Granite State Times

(Manchester, NH) - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) kicked off a week-long series of virtual and in-person meetings with stakeholders across the Granite State to discuss the potential impacts of a GOP-forced default. During the Trump administration, Democrats and Republicans came together three times to avoid national default, which is a matter of paying existing financial obligations and does not relate to new spending.

In two meetings hosted by Shaheen with the New Hampshire Municipal Association, local leaders and members of the New Hampshire Corridor Commerce Chambers, Shaheen underscored the serious implications of a default on Granite State cities and towns and reminded attendees of the fallout from the 2011 debt crisis that slowed the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. Among the attendees from today's events were Margaret Byrnes, Executive Director of the NH Municipal Association, Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier, Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern, Dover Mayor Robert Carrier, Franklin Mayor Jo Brown, and Claremont Mayor Dale Girard. 

“Since 1960, Democrats and Republicans have worked together more than 60 times to avoid a national default. This was the case three times during the Trump administration. This should not be a drawn out, needlessly politicized process, especially when we know those who will pay the steepest price are the American people: seniors who won’t get Social Security checks, small businesses who will face another economic crisis on the heels of the financial struggles of the pandemic and so much more,” said Senator Shaheen. “As we discussed today, at the local level, local programs that deliver Granite Staters health care, substance abuse care, environmental efforts and more would be directly impacted. We’d likely see a federal clawback of public safety grants, tax credits and more. This is unacceptable. Granite Staters should not bear the burden of a manufactured crisis created by Republicans in Washington. I’ll keep doing everything in my power to push for a resolution that prevents the U.S. from defaulting on its debt and doesn’t balance the United States’ budget on the backs of the middle class.”  

“The proposed cuts and claw backs would jeopardize a staggering number of programs and services—at both the state and local level—ranging from public safety, infrastructure, and clean water to health care, food assistance, and homelessness,” said Margaret Byrnes, Executive Director of the NH Municipal Association. “Cuts that impact the ability of local governments to provide services to residents and that disproportionately affect our most vulnerable populations are not in our collective best interest. And although the funding provided by the six pandemic era bills was substantial, it should be viewed as a long-term investment that we can’t afford not to make in our country.” 

The meetings focused on the effects a default would have on New Hampshire, particularly to local governments who often rely on federal dollars. Federal funding makes up approximately 33 percent of New Hampshire’s state budget. Several local officials spoke of the strain a default or budget cuts would place on local governments ability to provide key municipal services. 

A recording of Shaheen’s first meeting with the New Hampshire Municipal Association and local leaders can be viewed here. 

A recording of Shaheen’s second meeting with the New Hampshire Corridor Commerce Chambers is available here. 

Original source can be found here.