NH CHILDREN'S LOBBY ALERT

Plan to attend important meeting on Thursday, March 4

The worst recession since the 1930s continues to create challenges for New Hampshire’s budget, especially those programs that serve children and families supported in part by the Department of Health and Human Services.  Not only are caseloads increasing faster than anyone anticipated, especially for child care and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), but overall state revenues continue to run lower than expected. Seven months into the fiscal year that ends in June, revenues are almost $50M below what had been planned. Many cuts and reductions in services have already been made, and more are expected. (For a detailed summary of those cuts, see the NH Children’s Lobby Children’s Budget Watch #1 on the Child and Family Services website.

This Thursday, March 4, Sen. Kathy Sgambati will introduce an amendment to SB 489 which has a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee at 10:30 in room 100 of the State House. The amendment specifically targets $50M of gaming proceeds to fund some of the core programs of the Department of Health and Human Services, including the child care waitlist, TANF, teen pregnancy prevention and domestic violence programs. The NH Children’s Lobby neither supports nor opposes gaming as a way of raising revenue for the state. We do endorse efforts to address the budget challenges NH faces by an approach that includes a balance of cuts, which have already been made, and new revenue. If gaming is to be enacted, it makes sense to target it at the programs of the state agency that continue to be the part of state government most directly affected by the bad economy. Whether or not the particular list of expenditures in the Sgambati amendment is the right one, it is a good beginning and should be included in any version of SB 489 that passes.

Here is the contact information for members of the Senate Finance Committee. Please email them asking for their support of the Sgambati amendment to SB 489.  ALSO, please try to attend tomorrow’s (3/4) 10:30 am Senate Finance Committee meeting at the State House. Thank you.

Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, chair              dalas@leg.state.nh.us

Sen. Harold Janeway, vice chair         harold.janeway@leg.state.nh.us

Sen. Sylvia Larsen                                    sylvia.larsen@leg.state.nh.us

Sen. Maggie Hassan                              maggie.hassan@leg.state.nh.us

Sen. Kathleen Sgambati                  kathleen.sgambati@leg.state.nh.us

Sen. John Gallus                                          john.gallus@leg.state.nh.us

Sen. Bob Odell                                                bob.odell@leg.state.nh.us