Remember when New Hampshire Republicans promoted fiscal responsibility? Those days are long gone. The Republican majority in the State House has created a budget crisis. They made the current revenue shortfall worse by repealing the Interest and Dividends tax. This modest tax (enacted back in 1923) was paid only by the wealthiest residents – those who could certainly afford it!

As a result of catering to the rich, the state legislature is now slashing essential public services that ordinary people like you and me rely on. Republicans, including the five Republican State Representatives from my hometown, are foisting a fiscally irresponsible state budget on Granite Staters. They are playing a budgetary shell gain, shuttling funds around while drastically cutting Medicaid, disability services, higher education, mental health and substance abuse programs, and abolishing entire agencies. While taking money from crucial services, they’re adding more millions to the Rainy Day Fund. With the economic insecurity we face from Trump’s chaotic policies, surely it’s the right time to tap our Rainy Day Fund to help cushion the blow from Republican’s self-inflicted revenue shortfall.

We voters expect better from our elected officials. These are not the Republicans of a bygone era who once-upon-a-time promoted fiscal responsibility. The current crop of so-called Republicans who now control state government are balancing the budget by robbing from hard-working folks to benefit the wealthy few at the top. Let them know you will not stand for their budget shenanigans.

Sue Holstein

Bedford