In a statement released today by the New Hampshire Senate Democrats, they accuse Republicans of focusing on ‘fringe social issues’ rather than economic growth.  Do they have a clue?  As reported by Marc Fortier:

CONCORD – Senate Republicans continue to follow their House colleagues’ lead by focusing on fringe social issues while simultaneously moving to water-down two programs aimed at economic growth and job creation. Today, the Senate passed measures to turn the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority into a powerless study committee and weaken New Hampshire’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
 
“New Hampshire voters sent us to Concord to focus on improving our economy and to foster job growth,” said Sen. Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord). “By watering-down both New Hamsphire’s participation in RGGI and the job creating New Hamsphire Rail Transit Authority, Senate Republicans have instead hindered job growth and turned away opportunities to grow our economy.”

Participation in the RGGI costs New Hampshire residents more money out of their already strapped wallets and does absolutely nothing to help the environment.  Not to mention that the funds extracted from charging utility companies for ‘carbon credits’ have been used to give businesses and special interest groups money that they either don’t need or otherwise would have to find elsewhere.  RGGI does not create jobs, it stifles jobs growth if anything because it adds to the cost of doing business in New Hampshire.  Maybe the Senate Democrats should take a look at how Cap & Trade has failed in Europe before pretending it’s a success here or that it actually stimulates job growth.

All the Senate needs to do in regards to a Rail Transit Authority is take a look at Massachusetts.  New Hampshire is a small state with a small population, it does not need a high speed federal boondoogle rail project that will absolutely cost more than it is estimated (which is one reason most states are refusing to add this to their roster of ‘things to do’) and in the long run will cost the taxpayers much more than the benefit.

What the Senate Democrats refused to acknowledge in their statement is how Governor Lynch vetoed the Right-to-Work bill that was passed by a majority in the legislature.  This bill would absolutely bring economic growth and jobs to New Hampshire but since most Democrats are against it, they simply ignore the facts.  These are not ‘fringe social issues’ as the Democrats stated, they are important issues that affect the people of New Hampshire.  By opting out of RGGI, consumers and businesses save money.  By avoiding Obama’s high speed rail, NH residents again save money.  By vetoing the Right-to-Work bill, Governor Lynch and the Democrats who support his veto, cost New Hampshire economic growth and jobs.  Do the Senate Democrats have a clue?