Anne Grossi lives in Bedford.

I am a registered Independent. I have voted for Republicans and voted for Democrats.

However, my view of New Hampshire Republicans has changed over the years.

Sununu left New Hampshire with a deficit because he chose to give tax breaks to businesses and repeal the Interest and Dividends tax. These things certainly helped businesses and people with wealth, all while I watched my property taxes go up every year and we lost out on money that could have helped the state and property owners.

Now, Republicans in the New Hampshire House have passed a budget that will have major impacts on the poor and the middle class in New Hampshire.

Of course, this current Republican legislature is overrun with Free Staters who want to dismantle government, education, healthcare and more. Yes, the Republican you voted for is really a Free Stater, not the fiscally conservative Republican that used to exist in the U.S.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which the Republican legislature wanted to get rid of at the beginning of this legislative session, will have its budget cut by $46 million, and staff who protect public health, support vulnerable families and care for the elderly will have to be laid off.

This House budget cuts $50 million from Medicaid and eliminates the state’s family planning program. A Medicaid Income Tax of up to $283 a month will be imposed on Granite Advantage members. These are individuals whose income is approximately $23,233 per year or families of three whose income is approximately $39,198.

I thought New Hampshire representatives did not believe in an income tax! Imposing one on this population is just immoral.

The House budget eliminates $50 million from the University System of New Hampshire. We are already the lowest-funded university system in the U.S. This cut will cause in-state tuition to increase. If we want to keep our young people educated and have them stay in the state for jobs, why would the Republican House do this? Students will leave for other state institutions that they can afford and not come back to New Hampshire.

Of course, if those students wanted to come back, they would have to find housing during a housing crisis. The homeless population increased by 52% over the past year, and according to Zillow, the average rent in New Hampshire is $2000.

The House Republicans’ budget had no additional funding to expand the housing supply in New Hampshire. Gov. Ayotte also thinks that additional funding is not necessary.

Then there is energy and utility costs — mine have continued to rise over the years. This House budget does not help; in fact, it cuts all the state’s Renewable Energy Fund. The Republican House budget does not make any kind of long-term investments in the state power grid, and it will therefore make it more difficult for New Hampshire to compete in the energy market. Our energy bills will not be coming down; they can only get higher.

I do not need childcare, but many people in the state do. This House budget cuts $15 million from childcare programs. There will end up being fewer childcare programs, and there will be an increase in costs for families.

The Republican House budget has eliminated the New Hampshire Council on the Arts. Why should we support this? The cuts will eliminate 21,000 jobs, eliminate support for music programs, youth programs and many other arts programs. This Republican House does not seem to be concerned about the arts, which research shows leads to better academic performance, social skills and emotional skills.

The House budget has now gone to the Senate. What will this Senate do?

The majority of New Hampshire Senators are Republicans, and five of them are Free Staters. I live in Bedford, so fortunately, my senator, Sen. Denise Ricciardi, is not a Free Stater. I am relying on her to do the right thing, and I believe she will.

Does anyone else in the Senate care anything about the citizens of New Hampshire?