New Hampshire governor will allow the state budget to become law without his signature
In an effort to play both sides of the fence, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch will allow the recently passed budget proposal to become law without his signature. Here is what he had to say about the budget and his decision to let is pass via his non-action:
This is not a budget I can endorse, and I believe the people of New Hampshire deserve and expect better,” Lynch said, criticizing what he called “simplistic cuts” to colleges, hospitals and social services
However, a veto, which would likely be overridden by the GOP, had the potential to create what Lynch called “chaos in state government,” in the ensuing partisan battle.
I do not buy the governor’s excuse about a possible veto override vote having the potential to cause “chaos in state government,” as being the reason for his decision. This budget passed with a veto proof majority and I find it highly unlikely that the override vote would not go swiftly and would likely occur without incident. I believe that Governor Lynch understands that these cuts must be made and while he is afraid to put his name on the budget he knows that the budget is in the best interest of the state.
The Republicans won majorities in the House, Senate, and Executive Council in 2010 based on the promises of reducing spending and cutting taxes, and with the budget agreement they reached earlier this week they have made good on those promises. Over the last four years the state budget, under Governor Lynch and a Democrat controlled legislature, has aggressively grown by 25% and included multiple tax and fee increases; this budget reduces state spending by 11% and reduces the cigarette tax, and gets rid of the outrageous surcharge that has been applied to vehicle registrations over the last two years.
Governor John Lynch claims that he opposes this new budget deal, but he will let this budget become law without his signature anyway. This is his way of making a tough decision while at the same time placating his base. He knows that this budget is a step in the right direction for New Hampshire, but he also knows that the statists which form the Democrat base will never accept his signature on this legislation, so he is taking the easy way out. The bill will become law because of his inaction, yet at the same time he will be able to tell his base that he didn’t approve of–or sign–this legislation even though his non-action leads to the same result as his signature.
When the Republicans were swept back into office in 2010 I labeled John Lynch a GINO–Governor in name only–because the Republicans gained veto-proof majorities and looking at the way the events played out in this one case alone we can see that Governor Lynch is indeed a GINO who will be subjected to the will of the Republicans who are really in charge.
A comment in the article which I linked to above stated: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” That sums up the whole budget debate, the Republicans took the lead and Governor Lynch followed. In 2012 it will be time for him to get out of the way.
America's Watchtower 
So, in other words, he didn’t want to get punked by the legislature, so he’ll do the easy thing and act like a chicken?
LikeLike
I think that about sums it up.
LikeLike
How is that not a pocket veto? How is that even legal? I’d say pretty freaking lame like Obama’s “present” votes in Congress.
LikeLike
In New Hampshire if the governor does not either sign or veto any bill within a certain is period–I think it’s seven days, but I am not sure–that bill automatically becomes law. It is pretty lame and this is the first time that I have seen this happen here.
LikeLike
That is totally lame.
LikeLike
It sure is, he is getting hammered in the Union Leader for this. I think even his supporters are upset with him over this.
LikeLike
Excuse me for straying from Steve’s original topic. I am interested to know Steve and the readers opinions about New Hampshire politics, the primary system and national political interest in NH.
I have my own ideas but I would like to hear others: why should Californians, living in a state with 30 million people, be concerned with NH politics as a model of success or failure that is based on a population of just over 1.3 million? I am a huge believer in state’s rights. I think NH should be a very different place then Cali (and it is). I like that. I want to be able to choose a different state if I am unhappy with where I live and am mobile. I think progressives are less likely to agree with me.
LikeLike
KP, I think to do well, you just need to do the opposite of Kalifornia.
LikeLike
A brief overview of New Hampshire politics: New Hampshire has a huge House of Reprenstatives and with 26 Senators the senate is fairly large also when you consider the population. I read somewhere that New Hampshire’s government if the fourth largest English speaking government in the world, I don’t know if that is true.
While the New Hampshire government is large it is still a part time job; Senators make something like $200 and Reps make about $100 a year. Most of these people have “real” jobs so it gives them a better understanding of what their constituents needs are. In my opinion this is the way the founders wanted it.
The governor is only elected to two year terms, not four, so if the voters make a mistake they can correct it much more quickly. You would think that this would lead to a perpetual campaign season, but the campaigning is surprisingly short. I look to my south and see Massachusetts and the corruption in that state–the last three Speakers are all convicted felons, and the current speaker has “issues”–and I don’t see that type of corruption up here. I believe it is because of the part time system we have in place here.
As for the primary; voters up here seem to like our place as the first in the nation primary, and actually our state constitution requires the state government to make us first, because we are so small we can hold our primary with relatively small notice so we play the ole primary game every four years. Politicians get up close and personal when they come to New Hampshire and people are able to get a feel for them. I think we make a good litmus test for the candidate moving forward in the election.
I hope I answered your questions, I haven’t had enough coffee yet this morning. 🙂
LikeLike
Great answers, my friend. Just what I wanted to hear. Makes me want to get the hell out of Cali. I never thought I would say that in the first 45 years of my life.
LikeLike
I’m glad I could help, come on up this way if you ever decide to move.
LikeLike