I just got home from a school board meeting and TMEW told me "hey, you HAVE to call <name here>; he’s an NH Rep? OK, it’s 10:30pm but I’ll call. So, I did, and the question was "I am torn – vote yes, or vote no?" on several issues on which will be coming up for final votes in the NH House.
Tomorrow may be one of the last days of the deliberations. My overall take, knowing my principles, knowing who I campaigned for, who we endorsed, and the issues that were important to me as well as the other Groksters, is this: You done good. My expectations of the actions of the House were exceeded; those of the Senate were not. All that said, was my main expectation, the financial house of NH, met?
Yes.
Yet, the question before all of you Reps and Senators is this: do I vote Yes for what is there, knowing that more could have been had? Or do I vote No knowing, standing on principle that I should have gotten more?
I say vote Yes. If the budget bills pass, and Lynch made irrelevant by a veto override (if necessary), I would be content. No, not overjoyed, but content. Could more have been cut to lower the burden on taxpayers hit hard by the economy? Sure, but consider this: NH, if the 11% REAL dollar cut compared to the last budget holds, it will only be the second state to have done so in the nation (the first being Texas). And only the second State to have done so in many years to boot. You said you would do so – now you have the results.
Was it enough? The real answer: you’ll never be able to take all the money off the table. The time for sticking by all the principles of making a more limited government was at the beginning and middle of the sessions. Trying to squeeze all that you want NOW, at the very end of the session, is subject to the Law of Diminishing Terms which is to say "harder than the actual political reality will allow". Time to take the money you have earned back for your constituents and say "we have kept our promise – we have spent less of your money".
Also realize that this is a multi-dimensional chess game of PR and politics as well. It isn’t just the budget – it is also about sending messages. The above is one – the message is that we kept our promise. It is also a message that a Party just voted back into power with a wide spectrum of views can get the job done. It is a message that, in the House, you back your Speaker and leadership. It is a message that the encroaching socialism that the Democrats were pushing STOPS HERE. It is also a message showing that the underlying philosophy of returning power back to the people (instead of aggregating to Concord as the Dems did) can be accomplished. It is a message that the Constitution mattered to the voters, and it mattered to you. It is a message that Constitutional governance should and can work.
Now, it is time to be pragmatic – did you get most of the loaf you wanted? Vote to pass and be satisfied. Do you wish to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and make Lynch and the Democrats? Go ahead, vote no.
Also remember that this process is also a two way street – having returned power back to the lower levels of government and sovereign citizens, you should expect us to take up that responsibility and self-govern, and to prove that we citizens will be less dependent upon you and Government in general.
Thank you for your service in what has turned out to be quite the year in NH politics.
