Politics & Government

Hassan: Budget Hopes Ride on Casino Bill

Gov. Maggie Hassan tells Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce members her proposed state budget needs casino revenue to move state forward.

Gov. Maggie Hassan laid out a very strong proposed state budget for Portsmouth business leaders on Tuesday morning before she was scheduled to go to the State House to testify in favor of a casino gambling bill.

Hassan made it clear that if the proposed increases she wants to boost the state's higher education, health care, innovation, job growth, transportation and public safety are to happen, the state Legislature must pass the casino gambling bill outlined in Senate Bill 152

"So that's what's at stake right now in Concord," Hassan said.

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If approved, the proposed high-end casino would bring new businesses and economic development to the state and the revenue, which could be $50- to $100 million per year on top of the $80 million gaming license, would be used to provide the state university and community college system with more money, Hassan said. There would also be more revenue to shore up the state's mental health system, public safety and provide enough funding for substance abuse and gambling addiction treatment programs, she said.

Hassan said that now that Massachusetts is moving forward with gambling casinos and that Maine now has them a short drive from the North Conway area, New Hampshire can no longer ignore it.

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“Estimates show that if we do nothing Massachusetts casinsos will cost our state $75 million,” Hassan said.

Hassan also said a recent University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll shows that two thirds of state residents say they favor a gambling casino. Hassan also said that no decisions have been made yet on where it would be located although Salem has been discussed as a leading candidate. 

Hassan said that if the gambling casino bill fails to pass in the Legislature, the proposed New Hampshire House of Representatives budget that calls for drastic cuts in many of the areas needed to improve the state's economy would be more likely to pass.

Hassan said her proposed State Budget's goals are to promote innovation in New Hampshire's 21st century economy as well as improve the quality of life for New Hampshire's citizens with improved transportation infrastructure, access to quality healthcare, higher education and good paying jobs.

"All of our people can get a good education and get good paying jobs," said Hassan if the state invests in those things that will make New Hampshire a more attractive place to do business and maintain the state as a good place to raise families.

Hassan said she wants to restore 90 percent of the funding cuts that were approved by the state Legislature to make a college education more affordable for state residents. She said she has met many residents who say they want to go to college, but simply cannot afford it.

Hassan said the leaders of the state's university and community college systems have promised to freeze tuition rates if her proposed State Budget is approved.

"We cannot keep losing young people and fail to train our work force," Hassan said.

Hassan said she also realizes the importance of improving the state's roads and bridges at a time when the state transportation trust fund is looking at a $740 million shortfall over the next 10 years. Hassan said the state must do better by moving forward with projects like the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, which is the state's number one red listed span, after the Memorial Bridge project is done.


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