Lakes Region organizations do their best to navigate federal government shutdown

In a showdown of political partisanship for the third time in 10 years, elected Democrats and Republicans in Congress failed to reach a budget agreement, resulting in a shutdown of all federal agencies and services as of Oct. 1. Granite Staters are left asking, what does this mean for the Live Free or Die state?

In a domino effect of confusion, local organizations are trying to make sense of how the shutdown affects their ability to serve their missions. Many conservation and advocacy groups find themselves in a murky situation.

Part of the Squam Lakes Association in Holderness, Lakes Region Conservation Corps is a state conservation service program operated through AmeriCorps, which is “the driving force behind many of the conservation efforts of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.” According to the AmeriCorps website and social media pages, the federal program has ceased operations effective immediately due to the shutdown — but things seem to be “so-far, so-good” at the state level.

“As of now, to the best of our knowledge it will have no immediate impact on LRCC. Only time will tell. Our only federal funding is through AmeriCorps, and as of now we anticipate staying funded,” said Elise Eifler, AmeriCorps program manager for LRCC. “More likely some of our partners will be impacted, such as the Forest Service.”

In Laconia, Lisa Morin with the Belknap County Conservation District can’t use her federally-issued computer — although that’s not stopping them from business as usual.

“We don’t have access to [our] federal computer or communications through that system,” said Morin, who serves as the district manager. “I’m also not allowed to work with anybody that has a question on farm bills, or programs the USDA works with us on.”

Luckily, BCCD owns their own small laptop and cellphone, so they’re able to keep some communication lines open. And while she couldn’t speak to how many phone calls they’ve received regarding the shutdown at the office, Morin said the organization's cellphone has been quiet.

But it doesn’t mean people don’t have questions.

“It’s the farmers. It’s the people we work with, the agricultural community that are really the ones [seeing] the big impact. It’s really the people with federal government assistance who are now in the biggest limbo,” Morin said.

She reiterated the nonprofit is still open and operating as usual — minus the federal computer.

“I’m still available and the office is still open for the conservation district in Belknap County.”

The last government shutdown, under the first Trump administration, lasted 35 days — the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Both sides of the aisle are blaming the other.

In a letter to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) requested her congressional salary be withheld in the event of a shutdown.

“I voted for a commonsense budget that would keep our government open, protect the health care of people across New Hampshire, lower sky-high costs, and restore to Congress the basic constitutional responsibilities that the president has lawlessly ripped away,” wrote Goodlander. “Republicans blocked that commonsense budget and senselessly left town, hurtling our country toward a government shutdown. If Republicans continue refusing to do their jobs, New Hampshire families and federal public servants will pay the price.”

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) voted against the Republican budget proposal.

“I have been clear that my two priorities as we approach the end of the fiscal year are to avoid a government shutdown and to extend the [Affordable Care Act] premium tax credits that keep affordable health care within reach for tens of millions of Americans. I voted for the continuing resolution that would accomplish both of those goals. Neither bill passed and it’s now critical for both sides to come together to find a path forward on both fronts,” said Shaheen, who is a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, according to a press statement sent Sept. 30. “We must work quickly across the aisle to fund the government and we need to return to Congress’s bipartisan process of delivering spending packages that provide long-term certainty to our communities and federal agencies.”

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) also voted against the bill.

“The American people want to be able to afford health care and they want to keep the federal government open. I voted today for a bill that would have done both. Unfortunately, President [Donald] Trump and Congressional Republicans refused to work across the aisle and instead chose to shut the government down,” Hassan said in a media release on Tuesday. “I urge leaders on both sides of the aisle, including President Trump, to come to the negotiating table and reach an agreement to protect health care and keep the government open.”

The inability to come to terms has left state representatives in the Lakes Region disappointed more isn’t done across party lines to truly represent the American people.

“It’s such a polarizing situation ... it’s not how things are supposed to be. We need to energize the political middle; they have no voice. That’s really why this stuff happens ... because the political middle has no voice,” said Rep. David Nagel (R-Gilmanton). “It’s exactly why things happen, and it shouldn’t happen. People get hurt, and that’s not a good thing.”

Laconia’s interim Mayor Charlie St. Clair, who is also a Democratic state representative for the city, agreed with Nagel, wishing more emphasis was put on unifying the nation.

“It’s become a team sport. People root for their team, and I wish people would root for America and all the citizens of our country — and not be so involved with the party line.

“A government shutdown is never good for anybody, I would think. I listened to the governor’s comments about how the state was ready for this. I would think she wouldn’t say that if it wasn’t true. The hope is that this is over sooner than later,” he added.

“Our state is prepared in the event of a federal government shutdown and expects minimal impact on services for Granite Staters in the short-term,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte wrote in a prepared statement Tuesday. “State agency heads have assured us that within the next 30 days, operations will continue as normal."

Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia), who is running for the mayor seat in November, believes the trickle-down effects of the government shutdown will be difficult on Granite Staters.

“It's not a Washington political battle, it's a ripple effect that touches real people here in New Hampshire. It's delayed service, furloughed workers, and uncertainty for families that rely on federal programs. Veterans waiting for benefits, small companies seeking [Small Business Administration] help, and seniors relying on Social Security offices all feel the squeeze,” said Bordes in an email to The Laconia Daily Sun. “In the Lakes Region, where tourism, small business, and local services shape the economy's fabric, the pain is especially sensed. Federal park closures to local coffers. Housing support or opioid response funding delays block critical progress. And for our constituents, working families, retirees, and young people building their futures, it's a reminder that dysfunction in Washington has real-life consequences at home.”