New Hampshire House Republicans passed a state budget delivering most of Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s priorities, including additional funding for Group II retirees, after a razor-thin vote, NH Journal reports.
According to NH Journal, Ayotte welcomed the result.
“It was hard fought, a lot of work, but I really appreciate that everyone came together and we delivered a balanced budget,” said Ayotte, who turns 57 on Friday.
NH Journal
She framed the package as protecting the state’s economic position.
“It’s fiscally responsible, protects the New Hampshire advantage, and delivers for the people of the state.”
NH Journal
The path through the House was narrow, NH Journal notes.
While the main portion of the budget, HB1, passed the Senate in a party-line vote, it was voted down in the House by a single vote.
NH Journal
A quick reconsideration kept the budget alive.
A few minutes later, the House voted to reconsider, then passed it in a 185-180 vote. The budget rider, HB2, passed by just a single vote, 184-183.
NH Journal
Ayotte highlighted what the budget delivered, NH Journal reports.
Ayotte got much of what she wanted, including restoring $10 million to the Manchester school system, which was slated to lose it in 2026, and more money for Group II pensions of first responders.
NH Journal
The razor-thin margins underscored how much work it took to pass the budget even with Republican majorities, NH Journal reports. The Speaker of the House, who often does not vote on legislation, cast his vote to avoid a tie and help push the budget through, and Ayotte also touted the classroom cellphone ban and a 60-day permitting reform.
Ayotte cast the final product as a win for the state and its first responders, while acknowledging she did not get as much in the pension deal as she initially sought, NH Journal reports. She said the retirees affected were pleased with the outcome and described it as a step forward for recruitment and retention.
The budget cleared the House only after a dramatic sequence in which the main bill was first voted down and then revived, NH Journal reports. The reconsideration vote allowed HB1 to pass 185-180, while the HB2 trailer passed by a single vote, 184-183, with the Speaker casting a vote to avoid a tie.
Ayotte called the result a fiscally responsible, balanced budget that protects the New Hampshire advantage and said it delivered for first responders through additional Group II pension funding, according to NH Journal. She acknowledged she did not get as much in the pension deal as she initially sought, and she also touted the classroom cellphone ban and a 60-day permitting reform.
The razor-thin margins underscored how much work it took to pass the budget even with Republican majorities, NH Journal reports. Ayotte said the affected retirees were pleased with the outcome and described the Group II deal as a step forward for the recruitment and retention of first responders.
Read the full story at NH Journal.
