank Bill for this opportunity and look forward to serving the citizens of our state and working with every member of the House and tackling our state’s economic issues.”

“I am pleased to accept the position of Speaker Pro Tempore and look forward to advancing the Republican agenda in the House. I remain confident that all Republicans can work together toward solving the looming budget crisis in our state,” concluded Chandler, entering his fifteenth term in the House.

For Immediate Release November 22, 2010
Contact: Representative Will Smith
Phone: 436-6865
Email: willsmith975@yahoo.com

Bill O’Brien ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TEAM

CONCORD, N.H.— With an historic 298 Republican member majority elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Republican Speaker of the House nominee Bill O’Brien announced today his transition team to prepare for a quick start in the 162nd General Court, that starts in January 2011.

ADMINISTRATION
Representative Bob Mead, Hillsborough 4
Representative Pam Tucker, Rockingham 17

PUBLICITY AND MEDIA RELATIONS
Representative Peter Silva, Hillsborough 26
Representative Will Smith, Rockingham 18

COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Representative Robert H. Rowe, Hillsborough 6
Representative Paul Ingbretson, Grafton 5
Representative-Elect Stephen B. Stepanek, Hillsborough 6
Representative-Elect Paul Mirski, Grafton 10

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Representative Gary Daniels, Hillsborough 6
Representative Bob Mead, Hillsborough 4
Representative Al Baldasaro, Rockingham 3
Representative D.J. Bettencourt, Rockingham 4

HOUSE RULES
Representative Robert H. Rowe, Hillsborough 6
Representative-Elect Steve Winter, Merrimack 3
Representative Paul Ingbretson, Grafton 5

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND PENDING LSRs
Representative Pam Tucker, Rockingham 17
Representative John Cebrowski, Hillsborough 18
Representative Will Smith, Rockingham 18

PARKING AND SEATING
Representative Jenn Coffey, Merrimack 6
Representative Carl Seidel, Hillsborough 20
Representative John A. Hikel, Hillsborough 7
Representative Peter Silva, Hillsborough 26

THIRD PARTY RELATIONSHIPS
Representative-Elect Stephen B. Stepanek, Hillsborough 6
Representative David Bates, Rockingham 4

ORGANIZATION DAY AND MAJORITY LEADER CAUCUS
Representative John Cebrowski, Hillsborough 18

NEW MEMBER MENTORING STRUCTURE
Representative Jenn Coffey, Merrimack 6
Representative D.J. Bettencourt, Rockingham 4

A WISH, A PRAYER & A CREDIT CARD Part II
by NH Senator Jeb Bradley

In June, the Concord Monitor editorialized that “House and Senate Democrats balanced the state budget with a wish, a prayer and a credit card.” As campaigns approach the finish line, claims about the budget by its Democratic authors dominate debates. What’s spin? What’s reality? What’s it mean?

Democratic Claim 1: The current budget is balanced. That may prove technically accurate when the budget closes next July – after an audit. It’s pre-mature now, however and the rest of the story behind this election eve claim is critical.

In June, the Legislature faced a $300 million deficit which was closed on paper with more one-time Stimulus money, a $60 million sale of state assets that has not happened, and unprecedented borrowing for operating expenses that exceeded $150 million. Most hardworking citizens wouldn’t borrow to balance their family budget but that’s exactly what the Democrats did. And now they’re hoping we believe this Halloween trick is actually a balanced budget.

Democratic Claim 2: The current budget has a small surplus. That claim is also premature. Democratic budget writers made the first year of the budget look flush by moving $80 from the second year to the first year. This Enron-style accounting makes the first year budget numbers look good — conveniently in time for the onslaught of election eve advertising.

Will there be a surplus when the budget closes in nine months? It’s unlikely! The $60 million sale of state assets is bogged down and may not happen at all, which likely means more borrowing. Credit rating agencies may not have rapped NH’s knuckles for this unprecedented borrowing yet, but voters are fearful this Washington style behavior means looming trouble. Even Legislators who’ve voted for this unprecedented borrowing know it can’t be sustained.

If there truly is a surplus why is the State still trying to steal private property – doctors’ JUA Liability Fund — when that raid was previously ruled unconstitutional. If there is a genuine surplus why isn’t it going into the Rainy Day Fund?

Democratic Claim 3: State spending has been cut by 7%. Reality: total state spending increased from $10.4 billion in the previous budget to $11.5 billion in the current budget — an increase of 10.5%.

Democrats want to focus on the General Fund which represents one third of total state spending. They contend that General Fund spending is down $111 million. What really happened is that $208 million of spending was removed from the General Fund, only to reappear in other accounts.

This gave the appearance of a 3.5% cut — terrific political spin before an election. Add back the $208 million – because the money is being spent –the General Fund actually increased 3%. Spin that any way possible—it’s still not a cut.

Elected officials will always try to pick and choose some version of the facts which will make them look conservative with taxpayer money, but it’s the bottom line that counts. NH families realize bottom line spending increased 10.5% in NH while they were tightening their belts. There is no way to spin, misdirect or conjure away that pesky fact no matter how big your political advertising budget is.

Democratic Claim 4: Business Taxes Did Not Increase. Try explaining that statement to a small business owner who actually paid the LLC Income Tax before Republicans forced its repeal. Explain that to businesses paying higher unemployment insurance taxes. Furthermore, Democrats in the House passed both an estate and capital gains tax before Democrats in the Senate passed higher business taxes. They compromised by passing the job killing LLC Tax – without a public hearing.

Democratic Claim 5: 10% Spending Cuts Are Reckless. Irony of ironies — some Democrats who claim 10% cuts are reckless are actually proposing 5% cuts! In their world is a 5% cut — merely devastating?

In the current budget, Democrats cut $100 million of funding to cities and towns increasing everyone’s property taxes by roughly 3%. The State is being sued for that. The Court budget was cut. Civil trials have ground to a halt. The State is again being sued. So what is reckless?

Democratic Claim 6: There will be no Donor Towns. Another great political one-liner, but it’s flat out wrong. The education funding law will reinstitute 36 donor towns on July 1. I have actually filed the necessary legislation to prevent donor towns from returning. That legislation won’t even be considered until January and it must pass – not a certain prospect. So until then – donor towns return with a vengeance.

Here is the bottom line on these Democratic election eve claims: spending has exploded and some 97 taxes and fees were raised by Democrats in their two budgets to pay for this splurge. Even these 97 tax and fee hikes are not sufficient as virtually all independent budget observers expect the state to face a gargantuan budget deficit of $600 to $900 million. Voters will soon get to decide who truly is reckless.

As working families and small business owners struggle to make ends meet, voters are frustrated even furious. They are fed up with pretend spending cuts that actually are spending hikes. They are fed up with claims of a balanced budget and fictional surplus when the state will face its largest deficit – ever! They are fed up with scary borrowing that looks too much like Washington. And they are fed up with the impact that 97 tax and fee hikes has on their wallets and somehow despite all those taxes and fees, NH still finds itself on the verge of an income and sales tax if many Democrats have their way.

Facing disenchanted voters, candidates often find the narcotic of their own spin almost irresistible. Those disenchanted voters however are more likely to remember Mark Twain’s adage “figures don’t lie but liars figure.”
—

Jeb Bradley is a NH State Senator representing District 3, which includes Farmington, Middleton, and Milton in Strafford County.

On the last Sunday in September, in a front-page article, The New York Times reported that the Democrats’ strategy against Republicans in 2010 would be to use aggressive attacks on personal issues in an attempt to “save” their elections. The Times reported that Democrats across the country have been instructed to avoid discussing their fiscally irresponsible policies, and to run “negative advertising against Republicans using lawsuits, tax filing reports – and even divorce proceedings to try to discredit their opponents.”

This is exactly what Governor Lynch and the Democrats are trying to do in New Hampshire. In an effort to change the subject from the disastrous results of his inept spend-and-tax policy and from the debilitating national burden of trillion dollar deficits, the Governor and his State Party have unleashed the attack experts of their political committees to do their usual distract-and-destroy messaging.

We see those efforts in the dishonest phone “push polling” they have started against fiscally conservative NH State Senate candidates. John Lynch himself is running ads against John Stephen that attempt to dishonestly malign his character. In the Congressional races, Carol Shea-Porter and Ann Kuster are using false personal attacks, and in the Senate race, Paul Hodes is trying to smear Kelly Ayotte with untrue distortions.

We must remember, this is the standard procedure of the John Lynch’s State Party since he started running for Governor. Lest it be forgotten, Governor John Lynch won his 2004 election against the then incumbent Governor with a campaign based on extreme personal attacks on his opponent. There was virtually no focus on the traditional New Hampshire fiscal issues of spending and taxes. As usual, in that race, Governor Lynch left the tough attacks to his campaign committee. That allowed him to preserve the public image he works so hard to nurture, and to sound conservative.

In 2006 the pattern was the same. They attacked, and Lynch stayed above the fray. And even in the 2008 Obama big wave election, they kept up the personal attacks on all the opposing candidates. Lynch’s committee operatives honed their skills in those races, and for the most part they were able to maintain the attacks with little or no effective opposition.

Now we are in the midst of the 2010 election, and of course, Governor Lynch and his State Party are at it again. For the past year, every time a credible opposing candidate was announced, the Lynch committee attack crew went to work. They pounced when Attorney General Ayotte announced, and even went on the offensive before some of the opposition made formal announcements. And now that John Stephen has emerged as the nominee for Governor, John Lynch is trying to smear him with dishonest ads. He will use any false accusation to move attention away from the abysmal Lynch record.

In the past Democrats have been elected in New Hampshire by using a two-pronged strategy— by sounding like a conservative and by smearing their opponent. The disastrous performances in overspending, overtaxing, and creating a budget problem at both the state and national level should prove to the voters that Democrats might talk-the-talk, but they certainly cannot walk-the-walk. And when voters hear the bile and venom in the Governor’s ads, in the media, in the mail, or over the phone, they should recognize that it is just the Democrats trying to avoid the issues.

The State of New Hampshire and our country have serious problems. Our Republican candidates are trying to focus on policy changes and issues. Kelly Ayotte is running for the Senate committed to continue the strong conservative approach of Senator Judd Gregg. Our Congressional Candidates have targeted cutting the unconscionable growth of Federal spending and ObamaCare as their first priority. And most important Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta will vote to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. And here in New Hampshire, John Stephen is committed to make the tough decisions needed to fix the $800 million hole in the budget. This election is too important to let the Democrats steal it with dishonest political smears.

John H. Sununu
Chairman
New Hampshire GOP

So said the Concord Monitor in their June 13th Editorial titled “Not a State Budget to be Proud Of.” How did the Democratic controlled New Hampshire Legislature get into such a predicament?

Spending has jumped by 10.5% while revenues fell through the floor — $102 million behind the estimate for the first eleven months of this fiscal year. Leading the revenue plunge are business taxes — off $43 million, rooms and meals taxes — off $20 million, and interest and dividends taxes — off a whopping $27 million. With the economic recovery anemic at best, revenues are not likely to improve any time soon.

On top of that, the effort to simply expropriate $110 million from a doctor’s medical liability fund (JUA) was deemed to be an unconstitutional taking of private property. All of which created a budget deficit estimated at $300 million by June 2011 when books close — up from a $220 million projection just in April.

Governor Lynch recently called a ‘Special Session’ of the Legislature to confront this alarming deficit — about 10% of the state’s General Fund. The package that emerged from the Special Session includes unprecedented borrowing and one-time revenue sources, uncertain receipt of federal funds, and unspecified sale of State property: The Credit Card.

The non-partisan Legislative Budget Assistant projects one-time revenue sources in the original budget and in the recent deficit package exceed $1 billion. Even excluding the $110 JUA raid and a $50 million reduction of funds that traditionally has gone to cities and towns to lower property taxes – this combined budget package relies upon a whopping 27% of one-time revenue for the General Fund. Nearly $200 million of that amount is unprecedented borrowing for operating expenses rather than capital investments such as buildings or bridges. Much of the balance of one-time revenue was federal stimulus funds.

Even stimulus funds may have reached their limit. Americans, fearful of a Greece-like debt crisis have sent Congress a message. Several incumbents have lost or barely survived recent primaries so Congress has yet to authorize more state aid. Thus $48 million of even more one-time federal money Legislators counted on is in limbo. Whoops – the check is not in the mail even though desperate Legislators are declaring it will be.

The deficit package also relies on unspecified sale of State property. While this idea may make sense, in a very soft real-estate market how likely is the State to receive reasonable value? When this idea was first proposed several weeks ago the estimated revenue proceeds were $50 million. Like magic, the revenue projections just jumped to $60 million. Presto: revenue grows when Legislators simply deem the real estate market has improved.

What about cuts? There were some cuts totaling $52 million but only 1.6% of the General Fund. This so-called $300 million deficit fix in reality is limited cuts, huge borrowing, and one-time revenue — some of which may not even be real.

Where do all these maneuvers leave the budget? The authors claim the budget is now balanced, precisely what they predicted a year ago before it became a $300 million deficit. For the budget to balance now, they are counting on the unlikely prospect of revenue recovery.

The Prayer: what all the borrowing and one-time revenue does is allow the budget’s authors to cynically claim it is balanced for political purposes in November and pray they avoid the voter’s wrath for their spendthrift ways. But next year—facing nearly a billion dollar one-time revenue shortfall, New Hampshire will confront a fiscal train wreck.

While spending soared and the deficit grew, the numerous tax hikes over the last four years have hurt struggling families, besieged small businesses, while leaving New Hampshire less competitive for job growth or able to confront this looming deficit. In the previous budget, 29 taxes or fees were hiked. In this budget, 38 taxes or fees were raised including the job killing LLC Tax — nothing more than an income tax on small businesses. The LLC Tax turned out to be so toxic to both small businesses and the Democrats who voted for it, that it was repealed. Even with the repeal, New Hampshire still has the worst corporate tax laws in the nation according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation.

Other warning signs from the Tax Foundation for our State include one of the highest levels of state debt per capita, being only slightly below the national average for state and local tax burden, and having among the higher levels of property taxes in the nation.

All these new taxes and warning signs in terms of national rankings are against the recent backdrop of 50,080 New Hampshire people being unemployed and the national pace of job growth anemic at best.

Four short years ago when change came to both Concord and Washington, the unemployment rate in New Hampshire was 3.6% and 26,865 people were unemployed. In April, the unemployment rate had soared to 6.7% and 50,080 were out of work. Having the worst corporate taxes and a Legislature willing to levy an income tax on small business owners is no way to get people back to work.

There are those legislators — and now candidates — who want to ignore the taxes, spending hikes, and deficits of the last four years and claim their stewardship of New Hampshire has been responsible. They point to other states in worse shape than New Hampshire, but ignore the fact that these other states have even higher levels of spending and taxation. Comparing New Hampshire to even more profligate states is no way to govern or help struggling families and small businesses.

The Wish: many of these same folks have always wished for income and sales taxes. Next year they will likely propose an income tax and a sales tax to close the budget hole they created. There could not be a clearer choice in November or a more important election for our State’s future.
—

Jeb Bradley is a NH State Senator representing District 3, which includes Farmington, Middleton, and Milton in Strafford County.

Imitation: The Sincerest Form of Flattery
by Jeb Bradley

So Charles Colton wryly wrote in the 19th Century observing human nature. Two centuries later, Colton might opine that in politics — imitation is more a masquerade — a way to co-op your opponent to win elections!

Our liberal Democratic friends have astutely won elections claiming as loudly as possible –despite all evidence to the contrary — that they are indeed frugal with taxpayers’ wallets. That high decibel assertion starts with Governor Lynch’s previous Pledge to veto an income or sales tax. Lynch coasted in his last two elections. New Hampshire historically has wanted no part of either tax, rightfully understanding that our overall tax burden would climb to New Jersey or Connecticut levels.

Liberals however, do grumble about the Pledge. Lynch actually faces a primary from Rep. Tim Robertson of Keene who apparently believes he is the real Democrat in that primary.

Voters may be discovering imitation for what it is — that actions actually speak louder than words. In this era of staggering deficits; frugality, and claims of frugality are different. 

Political misdirection can work — until bills come due.And have the bills ever come due! Liberals in Concord increased spending by 23% over two budgets while hiking 67 taxes and fees.
Revenue under-performed, so liberals resorted to stealing $110 million of private funds (JUA) belonging to physicians. Even after the Supreme Court nixed that plan, they are still trying to change the rules to pilfer the doctors’ money.

Two of the 67 new taxes, the Camping Tax and the LLC Income Tax were so egregious they were repealed. Several others such as capital gains, estate, gasoline, higher business taxes, and town taxes on rooms and meals passed either the House or Senate before being ultimately dispatched. Rest assured though, those taxes are on the shelf—ready to go.

Excuse the cynicism, but isn’t it hilarious to see politicians who touted the LLC Income Tax as a mere loophole closure, now backslapping each other upon repeal? 

It’s also dumbfounding when liberals now cheerfully accuse fiscal conservatives of trying to foist the largest property tax increase in history on New Hampshire residents. For blatant political spin … that’s super-sized. Why? These same liberal Democrats downshifted over $100 million of costs to cities and towns raising property taxes — and are being sued for these shenanigans by the organization that represents cities and towns, the NH Municipal Association.

It gets worse!

Faced with a $600 million deficit in the next budget due to chronic over-spending, over-borrowing, and over-reliance on the Stimulus, Governor Lynch has ordered department heads to pare budgets by 5%. Yet only months ago when a number of us proposed exactly that legislation, it was panned and consigned to legislative rubbish.

Liberals have also become afflicted with a severe case of Pinocchio Nose Syndrome when discussing NH’s business climate and our ranking by the Tax Foundation. See “Facts and Figures” at www.taxfoundation.org. The Tax Foundation uses five different indexes to rank every state. Corporate Taxes: NH is 50th — worst in the nation. Unemployment Insurance Taxes: NH ranks 39th.  Property Taxes: NH is 40th.

Thankfully our overall ranking is 7th but only because of NH’s rank of 9th for income taxes and 2nd for sales taxes. Those high ranks are achieved because NH’s resisted both broad-based taxes.

Perhaps it’s refreshing our liberal friends would care about NH’s business climate after their binge of taxing and spending. However, they’ve hardly stood shoulder to shoulder with fiscal conservatives opposing both taxes over the years. They could help maintain that favorable business ranking by pledging to vote against an income or sales tax next January when the rubber meets the road and NH collides with a budget deficit of historic proportions. The $600 million projected deficit represents nearly 20% of our General Fund.

With profound economic uncertainty and business climate concerns paramount, voters are parsing candidate’s promises and performance. The Americans for Prosperity survey is illustrative: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/new-hamps    It asks direct questions: will you cut taxes, fees, and oppose an income or sales tax? Will you cut spending and the size of government? Will you uphold the NH and US Constitutions?

Of the candidates for the NH Senate who signed this pledge, only one — that’s right just one — is a Democrat. The rest who signed are Republicans.

The jam for liberal Democrats in NH is that they not so secretly pine for an income or sales tax. Recall Governor Jeanne Shaheen once proposed a sales tax. An income tax actually passed in the House in 1999 predominantly supported by Democrats, and yes several Republicans.

This liberal drumbeat in Concord, or for that matter in Washington, has not changed. They contend Americans are obligated to pay their full fair share of taxes. Thus, it’s easy for liberal legislators to pass the LLC Income Tax –without a public hearing –then claim it just closes a loophole. That’s their worldview despite the burden falling squarely on small business owners who NH relies upon to create jobs and lift the economy.

Most liberals won’t campaign for either an income tax or sales tax. They’re too faithful to their cause to fall on that sword. But, when faced with at least a $600 million deficit in the next budget, what will they do? When faced with nearly a $300 million deficit in the current budget, they could barely muster the will to cut $52 million.

Will they reform our Medicaid system, 10th costliest in the nation? Will they curtail a costly education funding plan that Phoenix-like re-creates donor towns? Will they implement across the board cuts previously rejected, support pension and health care reform and make other cuts? Don’t bet the farm.

Liberal Democrats’ non-answers on tax surveys illustrate the difficulty of imitating fiscal conservatives when the bills mount. Perhaps their silence now, helps elect them. Let’s see if they also jump for joy like John Kerry did when he discovered high taxes actually apply to him!
–
Jeb Bradley is a NH State Senator representing District 3, which includes Brookfield, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Moultonborough, Ossipee, Sandwich, Tamworth, Tuftonboro, Wakefield and Wolfeboro which are located in Carroll County.

Candidates for NH State Offices also took the CNHT Pledge.

The NH GOP Victory Offices are now up and running across the state, and there is a critical need for volunteers to help out with the effort so we can sweep the Democrats out of office in November. Said offices are located in Bedford, Nashua, Salem, Keene, Stratham, and Laconia.

They will be running phone banks everyday and need volunteers to come in and help man the office, make survey calls right into their own towns, help with mailings, and help go door to door.

If you can help out with this effort, contact the person listed below at the office that would be most convenient for you to volunteer at:

Bedford Office – Simon Thomson – simon@nhgop. org or 415-0236

Laconia Office – Mike Ciccio – mikec@nhgop. org or 712-2301

Also, Republican candidates can put their signs up at offices, drop off materials, and local candidates can make calls right into their district.

If you need further information please call the nearest victory office or contact BJ Perry directly at 603-225-9341 or bj@nhgop.org

The Democratic authors of New Hampshire’s budget and its current $300 million deficit have accelerated into full spin campaign mode. They are chanting across New Hampshire that tough decisions were made, the budget is balanced, taxes are low, and the economy will recover.

Democrats are hoping to lull voters to sleep until November so nobody realizes the budget cradle is about to fall.

What did the budget package do and what are its authors not telling you?

First and foremost, overall state spending increased dramatically from $10.4 to $11.5 billion, or 10.5% on top of a similar 11.2% increase in the previous budget.

Second, 38 taxes or fees were raised in this budget on top of 29 in the previous budget. Some of the most notable hikes were the LLC Income Tax on small business owners, the Camping Tax, higher Rooms and Meals Taxes, more cigarette taxes, a tax on gambling winnings, higher boat and car registration fees, and higher highway tolls. Many Democrats also tried to implement a capital gains tax, an estate tax, remove a key business tax credit, and raise the gasoline tax. They also shortchanged cities and towns by nearly $100 million which has the perverse impact of raising homeowner’s property taxes. The LLC and Camping Tax proved so toxic to the NH economy even those who proposed them without a public hearing, capitulated and joined Republicans in repealing them.

Third, this budget relies on unprecedented one-time money which according to the non-partisan Legislative Budget Assistant approaches $800 million. These one-time dollars include unspecified sale of state assets, unsustainable amounts of abnormal borrowing, and federal stimulus funds exceedingly unlikely to ever be replicated. In fact, $48 million federal dollars that New Hampshire budget authors relied upon to fill the current $300 million hole has been tabled by Congress.

Fourth, due to one-time money the next budget confronts a much more daunting deficit. Having already voted for and implemented 67 separate tax and fee hikes in the current and previous budgets and having tried to pass several more notable tax hikes, it’s no wonder why Democrats are trying to lull voters to sleep.

If Democrats control the Legislature in 2011, voters can expect they will have the Tax-Man on speed dial. Facing unprecedented budget deficits, they are likely to call for income and sales taxes – perhaps both.

With 50,000 of our neighbors recently unemployed in New Hampshire the stakes for economic recovery in November could not be higher. The key question for voters: does New Hampshire succumb to Democrat’s yearning for income and sales taxes? Or do we restructure and shrink state government to make it less costly?

Voters deserve choices. So what might less costly government involve.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, New Hampshire has the 10th most costly Medicaid system in the nation, 38% above the national average. Implementing managed care as many other states have – Blue and Red – and reducing costs to the national average, could save nearly $300 million. Our current fee for service Medicaid structure encourages over-utilization. States that have implemented managed care have saved money and maintained quality. It can be done here too.

Legislatively mandated changes to education funding will cost state taxpayers $140 million in the next budget. But 123 communities will lose funds and the statewide property tax will return with vengeance for 42 communities. Maintaining the existing formula saves $140 million until a Constitutional Amendment that allows targeted state aid to communities most in need can finally be presented to voters.

Budget reform is long overdue. Currently department heads must submit budget proposals which maintain existing services – a built-in prescription for ever-more costly government. The law should be changed to require department heads to also propose a 5% budget reduction so that the Legislature can set priorities and achieve savings.

With a $7 billion unfunded liability in our public employee retirement system, reform is also overdue. Taxpayers can no longer shoulder the overwhelming burden of paying for retirement benefits most taxpayers can only dream about for themselves. Further we should look to states like Indiana to achieve significant savings in health care costs for public employees.

Other ideas for savings include consolidating human resource functions across departments, consolidating contracting for human service providers, and increased home confinement for non-violent offenders.

Structural reforms are necessary to protect taxpayers including a line-item veto for governors and protection from frivolous legal challenges for voter approved local tax caps.

So let’s have this debate about the looming budget train wreck. It’s healthy to debate big ideas – higher taxes vs. shrinking government. Please remember, those humming the Rock A Bye Budget Lullaby also know the bough is breaking and when the cradle falls — it will be right into taxpayer’s pockets.
—

Jeb Bradley is a NH State Senator representing District 3, which includes Brookfield, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Moultonborough, Ossipee, Sandwich, Tamworth, Tuftonboro, Wakefield and Wolfeboro which are located in Carroll County.