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You're Doing a Heckuva Job, Governor Lynch and NH Legislature!

by: Michael Marsh

Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 10:31:00 AM EST
(Title threw me for a bit... - promoted by Dean Barker)

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities periodically provides an update on the deteriorating situation with the various states' budgets. Their latest update came out last week (http://www.cbpp.org/9-8-08sfp.htm).  Here is the nickel tour, focusing on NH.
Michael Marsh :: You're Doing a Heckuva Job, Governor Lynch and NH Legislature!
Overall, 46 of 50 states face a deficit in the current budget year ending June 30, 2009. The ones that don't are mining states. Even Governor Palin's Alaska can't be saved by its oil this year.

Our Republican brethren criticized us last year because we were projecting a deficit, but early detection and taking the appropriate steps has been a savior for us. While 46 states suddenly discovered an average increase in their 2009 budget deficit of over 10%, we are forecasting only 1.6% more. This is the second lowest of any state and is due to the early and excellent work done by the Governor and legislature. As much as we worry about our situation, what would we do if we suddenly discovered we faced an increase that was 6 times worse and we had 4 months to solve it?

Overall, states are expecting almost $100 billion in deficits this year. That's almost 15% of their total spending. New Hampshire's deficit is only 8%, lower than any state in New England or the entire northeast for that matter. California is forecasting an eye-popping 35% deficit. Nine other states face deficits over 20%.

Next year, the cumulative deficit in all of the states is expected to increase by 50%, and in 2011 it will be double this year. That's a tough economic headwind for Governor Lynch and our legislature to fight. We should acknowledge it.

The next time a New Hampshire Republican opines that "we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem" in your vicinity, you might consider giving them a little education on the subject.
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You're Doing a Heckuva Job, Governor Lynch and NH Legislature! | 9 comments
...reads like an (0.00 / 0)
Mike,

This reads like the foundation of an EXCELLENT op-ed. If you write it I will get the staff to get it out if you want.

Ray

2012 starts today.

Ok, I'll work on it (0.00 / 0)
and come up with a better title while I'm at it  ;-)
[ Parent ]
It's no secret (4.00 / 1)
I and quite a few other Hamsters are dissatisfied with the larger question of the Pledge and the way we do revenue in the state.

But given the framework we are in now, like it or not, I'm impressed with the level of detail in Lynch's budget and with finding all the ways to make it work given that framework.  

birch, finch, beech

Theres a reason why (4.00 / 1)
Gov. Lynch has a 74% Approval Rating, his continued leadership in extremely difficult times for the state.

Lynch 2010.

d'uh n/t (0.00 / 0)


for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops
[ Parent ]
Here's the thing. (0.00 / 0)
When Republicans say, "we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem", they want you to think that means they're for less government.  But when they're in power, they make it very clear they just see no connection between spending and revenue.  Borrow and waste, borrow and waste, the hard decisions (like raising revenue, or even maintaining it) can come when Dems are in power--and then they kick and scream when the time comes.
Bonded debt is a lovely strategy for extending control from beyond the (0.00 / 0)
grave.  

Some people think of "bond" in the context of people whom one can trust.  Others think of it in the context of "bound"--i.e. not free to do what one wants.

Republicans are keen to bind the next generation and limit their options for doing what needs to be done.

[ Parent ]
For a depressing statement (0.00 / 0)
I am continually depressed that Charlie Arlinghaus (OL' there's no housing bubble in New Hampshire Arlinghaus) keeps getting so much air play. He has yet to open his mouth without 17.5% increase coming out though Michael, Arnie and everyhone else has tried to explain elementary arithmetic to him. Most seem to assume that he is hard of hearing or stupid or something and gives him a pass. He's now on about the $600 million Democrats have supposedly run up in a current UL slime piece. (Start humming here) Josiah Bartlett can you see, by the dawn's early light? What so proudly you've wrought while the Republicans were in power. Whose broad brush strokes and misleading, factless summaries proceeding - you'll have to continue on from here on your own, I have to spew.
Playing Politics Under The Disguise Of Information (0.00 / 0)
Fortunately, his columns are read by fewer and fewer people because of a dropping readership in the statewide newspaper.  Most of us are just checking into the employment pages.  He can continue to be misinformed.  Too bad he and some others play politics under the disguise of information.
[ Parent ]
You're Doing a Heckuva Job, Governor Lynch and NH Legislature! | 9 comments

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