The State of New Hampshire passes a “biennium” budget, which covers a two-year period. Jerry’s medical technology background and experience in the House Ways and Means Committee led Republican leadership to invite Jerry to be assigned a leadership role as Clerk of the Finance Committee, Division 3. Division 3 is responsible for writing the $3 + billion Health and Human Services annual budget.

In addition to working long hours as a member of the team to build the state budget, I used my own experience and expertise as part of what was called the “Miracle Budget”. After months of work, the state budget was passed on a voice vote.

In reviewing the process to get there, the Manchester Union Leader stated:

The House budget deal had no shortage of men and women in the political trenches who made it happen. A few worth mentioning were House Education Chairman Rick Ladd, who with Rep David Luneau and Rep Tracy Emerick carefully created changes to the education aid formula critical to getting House Democrats to sign on the dotted line.

“Then there was Rep Jerry Stringham, D-Lincoln, who for weeks worked with Rep Jess Edwards, R-Auburn, and Rep Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, on House Finance to create the matrix for how best to increase Medicaid provider rates. Once Osborne and Wilhem agreed to kick in $40 million more for providers than House Finance had, it was easy to plug it into Stringham’s algorithm.”

New Hampshire Health Care Association CEO Brendan Williams, who represents nursing homes called it his ‘Christmas miracle.

Manchester Union-Leader

April 8, 2023

By Kevin Landrigan