As we head into the home stretch with days to go before this very important election, we need to ask ourselves who would move our state forward with growth and opportunity in mind for all residents? Or who would continue to stymie that growth and opportunity for New Hampshire?
Let’s look into that. . .
The incumbent governor, Kelly Ayotte is asking us to send her back for another two years. But what did she accomplish in her first two? Well, right off the bat, this July she signed into law HB 1300, the so-called “property tax relief” bill. This question will appear on everyone’s ballot and is subtly designed to take away even more local control from towns and school districts. Another nail in the public education coffin and does nothing for tax “relief”. More detailed info here.
HB 155 cut the Business and Enterprise Tax (a boon to the wealthy) and reduces state revenue annually by more than $20 million. Signed into law by Ayotte in July.
HB 348 was a cruelty bill allowing towns to limit public assistance for those in need. A person must now “provide proof of residency prior to being approved for such assistance.” So, if you don’t live in the town you’re seeking help from, you may get no help at all. Signed into law by Ayotte in May.
HB1 and HB2 cut state education grants for 145 communities. The budget also did not restore NH’s contribution toward retirement costs for municipal police officers, firefighters and teachers. A reminder, ALL of these professionals put their lives on the line for others.
The budget did not increase public education funding or provide new school building aid, instead it cut education aid to municipalities by over $17 million statewide. However, Free Staters got the income cap for the school voucher scheme removed and funding for that was increased to $87 million. All approved by Ayotte, who is a fan of the school voucher scheme.
SB 62 removes the power of local towns and counties to have any say in how taxpayer funded law enforcement resources are used to support ICE efforts. Local control to decide local issues taken away again. Signed into law by Ayotte in May.
Beginning this past July, under Ayotte’s watch, NH Medicaid added monthly premiums for the first time ever, forcing an estimated 20,000 NH families enrolled in Medicaid to pay upwards of an additional $270 a month. Prescription drug copays are set to rise from $1–$2 to $4 per prescription.
Where do we rank compared to other states?
~NH ranks dead last in public K‑12 education funding, it is also last for public higher education funding on both per‑capita and per‑income measures and last in funding per student.
~NH ranked dead last in the 2022 Cost of Voting Index. The index compares 10 areas of voting laws and personal costs associated with the time and effort it takes to cast a ballot.
~A DOT (Dept. of Transportation) wage comparison of surrounding states puts NH again at the bottom.
~NH is 11th from the bottom for the federal minimum wage (which hasn’t risen since 2009).
~NH has the 4th highest property tax burden in the country.
~NH ranks 15th in housing costs, which is about 16.5% above the national average. Blackstone and the Kelly Ayotte connection | DemocracyNH
If only we had someone who is willing and eager to:
~Repeal the school voucher scheme that’s hurting public schools and driving up property taxes.
~Take on the housing crisis, invest in affordable housing solutions and rein in private equity.
~Reverse the unaffordable Medicaid premiums and higher prescription co-pays affecting mostly low-income families.
~Protect the state from unnecessary data centers that only drives up electric costs, threatens access to drinking water and contributes to noise pollution.
Oh, but we do.
During her time as the only Democrat on the Executive Council (2021-25), Cinde Warmington fought an uphill battle to protect access to health care and affordable housing, defend public schools, safeguard reproductive rights and expand access to child care services across the state. Four years later, the need for compassionate, common sense government for all of us has grown even more urgent as we watch NH hurtle towards the chaos and selfishness brought by Free Staters.
Cinde has been endorsed by organizations such as The Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, National Education Association-NH, to name a few. Pres. Obama, VP Kamala Harris and former US Atty. General Eric Holder have endorsed her, again to name a few. And a long list of current and former State Senators and Representatives (myself included) have endorsed her.
Chaos and mean-spirited cruelty is just not working for NH! Neither is the downward slide we’ve been on.
Let’s change that for the better on Nov. 3rd by putting Cinde Warmington in the governor’s seat.