CONCORD – Testifying before the legislature yesterday, Gov. Lynch attempted to blame New Hampshire’s gaping budget deficit on the national economy.

“Governor Lynch owns the budget deficit, and strong leaders accept responsibility instead of passing blame,” said Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

“Gov. Lynch allowed state spending to increase by 17.5 percent -- or nearly a half a billion dollars -- last year at a time when lots of people had concerns about a declining housing industry and rising energy prices. The situation called for fiscal restraint and caution, but Gov. Lynch and his Democratic legislature went on a spending spree and adopted rosy revenue forecasts. Today the state has higher revenues than ever before but still faces a budget deficit because of Gov. Lynch’s inability to say no to higher spending. New Hampshire’s budget deficit is Gov. Lynch’s responsibility,” Cullen said.

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