In recent weeks “Governor Gridlock” Maggie Hassan has been criticized in her Senate campaign for avoiding the issues and heavily relying on “talking points and political bromides.” As Maggie Hassan delivers her final State of the State address today, you can expect more of the same as she recaps her tenure as Governor.
While Maggie Hassan may conveniently leave her failures out of today’s speech, that doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. Here’s a recap of how Hassan’s failed leadership and inability to move New Hampshire forward as Governor was reported:
-
"(Hassan) is firing off the harshest rhetoric and appears most motivated by political ambition…" (Editorial, “Stopgap budget is not governing,” Nashua Telegraph, 6/28/15)
-
“We consider (Hassan’s) veto a serious mistake in terms of serving the best interests of the Granite State.” (Editorial, “Gov. Hassan’s Budget Veto Will Prove A Mistake,” Foster’s Daily Democrat, 7/2/15)
-
“Some of (Hassan’s) revenue proposals would fall hardest on those who can least afford it.” (Editorial, “Hassan Budget Fails An Important Test,” The Telegraph, 2/15/15)
-
“Gov. Maggie Hassan is taking a strong stand against proposed business tax cuts.” (“Hassan Takes Stand On Business Tax Cuts,” WCAX News, 6/18/15)
-
“The budget deal puts an end to a short-term spending plan that left state agencies scrambling and a number of social service programs without expected increases.” (Kathleen Ronayne, “N.H. Passes Budget Deal, Ending Stalemate,” Associated Press, 9/16/15)
-
“Without a set spending plan in place, many health and social service providers won’t know how much money they get or whether their programs could again be on the chopping block. ‘The uncertainty that it creates is the biggest problem,’ said Jeff Dickinson, Advocacy Director for Granite State Independent Living.” (Allie Morris, “Capital Beat: Health, Social Service Backers Silent On Hassan Budget Veto Threat,” Concord Monitor, 6/21/15)
-
“But the advocates fear a veto could jeopardize those small advances. They are worried about the uncertainty a veto would create. ‘This is really, from our perspective, the best budget we’ve seen in years,’ said Gina Balkus, an advocate for home health agencies. ‘We hope our needs don’t get lost in the political fray that results from a veto.’” (Allie Morris, “Capital Beat: Health, Social Service Backers Silent On Hassan Budget Veto Threat,” Concord Monitor, 6/21/15)
-
“It is a lot easier to write a budget, as Gov. Maggie Hassan did this year, when you get to use imaginary money you do not have and are unlikely to get… Hassan was able to propose spending more because she started with much higher revenue — imaginary revenue.” (Editorial, “A Realistic Start: The House Finance Committee budget,” Union Leader, 3/30/15)
-
Gov. Maggie Hassan’s budget proposal "raises taxes on small businesses and increases taxes and fees by $100 million"…We rate it Mostly True." (Clay Wirestone, "Americans for Prosperity calls NH Gov. Maggie Hassan’s budget proposal a tax increase," PolitiFact, 8/27/15)
-
"Instead of leading the region out of the recession as New Hampshire has done in the past, Massachusetts job growth is leaving New Hampshire in its wake… New Hampshire has lost its competitive advantage with high business taxes, labor and health care costs, and most significantly, energy costs." (“Study: NH trails Mass. In job growth,” Union Leader, 10/14/15)
-
"After spending the entire year lambasting Republicans… a few weeks ago she watched as the Legislature overrode her budget veto… Gov. Hassan presents herself as a bipartisan consensus builder. That claim has as little credibility as her partisan attacks." (“Hassan’s Budget? Stealing Credit Again,” Union Leader, 10/1/15)
- “Gov. Maggie Hassan says she’s all about government efficiency and transparency. But when it comes to efficiency in government spending, she’s hardly transparent.” (Jonathan Van Fleet, “Despite Claims Of Transparency, Gov. Hassan Refuses To Release Proposals To Make State Government More Efficient,” Concord Monitor, 1/11/15)