At a time when federal government is being DOGE’d, the responsibility for ensuring that America continues to be a prosperous land of opportunity is being transferred from the federal government to states. This transition is something that conservatives have been advocating for for decades, and now, for better or worse, it is coming to pass. State government has an awesome responsibility to step in where the federal government has stepped back, and we must ensure that New Hampshire remains an amazing place to work, to raise a family, to go to school and to be part of a healthy and vibrant community. Unfortunately, in many respects this awesome responsibility and new reality is not reflected in the Republican budget bill. Rather than step up where the federal government has stepped back, this budget proposes many of the same kinds of short-term cost cutting measures that will have long term impacts to our state. While New Hampshire remains, for now, one of the wealthiest states in the country, that status cannot long endure unless we truly invest in our public education system (including the University system), health care (including mental health care), workforce housing, childcare, transportation, our environment and energy infrastructure. I urge all members of the House and Senate to consider the totality of our social and economic environment and to recognize that cuts to vital services will have real and immediately deleterious impacts on New Hampshire residents, families, small businesses, towns and cities.

Mary Downes

Madbury