New Hampshire Lawmakers Pass Budget After Initial Setback
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire lawmakers successfully passed a state budget Thursday after an initial defeat in the House. The budget, which had previously cleared the Senate, failed to pass the House by a narrow margin of one vote. After further deliberation, House members reconsidered and approved the budget with a vote of 185-180.
Governor Kelly Ayotte, alongside Republican leaders, announced a last-minute compromise aimed at creating a balanced budget. “We worked together to deliver a fiscally responsible, balanced budget for all of New Hampshire,” Ayotte stated, emphasizing the importance of supporting the state’s most vulnerable citizens. Key points of the budget included an adjustment to Manchester school funding and the capping of pension reforms for first responders at $145,000 per year.
Despite the victory, opposition emerged from Democratic leaders, with Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka criticizing the budget’s shortcomings in addressing essential issues like housing, childcare, and healthcare costs. "This budget does almost nothing for any of those," she warned, arguing it would negatively impact affordability in New Hampshire.
To prevent a government shutdown, lawmakers had prepared a continuing resolution. However, with the budget’s passage, Governor Ayotte plans to sign it into law by Monday, aligning with the fiscal year deadline. The resolution marks a crucial step for state funding, though debates on its impact will likely continue.
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