Governor Chris Sununu Statement on Fiscal Committee Vote to Cut Department of Justice Funding

Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu issued the following statement after Democrats on the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee voted to cut the requested additional funding from Attorney General Gordon MacDonald for the Department of Justice's Litigation Fund.

"Once again, the Democrats in the Legislature have chosen to put politics above the safety and well-being of New Hampshire's citizens," said Governor Chris Sununu. "For the first time in recent memory, the Department of Justice will not have the necessary funds to prosecute murders and other violent crimes, litigate clean water lawsuits, or comply with the State's obligations under the community mental health agreement. Once again the Democrats must now explain why they are standing in the way of the administration of justice."

The Department of Justice's Litigation Fund is used to pay for, among other things:

• Prosecuting homicides and other violent crimes

• Litigating the State's clean water lawsuits

• Protecting the State's education funding by challenging illegal Federal actions

• Complying with the State's obligations under the Community Mental Health Agreement

The Attorney General requested $777,000 for the litigation fund and the Democrats on the Fiscal Committee slashed it to $300,000.

• Attorney General MacDonald's explanation for the funding request