The New Hampshire House of Representatives recently passed a budget that includes significant cuts to state spending, partially attributed to past tax cuts enacted by Republican lawmakers over the past decade. The budget slashes $643 million from Governor Kelly Ayotte’s budget proposal and includes reductions in various services, such as mental health and developmental disability services, state jobs, and funding for the university system.
These cuts come in the context of previous reductions in business taxes, resulting in a loss of millions in revenue for the state. Despite claims that tax breaks for businesses and individuals would stimulate economic growth, the Fiscal Policy Institute found no significant correlation between tax rates and job growth.
Critics argue that these budget cuts disproportionately affect lower-income individuals, while expanding programs like Education Freedom Accounts that allow even wealthy residents to access public school funds for private schooling. The budget also includes fee increases and reductions in Medicaid reimbursements.
While some of these cuts may be reversed as the budget process continues, the overall impact reflects a pattern of prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over essential services for the general population. Ultimately, the budget highlights the challenges faced by ordinary residents in New Hampshire amidst a push for fiscal austerity.
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