Who controls spending
Recently, the Union Leader had an interesting item about nursing home spending. The Senate Finance Committee questioned why money appropriated last fall to increase nursing home rates was not spent. The executive branch had concluded that the money was not needed and did not spend the appropriated amount. The Senate tacked an amendment on House Bill 155 with specific instructions that at the end of the year any unspent amount must go to reimburse nursing homes. Also, Senate Bill 663 requires that Medicaid reimbursement to nursing homes be studied.
This raises the question both nationally and in New Hampshire, who determines how money is spent? Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement needs to be studied. The New Hampshire legislature needs to undertake such a study. On the national level, the Republican controlled legislature must take back it Constitutional right to appropriate spending. If Republican legislators don’t accept their Constitutional responsibilities, we should vote them out. If the President does not follow it, impeachment should follow.