Hassan Promises to Reinstate Higher Education Funding

On Feb 14th, Governor Maggie Hassan gave the budget address to the citizen of New Hampshire. In this address, Hassan has made it very clear that she feels New Hampshire can take a lead in the country's economic growth. Hassan's plan is to create a balanced budget with no income or sales tax as well as creating jobs to support a stronger middle class.

One aspect of the budget that has really grabbed people's attention is that she plans to reinstate 90% of the original funding to the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) as well as 100% of the cuts to the community college. 

This original funding took such a great toll that gaining this money back will be a great help. The proposed budget is said to ensure education so that people can have the skills for better jobs, attracting more business to New Hampshire. 

With all of these wonderful strives Hassan does understand that there will be difficult decisions to be made. She stated "In preparing this budget, we cut agency budget requests by more than 500 million general fund dollars, keeping general fund spending seven percent below fiscal year 2008 for fiscal year 2014."
Hassan has talked with many businesses already and also partnered with colleges to build innovative programs so that students can easily be brought into the workplace. There are a vast amount of businesses that are looking for workers with the right amount and type of skills. By making these new programs it can, theoretically, create a greater New Hampshire economy with the increased job rate. 

Hassan says, "The Energy Services and Technology program at Lakes Region Community College is giving students hands-on training for jobs in a rapidly expanding field. The partnership between Great Bay Community College and Albany/Safran in Rochester helped attract these high-tech manufacturers to our state, where they will create 400 or more good jobs."

Everything that Hassan has said and talked about in her budget has given great promise to many citizens of New Hampshire. However, there are also those who feel there are kinks in this budget plan. For one, the expansion of Medicare has been seen as a problem.

Garry Rayno of the State House Bureau thinks that this expansion is going to need legislative approval. Others in the Senate are unsure that the federal government would not live up to its promise of paying 100% of the costs in the first three years. 

Rayno also understands that people have become concerned on where this budget money will be coming from. Rayno stated, "The governor pays for the additional spending with money from casino gambling, higher tobacco taxes and an increase in the number of insurance premiums resulting from the Affordable Care Act." There are many mixed emotions about the budget address, as there always is. When new proposals are brought about anywhere there is always doubt. To read more and form your full opinion of the new budget you can find the full address in the New Hampshire Union Leader.