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In case you missed it, on Thursday leaders from across New Hampshire came together to slam Chris Sununu for standing with Mitch McConnell and opposing a tax cut for New Hampshire families included in the American Rescue Plan. In February, Sununu announced that he opposed the American Rescue Plan, saying “I’d be a no” on the American Rescue Plan, which cuts taxes for New Hampshire families. The virtual press conference was held on the day that tax cuts for New Hampshire families went into effect and was part of McConnell-Sununu Exposed, a project of the New Hampshire Democratic Party focused on shining a bright light on McConnell’s “full-court press” to get Sununu into the Senate race. Read more:
As families began seeing $300 monthly checks in their bank accounts for the first time Thursday for child tax credits, Democrats were thanking congressional leaders in Washington for making that happen, making clear that if Gov. Chris Sununu was serving in Washington, he would not have supported them.
State Sen. Becky Whitley, D-Hopkinton, reminded reporters Thursday at a news conference that Sununu said in February he would have been a “no” vote on the federal American Rescue Plan were he in the U.S. Senate or House.
This, Whitley noted, would be siding with Republican leadership in Washington rather than Granite State families.
The tax cut and monthly checks will total an average $4,380 a year. Whitley said the $3,600 a year young families will now receive have the potential to lift more than 8,000 New Hampshire children out of poverty.
“Investment in children and in families is an investment in the Granite State, short- and long-term future. We know that when we invest in and strengthen families, children flourish and our economy thrives,” Whitley said.
According to the Washington Post, it will cost $120 billion per year nationally, and besides providing $300 a month per child younger than 6, the child tax credit also provides $250 per child age 6 and older.
Whitley was joined on a press call Thursday with state Rep. Laura Telerski, D-Nashua, and Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress.
The call was organized by the New Hampshire Democratic Party, to shine light on what they see as a connection between Sununu’s political ambitions and his opposition to the American Rescue Plan, which is set to cut taxes for New Hampshire families and their 222,000 children who stand to benefit from the child tax credit.
Telerski, who said in her city there are some schools where more than 80 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced lunches because of their family’s lack of income, said Sununu would deny these families the money they now have to pay for day camps, new school shoes or a backpack.
Rice Hawkins said she is hearing from so many families that are overjoyed to have that federal check now sitting in their bank account thanks to Democratic leadership in Washington.
She said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell desperately wants Sununu to run for the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, because he knows Sununu would be a “rubber stamp” for McConnell’s agenda.
Telerski said that it is “no thanks to Chris Sununu or Mitch McConnell” that families will be receiving this help which could be transformative.
State Sen. Becky Whitley, D-Concord, joined by state Rep. Laura Telerski, D-Nashua, said Thursday that thanks to congressional Democrats, including New Hampshire’s four members, eligible families have begun receiving an average tax cut of $4,380 with monthly payments of up to $300 per child.
“While Democrats are cutting taxes for middle class families and building an economy that works for everyone, unfortunately, in February, Governor Sununu made it clear that he would side with Mitch McConnell over the people of New Hampshire in opposing the American Rescue Plan,” she said. “If it were up to Governor Sununu, today New Hampshire families wouldn’t be able to get this critical relief which will help pay for expenses they really need, like child care and health care.”
Zandra Rice Hawkins, long-time executive director of the progressive policy group Granite State Progress, said, “Every one of Mitch McConnell’s Senate Republicans voted against the needs and interests of New Hampshire families. And Governor Sununu said that if he was in the Senate, he would have joined Mitch McConnell and voted against these critical tax cuts for Granite Staters.
“By opposing the American Rescue Plan, Chris Sununu made clear that he stands with Mitch McConnell’s obstructionism and against New Hampshire’s own economic recovery,” she said.
Background:
Union Leader: Dems Kick Off Campaign to Link Sununu with McConnell
Manchester Ink Link: NHDP seeks to tie Sununu with McConnell at Arms Park event