Dear Kent Streeters,

If we needed proof that the GOP is on a mission to enact Project 2025 here in New Hampshire and move Trump’s fascist agenda forward, we need look no further than what happened at the State House this week. In putting forth their budget for a vote, the GOP majority not only failed to address the very real fiscal needs of state, but they proceeded to add one amendment after another undergirding Trump’s attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ persons, public schools, Medicaid, family health planning centers, vaccines…the list goes on and on.

If a budget document is a statement of values and priorities (and it is), the House majority has shown us that they value self-interest over the public good, personal gain over shared responsibility, meanness over compassion. It was a sad and disheartening day at the State House. (Please see our dear friend Rep. David Meuse’s excellent summary here).

The good news is that people are beginning to see the through-line between what is happening here in New Hampshire and what is happening at the federal level. They realize that the fight is one and the same. It is the fight against authoritarianism – it is the fight for freedom, democracy and compassion. They know that we need to take the energy and inspiration generated by large-scale protests like the NO KINGS protest organized by our friends at 50501 NH for April 19th and bring that energy to the State House.

We saw that this week when rallies were held on both Wednesday and Thursday protesting the budget. There were lots of people showing up for the first time – many who had attended the April 5th Hands Off protests – realizing that they have an opportunity to make their voices heard in Concord. It was exciting and so encouraging!

Let me be clear. Making our voices heard does not mean that we are going to win a lot of the immediate legislative battles ahead of us (though we will win some, such as defeating the attempt to add mandatory local school budget caps to the budget). Sadly, we saw that on Thursday with the budget document.

But let me also be clear. Though we may lose some battles, we will not lose the fight. By showing up with our signs and our testimonies, we show our support for elected representatives who are fighting the good fight week after week. We put the others on notice that we intend to hold them fully accountable at the ballot box. We have the power to do that.

The reason the GOP House tacked all of these bad amendments onto the budget is that they know that know the majority of Granite Staters do not support these regressive and dangerous policies. It is our job to let our friends, neighbors and communities know what the GOP majority so desperately wants to hide – that they are a party disconnected from the needs and values of average Granite Staters.

And by saying no here in New Hampshire, we say no to Trump, we say no to Project 2025, we say no to fascism…and we stake our path forward toward justice, compassion and freedom…toward fulfilling the promise of our constitution and our democracy.

Yes we can. Yes we will. Yes we must.

With eyes on the prize,
Louise

View this week’s Action Alerts here.