As noted in this prior posting, NH’s Cornerstone Policy Research joined other national policy and research groups across the nation Tuesday to release a first-time ever research report that quantifies the annual taxpayer cost from high rates of divorce and unmarried childbearing. The report tells us that here in the Granite State
A large percentage of female-headed households are living in poverty—49.3 percent of the 71,000 total households live in poverty in New Hampshire, for example. If those femaleheaded households were to become married, then 60 percent of them would be lifted out of poverty, as research indicates is the cautious assumption. This means that total poverty in New Hampshire would be reduced by 29.6 percent. This could lead to an annual savings for New Hampshire of $99,000,000.
One of my pet peeves is here at the county government– the least accountable of all layers– we have created a whole new level of health and human service activities funded through local property taxation, all in addition to what we provide at the state and federal levels. Is there ever a point at which people must actually fend for themselves? What if people, instead of never facing consequences for certain actions and behavior, knew there was a limit or bottom to the handouts and services they receive? What if people figured out it was worth the effort to make marriage and family situations work?
I had the chance to ask some of these questions during Tuesday’s press conference held by Cornerstone. This is the video of the exchange between me and Karen Testerman, the group’s executive director. She will join us Saturday on MTNP radio to further discuss this important issue that one way or another, affects all of us…