Editor’s Note: Garry Rayno is covering the public hearing in Representatives Hall now and will post story later this evening.

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – Protesters kicked off a lengthy public hearing on the state’s budget for the next two years which cuts services, programs and hikes fees throughout state government for the next two years, if passed by the Senate and approved by the governor.

More than 300 people signed up to speak to the proposed budget cuts which impact just about every aspect of the state Wednesday.

Before the hearing started at 1 p.m. a large crowd gathered in the rain on the State House lawn to decry many provisions in the $15.4 billion House budget.

The House budget cuts more than 150 job positions in government — many in the prison, expands Education Freedom Accounts for no income limits in the second year, reduces provider rates for Medicaid, abolishes the Office of Child Advocate and the State Council on the Arts which helps community arts, reduces funding to the University System further than the governor’s recommendation by $50 million, eliminates a higher education grant program, abolishes the commission on aging, increases fees on everything from environmental permits to motor vehicles and asks those who receive Medicaid to pay a 5 percent co-pay along with many state department back-of-the-budget requests but helps the Group II retirement of first responders and provides some help for the victims of abuse at the former Youth Development Center.

Louise Spencer of the Kent Street Coalition kicked off the protest saying Granite Staters are already squeezed by medical bills, high utility costs.

“This is not what the public wants,” Spencer said.

State Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, D-Portsmouth said the day was about hearing from the public and welcomed all into the State House.

“Wonder why your property taxes have been going up? Well, they have handed out $1.2 billion in tax breaks to out of state corporations,” she said to a reply of “Boo!” from the crowd.

Above, People from the Nashua Center, which serves folks with disabilities, protest outside the State House Tuesday. Katharine Webster photo

She noted that Republicans eliminated the interest and dividends tax and “now they are saying we don’t have money for health care, housing and higher education.”

She said they are cutting $50 million from the affordable housing programs, to force working families on Medicaid to pay a new Medicaid income tax that will cost families an average of $283 a month, take away money for childcare support, and reduce by nearly a third the state funding from the university system, yet increase private school vouchers for the wealthy.

“But when you speak up, you shift what’s possible. When you show up and share your stories, it gives us power, not just to fight back but to build something,” she said.

“Be one of our volunteers,” she said, “And know that it does not end today.”

She then introduced Karin Mortimer and her son, Tyler of Merrimack, who has an individual education program which will be impacted if the House budget passes.

“He damn well has a right to walk across a stage and get his diploma,” she said. 

Mortimer noted the gathering reminded her of a 1970s civil rights rally.

“Education freedom?” she said, noting that some charter schools would not take him because of his special accommodation needs.

Democrats chided Republicans for not being willing to have public budget hearings out in the state and in the evening. They held their own events in Laconia and in Hampton. 

Listening to the concerns of the public for the marathon hearing following the protest were members of the House Finance Committee which is chaired by Senator James Gray, R-Rochester and includes Senators Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, Dan Innis, R-Bradford, Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua and David Watters, D-Dover.

The Senate now gets to craft its own version after the governor and House have had their versions drafted and then there will be a committee of conference, and that budget will then be sent to Ayotte for her signature or veto, likely in late May.

New Hampshire law requires a balanced budget meaning expenses have to meet revenues. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to meet Wednesday to complete work on its projected revenues for the next two years.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte said her team maintains that her budget is on the mark, which does not include the layoffs and what some consider draconian and others call necessary cuts in state programs and services to meet a balanced budget.