Ayotte uses inauguration speech to launch Trump/Musk DOGE clone

As Kelly Ayotte was sworn in as the 83rd governor of New Hampshire on Thursday, she promised to make good on her many campaign promises, but came up short on specifics when it came to concrete goals for the most pressing issues facing the state of New Hampshire.

Ayotte also used her speech to launch a New Hamphsire-centric companion to the Donald Trump/Elon Musk DOGE project, dubbed COGE — the Commission on Government Efficiency — a gimmick commission that will be run similarly to the Trump-backed commission with two heads leading it — Former Republican Governor Craig Benson and Andy Crews, the New Hampshire Lottery Commissioner and former Automotive industry executive.

Democrats were quick to slam Ayotte for copying Trump’s homework

“Governor Ayotte is following in Trump’s footsteps and setting on a dangerous and costly path for New Hampshire,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley in a statement following the speech. “Kelly Ayotte is taking a page out of the Donald Trump playbook, and that’s terrible news for Granite Staters.”

Former NHDP Chair Kathy Sullivan pointed out that New Hampshire state government has been under Republican control for nearly a decade, and thus any wasteful spending would be the result of Republican lawmakers.

“NH had GOP gov for 8 yrs, w/ GOP legislative majority for several terms. If NH gov inefficient, that’s on you, your GOP colleagues, @GovChrisSununu, & GOP EC majority. Kelly thinks you weren’t doing your job.” Sullivan wrote in a post on social media.

The COGE move also reintroduces Benson to New Hampshire state politics after a single term as governor that was plagued with scandal and ended with the election of Democrat Governor John Lynch — only the second time in 78 years where an incumbent New Hampshire governor was denied a second term.

RELATED: Top NH GOP staffer calls for jailing NH journalists, Ayotte refuses to condemn

When it came to the all-important issue of property taxes — already among the highest in the nation, and expected to increase dramatically with recent tax cuts to the very wealthy promised by Ayotte and delivered by the Republican-dominated legislature, the new governor was quick to pass the buck to cities and towns, saying the burden was on them to figure out how to fix the issue of downshifting in their communities.

“I would also say to our local officials, don’t forget the importance of keeping the tax burden as low as possible. Property taxes are a burden in New Hampshire in spite of the fact that the state is sending more money than ever before down to the local level,” Ayotte said, using time in her inaugural speech to set the tone for Republican strategy on how repercussions for massive tax cuts for the wealthy should be treated by the rest of her party during her administration.

On housing Ayotte said she would endeavor to make the state’s efforts a model for cities and towns, but did not offer any specifics on how or how many housing units her administration would attempt to deliver.

Ayotte also used her speech to telegraph support for Republican plans to expand the state’s school voucher program, a promise that got roaring applause from Republicans in the room and crickets from Democrats, who have criticized the program for sending huge sums of taxpayer money to overwhelmingly private, religious schools.

Ayotte also said she would move to ban cell phones in New Hampshire schools, a proposal put forward by the Senate. 

Progressive groups signaled they would be keeping a close eye on Ayotte’s approach and ability to deliver on her long list of commitments to Granite Staters.

“As Kelly Ayotte steps into the corner office, Granite Staters are watching closely to see if she will deliver on her promises to lower costs, tackle the housing crisis, and clean up the messes left by Chris Sununu,” said Ryan Mahoney, Executive Director of Amplify New Hampshire, a progressive communications non-profit.

 “With her party in full control of the legislature, will she be able to show leadership and deliver results for New Hampshire working families? Or will she cave to the radical impulses of her party and become just another typical politician with a bag of empty promises?”