Meanwhile, new polling shows strong Granite Stater opposition to Sununu’s abortion ban and mandatory ultrasound requirement
Despite Gov. Chris Sununu’s opposition, newly available federal COVID-19 relief funding “is expected to fuel a boom in [New Hampshire] municipal projects over the next five years.”
According to WMUR-TV, “The first round of $112 million in federal funding for New Hampshire’s smaller cities and towns is up for grabs” — money that’s expected to not only “remedy the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic” but also “fuel a boom” in municipal development.
That funding was secured under President Biden and congressional Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, which was passed thanks to U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, but opposed by Sununu, whose hypothetical vote would have prevented the bill’s passage.
The needed federal relief is good news for New Hampshire municipalities. But it’s another example of Sununu being out of step with New Hampshire. Just this week, new polling showed that Granite Staters are strongly opposed to Sununu’s strict abortion ban and mandatory ultrasound requirements.
Sununu previously suggested that his strict ban and mandatory ultrasound requirement might be broadly backed by voters (though it’s been loudly opposed by medical providers), claiming (at 16:37) that this new ban puts the state’s anti-abortion legal regime “close to the right place” and that his preferences are in alignment with “that 60 percent of everybody else.”
WMUR-TV: $112 million in federal relief funds up for grabs by municipalities in New Hampshire
By Adam Sexton | July 26, 2021
- “The clock is ticking for New Hampshire towns and cities to submit their plans for millions of dollars in federal aid coming via the American Rescue Plan act. That money is expected to fuel a boom in municipal projects over the next five years.”
- “The first round of $112 million in federal funding for New Hampshire’s smaller cities and towns is up for grabs. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen urges those communities to get ‘creative’ in their applications, within the emerging guidelines from the U.S. Treasury.”
- “The money is part of $1.45 billion headed to New Hampshire through the American Rescue Plan act. New Hampshire will receive about $1 billion of that money, with $264 million going to the ten counties and $86 million going to five large cities.”
- “The funding is broadly intended to remedy the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it goes much further. For instance, water infrastructure projects will see a flood of funds.”
Read the full report here.
Published: Jul 27, 2021 | Last Modified: Jul 28, 2021