Testimony Regarding Education Tax Credits

The House Committee on Ways and Means met Monday, January 23, to receive public input on legislation that would create a tax credit for businesses that contribute to private scholarship organizations. The money would be used for subsidies to students attending private, religious or home schools.

House Bill 1607 would be costly for state officials to implement and would divert scarce public resources to private interests. In particular, state aid to public schools would likely be cut even though there is no evidence students receiving subsidies to attend non-public schools do any better than their public school peers. … Continue Reading

Statement of Executive Director Jeff McLynch on Legislative Briefings on New Hampshire Economy

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute released the following statement today:

As state lawmakers meet this week to examine the condition of the New Hampshire’s economy and its ramifications for state revenue, they should remain mindful of the consequences that the current state budget has had for individuals and families across the state.

From the loss of hundreds of jobs at hospitals and medical centers across the state, to greater barriers to access to health care for thousands of Medicaid patients, to ever higher tuition at our universities and community colleges, the budget crafted by the legislature has made New Hampshire a less desirable place to live or to do business, said Executive Director Jeff McLynch.

“Should revenue collections for the fiscal year 2012-2013 biennium fall short of expectations, policymakers should not rely on further spending cuts. Rather, they should take a more balanced approach that seeks to generate additional revenue and forestall further cuts to critical services,” he said. … Continue Reading

Key Questions to Consider in Implementing Medicaid Managed Care in New Hampshire

Earlier this year, the New Hampshire legislature approved changes in law to require the use of managed care for the state’s Medicaid program.  While managed care holds promise not only for reducing the costs the state incurs but also for improving the quality of care Medicaid members receive, other states’ experiences in utilizing risk-based managed care models – and in placing all of their Medicaid members in them – vary significantly.  Their experiences, coupled with New Hampshire’s own past experiences with managed care, suggest that the state will face numerous challenges as it strives to implement such changes to its Medicaid program.  As a result, the potential savings from Medicaid managed care in New Hampshire may be modest and require significant time to materialize.

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Poverty Continues to Climb in the United States, Remains Above Pre-Recession Levels in New Hampshire

Data released earlier today by the US Census Bureau indicate that poverty continues to climb across the country, as millions of individuals and families experience firsthand the effects of the nation’s sluggish economic recovery. The same data suggest that poverty in New Hampshire remains at relatively elevated levels, though such state-oriented findings should be considered preliminary until the Census Bureau issues more definitive state-by-state data later this month.

“This latest information from the Census Bureau shows that many New Hampshire residents – and millions of their fellow Americans – continue to struggle to make ends meet,” said Jeff McLynch, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. “Policymakers considering further cuts to the state budget should heed this warning and take a more balanced approach to addressing any future shortfalls.” … Continue Reading