From the Union Leader
The $300 million deficit
John Lynch just said here at the governor’s forum at NHIOP that the state faced a $300 million deficit when he took office. Not true. That was a projection, but it never materialized. He said the budget increased only 5 percent year to year, and only 3 percent if you take out nondiscretionary spending. That’s misleading.
Laura Knoy asked if he disputed the 17.5 percent spending increase figure, and Lynch said you have to look at the whole budget (that means federal funding). Eh, not really. He keeps saying that the state’s hands were tied because there was such an increase in nondiscretionary spending. But that’s not really true. John Stephen helped lead the charge in trimming nondiscretionary spending in his department by making it more efficient.
Asked which specific programs he would cut, Kenney mentioned LCHIP. Laura Knoy noted that it’s not much money, and he said “you have to start somewhere.” He also cited improving contracting and improving efficiency. Seems he should’ve had ready a bigger list of things he would cut.