State House Rally Highlights Concerns Over Proposed Budget Cuts
Concord, NH — Hundreds gathered at the State House on Tuesday to advocate against proposed budget cuts from the New Hampshire House, which threaten critical services across various sectors, including healthcare and higher education.
Among the vocal critics were medical providers, arts organizations, prison guards, and firefighters. One poignant testimony came from Nancy Lord, a single mother of a son with autism who relies heavily on Medicaid services. “I cannot take care of him myself,” Lord emphasized to Senate budget writers at the hearing, urgently appealing for the preservation of essential services.
Robert Getchell, a Manchester resident accessing Medicaid, described his struggle to make ends meet despite collecting cans on the streets. He implored lawmakers not to diminish his already limited support.
The proposed budget from the House includes a troubling 3% cut to Medicaid providers. Governor Kelly Ayotte, opposing these cuts, expects the Senate to concur with her revenue forecasts, which project $650 million more in tax collections than those anticipated by the House. This critical revenue forecast will be reassessed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Students also voiced concerns over a proposed 30% reduction in funding to the state’s universities and colleges, which could result in tuition hikes and program eliminations. Jeremiah Githu, a Plymouth State University sophomore, warned that such cuts would drive students to seek affordable education out of state. “There’s not an incentive to stay here if there’s no education for us,” he stressed.
Taylor Barry, a freshman at the University of New Hampshire, fears cuts could jeopardize her major in community and environmental planning. “That kind of sucks because I really love my major,” she lamented, expressing worries about its future viability.
As the Senate deliberates, advocates hope their message will resonate with policymakers to avert dire consequences for New Hampshire’s residents and students.
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