Let’s look at a few of the agencies and organizations that the proposed House budget is looking to gut or eliminate altogether, aimed at destroying personal rights and safety nets for New Hampshire’s most vulnerable citizens. Can you imagine if it was you or a family member or friend who needed help or support?
On your own!
The NH Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders was created in 2008, providing coordinated leadership in managing the education, healthcare and service needs of individuals who have autism or a similar disability. The council was formed due to the growing occurrence of autism spectrum disorders in NH. Liberty Alliance member Rep. Jess Edwards R-Auburn (ripe and fertile) has sponsored HB 634, a bill seeking to repeal the Council.
The Dept. of Corrections Family Support is headed for the chopping block. The Family Connections Center (FCC) has provided family support services and parenting education in the NHDOC since 1998. The FCC has gone from providing support inside the prisons to working with community agencies that provide education and support for families affected by incarceration. The Annie E. Casey Foundation estimates that more than 15,000 children in NH have a parent who is incarcerated. But let’s throw that service out the window!
The NH Office of the Child Advocate, which is a 501(c)(3,) provides all victims of child abuse a neutral environment where equity, healing, prevention and justice are encouraged through the dependable, high quality and supporting collaboration of community partners. Now it’s headed for the chopping block. NH’s first center was the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County in 2000. They are dedicated to serving the needs of NH’s child victims by offering hope for a brighter future. Republicans want to eliminate that safeguard for CHILDREN!
In Sept., 2023, the NH Dept. of Education granted 77 schools a total of $713,601 to fund robotics programs for their students. Grants help to expand existing robotics programs within schools and create new programs that have not yet begun robotics teams. Funding is used to buy robotics kits, parts and tools, pay for registration and competition fees, transportation to events, team shirts and stipends for coaches or advisors. Republicans want this EDUCATION program cut.
Funding for Adult Education is to be cut by $1.6 million. Maybe they’ll leave the non-profit adult literacy program alone. I doubt it, as education again, is targeted by Republicans.
New Hampshire community health centers and community mental health centers receive a total of $1,050,000 to provide care and services to Granite Staters. With support from the Endowment for Health, 21 centers will each receive a one-time $50,000 operating grant. Uh-oh! This sounds too much like helping other people. Well, Republicans will see about that! They want a $38 million cut to Community Mental Health funds.
The NH Council on Developmental Disabilities is facing a $31 million cut. According to the council’s website they are “Dedicated to the pursuit of dignity and justice, authentic community inclusion, cultural competency, and self-determination for all New Hampshire residents with developmental disabilities.” Not something Republicans care about evidently.
The NH Commission on Aging, established in 2019 as an independent advisor to the Governor and General Court on policy and planning. Its mission is to give all citizens in NH the opportunity to thrive and be valued as they age. Going away as old people are clearly not valued.
The NH Commission for Human Rights is a state agency established by RSA 354-A for the purpose of education and enforcement of the law against discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation and K-12 public schools, because of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed/religion, color, marital status, familial status, disability or national origin. We can see why Republicans want this eliminated. Human rights? Unnecessary!
The goal of the NH Housing Appeals Board, established in 2020, is to 
provide an alternative forum to the NH Superior Court in zoning and planning cases that are fair, inexpensive, timely and accessible to affected property owners, abutters, other proper parties and municipalities. It allows people to appeal local rulings with a filing fee of $250, seriously less expensive than filing through the Superior Court. The Board’s responsibility is similar to the Superior Court in hearing appeals of all planning and zoning decisions as specified in NH RSA 679. They want that eliminated.
What is remarkable about the proposed House budget is how the Republicans are still hell-bent on expanding their school voucher program, in direct violation of the NH Constitution. And their repeated and consistent bills that slowly take away local control.
Sick of it? On Wed., April 9th at the State House in Concord at noon there will be a rally to #DemandABetterBudget! Come join us and be heard! Any one of us could find ourselves in need of any one of these agencies at any time in our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice to know help and support was there when you needed it?