Governor Sununu on Maggie Hassan cutting the gas tax, “Senator Hassan has never cut a tax. Four years as governor, there is not a single tax that she ever proposed to cut, so from her that’s why a lot of folks call it a gimmick. It’s a nice talking point for her, but there is nothing behind it.”
In an interview with WGIR’s Chris Ryan, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu discusses his proposal for the legislature to establish a state gasoline tax holiday; dismisses Senator Hassan’s proposed federal gas tax cut as a reelection gimmick; explains his plan to build affordable workforce housing; describes New Hampshire’s robust economic status; talks about what can be done to address the need for more workers in the health care sector; clarifies why he is continuing the ban on Stoli Vodka; and examines whether funding for a parking garage used by the legislators is taking precedence over money for seniors and school lunches.
Governor Sununu is optimistic that the legislature should be able to approve a cut of the state’s 22 cent per gallon tax on gasoline.
The Governor asserts that, unlike Senator Hassan, his gas tax cut is a genuine possibility because he and his party have demonstrated an ability and willingness to cut taxes.
“Senator Hassan has never cut a tax. Four years as governor, there is not a single tax that she ever proposed to cut, so from her that’s why a lot of folks call it a gimmick. It’s a nice talking point for her, but there is nothing behind it.”
In his State of the State Speech in February, Governor Sununu outlined a plan to increase the construction of multifamily homes throughout the state to meet the need of housing for an influx of workers due to the growth of New Hampshire’s economy.
Governor Sununu is confident that rules and guidelines will be in place which will ensure that communities and developers will use the state funds to build homes which are intended for working class families.
As inflation soars and interest rates rise, recession is predicted for 2023 and 2024, but Governor Sununu expects that New Hampshire, due to its sound fiscal policies, will continue to be the place to be.
The Governor is concerned about the need for more healthcare workers, especially in the area of mental health. To address this problem, the state has purchased one mental health hospital and plans to build two more. It is hoped that, by building these facilities and partnering with providers, the Granite State will become a magnet for healthcare workers.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Governor Sununu issued an executive order banning the sale of Russian made and Russian branded spirits in state-owned liquor stores.
The CEO of the Stoli Group, which manufactures Stolichinaya Vodka, has appeared on New Hampshire Today, to ask that the ban be lifted because the company is located in Latvia and is opposed to the rule of Vladimir Putin.
Governor Sununu defended his position that Stoli is Russian branded because the labeling on their bottles state that it is Russian vodka and has pictures of places in Russia. If the company, goes through the process of rebranding their product, the Governor is open to lifting the ban.
When he was asked about the legislature taking funds from a dental plan for Medicaid and a school lunch program to allocate the $35 million to rebuild a parking garage for the legislators, Governor Sununu asserted that this was not an either-or decision, and he maintains that there is adequate funding.