Perhaps most egregious, Hassan bragged about balancing New Hampshire’s budget – a task the Governor is required by law to complete.
See below for the full list of myths from Maggie Hassan’s announcement:
MYTH: Hassan Bragged That Balancing The Budget Was A Political Accomplishment. GOVERNOR HASSAN: “We held the line against an income or sales tax. We balanced the budget.” (Maggie Hassan, “Maggie Hassan Announces Candidacy For U.S. Senate,” 10/5/15)
- FACT: In New Hampshire, The Governor Is Required By Law To Submit A Balanced Budget To The State Legislature. (“NCSL Fiscal Brief: State Balanced Budget Provisions,” NCSL, October 2010)
MYTH: Hassan Said She Would Take Her “Bipartisan Approach” And “Commitment To Problem Solving” To The Senate. GOVERNOR HASSAN: “Washington has lost its way on too many of the priorities that matter to New Hampshire and you can count on me to take my bipartisan approach, my common sense, and my commitment to problem solving and results to the Senate.” (Maggie Hassan, “Maggie Hassan Announces Candidacy For U.S. Senate,” 10/5/15)
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FACT: The Telegraph Said “It’s Hassan Who So Far Is Firing Off The Harshest Rhetoric And Appears Most Motivated By Political Ambition.” “While both sides share responsibility, it’s Hassan who so far is firing off the harshest rhetoric and appears most motivated by political ambition. Hassan knows she’ll need the support of state employees to make a Senate bid, so the pay raise is crucial if – as many believe – she makes a run at Sen. Kelly Ayotte. It’s not the elephant in the room; it’s the whole safari.” (Editorial, “Stopgap Budget Is Not Governing,” The Telegraph, 6/28/15)
- FACT: Foster’s Daily Democrat Called Hassan’s Budget Veto “A Serious Mistake In Terms Of Serving The Best Interests Of The Granite State.” “Speculation aside as to Hassan’s motivation, we consider her veto a serious mistake in terms of serving the best interests of the Granite State. By extending the 2015 budget past July 1, the governor is denying services to some of the state’s most needy who would have been provided services had she signed the budget. While not perfect, the vetoed budget added money for substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, mental health care, domestic violence prevention, and higher education.” (Editorial, “Gov. Hassan’s Budget Veto Will Prove A Mistake,” Foster’s Daily Democrat, 7/2/15)
MYTH: Governor Maggie Hassan Said She Came Together With Republicans To Cut Taxes For Small Businesses. GOVERNOR HASSAN: “Republicans and Democrats came together to cut taxes for research and development and small businesses while maintaining fiscal responsibility.” (Maggie Hassan, “Maggie Hassan Announces Candidacy For U.S. Senate,” 10/5/15)
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FACT: Hassan Took A Strong Stand Against The Business Tax Cuts. Associated Press Headline: “Hassan Takes Strong Stand Against Business Tax Cuts.” (Kathleen Ronayne, “Hassan Takes Strong Stand Against Business Tax Cuts,” Associated Press, 6/18/15)
- FACT: In June 2015, Hassan Vowed To Veto The State Budget Because Of “Unfunded Tax Cuts For Big Corporations.” “Because this budget is unbalanced, dishonest about what it funds, and includes unpaid-for business tax cuts that create a more than $90 million budget hole at the expense of critical economic priorities, I will veto it if it comes to my desk as it is. I have been at the table with Republican leadership and have been clear throughout the process about how we can achieve a bipartisan budget that addresses our shared priorities, but Republican leadership refused to compromise on any of the major issues – most critically their unfunded tax cuts for big corporations.” (Gov. Maggie Hassan, “Republican Budget Is Fiscally Irresponsible and Unbalanced, Will Veto If Comes to Desk As It Is,” Press Release, 6/18/15)
MYTH: Hassan Said She Wanted To Make New Hampshire Better For Seniors Who Rely On Medicare And Social Security. GOVERNOR HASSAN: “I believe we can do better for New Hampshire families… Better for the seniors who watch the special interests prey on their hard earned Social Security and Medicare benefits.” (Maggie Hassan, “Maggie Hassan Announces Candidacy For U.S. Senate,” 10/5/15)
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FACT: The Homecare Association Of New Hampshire Said Hassan’s Budget Veto Was “Hurting Seniors Who Need Help To Stay In Their Homes.” “The Homecare Association of New Hampshire said the budget impasse is hurting seniors who need help to stay in their homes.” (WPTZ-BUR’s “Today @ 5 AM,” 9/10/15)
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FACT: Carolyn Virtue, CEO Of Heritage Case Management, Said “Since The Veto We’ve Lost A Number Of Community-Based Care Providers.” “The reason: These small agencies that help frail seniors and the disabled stay in their homes haven’t gotten a rate increase in six years and this budget gave it to them. ‘Since the veto we’ve lost a number of community-based care providers,’ Virtue went on to say. Others can’t wait months for this budget impasse to resolve itself. ‘I can tell you for my agency specifically, it’s day to day,’ she added.” (Kevin Landrigan, “Landrigan: Human Services Provider Group Calls For NH Lawmakers To Override Hassan’s Budget Veto,” NH1, 9/10/15)
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FACT: Hassan Said We Can Do Better For New Hampshire Police Officers Who Say “We Are Losing Too Many Of Our Children To Drug Abuse.” GOVERNOR HASSAN: “I believe we can do better for New Hampshire families… Better for the police officer who tells me we are losing too many of our children to drug abuse.” (Maggie Hassan, “Maggie Hassan Announces Candidacy For U.S. Senate,” 10/5/15)
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FACT: Hassan’s Office Was Unaware Of A $12 Million Federal Grant Issued To New Hampshire Geared Toward Drug Prevention. “And while New Hampshire, just like Vermont, recently received a $12 million grant geared toward drug prevention, the New Hampshire governor’s office didn’t know about it.” (Josh McElveen, “Budget Battle Slows Funds For Heroin Treatment,” WMUR, 7/9/15)
- FACT: Hassan’s Out Of Touch Veto Stalled Critical Funding To Fight The Heroin Epidemic. “Throughout the budget process, Republicans and Democrats alike called for greater efforts to address the state’s growing heroin and prescription drug abuse problem. The budget would have doubled money in prevention, treatment and recovery fund to $6.7 million, allowing the state to begin investing in now-lacking recovery programs. Without the additional funding, the state can’t start issuing requests for proposals for new programs and providers.” (Kathleen Ronayne, “New Hampshire Agencies, Programs Face Budgetary Uncertainty,” Associated Press, 6/29/2015)