Bradley, Hinch concerned by Governor’s lack of urgency in deploying Granite Hammer grants
Concord, NH – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and House Majority Leader Richard Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued the following statement ahead of the Governor’s announcement of the Granite Hammer grant recipients.
“In June, Governor Hassan urged House Democrats to reject a bill which included $1.5 million of drug interdiction resources. Thwarting drug dealers is more important than the Governor’s political aspirations, so the legislature reconvened to pass this critical funding for increased law enforcement focused on combating the heroin and opioid crisis,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro). “We are concerned that it has now taken almost three months since the bill became law to award these grants to reach communities around the state.”
“No one solution will solve the heroin and opioid epidemic, but delaying funding to target the heroin crisis following Governor Hassan’s budget veto, and other resources that the legislature has made available over the course of the last year, prevented our communities from taking the swift action necessary to combat the crisis. I look forward to the progress that is sure to be made in the next few months once communities have the resources they need,” added Bradley.
“The legislature came together in June to act on this important issue, and we’re glad these funds are finally being disbursed. However, the Governor was ready to call us into a Special Session the same day Granite Hammer failed in the House,” said House Majority Leader Richard Hinch (R-Merrimack). “Where is that same urgency with deploying the funds? It is unfortunate that the Governor has taken over three months to announce and award these grants, which conveniently happens to be closer to Election Day.”
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