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 Show OpenReturn to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Benson SOT Return to index of stories... |
10:06:34 Sometime doing what's right isn't the easiest thing to do. Sometimes it's easier to just go along with the status quo - but that's not why the people of NH sent us here. They sent us here to fix this problem. Don't pass this deficit on to our children, don't put us on a path for an income tax which is exactly what this budget will do to the state of NH, and I for one can't wait to take this and do something that needs to happen. 10:07;03 |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Governor Benson brought out his custom- made rubber stamp Thursday and put a giant red lettered "veto" on the legislature's two year budget plan. Monday, the house and senate will vote whether or not to override Governor's veto. Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
Joining us from the state house in Concord, Josh Rogers from New Hampshire Public Radio and Lisa Wangsness of the Concord Monitor. Thank you both for being here. And joining me in Durham, Jeff Feingold of the New Hampshire Business Review and our own Richard Ager. Thanks to you both for being here. HI, ALLY. Allison: WELL, YOU WERE THERE. THERE WAS SOME REPS BEHIND THE GOVERNOR AS HE STAMPED HIS VETO. WHAT WAS THE REACTION AROUND THE STATE HOUSE? IT WAS REALLY UNUSUAL CEREMONY, I THINK, TO PUT IT MILDLY. MOST OCCASIONS WHERE YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE APPLAUDING AND DOING SOMETHING WITH A DOCUMENT, IT'S TO CELEBRATE PASSING A BILL THAT EVERYONE. OR MOST EVERYONE HAS AGREED ON. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND I THINK THE CAUSE OF SOME CRITICISM, BECAUSE THEY WERE CELEBRATING WHAT SOME LEGISLATORS ARE CALLING THE FAILURE OF THE PROCESS. Allison: JOSH, WERE YOU THERE? I WAS THERE, ALLY. Allison: AND IF YOU WERE TO DESCRIBE WHO WAS THERE WITH THE GOVERNOR STANDING UP BEHIND HIM, CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE. THE PERSON THAT I RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, WAS REPRESENTATIVE WENDELBOE. FRAN WENDELBOE. BUT WHO ELSE WAS THERE TO SHOW SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S VETO? ;;;;REP'S NAMES VERIFIED -- www.state.nh.us WELL, CERTAINLY, REPRESENTATIVE WENDELBOE AND REPRESENTATIVE PHYLLIS WOODS WERE PERHAPS THE MOST PROMINENT CURRENT STATE REPS. YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THERE WERE MORE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS, ABOUT. I WOULD SAY MORE THAN HALF OF THEM WERE FRESHMAN. AND PROBABLY TWO DOZEN OF THEM WERE THERE. AND A LOT OF THEM SAID THAT THEY, AS GOVERNOR BENSON CLAIMED, HIS MANDATE WAS TO CONTROL GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS AS HE'S FOND OF SAYING. THEY SAID THAT THE PEOPLE'S WILL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE FUTURE DEFICITS. GOVERNOR BENSON CLAIMS THAT THE BUDGET THE LAWMAKERS AGREED UPON WOULD CREATE A $200 MILLION DEFICIT IN THE NEXT |
| Roundtable part 2 Return to index of stories... |
AND THEN FOR EVERYONE OF THOSE LAWMAKERS, YOU HAVE ANOTHER WHO SAYS, "WELL, YES, BUT IS THAT BACKBONE CONNECTED TO THE SPINAL CORD?" AND. .SO IT'S REALLY. IT'S REALLY HARD TO KNOW. AND CERTAINLY THE LEVEL OF ATTENTION OF VOTERS AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE PLENTY OF VOTERS WHO SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT HOLDING THE LINE ON SPENDING IS ESSENTIAL. AND CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR IS KEEPING HIS WORD. HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO RUN AND HE WAS GOING TO MAKE THE STATE LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS. SOME COULD SAY THAT "LIVING WITHIN ITS MEANS" MEANS ACTUALLY DEPLOYING MORE MEANS THAN THE GOVERNOR IS WILLING TO, TO PAY FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. BUT CERTAINLY YOU CAN'T. YOU CAN'T CLAIM THAT HE'S CONTRADICTING WHAT HE SAID ALL ALONG. AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK, ALSO, AROUND THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK ABOUT. THE FIGHT THAT CLINTON AND GINGRICH HAD BACK IN, I THINK IT WAS 1995. AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER IN 1994, THE DEMOCRATS REALLY LOST A LOT OF GROUND IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AFTER CLINTON'S WHOLE HEALTHCARE PLAN BASICALLY FAILED AND WENT NOWHERE. THEN HE GOT HIMSELF IN A LITTLE FIGHT WITH NEWT GINGRICH, YOU KNOW, WHO HAD VAST MAJORITIES IN THE CONGRESS. AND YOU KNOW, '96 ELECTION WAS COMING UP. THEY GOT INTO A BUDGET FIGHT. CLINTON VETOED THE BUDGET AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A STALEMATE. IT WAS A FACE-OFF AND CLINTON. CLINTON WON THAT FIGHT. THEY SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN, I THINK, FOR A WHILE AND ULTIMATELY GINGRICH WAS BLAMED FOR IT. AND CLINTON WON REELECTION QUITE EASILY IN 1996. YEAH, WELL, THE GOVERNOR IN THIS CASE, TOO, IS MAKING A VERY STRONG CASE THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT. HE'S CALLED FOR A CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO BE TAKEN UP BY THE HOUSE IF THEY DO NOT OVERRIDE. AND HE'S EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO RAISE THE POSSIBILITY OF STATE WORKERS VOLUNTEERING TO SHOW UP AT WORK EVEN IF THERE'S NO BUDGET TO PAY FOR THEM, SO. Allison: ALTHOUGH, I THINK THE HEAD OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES UNION SAID, "GUESS WHAT, NO, WE WON'T WORK FOR FREE." SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. ALTHOUGH. APPARENTLY AN EMAIL HAS GONE OUT SAYING, "YES, YOU WILL BE PAID IF YOU'RE WORKING." THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SAID. Allison: THERE'S A DRAFT MEMO APPARENTLY THAT SAYS TO DEPARTMENT HEADS, "PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP WORKING." WELL, ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS ACTUALLY WERE AT A MEETING THIS MORNING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF MADE ANOTHER POWERPOINT PRESENTATION DURING THAT MEETING, OUTLINING SOME STEPS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN TO AT LEAST ASSURE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. Allison: WELL, WE ALSO WANT TO BRING IN SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT YOU TALKED TO, RICHARD, THIS WEEK. AND REPRESENTATIVE DAN EATON NOTED THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS VETOED THE BUDGET. HERE IS HIS TAKE ON THIS VETO COMPARED TO OTHERS IN THE PAST. ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES IN BOTH PRIOR TERMS WAS YOU HAD A GOVERNOR WHO HAD A COMPETENT, PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED STAFF. DURING THE THOMSON ADMINISTRATION, YOU HAD MARSHALL COBLEIGH AS THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF. A CLASS ACT, HE KNEW GOVERNMENT BETTER THAN MOST. ANY OF THE PLAYERS INCLUDING THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR, AND WAS ABLE TO FINAGLE, WAS ABLE TO PULL PEOPLE TOGETHER AND DO HONEST NEGOTIATIONS, NOT DRAW LINES IN THE SAND BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT TO A ROADBLOCK. SAME THING WITH GOVERNOR GALLEN. HE HAD A COMPETENT STAFF; MICHAEL CORNELIUS, SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT OFFICE WHO HAD HISTORY, BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE. AND THEY DIDN'T DRAW LINES IN THE SAND IN JANUARY, AND THEN KEEP MOVING THAT LINE BACK TO A DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE POINT. THIS MAN STARTED AT 10%, THEN HE SAID ONLY 4-6% WOULD BE ADEQUATE. NOW WE'RE AT 8%. THAT STILL ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S BEEN IN THE PROCESS. I'VE BEEN ON FINANCE COMMITTEE ALL YEAR LONG. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR OFFICE. Allison: WOW, I MEAN, THAT'S. THAT'S PRETTY SCATHING. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SOME PRETTY BRUISED FEELINGS OVER THERE. Allison: BUT THE CHARGES THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND THE GOVERNOR ARE NOT COMPETENT. I MEAN THAT WORD, COMPETENT, WAS USED SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S BEEN USED A LOT IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THIS VIRTUAL STAFF THAT HE LIKES TO CALL HIS STAFF, AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TITLES. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I'M STARTING TO WONDER WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, TOO. I MEAN, I JUST DON'T. THERE ISN'T. WHO IS THE BUDGET PERSON? WHO IS THE PERSON WHO'S TAKING CARE OF ALL THE DETAILS? WHO'S MAKING SURE ALL THE NUMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH, AND WHO'S MAKING SURE THAT SOMEONE'S AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND TALKING TO SENATOR D'ALLESANDRO, TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE KURK, AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE. WHAT THE. WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES ARE, WHAT HIS REQUESTS ARE. IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED THIS TIME. IT'S JUST. IT'S. IT'S HUMOROUS THAT THE "UNION LEADER" WAS SAYING THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO BASICALLY HOLD THE GOVERNOR'S HAND AND LEAD HIM THROUGH THE PROCESS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FIRST-TERM GOVERNORS. I'VE BEEN IN THE STATE FOR 20 YEARS, HAD A NUMBER OF FIRST-TERM GOVERNORS. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM HAD TO HAVE THEIR HANDS HELD THROUGH THE PROCESS. Allison: WELL, RICHARD, I KNOW YOU ALSO WERE ABLE TO SPEAK TO REPUBLICAN SENATOR ROBERT CLEGG AFTER BENSON'S VETO. AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. WE WERE SENT HERE TO REPRESENT PEOPLE, AND WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE UP HERE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GET REELECTED IN TWO YEARS. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PRESENT YOUR RECORD, SHOW THE PEOPLE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND LET THEM MAKE A REAL, HONEST DECISION. THIS POSTURING DOES NO ONE ANY GOOD IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. SO WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF A SHUTDOWN? THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF A SHUTDOWN IS THE SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY, THE NEEDY, THE HANDICAPPED. WITHOUT PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM? Allison: IS THERE ANY DANGER OF THAT REALLY HAPPENING? I MEAN, I'VE HEARD THAT IF THERE WERE A SHUTDOWN THAT JUST. YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL SERVICES WOULD STILL BE PROVIDED. BUT DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE HOUSE IS GOING TO VOTE TO OVERRIDE THE. WELL. Allison:.WE KNOW THE SENATE PROBABLY WILL. YEAH, I MEAN, THEY'RE MEETING ON MONDAY. AND THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS FOR THE HOUSE WILL BE THEIR VOTE ON WHETHER TO OVERRIDE THIS. I MEAN, THERE WERE ONLY FOUR VOTES SHY OF THE MARGIN THAT'S REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND THAT WAS NOT EVEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT SEVERAL DEMOCRATS WHO WALKED OUT. AND PROBABLY OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET SIMPLY TO, YOU KNOW, EXPRESS THEIR FEELING THAT IT DIDN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH. BUT YOU GET THE FEELING THAT A QUARTER OF A LOAF IS STILL BETTER THAN NO LOAF IN THEIR VIEW. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WE'D ACTUALLY SEE OUR GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN. I MEAN WE COULD SEE A TECHNICAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET IN PLACE AND THE FISCAL YEAR EXPIRES. BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 1977, THE LAST TIME WE HAD A BUDGET. NO BUDGET AND A NEW FISCAL YEAR, I THINK ABOUT 90% OF STATE WORKERS CAME TO WORK. I WAS JUST LOOKING BACK THROUGH THE OLD "MONITOR" CLIPS RECENTLY, AND IT SORT OF WAS. WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL AS BENSON SAID. NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REALLY LIKE THAT SCENARIO. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REALLY LET THAT HAPPEN FOR TOO LONG IF IT CAME TO THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY THAT YOU WOULD SEE PEOPLE JUST NOT COME TO WORK. AND IT'S FUNNY, I WAS TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE TONY SOLTANI EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND HE THOUGHT THAT THERE'S NO WAY IN THE END THAT THE SENATE WOULD ALLOW. MONDAY TO GO BY WITHOUT PASSING A CONTINUING RESOLUTION SHOULD AN OVERRIDE FAIL. BECAUSE HE SAID, "NOBODY WANTS TO BE BLAMED FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE STATE LIQUOR STORES." AND WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND COMING UP. Allison: I KNOW. .THERE'S SOMETHING I THINK TO THAT. IT'S A BIGGER DEFICIT THAN WE HAVE. THE SENATE. THEY ARE, YEAH. CERTAINLY SENATOR GREEN THIS MORNING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN. IN ENTERTAINING SUCH THOUGHTS OF A CONTINUING RESOLUTION. IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS REALLY WHAT THEY THINK, AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, STRATEGY. BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT PRESSURE ON THE HOUSE. YOU KNOW, YOU OVERRIDE THIS BUDGET AND AVOID THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY BIG PROBLEM. Allison: CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PHONE CALLS THAT MUST BE GOING ON NOW. THIS WEEKEND. Allison:.OR THAT WILL BE GOING ON THIS WEEKEND? I'D SAY. I'M A. DO NOT CALL US IMMEDIATELY IF I WAS A STATE REP. Allison: YEAH, YOU CAN'T TILL OCTOBER, SO. ANOTHER THING THAT'S INTERESTING. I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY A MINOR THING AND IT SOUNDS TRIVIAL. BUT I CAN JUST THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A FEW REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE GOING TO BE THINKING, "IF I VOTE TO SUPPORT THE OVERRIDE. IF I WAS AGAINST THE OVERRIDE, AND WE CONTINUE THIS SESSION INTO THE SUMMER, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BE SITTING HERE FOR A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS." IN REALLY, IT'S PRETTY AWFUL CONDITIONS. I THINK THE CONDITIONS ARE BETTER ON GUANTANAMO BAY. .IN THE SUMMERTIME. |
| Roundtable part 3 Return to index of stories... |
THE WILL TO LEAVE IS ALWAYS A HUGE MOTIVATING FORCE IN THE LEGISLATURE. Allison: I MEAN, AND FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT KNOW, THERE'S NO AIR CONDITIONING IN THERE. YOU'VE GOT BODIES PACKED IN THERE. AND EVEN THE WATER IS IFFY APPARENTLY. Allison: YEAH, APPARENTLY THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PLUMBING THIS WEEK, TOO. THEY DID. AND THE WATER WAS OFF WHEN THEY WERE VOTING ON THE BUDGET. THEN ON A SELFISH NOTE, WE IN THE MEDIA ARE THE FURTHEST FROM THE WINDOWS, SO THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE. Allison: IT'S TOUGH. WE WANT TO ALSO SHOW NOW A RESPONSE FROM GOVERNOR BENSON WHEN YOU, LISA, ACTUALLY ASKED HIM A QUESTION ABOUT THE SO-CALLED VETO CEREMONY. LET'S TAKE A LISTEN. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE BROUGHT ON PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THE STATUS QUO IS. AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE STANDING UP AND SAYING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE STATUS QUO. IT HASN'T GOT US ANYWHERE, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BOW TO THAT TYPE OF PRESSURE. SO I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT WE HAVE A CEREMONY LIKE THIS TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT ARE WILLING TO STAND UP AND SAY, "NO MORE, WE'RE NOT DOING IT, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BOW TO THE PRESSURE OF PEOPLE THAT SAY WE SHOULD DO IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE EASY THING TO DO." THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Allison: HE LEFT QUICKLY, DIDN'T HE. YEAH, LISA, I THINK YOU IRRITATED HIM WITH THAT QUESTION. WELL, YEAH. IT WAS INTERESTING SOME OF THE SPINNING THAT WAS GOING ON AFTER THE GOVERNOR HAD LEFT ACTUALLY. ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S AIDES WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT THIS CEREMONY WAS HELD THE WAY IT WAS WAS BECAUSE OF MEDIA REQUESTS SO THAT WE COULD COVER IT. AND CLEARLY THE GOVERNOR. YEAH, THAT'S HARD TO IMAGINE. WELL, GIVEN WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, IT LOOKS LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WELL, ALSO GIVEN THE WHOLE NOTION OF THIS SORT OF SPECIAL ORDER OF THE VETO STAMP. ALTHOUGH THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR WOULD ENJOY IN PRIVATE, IT WAS. .SOMETHING ALSO. ACTUALLY, THAT'S THE BIGGER OF THE TWO VETO STAMPS HE HAS. HE HAS A SMALLER ONE. BUT I GUESS FOR THE BIG ONES. Allison: I WANT TO KNOW IS THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, WILL THEY HAVE OVERRIDDEN. I THINK OVERRIDE WOULD BE. APPROPRIATE. Allison:.PAST TENSE, THERE WE GO. SPEAKER CHANDLER DOING THAT ON. I. WELL, YOU NEVER KNOW. NO, EVERYBODY'S MEDIA SAVVY NOWADAYS. Allison: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE THOUGH? WE'VE GOT THIS VOTE ON MONDAY, RICHARD. WHO VOTES FIRST, THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE? THE HOUSE WILL TAKE THE VOTE FIRST BECAUSE IT IS A HOUSE BILL. AND DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TO IT, IT WILL. IF THEY VOTE TO OVERRIDE IT GOES OVER TO THE SENATE, AND I THINK AS THE SENATE MADE CLEAR. NOW IF THEY DON'T VOTE TO OVERRIDE FOR WHATEVER REASON, REPRESENTATIVE WENDELBOE HAS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, PREPARED CONTINUING RESOLUTION LEGISLATION THAT SHE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO TRY AND INTRODUCE AT THAT STAGE, SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THAT TO WORK WITH. Allison: LISA, DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR MONDAY? OH, YEAH. I THINK WE CAN BET ON THAT. Allison: IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY. YEAH. I MEAN, WE HAD 23 SPEAKERS I THINK IT WAS ON THE HOUSE SIDE ON TUESDAY. AND THAT WAS. THAT WAS AN ENDURANCE TEST, YEAH. BUT I CAN GUARANTEE IT, YEAH YEAH, MUCH LESS I THINK IN THE SENATE, THEY'VE MADE PRETTY PLAIN WHAT. PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEING AN UNANIMOUS VOTE POTENTIALLY. Allison: OH, REALLY? YEAH. POSSIBILITY, YEAH. YEAH. Allison: AND WE. YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT ALREADY, BUT SPEAKER CHANDLER WAS ON "THE EXCHANGE" THIS MORNING, ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO. SAID HE WOULD NOT LIKE TO PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE. HE. HE NEVER DOES PREDICT. WELL, HE NEVER DOES. BUT I. I THINK AS YOU WERE SAYING, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SPECTER OF A LONG, HOT SUMMER IN THAT AIRLESS CHAMBER MAY PROVE TO BE A FINAL MOTIVATING FACTOR. AND TO SAY. YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD TO PREDICT. IT'S ALSO A. ANOTHER POINT IS ON. MONDAY IS ATTENDANCE. AND IT DEPENDS ON WHO SHOWS UP. AND IT DEPENDS. IT REALLY DOES. IT'S LIKE A GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT RIGHT NOW. YOU GOT TO GET ALL. THAT'S A GREAT POINT. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE AROUND. IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW THEY'LL SHAKE OUT. Allison: BUT I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR LISA, JOSH AND RICHARD. AND IF YOU GO TO THE STATE HOUSE, JEFF, THE HUMIDITY WILL BREAK OVER THE WEEKEND. SO IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE ON MONDAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN. JEFF, GREAT TO SEE YOU. RICHARD, AS ALWAYS. AND, LISA, WILL YOU COME BACK AND SEE US AGAIN? SURE THING. Allison: I HOPE SO. JOSH, THANKS TO YOU, TOO. ALL RIGHT, ALLY. |
| Sentinel Editorial Return to index of stories... |
Feedback on the Governor's handling of the budget battle wasn't limited to state lawmakers. Newspapers had their say too. In an editorial from the Keene Sentinel, Wednesday, June 25th. "Craig Benson has been the subject of off-the-record contempt for his shortcomings, expressed not only by his political rivals, but also by his Republican allies and even by some of his appointees. The word has been that, whatever his skills may have been as a businessman, Craig Benson is not a political leader." "According to his detractors, Benson has been trying to govern the state using equal parts ignorance and arrogance, leaving all in his wake simply flabbergasted." |
| Union Leader Editorial Return to index of stories... |
And from the Union Leader, Wednesday June 25th. "Benson could have and should have been more involved in the budget process. But legislative leaders knew from the start that Benson was a hands-off manager accustomed to the business world, not the world of politics." "Instead of easing him into his new role they used the governor's political naivete' to paint him into a corner, first trying to slip a tax increase by him, then when that didn't work, passing a large budget and daring him to veto it." |
| Eaton SOT Return to index of stories... |
Representative Dan Eaton noted that this is not the first time a governor of NH has vetoed the budget. Here's his take on this veto compared to others in the past. 10:15:09 One of the big differences in both prior terms was you had a governor who had a competent professional experienced staff. During the Thomson administration, you had Marshall Cobleigh as the governor's chief of staff. A class act, he knew govt. better than any of the players including the legislative leaders and the governor, and was able to finagle, able to pull people together and do honest negotiations, not draw lines in the sand before you even got to a road block. Same thing with Gov. Gallen - he had a competent staff - Micheal Camilious and several other people in that office who had history, background and experience. And they didn't draw lines in the sand in January and then keep moving that line back to a different percentage point. This man started at 10%, then he said 4-6% - now we're at 8% - that still isn't good enough. I don't know where he's been in the process. I've been on Finance committee all year long - I haven't seen him - so I don't know what's going on with their office. |
| Clegg SOT Return to index of stories... |
Richard I know you were able to speak with Republican Senator Robert Clegg after the Benson's veto. Here's what he had to say. 10:19:43 We were sent here to represent people and we're not supposed to be up here making decisions based on whether or not we can get reelected in two years. You're supposed to present your record, show the people what you've done, and let them make a real, honest decision. This posturing does nobody any good in the state of NH. SO WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF A SHUTDOWN? The danger is the services to the elderly, the needy, the handicapped - without people to provide those services, who's going to take care of them? |
| Benson SOT 2 Return to index of stories... |
This was Governor Benson's response to a question you posed. Lisa, about the so called veto ceremony. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook. Will the House and Senate override the Governors veto to the state budget? The budget showdown comes to a head on Monday. We'll have the latest from the state house. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's all for this edition of Outlook. Thanks for joining us. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Allison McNair. We'll be back Monday at 10. |
| 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 |
| Monday Promo Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. Will the House and Senate override the Governors veto to the state budget? The budget showdown comes to a head on. We'll have the latest from the state house. Join us Monday at 10:00. |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Will the House and Senate override the Governors veto to the state budget? The budget showdown comes to a head on. Join us tonight at 10:00. |
| key: Media Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 6/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, joining us this week for our friday edition, from the state house in Concord,osh Rogers from New Hampshire Public Radio and Lisa Wangsness of the Concord Monitor. And in Durham, Jeff Feingold of the New Hampshire Business Review and our own Richard Ager. The focus of the program was the Governor's veto of the state budget. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ally McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Josh Rogers\NHPR, Lisa Wangsness\Concord Monitor, Jeff Feingold\NH Business Review, Richard Ager\NH Outlook, Rep. Dan Eaton\D - District 24, Sen. Robert Clegg\R - District 14, Craig Benson\NH Governor |
| key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 6/27/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, joining us this week for our friday edition, from the state house in Concord,osh Rogers from New Hampshire Public Radio and Lisa Wangsness of the Concord Monitor. And in Durham, Jeff Feingold of the New Hampshire Business Review and our own Richard Ager. The focus of the program was the Governor's veto of the state budget. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ally McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Josh Rogers\NHPR, Lisa Wangsness\Concord Monitor, Jeff Feingold\NH Business Review, Richard Ager\NH Outlook, Rep. Dan Eaton\D - District 24, Sen. Robert Clegg\R - District 14, Craig Benson\NH Governor |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at other stories making news this Friday. |