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Republicans Still Can't Say How They Would to Trim Budget
CONCORD - For months, Republicans have called for cuts to the state budget but still can't name a specific area of the budget that needs trimming.
Today, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley said enough is enough and again challenged Republican legislators to name their cuts or support the balanced budget proposal put forth by Democratic Leadership.
"If there is fat left in the state budget, Republican legislators should name it. Democratic Leaders have rolled up their sleeves and gone to work, cutting the budget line by line while Republicans have sat back and offered no solutions. It's time for Republicans to stop playing petty politics with our state finances and name their cuts," said NHDP Chairman Raymond Buckley.
With 2010 revenues projected lower than 2004 levels, Democrats have carefully scrutinized over the budget and outlined significant cuts to make up for the revenue shortfall. Their proposed cuts include:
· Reducing to the state's workforce by five percent
· Unfunding 200 state positions
· Extending the public employee hiring freeze for the next two years
· Eliminating a half dozen health and human service programs
· Freezes on travel and equipment purchases
· Closure of five district courthouses and the Laconia State Prison
Still, Republicans claim there is room to cut, but remain unwilling to name specific programs or areas to eliminate from the budget.
(Posted by Victoria Bonney, Communications Director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party)
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