CONCORD – Deputy House Republican Leader David Hess (R-Hooksett) today offered the following comments in reaction to Governor’s apparent violation of state statute requiring budget documents be drafted, complete and available by February 15th. As of February 25th, HB 2 was still not available.
Deputy House Republican Leader David Hess (R-Hooksett)
“In my 40+ years of involvement in New Hampshire state government, both as an observer and elected official, I cannot recall a Governor submitting a budget with so many questions surrounding it while not being able to produce the statutorily required documentation to support it. The legislature can’t start working on the budget until we receive not only the appropriations bill, HB 1, but also the implementation legislation, HB 2, the so-called trailer bill. By not submitting HB 2, she is delaying this critical process.”
“Governor Hassan took an oath to uphold the constitution and laws of the State. She failed to keep that oath of office. She, her staff and legal counsel broke the law. I would encourage the Governor to deliver a draft of HB 2 to the legislature, and the public, for review without any further delay so that we may get to work on our most important responsibility as a legislature, passing a balanced budget.”
Note: RSA 9:2 requires the Governor to submit the budget to the legislature by February 15. RSA 9:3 states the budget shall consist of three parts, Governor’s budget message, recommendations for appropriations, and “a draft or drafts of appropriation bills having for their purpose to give legal sanction to the appropriations recommended to be made in parts I and II.” As of today, the Governor’s office has yet to produce HB 2, which falls under “bills having for their purpose to give legal sanction to the appropriations recommended.”