Former Gubernatorial Candidates Blast Hassan Budget

It was only a matter of time before a few of Maggie Hassan’s former rivals for the corner office sounded off on her budget proposal.

As news began to leak out about her 2014-2015 budget that relies on money from a potential gambling casino that hasn’t been approved, Democrat Bill Kennedy who ran in 2012, sounded off on the proposal, calling it “disheartening” to see “the lemmings and ostriches being duped into believing that (casino gambling) is the panacea for our financial/revenue ills.” Kennedy said Hassan's reliance on gambling money shouldn’t surprise anyone since her campaign was “lined with outside gambling money.” Kennedy was also critical of Republicans who had abandoned their anti-gambling political position while hoping to get some of those campaign contributions.

“There are better revenue alternatives than selling NH's proverbial soul for a short-term revenue fix,” Kennedy said. “Shame on those who see it as a viable option when 35 years of prior law enforcement, state’s attorney generals and governors did not! It appears money and desperation can buys support.”

Another former candidate, Republican Kevin Smith, also responded to the proposal noting that state law requires a balanced budget but that fiscal responsibility requires “only spending money that you have,” something Hassan was not doing.

“[Hassan is] spending money she hopes to have via expanded gaming while outsourcing other revenue triggers to the legislature to pay for things such as roads and bridges,” he noted in an email.

Other responses

House Republicans, like GOP Leader Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett, were also critical of the budget saying that relying on gambling money that “hasn’t even passed this Legislature” was setting the state “up for failure.”

He added, “This budget will place an additional burden on our state's business and residents with increased taxes and fees including increasing the gas tax and bringing back the auto registration tax. Tax increases along with a promise to take away school choice and opportunity for our state's most underprivileged children is not the innovation Governor Hassan spoke about on the campaign trail.”

State Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, another GOP leader, said she was also “deeply concerned” by the tax increases in the budget.

“The Governor talks about improving the economy but in her budget she proposes a number of anti-business tax increases and aggressive audits,” she said. “We need to encourage responsible business success and job creation, not impose disincentives and barriers for economic growth as this budget does.”

However others, like the leadership of the state's largest government union, offered positive comments about the budget.

SEA President Diana Lacey said she was “encouraged” by Hassan’s remarks adding that SEA members should “commend” Hassan for putting a budget the moved the state forward.

“For too many years, the state budget has been eroding the building blocks that made the Granite State one of the best places to live and raise a family,” she said. “The overall tone of Governor Hassan’s speech indicates she has a clear understanding of how to leverage our precious resources to bring maximum value to the people of NH. It is no small feat to stand before the state as a new Governor and call for policy makers to move the state forward and out of one its darkest periods.”

Democrats were also positive about the budget announcement. Here are links to statements from House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, and state Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, who is the Democratic majority leader on the senate.