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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. A new plan emerges to address the Education Funding crisis. We'll look at the pros and cons of the republican proposal that some democrats are calling irresponsible! Plus the changing face of Mount Washington Valley. and the people behind the transformation. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Intro Tax Plan Return to index of stories... |
The Republican leadership of the House announced a new plan today to solve the public school funding crisis. It would increase a number of taxes but avoid a broad-based tax. Producer Richard Ager has the story. |
| Tax Plan Return to index of stories... |
Track: After many weeks of hearing every funding plan proposed, the House Ways and Means Committee announced their own plan. Bite: 11:20 Working with some members of the ways and means committee, I have crafted a solution that raises the revenue to balance a responsible finance committee budget, fully funds our education obligation for the long term, and reduces the statewide property tax. The solution accomplishes all of this without instituting any new broad-based tax. No sales tax. No income tax. Track: To accomplish these goals, the plan makes a number of tax changes. Businesses in NH pay the BET, the Business Enterprise Tax, a percentage of their gross income. That BET tax payment has always been credited against the tax on business profits. Graphic: Starting in 2002, the Ways and Means plan would change that by repealing the BET credit to raise $80 million. Reducing insurance credits would raise another $16 million. And the plan would also reimpose a nuclear property tax to raise $25 million. That total would cover an $89 million education fund deficit and provide 14 million in property tax relief. Bite: 14:35 This is an income based circuit breaker which limits the amount of taxes people will pay under the statewide property tax. This will affect every town in NH - not just donor communities. In addition, by fiscal 03, we generate enough money to reduce the statewide property tax by approximately 30 cents - or the equivalent of $22 million. Track: And the Ways and Means plan doesn't stop there. Bite: 15:35 We repeal the estate and legacy tax immediately,, and fund the loss of those revenues by instating a 1% title motor vehicle tax, which will be paid by purchasers of motor vehicles upon registration of their motor vehicles here in NH. Track: The governor who has proposed her own plan based on a sales tax, was quick to respond. Bite: 12:02:09 The House Republican leadership proposal is not a responsible long-term solution to address education funding. This proposal is bad economic policy, it does not provide stable long-term funding for our schools; it does not meaningfully reduce the rate of the statewide property tax; and it makes unacceptable cuts to essential state services to our most vulnerable residents. Track: For all of those reasons, the governor said she will veto such a bill if it reaches her. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Tag Tax Plan Return to index of stories... |
The House Ways and Means Committee will be holding a public hearing on the House Republican Leadership tax plan next Tuesday.We'll have more reaction to the Republican plan in just a few minutes. |
| Budget Protest Return to index of stories... |
A coaliton of health and human services groups, charities and environmental organizations is criticizing the draft budget being prepared by the House finance committee. The committee this week proposed cutting money for tobacco prevention, children's insurance and vaccination, home visits for pregnant women and mental health community centers to balance the budget and pay for education. Ellen Shemitz from Children's Alliance addressed the needs of children in the state. our children are not well because the leadership in the house is not working to build support for a long term school funding solution. Our children are not well because the budget bing developed today in the house is not a child friendly budget. rather, the house's budget would deprive our most vulnerable citizens, including our children and our families, of the healthcare, support and protection they need to thrive. |
| Budget Tag Return to index of stories... |
The group advocates a special tax rather than taking money from the general fund to pay for education. |
| Death Penalty Return to index of stories... |
Efforts to repeal the death penalty in New Hampshire were defeated in the house this morning. At times there was emotional debate on the house floor. |
| Death Penalty Tag Return to index of stories... |
This was the second time in two years the issue came to the House floor. Last year, the repeal was approved, but Governor Jeanne Shaheen vetoed it and the House could not muster enough votes to override. After the voice vote, House members voted 212 to 155 to prevent the bill from resurfacing again this session. No one has been executed in New Hampshire since 1939. |
| School Vouchers Return to index of stories... |
Some parents could get up to 80 percent of their children's' state education aid grant under a voucher plan approved by the House. Lawmakers approved House Bill 515 today and sent it to the Finance Committee. Parents could use the money to send their children to private nonreligious schools or public schools in other communities. To be eligible, parents would have to earn less than three times the poverty level. Average test scores for their children's schools would also have to rank in the bottom third of the state for two years.Critics question whether the vouchers would provide enough money to make a difference for many of the poorest families. |
| Housing Crunch Return to index of stories... |
Lawmakers are looking at a bill that would reward New Hampshire communities who have built affordable housing. Concord Senator Sylvia Larsen thinks the state should send the five million dollars in annual growth in the state's rooms and meals tax to communities that have built affordable housing. She says it may serve as an incentive for other communities to build more affordable housing. The New Hampshire Municipal Association opposes the plan, saying the money already is earmarked to be split among all communities. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Temperatures hit the 55 degree mark in some portions of the state. We checked in with Charlie Lopresti of the Mount Washington Observatory just a few minutes ago to find out how long we'll be able to enjoy the sunshine and to find out what conditions are like on top of Mount Washington tonight. |
| Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
CG:WEATHER\Mount Washington Observatory\Current Conditions\Temperature: 19 F\Wind: 55 mph gusting to 64 mph\Wind Chill: -25 F\Mostly Clear Skies with Drifting Snow CG:WEATHER\Tonight\North\Mostly Clear then Increasing Clouds Late\Lows: 15 to 20 Degrees F\Winds: Light and Variable\ CG:WEATHER\Tonight \South\Partly Cloudy with Increasing Clouds Late\Lows: 25 to 30 Degrees \Winds: Northwest 5 to 10 mph\ CG:WEATHER\Tomorrow\North\Thickening Clouds: Rain or Light Snow Developing by Afternoon\1 to 3 inches of Accumulation\Highs: 35 to 40F\Winds: Becoming East and Increasing to 5 to 10 mph CG:WEATHER\Tomorrow\South\Mostly Cloudy with Rain Developing by Mid-Day\Highs: 35 to 40 Degrees\Winds: Shifting East and Increasing to 5 to 10 mph\ CURRENT Temp: 19 F Wind:55 gusting to 64 mph Wind chill: -25 F Current WX: Mostly clear skies with drifting snow TONIGHT North: Mostly clear then increasing clouds late. Lows: 15 to 20 F Winds: Light and variable South: Partly cloudy with increasing clouds late. Lows: 25 to 30 F Winds: Northwest 5 to 10 mph TOMORROW North: Thickening clouds with rain or light snow developing by afternoon. 1 to 3 inches of accumulation. Highs: 35 to 40 F Winds: Becoming East and increasing to 5 to 10 mph South: Mostly cloudy with rain developing by mid-day Highs: 35 to 40 F Winds: Shifting East and icreasing to 5 to 10 mph |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining me now to discuss some of today's developments at the State House is Senator Lou D'Allesandro, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. I should also mention that we were expecting a member of the House Ways and Means Committee on tonight's show - and unfortunately he couldn't make it. Senator, thanks for joining us - first, let's talk a bit about the House Republican Leadership plan announced today to deal with the school funding crisis. There was a vote in the House today on a bill to abolish capital punishment. It was close - but this time it failed to pass. Why do you think that happened? Whatever funding plan comes out of the House is coming right to your committee in about two weeks time. What are you expecting - and what kind of influence do you think the Senate will exert on what the House comes up with? |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
progressive tax on businesses according to hess.impacy 1% of businesses in the state who pay the business profits tax. steady tax, durable.property tax relief second year 6.60 to 6.30 eliminate legacy and successions tax with 1% motor vehicle registration fee.NH residents every time.Nuclear tax, was in place til 1999. Dem.s repealed when general utility tax was imposed paying under a different name. |
| Thank guests Return to index of stories... |
Thanks State Senator Lou D'Allesandro for joining us tonight. |
| Tax Plan Bump Return to index of stories... |
CG:BUMP\FEEDBACK\How would you solve the education funding crisis? Send your comments to: NHOutlook@nhptv.unh.edu\ How would you solve the education funding crisis? Send your comments to: NHOutlook@nhptv.unh.edu |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
A big rally on Wall Street. The bulls returned as the stock market enjoyed the kind of rally it hasn't seen for some time. Stocks powered higher after Dell Computer and Alcoa gave Wall Street its first really good earnings news in months. The advance was a welcome relief for a market yearning to end its long slump. |
| Wall Street Stocks Return to index of stories... |
The Dow ended up 402 points at 99-hundred-18, jumping four percent. The Nasdaq ended up eight-point-93 percent, as it gained 146 points to close at 17-hundred-85. The S-and-P 500 rose 48 points, or better than four percent, to eleven-hundred-51. CG:STOCKS\Dow Jones Industrial Average\9918.05\+402.63\NYSE\592.54\+19.83\American Stock Exchange\864.78\+25.67\Nasdaq\1785.13\+146.33\Standard & Poors 500\1151.47\+48.22 |
| NH Stocks Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look of stocks of interest to New Hampshire investors. Autodesk was up three-point 9 five.General Electric closed up two and a half. Sanmina was up three point nine four. Teredyne was up four and a half. And Tyco ended the day up two point two four. |
| Intro North Country Return to index of stories... |
When you think of places like Conway and North Conway - what comes to mind? Maybe enjoying the outdoors - skiing, hiking, looking at the beautiful scenery like Mount Washington. Or maybe you think of shopping the factory outlets for great buys.All those activities serve to bring money into the region - but there's a move to diversify the economic base of the area - one reason - the area would be less vulnerable to economic slowdowns. |
| North Country Return to index of stories... |
3:24 This is a former factory outlet building. There were six outlets in here. It was the southern most of the outlets as you come into North Conway and it never really caught on as an outlet, so we moved in it's worked great for us. -- track George Epstein is one of the founders of the Echo Group. The company provides software for behavioral health, human services, and nonprofit businesses. Echo Group has been around for more than twenty years.And all that time, as it's grown, the company has remained in Conway. Other offices have been set up around the country - but George Epstein and Echo Group headquarters have remained here. -- sot 29:42 You can go right out the door and go cross country skiing mountain biking, jogging walking.People are outdoors here at lunch and take advantage of the tourism world that the area offers.29:57 -- track Tourism is one of the driving forces in the Mt Washington Valley economy. The other is retail. But those industries don't produce high wage jobs. -- sot 2:02:12 Before I came to Echo I was actually working retail in the area since I was 15 years old in various stores in the area. Working with a lot of tourists in the seasonal ups and downs of the business.2:02:24 -- track Kathy Bunker has a four year college degree. When she finished college, she returned home to be near family. But the job opportunities using her English degree were scarce. -- sot2: 02:47 At first I worked a few part time jobs and then I got a full time retail position for four years before I wanted to move out of retail and there was a position open at Echo. 2:02:57 -- Now, Kathy is a technical writer. -- 2:03:40 I think there are a lot of people in the area,that live up here an commute long distances to other positions and there are people that don't want to do that so they take a job with lesser pay just to stay in the area. 2:03:54 -- track Being under - employed is one of the drawbacks of living in the Mt Washington Valley That's because there aren't enough high paying jobs or high tech companies. The Mount Washington Valley Economic Council is trying to change that. -- sot 02:07:56 What we said was that we have a very homogenous economy and it's based on retail and tourism. Which is basically discretionary dollars being spent by people who can afford to indulge in those things when they come to the area. And it means seasonal employment, lower probably income, and not necessarily full benefit packages, so the families are choosing to live here are working um twice as hard to live up to what their basic living needs to be.02:08:25 -- track So the economic council has looked at bringing more high tech businesses to the area - one way - the creation of a high technology park. -- sot 02:08:47 And we joke about if you build it they will come - and other people joke if you build it they better come.02:08:55 __ track But a new technology park requires major funding, so the council is taking smaller steps first. -- sot 02:11:22 So the first objective is to find the businesses locally to find them their own incubator to move them out of their garage, out of their basement and put them in an incubator environment to ensure their success.02:11:35 -- BUTT BITE 02:13:09The economic council has a revolving loan fund. Which gives us the opportunity to provide financial support. We also have business counseling services provided by the Score chapter that we set up locally and they live with us so that's business counseling with a lot of mature less mature but experts in their field.02:13:29 -- Track Another objective of the council is to create cyber portals. -- sot 02:17:11 We're a rural area that has connectivity. I know that you've met with Echo this morning and they're one of the major technology companies we have in the area and they're doing business across the country across the world. 02:17:25 - - track And despite the fact that Vitts Network, the internet provider for Echo, is going out of business, Echo has a managed to get high speed internet access through Sprint. But it's costing more - about 30 % more. -- sot 13:21It's an interesting trade off. I think it's true as of this moment in time because the internet connection cost there are some additional expenses that way. But certainly the facilities cost and the buildings cost and a lot of the other expenses are lower here.13:39 -- track And, the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council is looking at aggregating businesses to get lower costs for internet access. -- sot 02:17:25So we do have connectivity and that's the exciting thing and the thing that's driven home is the fact that this area has the same type of environment as Portsmouth and could attract the same individuals that could live up here and do their job or run their businesses here. 02:17:49 -- track Members of the retail community see the benefit of added high tech companies as well. -- sot Nat Howe Chuck Roast Manager 02:22:38 Oh I think the diversification of the economy in a tourism place like this would be beneficial to everybody2:22:47. BUTT02:22:53 bite it will attract a different type of customer rather than just a tourist customer.23:00. BUTT23:26 bite typically a tech oriented customer is an upper income earning customer and you know we sell products that are more for that market group. 02:23:38 -- George SOT 24:23 There's a synergy, Tech people involved in high technology feed off each other they learn from one another they get excited about things that no one else cares about and there's so much of a gain from creating that environment where people can talk and deal with issues and learn from each other.24:43 -- SOT 31:47you do have to be a little creative to come here and work and find your way in the world- boy I have no complaints its just a great area to live and grow up in. 31:59 |
| Tag North Countryl Return to index of stories... |
If you'd like more information on what the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council you can log onto their website at www.mwvec.com |
| Intro Dartmouth Return to index of stories... |
Now for the health outlook here in New Hampshire. Dartmouth Medical School is holding a series of sold out sessions on the impact of screening, prevention and complementary therapies on personal health. Just last evening, Dr. Lori Alvord, the nation's first Navajo woman surgeon spoke at the Dartmouth medical school on how our belief systems influence our approach to health. She read from her book The Scalpel and the Silver bear. And recounted the impact a navajo healing ceremony had on a young woman. |
| Heal Thyself? #1 Return to index of stories... |
sot All of the people were there to get well. almost completely absent from western medicines. CG:LOWER3RD\Dr. Lori Alvord\Dartmouth Medical School -- |
| Tag Dartmouth Return to index of stories... |
Also discussed at last nights forum - how a patients medical decisions are often influenced by where that person lives. The Dartmouth Community Medical School forums continue for the next six weeks. While the forums are sold out, you can see summaries here on NH Outlook, and see and hear the complete presentation on our website beginning next week. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
Our web address is nhptv-dot-org. That's where you'll find more information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. Plus, if you have a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - Journalists from around the state talk about the week's top stories - from the vote on the death penalty to funding children's insurance and more. |
| 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 World of National Geographic. 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. Journalists from around the state talk about the week's top stories - from the vote on the death penalty to funding children's insurance and more. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Monday Promo Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook, the anatomy of a Pothole. We'll show you why there are so many bumps and holes in the road as we take you on Pothole Patrol. That's Monday at 7:30 on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| M2nite Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook, the anatomy of a Pothole. We'll show you why there are so many bumps and holes in the road as we take you on Pothole Patrol. That's Tonight at 7:30 on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: education Return to index of stories... |
DATE:4/5/01 TOPIC: Joining me now to discuss some of today's developments at the State House is Senator Lou D'Allesandro, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee to talk about the House Republican Leadership plan announced today to deal with the school funding crisis SEGMENT LENGTH: 6:49 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Senator Lou D'Allesandro\D- Manchester |
| key: health Return to index of stories... |
DATE: 4/5/01 TOPIC: Just last evening, Dr. Lori Alvord, the nation's first Navajo woman surgeon spoke at the Dartmouth medical school on how our belief systems influence our approach to health. She read from her book The Scalpel and the Silver bear. And recounted the impact a navajo healing ceremony had on a young woman. NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Lori Alvord\Dartmouth Medical School |
| key: community Return to index of stories... |
DATE: 4/5/01 TOPIC: When you think of places like Conway and North Conway - what comes to mind? Maybe enjoying the outdoors - skiing, hiking, looking at the beautiful scenery like Mount Washington. Or maybe you think of shopping the factory outlets for great buys.All those activities serve to bring money into the region - but there's a move to diversify the economic base of the area - one reason - the area would be less vulnerable to economic slowdowns. SEGMENT LENGTH: 6:33 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: George Epstein\The Echo Group Kathy Bunker\The Echo Group Cheryl Kovalic\Mt. Washington Valley Econ. Council Jac Cuddy\Mt. Washington Valley Econ. Council Jac Cuddy\Conway Selectman \Nat Howe\Chuck Roast Manager |
| key: economy Return to index of stories... |
DATE: 4/5/01 TOPIC: The Republican leadership of the House announced a new plan today to solve the public school funding crisis. It would increase a number of taxes but avoid a broad-based tax. Producer Richard Ager has the story. SEGMENT LENGTH: 2:55 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rep. David Alukonis\R - Chair/ House Ways & Means Jeanne Shaheen\NH Governor |