Rep. Mike Bordes: Budget cuts should not come at expense of safety, protection of children

To The Daily Sun,

Last Thursday, I cast my vote against both halves of the state budget (House Bills 1 and 2) despite their mixed merits. My top concerns were for public safety and child welfare.

HB 1's proposed elimination of over 100 Department of Corrections positions would seriously undermine our correctional system's effectiveness and the health of employees. This reduction seems particularly untimely given recent bail reform legislation that makes these jobs even more crucial.

HB 2's handling of the Office of the Child Advocate was no less disturbing. This office plays a vital function in protecting vulnerable children and preventing costly litigation. Its removal would put vulnerable youths at risk and, most likely, lead to an increase in cases of child welfare failure. Our governor is against removing this office but the Libertarians in the Statehouse seem to think this is a smart cut.

The budget did come with some benefits. A group of common-sense Republicans were able to block HB 675 and its excessive overreach of local control and school budgets, restore funds for key tourist advertising as well as rest areas, and correct long-term pension issues facing first responders. But those weren't enough to make up for the underlying challenges to public safety and child welfare.

My decision to vote against the budget was based upon a commitment that budget cuts should not come at the expense of community safety or the protection of vulnerable children. Budget cuts do need to exist, but certain cuts are just too expensive in human terms for our city and communities.

Rep. Mike Bordes

Laconia