Hassan on Budget: 'Clock is Ticking'

On the eve of key legislators meeting to mete out a state budget compromise, Gov. Maggie Hassan blasted out an email urging residents to add their names to a petition to legislators to underscore priorities like Medicaid expansion.

The messaging, which is via her political network "Friends of Maggie Hassan," has the subject line, "Clock is ticking..."

"If a deal cannot be struck, we will see cuts to health services, layoffs for hundreds of state employees, and the rejection of $2.5 billion in federal funds for Medicaid expansion, funds that would strengthen our economy and provide health coverage to thousands of working families," Hassan says in the email.

The email has a link to the petition (as well as a button to donate).

The governor concludes the email: "This is no time for partisan bickering. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get this done. I'm working hard to make sure we reach a balanced budget that will keep our state moving forward before we're out of time, but it's time to work together."

Members of the House and Senate are scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Friday for a committee of conference on House Bill 1, the $10.7 billion state budget for 2014-2015.

Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, in a phone interview with Patch on Thursday, echoed Senate President Peter Bragdon's remarks earlier this week that the two chambers are not all that far apart on the state budget.

Is Medicaid expansion a non-starter in the committee of conference?

Bradley said the Senate's position is pretty clear (the Senate voted, along party lines, to reject Medicaid expansion in favor of a study of it).

"Some states are saying 'no way,' we're saying let's look at it," said Bradley, referring to the study.

Medicaid expansion, however, remains a hot subject among Republicans. Bradley, when asked about fiscal challenges facing the state, replied that New Hampshire has to confront "Obamacare," which he described as a hurtling train bearing down on the state.