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Sununu Pitches Priorities for 2018 Legislative Session

Allegra Boverman for NHPR

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has a long to-do list for this year’s legislative session.

Sununu gathered Republican lawmakers together for a press conference early Tuesday morning that had the feel of a GOP pep rally.
 

The New Hampshire Republican Party has sometimes struggled to unite, even with control of the Statehouse. But Tuesday, Sununu praised lawmakers for their work last year, expressed confidence in what’s ahead and tried to normalize potential splits.

 

"We’re gonna disagree on a lot of the details, that’s okay, that’s a great part of the process. That’s why we have 400 legislators and 24 state senators and don’t forget the five Executive Councilors. Everyone has a chance to weigh in here," Sununu said.

 

Senate President Chuck Morse also downplayed possible disagreements.

 

"As we start to discuss legislation as a party, I can assure you there'll be debate. It's normal. It's the way we do things around here. And as we go through the next five months, I can assure you that we all believe in the same things," Morse said.

 

Sununu said he will be focused on job creation and cutting regulations. He wants to temporarily reduce the real estate transfer tax for first-time home buyers. On the opioid crisis, he's backing a tax credit for businesses who support addiction recovery. 

 

Also on the governor's agenda is more local control, competition and choice in education, and he supports a property tax exemption for charter schools.

 

Sununu also said he's working on a plan to keep the state's expanded Medicaid program, but he didn't share specifics.

Lauren is a Senior Reporter/Producer for NHPR's narrative news unit, Document.
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