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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. What do you think about an income tax in New Hampshire? Two plans were outlined at the Statehouse today. We'll have details. And Saint Patrick's day is just a round the corrner. We'll hear from a chorus heading to Ireland to share their songs. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Income Tax Return to index of stories... |
Two separate income tax plans were under scrutiny today at the statehouse. The House Ways and Means Committee held a morning hearing on Republican Alf Jacobson's plan to replace the statewide property tax with about a three or four percent income tax. In the afternoon the committee looked at another income tax plan - sponsored by Representative Liz Hager, and Senators Clilfton Below and Mark Fernald. We'll hear some of today's testimony and discuss an income tax plan in depth. in just a few minutes. |
| SUPCO Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Lawyers representing Governor Jeanne Shaheen filed a brief today urging the state Supreme Court to uphold the statewide property tax. The Governor has retained Boston-based Hall and Dorr to prepare the 32-page friend of the court brief. In the brief Shaheen maintains that the coalition of property rich towns failed to prove that the tax causes disproportionate taxation and the tax does satisfy a constitutional requirement that property be revalued at least once every five years. Oral aruguments begin tomorrow morning at 9:30. You can see and hear the LIVE proceedings on our website at nhptv.org. We'll have a complete report and analysis for you tomorrow night right here at 7:30. |
| Court Project Return to index of stories... |
Next month, people charged with minor crimes will no longer be able to have jury trials. Under a program in Rockingham and Merrimack county courts, people facing misdemeanor charges had the choice of having a jury trial - instead of a trial before a judge. Those who chose the jury trials, gave up their rights to an appeal to the Superior Court. The program was designed to lower the number of misdemeanor convictions being appealed to the Superior Court. But Chief Justice David Brock says that program is being suspended in part because the trials were tying up judges who could more quickly dispose of cases without juries. |
| Bass Special Ed Return to index of stories... |
Congressman Charles Bass wants more federal money sent to states for special education programs. Bass, a member of the House Budget Committee, told education secretary Rod Paige that government has fallen short of its promise to fund special ed. When a law mandating special education passed in 1975, the government promised to pay 40 percent of the costs. So far, the payment is about 15 percent. Bass has introduced a bill to increase the payments to 40 percent by 2006. |
| Dioxin Plan Return to index of stories... |
Burning trash in your back yard would be against the law under a plan introduced to the Executive Council today. Governor Jeanne Shaheen wants to reduce pollutants that emit dioxins in the air. Dioxins can be found in fish, milk, cheese and water and they've been linked to cancer, birth defects and immune disorders. The governor's plan also includes encouraging hospitals to stop burning medical waste. Other key sources of dioxins include wood-fired boilers and generators, wood-burning stoves and diesel engines. |
| Meningitis Scare Return to index of stories... |
A three-year-old Portsmouth girl has been hospitalized with a suspected case of meningitis. A State Communicable Disease spokesperson says doctors may have caught the disease in time. The child attends Discovery Child Enrichment Center at Pease International Tradeport. Other children there are being treated as a precaution.Just last month a Portsmouth High School senior died of the disease. It's believed the two cases are not connected. Meningitis is a rare infection of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and can be fatal. It is spread through saliva. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Turning now to the weather. We checked in with meteorologist Sarah Curtis a few minutes ago to find out what it's like on top of Mount Washington and what we can expect tomorrow. |
| Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
CG:WEATHER\Tonight\North\Partly cloudy \Scattered snow showers\Lows 20 to 25\ CG:WEATHER\Tonight\South\Partly sunny\Chance of snow flurries\Low 20 to 30\ CG:WEATHER\Tomorrow\North\Partly sunny, \Highs 40 to 45 F\Winds West 15 to 25 mph\ CG:WEATHER\Tomorrow\Central/South\Partly sunny, \Highs 40 to 45 \Winds West at 15 to 25 mph\ |
| Intro Income Tax Return to index of stories... |
As we mentioned earlier, two different income tax proposals were debated at the state house today. Producer Richard Ager was there. CG:LOWER3RD\Rep. Alf Jacobson\R- New London CG:LOWER3RD\Bill Carr\Nat. Fed. of Independent Business/NH CG:LOWER3RD\Richard Ager\NH Outlook CG:BULL3SUB\3.3% Income Tax Plan\Exemptions\$11,000 per taxpayer \$3,000 per dependent\Single parents get additional $3,000 exemption\Source: HB 259 CG:LOWER3RD\Sen. Mark Fernald\District 11 CG:LOWER3RD\Rep. David Hess\R- Hooksett |
| Income Tax Return to index of stories... |
Soundup: Tape 1 17;29 In 1960, the tax on my house was 3% - last year it was 8.5 % of my income. Almost tripling in that time. Now my income over that period has increased 10 to 11 times. The tax on my property has increased 27 times. Track: The first of the two bills was sponsored by Rep. Alf Jacobson. It would impose a statewide school tax on personal income. The tax rate - roughly 3-4% - would be set each year to match the amount needed for an adequate education. The proposed income tax drew opposition from the federation of independent businesses, which warned it could cost the state 20,000 jobs. Bite: Tape 1 40;55 We like the idea of looking at approaches to solve your problems from within. When we have a problem, and we have a burden, we can't run out and grab that person and say give me some money, I need it. The only way we can solve our problem is find a way to do it within our means. When we have a budget, we have to live within the budget. Standup: 14:14:56 The second income tax bill to get a hearing today was the Hager-Below bill, which passed in a slightly different version during the last legislative session. Anticipating a bigger turnout, the committee moved the hearing the Representatives Hall. Soundup: Sen. Below Track: The bills sponsors, including Senator Clifton Below, made a detailed presentation of how the bill would work. Graphic: It would impose a 3.3% tax on income but grant large exemptions of $11,000 per taxpayer and $3000 per dependent. Single parents would get an additional $3000 exemption. Bite: 13:48:27 We have schools for us. For society. The schools benefit all of us. They represent the future and a society that invests in education is investing in the future. The people who wrote our constitution understood this. They put an education clause in our constitution. Track: But many legislators say an income tax will not get the support need to pass. Tape 1 33:56 If the people of NH were given a multiple choice question and asked if you would rather have an income tax, a sales tax, or tweak your current tax structure in order to address the issue, my suspicion is that the majority would say let's tweak the current system. Track: For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining me to talk more about an income tax here in New Hampshire, Senator Clifton Below of Lebanon, and Bill Carr, of the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. |
| Thank guests Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to my guests Senator Clifton Below and Bill Carr of the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Association of Independent Business. |
| BP Bump Return to index of stories... |
CG:BUMP\For More Information \webster.state.nh.us\ |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
It was another dismal day on wall street. It appears as though world market forces are just as influential as our own softening economy. In Japan, the government is setting up a task force to consider ways to boost the economy which is described as being in a state of deflation. a condition which could lead to recession. |
| Wall Street Stocks Return to index of stories... |
For the first time since October, the dow dropped below the ten thousand mark. It fell as much as 395 points before closing down 317 points at 99-hundred 73. The Nasdaq composite index finished the day with a loss of 42 points to 19-hundred-72.The S-and-P 500 index tumbled 31 points to eleven-hundred-66. CG:STOCKS\DOW\9973.46\-317.34\NYSE\593.76\-15.58\American Stock Exchange\887.14\-18.07\Nasdaq\1972.08\-42.70\S & P 500\1166.71\-30.95 |
| Delay Reax Return to index of stories... |
Reaction tonight in New hampshire to the market's tumble today.From Dennis Delay, Senior Economist at PSNH- He says, while the broader economy is not in that bad a shape , we still don't know where the bottom is on the fall in tech earnings. The economic fundamentals still point to an economic recovery and moderate growth by the end of 2001, with economic growth encouraged by lower interest rates and energy prices, and the affects of the Bush tax cut. CG:BUMP\Reaction to Wall Street\"While the broader economy is not in that bad a shape , we still don't know where the bottom is on the fall in tech earnings. The economic fundamentals still point to an economic recovery and moderate growth by the end of 2001, with economic growth encouraged by lower interest rates and energy prices, and the affects of the Bush tax cut."\ |
| Sedoric Reax Return to index of stories... |
And from Tom Sedoric of A-G Edwards in Portsmouth this analysis.The slide began at the opening bell, after an international service placed the ratings of 19 Japanese banks under negative review.The financial troubles in Japan are nothing new, but add fuel to the anxieties of an already nervous Wall Street. CG:BUMP\Reaction to Wall Street\"The slide began at the opening bell, after an international service placed the ratings of 19 Japanese banks under negative review.The financial troubles in Japan are nothing new, but add fuel to the anxieties of an already nervous Wall Street."\ |
| NH Stocks Return to index of stories... |
And now to gauge the anxiety shown in stocks of interest to New Hampshire. Chubb was down one and three quarters. State Street Corp was down almost six dollars. Timberland was down one point eight oh. and Tyco was down nearly one and a half. Verizon Communications was down two point two eight. CG:STOCKS\Chubb\67.40\-1.76\State Street Corp\90.32\-5.94\Timberland Co\53.55\-1.80\Tyco International\45.38\-1.45\Verizon Communications\46.90\-2.28 |
| Seabrook Return to index of stories... |
Who will pay the cost of closing the Seabrook nuclear plant when that day arrives? That issue is being addressed at the statehouse in Concord. Wolfeboro Representative Jeb Bradley told a House committee today whoever buys Seabrook must assure the state it can pay the 52 million dollars to close it. The bill also makes sure the costs will be covered if Seabrook is shut down early. Bradley says the bill also will relieve customers of a monthly decommissioning fee once the state's electric utilities with an interest in Seabrook sell it. Those utilities include Public Service Company of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative and Granite State Electric. Decommissioning is projected to start in 2026. |
| Back Wages Return to index of stories... |
Hundreds of employees of a Bedford company will recieve back wages in a settlement of a federal wage complaint. The Labor Department says Car Component Technology will pay more than 700 people who worked there from mid-1996 to January 1999. The company denies any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay more than 37 thousand dollars. The complaint was filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act,which deals with the federal minimum wage and overtime. |
| Street Luge Return to index of stories... |
Get ready Franklin - you're going to be home to a new sport - street luge. City councilors have approved a plan to develop a race course on an unused city street. A Canterbury man is scheduling the first race for the weekend of May 18-19. Competitors lay on their backs on what looks like a long skateboard and speed down hills using their body weight to steer and their feet to brake. Speeds can reach up to 60 miles per hour. The organizer, Tim Cayer, did a demonstration for us last spring. He says he anticipates street lugers from across the country will come to Franklin to compete. |
| Intro Voices Return to index of stories... |
Finally, this evening, in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day our next story profiles "Voices From The Heart" a popular seacoast women's chorus that will be sending a group of their singers to Ireland in June. Chip Neal has the story |
| VOICES Return to index of stories... |
Chorus rehearsing in Unitarian Universalist church on Portsmouth. Interview Joanne Connolly Interview Eileen Foley ambassador to CarrickFerfus, Ireland Interview Ann Asadoorian who will be tracing her family roots in Ireland. Side bar at Salt Pile in Portsmouth. That salt comes by ship from CarrikFergus, Ireland one of the stops on their tour of Ireland. . |
| Tag Voices Return to index of stories... |
Voices from the Heart will be rehearsing for the next few months before their next concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Portsmout on June 2nd. And then on June 28th they leave for their Ireland tour. They're cd's are available at book and music stores around the state. For more information call 207 451-9346. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - All eyes will be on the State Supreme Court and oral argument on the statewide property tax. You can see and hear LIVE streaming audio and video on our website, nhptv.org beginning at 9:30am. And get a complete report and analysis right here on your television screen tomorrow night beginning at 7:30. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for Dr. Wayne Dyer We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. All eyes will be on the State Supreme Court and oral argument on the statewide property tax.Get a complete report and analysis right here beginning at 7:30. Only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Mountain Search costs Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Search Payment dewman Vermont school will pay tab for N.H. mountain search -- A Brownsville school has agreed to pay the cost of searching for three teachers and two students who got lost in New Hampshire's White Mountains in December. Fish and Game Colonel Ron Alie said Adventure Quest, a private high school that teaches outdoor skills, volunteered to pay five thousand dollars. The five spent a bone-chilling night on Mount Lafayette after being caught in a snowstorm. Fish and Game said they were not wearing proper clothing and did not have a detailed map or sleeping bags. Fines or donations are given to the New Hampshire Outdoor Council, an organization that gives grants to private volunteer rescue groups. AP-NY-0 |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. If you've got a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721. |