Last week, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. As the nation prepares to face the consequences of this administration, questions and fears linger as to whether his fellow Republicans in federal and state governments will comply with extremist rhetoric and policies.
Here in New Hampshire, hardworking Granite Staters are already the victims of Republican elected officials’ mismanagement of issues that directly affect the livelihood of our state and our communities. Let’s take a look at some of the ways New Hampshire Republicans are already embracing extremist rhetoric and policy in 2025, as well as how members of New Hampshire’s federal delegation are leading the fight against GOP extremism:
NH Taxpayers Bear the Cost of Republicans’ $21 Million Deficit
Earlier this week, a Union Leader report of a looming $21 million state deficit underscored a clear pattern of gross fiscal irresponsibility by New Hampshire's Republican leadership, led by Governor Chris Sununu and a state legislature under full Republican control. During her inaugural address, Governor Kelly Ayotte notably chose to ignore this financial crisis, instead bragging about the “balanced” budget.
Governor Ayotte, knowing full well about the budget deficit, attempted to shift blame for New Hampshire’s financial struggles to outside forces, like the federal government and Massachusetts. What she failed to acknowledge is the deeply entrenched fiscal mismanagement under Republican leadership after years of balanced budgets while investing in critical needs like education, healthcare, and infrastructure under the Democratic administrations of Governors Jeanne Shaheen, John Lynch, and Maggie Hassan. Granite Staters were left wondering: How did the Republican-led state government manage to lose an average of $28.87 from every single New Hampshire taxpayer?
The answer is simple: gross mismanagement, misplaced priorities like tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy and a focus on radical cultural issues like abortion and book bans, and a shell game that downshifted costs to local taxpayers so Republicans could appear to be slashing waste from the state budget without being on the hook for cutting services.
And It’s looking less likely Ayotte will be able to fulfill her promise of no new taxes. Under Republican leadership, statewide property taxes increased by $100.7 million in FY2024, a 38.3% jump, with local taxpayers expressing concern about the dramatic increases they have seen in the last several months.
While Republicans have spent eight years passing costs down to taxpayers in the name of ‘fiscal prudence,’ Governor Ayotte needs to quit the sloganeering, focus on substance, and look to her Democratic predecessors as an example of how to govern responsibly.
Shaheen Grills U.S. Secretary of Defense Nominee on Extremist Rhetoric
Last week, the Senate confirmation hearings for those selected as part of Trump’s cabinet began, with several of his nominees facing tough questioning from committee Democrats. In particular, New Hampshire’s Senior Senator, Jeanne Shaheen pressed Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense, during his confirmation hearing last Tuesday over statements he made opposing women serving in combat roles in the US military.
During the hearing, Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and a staunch advocate for women’s roles in national security, questioned Hegseth on comments he made in 2020 stating “we should not have women in combat roles” and that women are “more likely to be objectified by the enemy and their own nation in the moral realms of war.”
“If, on the one hand, you say that women are not competent. They make our military less effective. And on the other hand, you say, ‘Oh no, now that I’ve been nominated to be the secretary of defense, I’ve changed my view on women in the military.’ What do you have to say to the almost 400,000 women who are serving today about your position on whether they should be capable of rising to the highest rank of our military?” Shaheen asked.
Hegseth attempted to walk back his previous statements, telling Shaheen that as Secretary of Defense he would “be honored to serve alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, men and women, black, white, all backgrounds with a shared purpose.”
“I appreciate your 11th hour conversion,” Shaheen said.
But despite concerns raised by Shaheen and other Senators on the committee about Hegseth’s history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement, Republicans voted to advance Hegseth’s nomination to the full Senate later this week.
Abortion Restrictions Loom in NH State House
Next week, the New Hampshire House of Representatives will begin considering new restrictions on reproductive freedoms after months of campaigning that they would not consider new restrictions. On Monday, January 27, the House Judiciary Committee will take up HB 476, which would ban abortions in New Hampshire after 15 weeks.
Will NH Republicans and Governor Ayotte keep their word to not enact any further restrictions on reproductive freedoms? Granite Staters will be watching closely
The full calendar for the New Hampshire House of Representatives for the coming weeks is available here.
Action Items:
Tell the NH House to oppose HB 476, which would ban abortions after 15 weeks. (Make sure you select Monday, January 27th, then the House Judiciary Committee, then HB 476, then “A member of the public”, and then “I oppose this bill”.
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Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director