After Nearly a Decade of Republican Leadership, Ayotte Urges Need to “Recalibrate” and “Operate Within Our Means”

CONCORD – Today, Governor Ayotte delivered her budget address emphasizing a need to “recalibrate” after nearly a decade of irresponsible Republican leadership that has prioritized tax breaks and handouts for the wealthiest. While the ultra-rich and multinational corporations are doing better than ever – hard-working families are feeling the pinch and the American Dream feels increasingly out of reach. Now, Governor Ayotte and her State House Republican allies will ask struggling Granite Staters to support wealthy special interests through higher property taxes with no promise of investment in working families. 

In response, Angela Brennan, Bow Selectboard Chair, and Abby Kincaid, University of New Hampshire Sophomore, released the following statements with 603 Forward and NH Youth Movement: 

“As someone who has to balance my town’s budget – I see firsthand the impacts of our housing crisis, underfunded public schools, overburdened healthcare system, and crumbling infrastructure. Years of ultra-conservative mismanagement of our state means we get a Governor’s budget that leaves all of us to cover the painful financial shortfall for essentials: schools, infrastructure, and public safety with higher property taxes,” said Angela Brennan, Bow Selectboard Chair

“As a state, we need to invest in our future, young people are our future and this budget doesn’t reflect that. My tuition is going up in the fall and my state university has to make massive cuts, but Governor Ayotte is choosing to give away the state’s education funds to private schools instead of investing in our public education. Young people and working families don’t need a lecture from a millionaire who got rich from corporate boards to tell us how to “tighten our belt.” With this budget, she’s made it clear that real Granite Staters are not her priority,” added Abby Kincaid, Sophomore at University of New Hampshire

Granite Staters deserve a budget that invests in people and communities—not one that prioritizes special interests. 603 Forward and NH Youth Movement call on lawmakers to take action to correct these shortcomings and ensure that our state’s budget reflects the needs of all Granite Staters. We urge the legislature to invest in solutions that address our housing crisis, strengthen public education, expand access to healthcare, and build a more prosperous and equitable future for all.

603 Forward envisions a thriving New Hampshire where people are free to live, work and raise a family. In our New Hampshire: democracy is protected above all else; young people have a voice in government at all levels; and policy changes to help build an inclusive, affordable and resilient state.

NH Youth Movement is a movement of young people working to transform the New Hampshire political system so it serves and is led by the people it has left behind. By engaging youth across the state, we can support our communities, and confront systems that divide us as we fight for collective liberation.

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