Last week marked “Crossover Week” – this turning point in the session is an important opportunity to take stock of the progress Senate Democrats have made to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.
In 2019, we’ve worked hard to enact our Granite State Opportunity Plan because we’re all better off when every Granite Stater has the tools they need to build a good life.
As elected officials and public servants, we are breaking down barriers to our elections and encouraging Granite Staters to vote.
The Secure Modern Accurate Registration Technology (SMART) Act, Senate Bill 7, is a smart move for New Hampshire that will safeguard and improve access to our elections. As the first-in-the-nation primary state, that’s a goal we should all share. By establishing an independent redistricting commission, SB 8 will ensure New Hampshire voters choose the candidates – not the other way around.
In the wake of yet another Trump administration attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, last week the Senate passed SB 4, which makes permanent insurance coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits, like newborn care and preventive health services, in state law. SB 4 will give New Hampshire citizens the security that they can get the care they need, when they need it – regardless of their medical history or what happens at the federal level.
SB 5 and SB 11 will help to address gaps in access to mental health care and substance use disorder treatment by increasing reimbursement rates that enable New Hampshire providers to deliver this critical care and increasing the capacity for emergency beds and transitional housing facilities.
While tackling New Hampshire’s mental health crisis and opioid epidemic, we cannot leave our children behind. SB 14 implements a children’s system of care – a coordinated network of effective community-based services and supports which help children and youth to function better at home, in school, in the community and throughout life – that will reduce significant mental health and child protection costs down the road.
This session the Senate also passed SB 6, which ensures the safety and well-being of New Hampshire’s most vulnerable citizens, our children, by fully funding DCYF and bringing their staffing levels in line with the national standard.
Another critical way to support families is to make sure they have the ability to take the time they need to care for a loved one – without fearing financial insecurity. Senate Democrats have championed a comprehensive paid family and medical leave insurance program that is heading to the governor’s desk soon. SB 1 will help New Hampshire care for our aging population, combat the opioid epidemic, and support healthy families.
Senate Democrats know if we want to protect public health and our state’s natural beauty and economic vitality, we need to act on the climate. We’ve taken steps to address climate change and build the economy of tomorrow by boosting renewable energy investments, banning offshore drilling, increasing carbon emission reduction goals and expanding access to solar savings.
In this changing economy we cannot afford for anyone to get left behind.
Working people should not be living in poverty: $7.25 wasn’t a fair wage in 2009 and it certainly isn’t a fair wage in 2019. Fortunately, the Senate passed SB 10 this year, to re-establish and raise New Hampshire’s minimum wage to $10 and ensure hardworking Granite Staters can earn a fair wage.
SB 2 triples the state’s funding for job training programs – without raising taxes – and will help attract, train, retrain and retain employees, expanding opportunities for the people of New Hampshire and giving businesses what they are desperately seeking – qualified workers.
The N.H. College Graduation Retention Incentive Partnership (GRIP), SB 12, is a unique public-private partnership that brings together business, education and government to fill the current lack of state retention incentives that will attract and retain the skilled workers New Hampshire employers need, at no cost to the state.
Chief among all concerns and struggles for New Hampshire citizens right now, however, is a diminishing ability to keep up with ever-increasing local property taxes. By suspending and stabilizing business tax cuts and dedicating those savings for revenue sharing with municipalities, we are prioritizing meaningful property-tax relief for hard-working Granite Staters rather than the millions of dollars in handouts New Hampshire has given away to wealthy out-of-state corporations.
And we’ve expanded access to the low- and moderate-income homeowners tax relief program to make sure all families who truly need this relief are included.
From tax relief to climate action, Senate Democrats have worked hard this session to tackle the hardest issues facing our state. We’ll continue to prioritize these #GraniteOpportunities as we build the state budget – the ultimate test of our priorities and values.
(Donna Soucy of Manchester is president of the New Hampshire Senate.)