Governor, Speaker, Senate President Announce Plans for Special Session to Continue Their Efforts to Ensure a Balanced Budget

For Immediate Release:                          Contact:
Tuesday, June 3, 2008                                   Governor's Office: 271-2121
                                                        Speaker's Office: 271-3661
                                                        Senate President's Office: 271-2111

Governor, Speaker, Senate President
Announce Plans for Special Session to Continue
Their Efforts to Ensure a Balanced Budget

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch, Speaker Terie Norelli and Senate President Sylvia Larsen today announced plans for a special session Wednesday afternoon to continue ongoing efforts to ensure a balanced budget.

Gov. Lynch will ask the Executive Council to vote tomorrow morning to approve a special session that will begin following the regular sessions of the House and Senate.

"We've been working closely together to address the impact that the slowing national economy is having on state revenues," Gov. Lynch said. "Combined with the other actions we are taking, this special session will allow the legislature to consider a bill that will help our ongoing efforts to balance the budget and protect services to our most vulnerable citizens."

Gov. Lynch, the House and the Senate have already taken a number of steps to address the budget. They will continue those efforts with legislation to be voted on tomorrow, SB321, which reduces budgets for the judicial and legislative branches, and will allow for an increase in the tobacco tax if certain targets are not met. Gov. Lynch has instituted, and the Fiscal Committee has approved, freezes on hiring, purchasing and out-of-state travel, and budget cuts.

"We are committed to ensuring a balanced budget for both 2008 and 2009. Legislators have worked hard this year to meet that goal, rejecting non-emergency spending outside of the budget, approving spending cuts, and helping develop a plan to balance the budget," said Speaker Terie Norelli. "Holding the special session on Wednesday, before House members were scheduled to leave for the summer, will ensure that the maximum number of members will be able to participate in this process."

House Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner and Senate Majority Leader Joe Foster plan to co-sponsor legislation on Wednesday to help balance the budget and address other budget issues. The bill will require the Pease Development Authority to repay the approximately $10.5 million it owes the state. It will also allow the bonding of school building aid in 2008 if necessary to ensure a balanced budget and allow the bonding of up to $40 million of school building aid in 2009. The bill will include provisions to allow the New Hampshire Community Colleges to move forward with the sale of its Stratham campus and the renovation of its Pease campus.

"This legislation is part of our comprehensive effort to meet our responsibility to help maintain a balanced budget while ensuring that the people who most depend on state services are protected," said Senate President Sylvia Larsen.