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Funds for New Contract Included in State Budget

State senators included funding for a new contract for state employees in the version of the budget passed by the upper chamber on Thursday, June 9.

It was an important victory for SEA members and the public services they provide. Senators voted a week after the Joint Committee on Employee Relations gave its unanimous endorsement to the tentative agreement.

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro's comments during the budget debate draw a skeptical look from Sen. Bob Odell.

In a debate that continued into the evening, the power of the vote and political organizing was obvious. Unionized state employees, both SEA members and state troopers, didn't have to wait for floor amendments to see their raises included in the budget. The money had been removed from the budget passed by the House before contract negations were complete.

 Debate on Services

Other services did not fare as well. Senators voted down floor amendments increasing funding for a wide variety of programs.
 
It was a repeat of the House budget debate, where an amendment by Reps. Liz Hager and Mary Jane Wallner lost by two votes.

This time, Sens. Sylvia Larsen and Dick Green led an unsuccessful effort to pass what was called the "better budget amendment."

Sen. Dick Green explains the "better budget amendment" during the June 9 debate on the state budget.

The amendment would have brought the budget closer to the maintenance plan proposed by Gov. John Lynch. Both the House and Senate have used more conservative revenue estimates as a reason for cuts.

 Affordable

"We know the revenues are there," Green said during the debate. "We should not be trying to figure out ways to reduce these efficient programs."

An exchange between Larsen and Sen. Ted Gatsas illustrated the challenge facing public service advocates in a political climate where fiscal conservatives often have the upper hand.

When Larsen called for more funding for the popular Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), Gatsas asked her if it would make more sense to put more money into public kindergarten.

"We can afford to do both," the Concord senator replied. She said New Hampshire has the best economy in the Northeast. "We are not a state that is in decline."

"That's a good answer," Gatsas responded. Conceding the point did not stop him from joining the majority in voting down the amendment.

Before the budget bill becomes law with the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, a conference committee must resolve differences between the House and Senate versions prior to final votes by both chambers. It would then go to Gov. John Lynch for his signature.