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Budget issues facing New Hampshire may be an indicator of the sort of trouble facing states all over the country.  Last night the New Hampshire Finance Committee passed a plan to bring slot machines to state racing venues with a 4 -3 vote.  But the night was long and the process intense.

New Hampshire has a long history of opposing gambling expansion, particularly in the House.  According to House Finance Committee Chairwoman Marjorie Smith “The House has never supported gambling, and we have no reason to believe that position will change.”

However the state is facing a serious budget deficit and slot machines are projected to generate $185 million for the state coffers.  Indicated by the narrow margin of victory, the plan to legalize slot machines was passed with some reluctance.

Unless they can find some solution to their budget issues the state faces some drastic budget cuts.  Governor John Lynch has proposed a plan that involves the closing down of a some very import institution in the state as well as laying off quite a few state employees.  Without new tax revenues Laconia Prison, Tobey School, and as many as six district courts will be closed down. 

Debates were intense before the final votes were held.  Officials like Van McLeod, the Department of Cultural Resources Commissioner and the Supreme Court’s general counsel, was actually called in from home to testify at the last minute in the debates.

New Hampshire is hardly the only state these days looking to slot machines or other forms of gambling expansions to patch up holes in their budget plan.

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