I do have to disagree with Senator Sgambati’s answer when asked if the state spending is excessive. She says that “we have a revenue problem, not a spending problem”. I wonder if the Senator recalls that during the state budget process the at the beginning of the recession, that the estimated caseload numbers for DHHS were reduced in order to make the revenues meet the spending called for in the budget? It doesn’t take an economist to understand that during a recession, the demand for services increases.

The budget passed for this biennium includes 38 new or increased taxes and fees to cover the increase in spending, and this increase was everywhere but DHHS. 

In fact our Senator voted to approve the senate version of the budget which changed the way taxes are collected from businesses. In NH businesses pay either the Business Enterprise Tax or the Business Profits Tax, whichever is higher, but the senate version would have hit businesses with BOTH taxes.

I know there is a general disconnect from the citizens of NH and the increasing expenses in the state budget. We have had the state expenditures increase at 4 – 5% greater than the rate of inflation for the past 2 biennium budgets. I know that most people don’t pay attention to this because not one penny of our property taxes goes to fund the state, with the exception of the State Wide Education Property Tax (SWEPT) that stays in the local school districts.

For those of you not making the connection, ask yourself these questions. 1) Do you eat at restaurants or have friends stay at hotels/motels? 2) Do you have friends stay at campgrounds? 3) Have you bought or sold real estate? 4) Do you have a license and drive a car? 5) Is your car inspected? 6) Do you have a boat? 7) Do you have family that are admitted to a hospital or nursing home and use a bed there? 8) Do you use tobacco or alcohol? 9) Do you either own a business or work for someone that owns a business? 10) The most important question is; Do you live in a NH city or town?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the state spending is coming out of your wallet. It is sad that the State of NH is the largest employer in the state and now is the time for people to be concerned about the direction we are being taken.

We have many fine and fiscally conservative people that are taking on the challenge to correct the path we are on and I encourage everyone to become involved. 

On Tuesday, February 23^rd we will have Manchester’s former Mayor, Frank Guinta, who is running for the 1^st Congressional District making several stops in Laconia and the surrounding towns to meet with concerned voters. This day long event will be capped off with an event at Cactus Jacks in Laconia. 

On Thursday, February 25^th Jim Forsythe will be hosting a free event at the Margate Resort starting at 6 PM where he will be formally announcing his candidacy for State Senate District 4.

I think now is the time to begin educating ourselves on the positions and plans that are being put forth by all the candidates running for elected office. There are 4 candidates for the US Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg. In addition to Frank Guinta we have Rich Ashooh also running for the 1^st Congressional District. Besides Jim Forsythe, George Hurt is also ready to challenge Senator Sgambati for the NH Senate. We have volunteers to run for the State Rep positions we have in Laconia too.

I have always felt that the right to vote is one of the most important rights we have and I think that educating ourselves on the candidates and issues is the best way to exercise that right. As the Chairman of the Laconia Republican Committee I look forward to seeing everyone come out, ask questions and learn what our candidates have to say. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 10^th at the Shang Hai restaurant on South Main Street at 5 PM. I also invite you to attend the Belknap County Republican Committee, which will start immediately after our meeting. Their meeting will feature Jim Forsythe and George Hurt running for the NH Senate District 4 along with the 2 candidates running for the NH Senate District 2 as special speakers. 

Feel free to contact me by phone at 455-0114 or via e-mail at greg@knytych.net if you have any questions.

Greg Knytych, Chairman, Laconia Republican Committee