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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Preshow #1 Return to index of stories... |
In this program, lawmakers head back to work on the budget. We'll have highlights of the day's events and analysis from public policy experts. |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
And we'll take you to the new Northern Forest Heritage park where an old time tradition is gaining popularity and attracting new audiences. |
| Intro Budget Return to index of stories... |
With the state now operating on a temporary budget, legislative leaders and the governor met today to begin work on permanent budget solution. Governor Craig Benson vetoed the legislature's budget last month and called for more cuts. Last week, the House failed to override that veto. Now, the House, Senate and governor have until October to come to an agreement. Richard Ager tells us how their first day together went. Graphic; the governor also called for reducing management fees for the state pension system by $10 million, centralizing state agency business offices, and lowering the current level of health provider payments. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Is this any way to produce a budget? Joining us now to talk about how the policy is being developed at the state house are Charlie Arlinghaus, Preisdent of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy and Doug Hall Co-Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Allison: IS THIS ANY WAY TO PRODUCE A BUDGET? JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE POLICY IS BEING DEVELOPED AT THE STATE HOUSE ARE CHARLIE ARLINGHAUS, PRESIDENT OF THE JOSIAH BARTLETT CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND DOUG HALL CO- DIRECTOR OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES. IS THIS A WAY TO GET THE BUDGET UP AND RUNNING, GET A PERMANENT SOLUTION IN PLACE? IN A WAY IT IS. I WANT TO DEFEND THE PROCESS. THE SPECIFIC INSTANCE HAS SOME ISSUES WITH PERSONALITIES AND SOME HEAT RIGHT NOW, BUT IN FACT, PASSING A BUDGET REQUIRES AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH N. THIS SITUATION THEY COULDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT BY JUNE 30, THEY HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS THE STATE TO CONTINUE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF THERE WERE NO CONTINUING RESOLUTION. NOW THEY HAVE TO IRON OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES. SO I'M GOING TO SAY IN A VERY GENERAL WAY, YEAH, THIS IS A FINE WAY TO DO A BUDGET, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER PERHAPS, COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER, BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK IT WILL GET RESOLVED TO EVERYBODY'S SATISFACTION. Allison: WITH THE DIFFERENCE EVERYTHING BEEN JUST OVER A HALF PERCENT IN COMING TO AN AGREEMENT, WAS THAT A BIG DEAL, SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN A POINT FOR NO SOLUTION TO GO FORWARD? WELL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE HALF PERCENT IS, IT'S ABOUT $60 MILLION THAT THE GOVERNOR IS ARGUING ABOUT. AND THAT'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS THE STATE OPERATES, IF YOU WERE TO CUT OUT CERTAIN PROGRAMS YOU'D BE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING OUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 20 MAJOR PROGRAMS MOST LIKELY. SO IT IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN DOLLARS, IT'S NOT A LARGE PERCENT OF THE BUDGET. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DISCOVERED TODAY IN OBSERVING THAT PROCESS AT THE STATE HOUSE IS THAT IT ISN'T CLEAR TO ANYBODY WHETHER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET, THAT IS WHAT'S CALLED THE GENERAL FUND, THE TAXES THAT THE STATE RAISES, OR WHETHER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 60 MILLION INCLUDING FEDERAL DOLLARS. THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION IF IT'S JUST THE STATE DOLLARS, AND IF IT INCLUDES ALL THE DIFFERENT MONIES IN THE BUDGET. Allison: ALL THESE DIFFERENT WAYS OF LOOKING AT THE REVENUE OR THE PROCESS ITSELF COULD BE SO CONFUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON NOT INVOLVED IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS? I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT, I THINK THE BUDGET PROCESS IS ALMOST BY DESIGN MEANT TO KEEP THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. IF YOU EVER LOOK AT THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS THEY'RE VERY CONFUSING, TRYING TO FIND THE REAL NUMBERS I KNOW THEY WENT THROUGH AN EXERCISE WHERE I THOUGHT, ALL RIGHT, IS IT 7.6% OR WHAT'S THE 1.2, AND I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE NUMBERS THAT A COUPLE OF REPORTERS WERE USING WHO ACTUALLY USED DIFFERENT NUMBERS THEMSELVES. AND I COULDN'T FIND THEM ANYWHERE. THE NUMBERS I WAS FINDING WERE DIFFERENT. AND IT'S BECAUSE, THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER YOU COUNT GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE STATE TAXES, YOU THROW IN THE EDUCATION FUND, YOU COUNT THE WHOLE FEDERAL BUDGET AND WHAT DON'T YOU. IN TERMS OF GENERAL FUND SPENDING WHAT THE STATE SPENDS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US, THIS IS A FAIRLY ALSO TIER BUDGET. IT'S ONE OF THE SMALLER INCREASES IN RECENT YEARS. SO ON THAT LEVEL THE LEGISLATURE IS RIGHT, THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET IN TERMS OF STATE DOLLARS. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, THE GOVERNOR IS RIGHT THAT IT RELIES HEAVILY ON ONE-TIME MONEY, MONEY THAT NOT IN OUR BUDGETS OFTEN DO WE HAVE MONEY THAT WE GET THROUGH MEDICAID, FUN AND GAMES THAT WE PLAY ABOUT WE TAX THIS AND DON'T TAX THAT, AND ONE-TIME, SOMETIMES THERE'S A SALE, SOMETIMES WE EXPECT TO REALIZE GREATER REVENUE FROM TAX AMNESTY OR WHATEVER. AND THERE'S A BIG CHUNK OF THAT AS WELL. AND IS IT FISCALLY RESPONSE TOIBL OBJECT TO THAT? I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS SO TRAUMATIC FOR SOME PEOPLE IS THAT WE'RE IN SORT OF UNCHARTED WATERS. THE LAST TWO BUDGET WERE 77 AND 81, AND THAT'S MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO. VIRTUALLY NOBODY IN THE VIEWER, WERE THERE THEN. CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR WASN'T THERE, SENATE PRESIDENT WASN'T THERE. I DON'T THINK EVEN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WAS THERE WHO'S BEEN THERE A WHILE. AND IN THE PAST WE'VE REACHED POINTS WHERE GOVERNORS THREAT TONE VETO A BUDGET, TALK ABOUT VETOING A BUDGET AND THEY COME TO SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE. IN THIS POINT CRAIG BENSON CONSTITUTIONALLY IS THE GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR HAS THE VETO, HE'S ALLOWED TO VETO THE BUDGET. BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? AND THAT'S THE WEIRD THING IS BEFORE THE VETO, BASICALLY HE SAYS TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. ONCE THE VETO HAPPENS, THERE'S A LEGISLATURE SAYS, OKAY, WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS OUT OF WHACK. IF YOU HAD A LINE ITEM VETO LIKE MITT ROMNEY HAS IN MASSACHUSETTS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPECIFY THE EXACT AREAS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO GET RID OF. UNDER OUR SYSTEM, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO JUST SAY TOO HIGH, TOO LOW. THE GOVERNOR IS STILL NOT SURE HE WANTS TO GET THAT SPECIFIC. Allison: WHAT ABOUT THE SPECIFICS? IS IT JUST GOING TO END UP BEING A BLAME GAME IN THE SENSE OF TODAY THE FOLKS WERE ASKING THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, TELL US WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING? THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT'S, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH. THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE TO SAY THIS IS THE PROGRAM I WANT TO CUT, THIS IS ANOTHER PROGRAM I WANT TO CUT, THIS IS ANOTHER PROGRAM I WANT TO CUT. POLITICALLY HE'LL ONLY GENERATE ENEMIES FROM THOSE SPECIFICS. SO I THINK HE WOULD RATHER KEEP IT AT A LEVEL OF GENERALITY AND FORCE THE LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE INTO DECIDING HOW TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY. THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP HIM ON THAT TODAY. SO FAR HE HASN'T ACTUALLY COME OUT AND SAID ON THIS PAGE OF THE BUDGET I WANT YOU TO CUT THIS LINE ITEM BY THIS AMOUNT. AND I SORT OF DOUBT THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN. I THINK THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE END HERE IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND SOME GENERAL WAYS TO CUT THE BUDGET, WITHOUT BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY DON'T UNDERMINE THE POLITICAL SUPPORT THAT THEY THEY THEY HAVE FROM CERTAIN CONSTITUENTS. THERE ARE ALREADY SECTIONS OF THE BUDGET THAT SIMPLY SAY TO A GIVEN DEPARTMENT, YOU WILL CUT X AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF WHAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU, WITHOUT SAYING WHERE THAT WILL COME FROM. SO THEY COULD CHANGE X TO X PLUS Y AND INCREASE THE BUDGET CUT WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THIS COMMITTEE FOR WHERE THAT WILL COME FROM. Allison: SO THEN IS IT THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENTS OF BUREAUCRATS THAT END UP MAKING THESE CUTS OR DECIDING WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO? ON SOME LEVEL IT PROBABLY IS. THERE ARE A YOU NUMBER OF THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE THEY'LL TELL THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH IS USUALLY WHERE THIS HAPPENS, FIND 12 MILLION THAT YOU CAN SAVE THROUGH WHATEVER MEANS YOU CAN COME UP WITH. OR I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. AND THE BUDGET ONLY HAS TO BE BALANCED ON PAPER. BUDGET DOESN'T HAVE TO BE -- WE DON'T KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, EXACTLY WHAT REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SPENDING IS GOING TO BE, THEY NEVER SPEND QUITE 100% OF WHAT THEY'RE ALLOCATED, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT 97% LET'S SAY. SO IF YOU PLAY GAME WAS WE THINK THE BUSINESS PROFIT TAX IS GOING TO RAISE A MILLION, MAYBE MORE THAN THAT. Allison: WHY ARE WE FIGHTING OVER A HALF A PERCENT THEN IF IT'S ALL KIND OF GUESS WORK ANYWAY? I THINK THERE'S SOME PERSONALITIES AT WORK HERE THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE. THERE'S ANOTHER IRONY WHICH IS THAT ALL THREE ENTITYS, THE GOVERNOR, THE HOUSE AND ASSASSINATE, ARE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, AND IN SOME WAY THE PERSONALITIES BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN IF ONE OF THESE IS CONTROLLED BY THE OPPOSITE PARTY, AT WHICH POINT PEOPLE CAN GANG UP ON A PARTISAN POINT OF VIEW. IT MAY ACTUALLY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO IRON THIS OUT WITH EVERYBODY IN THE LEADERSHIP OF ALL THREE BODIES BEING REPUBLICANS. THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT THE EXAMPLE OF THE GOVERNOR SHAHEEN AS A DEMOCRAT AND GOVERNOR, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS SITUATION OCCUR THERE. WAS AN ABILITY TO WORK THINGS OUT SOMEHOW AHEAD OF TIME. RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AND THERE ARE SOME STRONG PERSONALITYS AT PLAY. Allison: SO IS THIS A CASE OF BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR? WELL, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT. ONE THING THAT, WHAT DOUG SAID WHEN YOU HAD A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, THEY OVERWROTE HIM AND YOU SORT OF CIRCLED THE WAGONS PARTY WISE. WHEN MEL THOMPSON A REPUBLICAN VETOED THE BUDGET IN 3777 IT WAS A MUCH MORE PROLONGED STRUGGLE. AGAIN WHERE THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CHARGE OF BOTH HOUSES IN THE LEGISLATURE. WHERE PARTISANSHIP MIGHT COME INTO THIS, WHICH I THINK IS KIND OF INTERESTING, IS THE DEMOCRAT PEOPLE, LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DON'T MATTER, THEY'RE A SMALL MINORITY, BUT FOR THIS TO PASS, DOUG WAS POINTING OUT EARLIER, FOR THIS TO GET THROUGH THEY HAVE TO REINTRODUCE A BUDGET BILL WE REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE OF BOTH HOUSES. WELL, THE DEMOCRATS PLUS A SMALL GROUP OF MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS TOGETHER HAVE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE VOTES. AND COULD KEEP THE BUDGET BILL FROM COMING BACK IF THEY CHOSE TO. SO WHAT THEY HAMMER OUT, THE SENATE CONFER HES, THE HOUSE CONFER HES AND GOVERNOR HAVE TO AGREE ON SOMETHING, THEN THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE DEMOCRATS AND SAY WHAT DO YOU THINK. Allison: LET'S TALK ABOUT REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S VETO TO THE BUDGET AND THE RESTAMP THERE OF VETO, DESPITE THE TENSION OVER THE BECOME, THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE WINNING THE BATTLE AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC GOES. A RECENT POLL SHOWED THAT HIS APPROVAL RATINGS HAVE RISEN UP TO 53%, AND THAT'S DESPITE THE CURRENT BUDGET CRISIS. LET'S LISTEN TO ANDY SMITH WHO CONDUCTED THAT POLL. THE FACT THAT HE VEE THE FACT THAT HE VETOED THE ORIGINAL BUDGET BILL AND HAD THIS WHOLE MESS WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AT THE SAME TIME HIS APPROVAL RATE ROSE IS AN INDICATION IN MY VIEW THAT HE HAS TAPPED INTO SOMETHING HERE WITH THE ELECTORATE. Reporter: WHO AMONG THE ELECT TORT APPROVES? WELL, IT'S PRETTY MUCH DOWN PARTISAN LINES. STILL REPUBLICANS ARE MOST FAVORABLE OF HIS JOB THAT HE'S DOING. DEMOCRATS TEND TO BE MOST OPPOSED. BUT REMEMBER THE DYNAMIC IN CONCORD RIGHT NOW ISN'T REALLY SO MUCH DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS, IT'S REPUBLICANS VERSUS REPUBLICANS. SO HE'S DOING WELL WITH THE PEOPLE HE NEEDS TO DO WELL. Reporter: SO POLITICALLY YOU'RE SAYING HE'S DOING A VERY GOOD JOB? I THINK HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN STEERING THE DEBATE. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ONE OF THE WEAKEST GOVERNORSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE FACT THAT HE COULD SUSTAIN A VETO AGAINST VERY SIGNIFICANT MAJORITYS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, REALLY SHOWS A LOT OF POLITICAL SAVVY ON HIS PART. WHAT BENSON HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO MAKE THIS A VERY SIMPLE UNDERSTANDABLE ISSUE FOR MOST PEOPLE IN THE STATE, THAT HE'S AGAINST SPENDING AND HE'S AGAINST TAXES. SO HE WINS WHEN HE HAS A SIMPLE MESSAGE LIKE THAT TO PUT ACROSS ON A VERY DIFFICULT COMPLICATED ISSUE. Allison: WHAT ABOUT IT, DOES THAT SIMPLE MESSAGE REALLY WIN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A COMPLICATED PROCESS? I THINK THE AVERAGE CITIZEN NOT REALLY PAYING AS MUCH ATTENTION, LIKE I SAID BEFORE THE BUDGET IS VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT THE KEYNOTE IS THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE BUDGET IS TOO HIGH, HE VETOED IT, PEOPLE IN GENERAL THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I WAS SORT OF HIGH BOTH SIZING THAT THE GOVERNOR OUGHT TO PUT HIMSELF IN A POSITION TO VETO THE BUDGET,. EVEN IF IN THE END HE ULTIMATELY HAS A BUDGET WHICH WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE HE VETOED, BECAUSE HE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY I VETOED A BUDGET, AND I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE THE END RESULT OF THIS AS IS A BUDGET THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE HE VETOED. MORE LIKE A 20 MILLION DIFFERENCE. Allison: THE BACKGROUND OPERATING IN THE GOVERNMENT ARENA, HOW MUCH DOES THIS CORPORATE BACKGROUND INFLUENCE HIS PERCEPTION OF THE STATE BUDGET, DOES THAT COME INTO PLAY? I THINK ANY TIME YOU COME FROM BUSINESS AND LOOK AT A STATE BUDGET, WE REALLY DO START FROM A BASELINE, AND EVERYTHING INCREASES EITHER A LITTLE OR A LOT FROM THAT. BUSINESSES AROUND NECESSARILY THE SAME WAY. IT'S VERY EASY IF YOU'RE THE C. E. O. OF A COMPANY TO SAY WE'RE JUST GOING TO ELIMINATE THIS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A REVENUE STREAM THAT'S WORKING FOR US, WE'LL SHUT THIS PLANT DOWN, WE'LL SELL THIS PLANT. YOU CAN'T REALLY DO THAT IN STATE GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, CORRECTIONS ISN'T REALLY WORKING OUT, LET'S GET RID OF IT. ON THE OTHER HAND I THINK HIS BUSINESS BACKGROUND HAS ALLOWED HIM MAYBE A SENSE OF HOW TO WORK WITH REVENUES. Allison: FINALLY DOUG, I WANT TO ASK YOU, THE MEETING NEXT WEEK, ANY SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FROM HERE? WELL, THERE ARE THREE PARTIES IN THIS, HOUSE, SENATE AND GOVERNOR. RIGHT NOW WITHIN THAT GROUP OF THREE THE GOVERNOR IS THE ODD MAN OUT, THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVING PASSED THE BUDGET. I SUSPECT THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME JOCKEYING ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO BE THE ODD PARTY OUT. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE IN PARTICULAR THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BEGIN TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE SENATE THEN IS THE ONE WHO IS THE ODD PARTY OUT. AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO FIGURE A WAY TO BRING THE SENATE ON BOARD. BUT I THINK WILL IT BE A REALIGNMENT GOING ON. Allison: WELL, I HOPE YOU ALL WILL COME BACK AND VISIT WITH US AGAIN AS THE PROCESS CONTINUES. APPRECIATE YOUR COMING IN. THANKS. |
| Intro Andy Smith Return to index of stories... |
Despite the tension in Concord over the budget, the Governor appears to be winning the battle over public perception. A recent UNH Survey Center poll shows the governor's approval rating at 53%, despite the budget crisis. |
| Intro Lumberjack Return to index of stories... |
All over New Hampshire communities are working to strengthen their economic base by developing new and interesting projects to attrack people to the area. One of those places is in the North Country at the newly completed Northern Forest Heritage Park in Berlin where the history of the logging industry is being preserved. As Theresa Kennett reports, the park is playing host to some pretty spectacular events. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - Personal bankruptcies are on the rise in the Granite State. We'll look at the numbers and hear from the experts on how to manage debt. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
Until next time, connect with us online at nhptv.org. Thanks for watching. |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Personal bankruptcies are on the rise in the Granite State. We'll look at the numbers and hear from the experts on how to manage debt. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/09/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 20:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, lawmakers head back to work on the budget. We'll have highlights of the day's events and analysis from public policy experts. And we'll take you to the new Northern Forest Heritage park where an old time tradition is gaining popularity and attracting new audiences. With the state now operating on a temporary budget, legislative leaders and the governor met today to begin work on permanent budget solution. Governor Craig Benson vetoed the legislature's budget last month and called for more cuts. Last week, the House failed to override that veto. Now, the House, Senate and governor have until October to come to an agreement. Richard Ager tells us how their first day together went. Joining us in -studio to talk about how the policy is being developed at the state house are Charlie Arlinghaus, Preisdent of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy and Doug Hall Co-Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies. Despite the tension in Concord over the budget, the Governor appears to be winning the battle over public perception. A recent UNH Survey Center poll shows the governor's approval rating at 53%, despite the budget crisis. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager, Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sen. Robert Clegg\Senate Majority Leader, Rep. Mike Whalley\Deputy House Speaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Sen. Richard Green\Chair - Senate Finance Cmte, Rep. Ken Weyler\Vice Chair - House Finance Cmte, Sen. Tom Eaton\Senate President, Rep. Neal Kurk\Chair - House Finance Cmte, Charles Arlinghaus\Josiah Bartlett Center, Doug Hall\NH Center for Public Policy Studies, Andy Smith\UNH Survey Center |
| key: Economy / Business Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/09/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 20:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, lawmakers head back to work on the budget. We'll have highlights of the day's events and analysis from public policy experts. And we'll take you to the new Northern Forest Heritage park where an old time tradition is gaining popularity and attracting new audiences. With the state now operating on a temporary budget, legislative leaders and the governor met today to begin work on permanent budget solution. Governor Craig Benson vetoed the legislature's budget last month and called for more cuts. Last week, the House failed to override that veto. Now, the House, Senate and governor have until October to come to an agreement. Richard Ager tells us how their first day together went. Joining us in -studio to talk about how the policy is being developed at the state house are Charlie Arlinghaus, Preisdent of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy and Doug Hall Co-Director of the NH Center for Public Policy Studies. Despite the tension in Concord over the budget, the Governor appears to be winning the battle over public perception. A recent UNH Survey Center poll shows the governor's approval rating at 53%, despite the budget crisis. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager, Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sen. Robert Clegg\Senate Majority Leader, Rep. Mike Whalley\Deputy House Speaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Sen. Richard Green\Chair - Senate Finance Cmte, Rep. Ken Weyler\Vice Chair - House Finance Cmte, Sen. Tom Eaton\Senate President, Rep. Neal Kurk\Chair - House Finance Cmte, Charles Arlinghaus\Josiah Bartlett Center, Doug Hall\NH Center for Public Policy Studies, Andy Smith\UNH Survey Center |
| key: Recreation / Leisure / Sports Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/09/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 6:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, lawmakers head back to work on the budget. We'll have highlights of the day's events and analysis from public policy experts. And we'll take you to the new Northern Forest Heritage park where an old time tradition is gaining popularity and attracting new audiences. With the state now operating on a temporary budget, legislative leaders and the governor met today to begin work on permanent budget solution. All over New Hampshire communities are working to strengthen their economic base by developing new and interesting projects to attrack people to the area. One of those places is in the North Country at the newly completed Northern Forest Heritage Park in Berlin where the history of the logging industry is being preserved. As Theresa Kennett reports, the park is playing host to some pretty spectacular events. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Theresa Kennett NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Jerry Gingras\Milan, NH, Mike Sullivan\Colebrook, CT, Virginia Foote\Marlowe, NH, Howard Williams\Dover, NH, Don Quigley \Lee, NH, Dave Thurlow\Northern Forest Heritage Park |