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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Budget Briefing Return to index of stories... |
Even in good economic times, setting a state budget is a complicated and difficult task involving many choices. But when the economy is troubled, making those choices can be even more difficult, as state agencies ask, but do not receive. Case in point - the state budget hearings last Friday, attended by producer Richard Ager. |
| Budget Briefing Return to index of stories... |
Track: The budget hearings opened with a presentation by the state university system. University officials proposed a budget increase to allow for expanded services. Bite: Hearings tape 1 09;29:24 We want to partner with the community technical college system more, so that we can help them offer, and we can offer fully on-line bachelor's degrees for place-bound students across NH. Track: Reno cited areas of academic excellence and the risks of underfunding them. Bite: Hearings tape 1 09:35:52 Air quality mapping, meteorology and oceanographic mapping, and fisheries preservation. We have some of the finest faculty in the world in those programs at our university and college and it didn't come easy getting them, and it's important for us to keep them. These dollars would permit our institutions to maintain their excellent reputations in the marketplace. Track: But the governor's budget cuts the university system budget by 5% - and reluctantly, the chancellor addressed that scenario. Bite: Hearings tape 1 09:45:20 We would have to look at ways to increase our revenue. One way to do that would be to raise tuition. Bite: Hearings tape 1 09:46:20 We're not whining, we're not complaining, we're not being petulant, we're simply stating the fact that we are operating already at an extraordinarily low cost structure. If the budget we end up with at the university system is the budget that the governor has proposed, then many of the things that I have talked about as investments will have to be postponed. Track: Downbeat scenarios punctuated the hearings, as educators faced bottom-line questions from the committee. The state's community and technical colleges were next to make their case. Bite: Hearings tape 2 11:02:08 Business and industry continue to clamor for more nurses, dental hygenists, radiologists, automotive technicians and bio-technicians. To respond as we must, we require additional faculty and facilities enhancements such as new science laboratories and refurbished automotive bays. Bite: Hearings tape 2 11;01;17 Although we anticipated, agreed to and planned for a 5% reduction in our operating budget like other state agencies, the figures you have before you reflect a 10% reduction. Bite: Hearings tape 2 11:39:26 The impact is certainly going to be on tuition, possibly on accreditation, certainly program curtailment, our plans to expand high-expense programs like nursing and some of these others. It's going to deny access to college education to members of your community. Track: Late in the day, the judicial branch presented it's proposed budget with a 5% increase. In their remarks, court officials described an underfunded system that is approaching crisis, as vacancies remain unfilled, programs are abandoned, and cases are delayed. Bite: Hearings tape 4 15:31:00 Statutory requirements are not met, each cutback that is made is to the detriment to the citizens of the state. Delays in case processing and the issuance of orders increase, court access is limited. Errors increase - the court staff being required to do more with less. The inequities occur between the courts because some courts have vacancies and others do not. So it's a disproportionate burden that is borne by citizens in some counties more than others. Frustration levels climb as the service deteriorates. Track: The governor cannot set the budget for the supreme court since it is a separate branch of government. Governor Benson did include a footnote in his budget that calls for a judicial budget cut in each of the next two years. Bite: Hearings tape 4 16;01:18 If the footnote stays, we have a serious problem. If the footnote stays at that rate, we'll be talking about some very drastic measures to stay within the appropriation. Layoffs, closing courts, you name it. Bite: Hearings tape 4 15:54:38 I would like to end this on a positive note but I'm unfortunately not able to. From what you've heard today, you must understand that we are not providing basic services to our citizens here in NH. And it can only get worse if we don't get help. Track: But there were no reassuring words from the committee. Finance chairman Richard Green Bite: Hearings tape 5 16:20:45 I would also observe, whether the decision was right or wrong, and I'm not taking a position on that, that the decisions that have been made recently about education are creating a major, major concern about finding money. Because if you look at the law and the way it has ended up, the first one to the table is education. And everybody else gets what's left. 16:21:23 The way it has come down is, the education fund gets first dibs. Everybody fights about that - that's the political hot button, and nobody else is going to get anything until we get the education issue resolved. 16:22:05 And I just think you ought to know from where we sit as leglislators, this is not an anti-court thing, this is not an anti-education thing, this is just an observation first as a citizen, now I find myself 60 days as a legislator with an issue I'm having a difficult time trying to resolve. Bite: Hearings tape 5 16:22:37 Well I would just respond by saying we are acutely aware of the problems you have in allocating limited resources, and you have some tough social policy decisions to make. And we will respect them. Track: Rep. Marjorie Smith objected to the chairman's remarks, asking for clarification. Bite: Hearings tape 5 16:23:30 I believe in no way are you saying that the judicial branch should be punished in any way because of the results of any decision that is made. I said I gave no opinion on the decision. Track: And on that note, the budget hearing ended. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining us now are Senator Richard Green, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Clifton Below - I understand longest serving member of the Finance Committee. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
1: Senator Green - in your remarks to Justice Brock, you said that "those who thought they could generate" a crisis that "would force the state into generating additional funds" were wrong. What were you referring to? 1.a You made reference to Claremont case - " decisions made recently about education are creating a major concern about funding money. Because if you look at the law and the way it's ended up, the first one to the table is education. And everybody else gets what's left." Should you even be talking to the justices about their decision in the Claremont case, in the context of their making a budget request? 2: The effect of budget cuts to the court system were described in some detail - delayed decisions, court closings, months with no jury trials. In some courts, the staff don't answer the phone during certain hours just so they can get their work done. Some employees putting in 50-60 hour weeks when they are only paid for 40. Do you accept that these problems are growing? 3: What role does the recent history of tensions between the court and legislature play in deciding the court's budget? Has funding our justice system become a political football? 4: Educators made their presentations on Friday. The community/technical college system is looking at a 10% cut - yet they are the institutions that serve a fast growing student body. 9500 in 2000 - 13,000 projected this fall. What do you say to them? 5: The University system, like the courts, came in with a proposed budget that included an increase. Was that wise - or should they just accept the numbers in the governor's budget and go from there? 6: University Chancellor Stephen Reno said this is likely the end of "the bargain" whereby the university got a 5% increase and tuitions only rose with inflation. How much higher can tuitions go - and is this an example of 'pay me now or pay me later'? 7: When you serve on the finance committee and everyone comes to you with their requests - after a point, do you just conclude that everyone gets cut? Does everyone have a good cause? How do you prioritize? |
| Intro Yankee Return to index of stories... |
OK. so in this budget concious time, it seems logical that here in New England we'd start talking about that old Yankee enginuity. Yankees are frugal, right? But what is a true Yankee? Chip Neal went to an expert. Jud Hale is editor-in-chief of Yankee Magazine in Dublin. |
| What's a Yankee Return to index of stories... |
Jud Vo ext Yankee building/shot of Yankee Magazine "a yankee is self denying, self relying and in to everything prying, A lover of piety, propriety, notoriety and the temperance society. He is a bragging, dragging, striving, thriving, swapping, jostling, wrestling, musical, quizzical, astronomical , philosophical, poetical and criminal sort of character. Whose manifest destiny is to spread civilization to the remotest corners of creation. Chip & Jud looking at museum Jud explains museum is built on faith, hope and charity This chicken was on Today show. I nearly had Katie Curick convinced that the chicken was hypnotized. Chip - The dictionary says aYankee is an American. Is that it? Jud - No, it's a very complex word. Evolved over the years. Early 19th century yankee was a slippery businessman type with English origins. When you talk about a Yankee being an American that goes back to say WW1 when we went over to France, everyone from America was a Yankee. People from Alabama were Yankees over there. In this country a yankee at least down south is referring to northerners not New Englanders especially but to northerners. But a Yankee is a person who lives in New England. To a person who lives in New England , a yankee for the most part is a person who lives in the upper three states. NH Me VT cap cod. to a Vermonter what is a yankee? Well, it's a person who eats apple pie for breakfast. But you can go one step further. What is a yankee to a Vermonter who eats apple pie for breakfast? He eats it with a knife. That's a Yankee Jud VO museum - this is the natural history division separated by that elastic band Jud tells about penguin wing, and piece of Berlin Wall Chip VO OK let's do some etymology - where did this word come from. Jud had several possibilities but I like this one the best. Jud - the word yankee evolved in Plymouth, Ma. Back when the pilgrims landed in 1620. Not the Puritans, they landed 10 yrs later, this is the pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower. For the next few years they were very friendly with the natives, Indians. And every Sunday they would have a nice dinner and afterwards they would have sporting events. One of those was a tug of war. And it would be the Indians on one side and the pilgrims on the other. After they did this for a few Sundays they discovered that the Indians won every single time, they never lost and they couldn't figure out why. Until somebody noticed that when the gun went off to start the tug of war the Indians began to pull a split second before. So, they became known as the yankors which of course meant that the other side were the… It's not my theory…. Shot of brick with sign from Walden Pond house, piece of old boston garden / gary hart sticker Jud - Pearl Buck once said "that to survive people must treasure the image of themselves." New Englanders treasure the image of themselves. And the word yankee is part of that image. we have come to treasure our image more strongly and to recognize what our image is. And then we've come to treasure that. And who's responsible for that well you know ironically it's people from outside who have come here. They recognized the image, they knew what new England was all about. More than us natives, we kind of took it for granted They came from Ohio or Illinois or wherever up to new England and they knew what they had in mind new England was all about what the yankee was all about and they joined the historical societies and the planning boards and the land trust committees And they tried to make sure that the image came true, if it wasn't already true. Also it's evolved over time that people in new eng. In the tourism industry have recognized the positive financial impact of historic preservation. It not just nice to save New England for posterity it will also make you money. And that's an old yankee trait so we go back to the old Yankees Jud Vo - Scribner of the Boston Globe wrote "what's new is old. The united states is increasingly a nation of ambiguities painted in a dull wash, new England in contrast is vivid and distinct, a region of sharp lines. It was always different from the rest of the country and today it is more different that ever. Part degauria type, part yankee ingenuity dot com. New England isn't as hide bound or as unbending or as antiquated or as white as it used to be. Defying demographics or the odds, New England hangs on to a strong regional identity. And performs a magic act. Becoming even more like itself even as it changes utterly." Jud at museum - You know the Boston globe came up and looked over my museum and described it with just one word - pathetic. For NH Outlook in Dublin I'm Chip Neal |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
For more information on our program, streaming video, links to our guests and interviews and to tell us what's on your mind in our discussion forum, visit our website at nhptv.org. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - A new report says the state will have all the money it needs to implement the federal no child left behind act. We'll look at the study and hear from policy analysts and educators. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. |
| 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 Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. A new report says the state will have all the money it needs to implement the federal no child left behind act. We'll look at the study and hear from the experts. Tonight at 10pm. |
| key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/24/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 18:47 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, we begin with the budget. Even in good economic times, setting a state budget is a complicated and difficult task involving many choices. But when the economy is troubled, making those choices can be even more difficult, as state agencies ask, but do not receive. Case in point - the state budget hearings last Friday, attended by producer Richard Ager. Joining us now are Senator Richard Green, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Clifton Below. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Stephen Reno\Chancellor, USNH, Claudie Mahar\Chair, NHCTC Trustees, William Simonton\President, NH Tech Institute, William McGraw\Clerk, Merrimack Superior Court, Don Goodnow\Dir, Admin Office of Courts, David Brock\Chief Justice, NH Supreme Court, Sen. Richard Green\Chair, Senate Finance Cmte, Rep. Marjorie Smith\D - Durham, Sen. Richard Green\R - District 6 Chair, Senate Finance Cmte, Sen. Clifton Below\D - District 5 |
| key: Culture / Arts Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/24/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 6:45 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, we change gears with Chip Neal. OK. so in this budget concious time, it seems logical that here in New England we'd start talking about that old Yankee enginuity. Yankees are frugal, right? But what is a true Yankee? Chip Neal went to an expert. Jud Hale is editor-in-chief of Yankee Magazine in Dublin. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Chip Neal NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Judson Hale\Yankee Magazine |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on our program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts. We want to know what's on your mind. Join our discussion forum and tell us what you're thinking. If you have a story idea or comment on our program, click the feedback button. Or, call us at 800-639-2721. |