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 Show OpenReturn to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Laura Knoy from New Hampshire Public Radio, your guest host on this Friday edition of New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
This week, we'll talk about the resignation of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nick Vailas over conflict of interest charges, the Governor's education funding initiative and a big push for education reform. A new destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the North Country and more. Joining me this week from the statehouse in Concord, Guy McMillin of the Keene Sentinel and Josh Rogers of NHPR. And here in Durham this week are Edith Tucker of the Coos County Democrat and Richard Ager of New Hampshire Outlook. Welcome to you all. |
| Intro Vailas Resignation Return to index of stories... |
Health and Human Services Commissioner Nick Vailas resigned this week. Vailas came under attack last week for seeking investors for a private insurance company he wanted to start. More criticisms followed, accusing Vailas of serving on a political action committee for a national health care organization. Prior to the resignation Richard Ager had a chance to ask Governor Benson about Vailas, and the apparent conflict of interest. Here's what he had to say. |
| Benson - Conflict of Interest Return to index of stories... |
DO YOU SEE ANY POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH HIS DUTIES AS COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES? It's a full time job being commissioner of health and human services, as is being the governor, but it's tough to step away from a background in which you've been doing a lot of different things and have financial interests - to wipe all that out and just come and serve as commissioner. And I think he's trying to mitigate as much as possible and work full time for the state. |
| Vailas Resignation Benson Return to index of stories... |
From the moment he was appointed to head the State's largest department, Nick Vailas was under fire. And this week things came to a head when he handed in his resignation. Josh Rogers was first to report the story. |
| Vailas Discussion Return to index of stories... |
JOSH, WHAT EXACTLY WAS THE PROBLEM WITH NICK VAILAS? JOSH WELL, I MEAN. I WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT THE FINAL ASPECT OF THE STORY REGARDING THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FOR THE AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS. BUT ESSENTIALLY, COMMISSIONER VAILAS HAD SOLICITED INVESTORS AND THAT DREW CRITICISM. OBVIOUSLY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEALS WITH HEALTHCARE, AND IT WAS A PERCEIVED CONFLICT AND. BUT, YOU KNOW, HE SAID. HIS ATTORNEYS HAD FILED A BRIEF WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL HEED SAYING THAT THE FIVE PAGES WHERE IT WAS SAYING THAT. IN FACT, DIDN'T CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT, INITIALLY GOVERNOR BENSON SAID, YOU KNOW, ONCE COMMISSIONER VAILAS SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO SHELVE THIS WHILE IN OFFICE, THAT THAT WAS FINE. AND THEN THIS STUFF ABOUT THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FOR THE AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS CAME OUT. AND THAT SEEMED TO CHANGE HIM A BIT. Laura: AND THAT WAS YOUR STORY AS YOU SAID, JOSH. NOW, WHAT WAS THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ALL ABOUT? WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM THERE? JOSH WELL, IN. I MEAN, NICK VAILAS TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY, AND ON MARCH 15, HE WAS ELECTED TO THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS, AND, IN FACT, CO-CHAIRED THEIR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. ON THEIR WEB SITE THERE WAS A LETTER URGING PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ELECT FEDERAL CANDIDATES WHO WOULD FURTHER THE INTERESTS OF THE AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS, AND CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE IN A POLICY MAKING POSITION FOR THE STATE, THAT'S QUESTIONABLE. AND HIS CONTACT INFORMATION INCLUDED HIS. A FAX MACHINE AT HIS OFFICE. THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD DISPUTE THAT THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. Laura: GUY MacMILLIN, DOES ANY OF THIS SURPRISE YOU? GUY WELL, THE STUPIDITY OF IT DOES. I GUESS IT'S. I SUSPECT THERE'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS HERE THAN MEETS THE EYE. IT'S IGNORANCE. I MEAN, ANYBODY WHO DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND OBVIOUSLY SUBJECT TO DEEP SUSPICION ON THE PART OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, SHOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN GOVERNMENT. I WOULD ASK. JOSH AND I MAYBE WILL START A BUSINESS AND JOSH CAN REPORT ON IT, AND THEN I'LL WRITE EDITORIALS ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS AND SEE HOW LONG WE KEEP OUR JOBS. Laura: RICHARD AGER, NICK VAILAS, WHAT KIND OF A PERSON WAS HE? YOU KNOW, HE'S. HE WAS IN OFFICE SO. FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME. RICHARD WELL, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY COMING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE WAS, YOU KNOW, HAD THE BACKGROUND THAT GOVERNOR BENSON HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR. ENERGETIC KIND OF PERSON. HAD STARTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT VENTURES, AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHAT HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO DO AGAIN WHEN THE STORY BROKE LAST WEEK. I THINK THAT THERE'S KIND OF A SAD ASPECT TO THIS, AND THAT IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAD ACTUALLY BEEN A LITTLE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH NICK VAILAS HAD STOOD UP FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT THEY DID. THERE WERE EARLY FEARS THAT HE MIGHT COME IN AND, YOU KNOW, WANT TO "WIELD A BROAD AX." HE WAS FOND OF METAPHORS LIKE THAT. BUT INSTEAD HE PROVED TO BE-- IN THE OPINION OF SEVERAL PEOPLE AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES-- SENSITIVE TO THEIR NEEDS. WELL, HE CLEARLY DID ADVOCATE FOR THE. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AGAINST THE POLICIES OF GOVERNOR BENSON, WHO FAVORED MUCH DEEPER CUTS THAN DID COMMISSIONER VAILAS. AND COMMISSIONER VAILAS ALSO CAME OUT ON BEHALF OF THE TOBACCO TAX INCREASE, WHICH AT THAT POINT GOVERNOR BENSON SAID, IT'S A GOOD THING HE DOESN'T SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND HAVE A VOTE. BUT. WHEN COMMISSIONER VAILAS DID RESIGN, IT WAS TELLING, I THINK, THAT NEITHER THE GOVERNOR NOR COMMISSIONER VAILAS SEEMED TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY ANYTHING GOING WRONG WITH. GOVERNOR BENSON SAID SIMPLY THAT COMMISSIONER VAILAS HAD LOST HIS PASSION TO. FOR THE JOB. Laura: A COUPLE MORE QUICK QUESTIONS ON THIS, AND GUY MacMILLIN, I'LL TURN TO YOU. EXECUTIVE COUNSELOR PETER SPAULDING HAD SAID THAT HE WILL NOT ACCEPT VAILAS' RESIGNATION. WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THAT? GUY WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, THAT'S BIZARRE. I SUPPOSE HE'S GOING TO FORCE VAILAS TO STAY ON, MAYBE BEND HIS ARM UP BEHIND HIS BACK. I DON'T GET IT. I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING COMING OUT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS GOING TO TRY TO DRAFT A NEW ETHICS LAW FOR THE STATE. I DON'T THINK, HOWEVER, THAT IT TOOK AN ETHICS LAW TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE DEALS GOING ON. I MEAN, IT JUST. THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH INVOLVED. IT ISN'T, HOWEVER, UNDERHANDED. IN FACT, IT WAS OPEN. AS JOSH POINTS OUT, THE GUY HAD GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE NUMBER ON THE WEB SITE. IT'S JUST HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS WRONG, WHICH MAKES THE WHOLE THING TRAGIC/COMIC, I GUESS IN A WAY. AS TO STAYING ON THE JOB, HE'S RESIGNED. I DON'T THINK HE CAN FORCE HIM TO STAY THERE. Laura: EDITH TUCKER, YEAH. EDITH I THINK THE OTHER THING THIS HIGHLIGHTS IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS VAGUE CONFLICT OF INTEREST RULES AND A VERY SLIGHT CODE OF ETHICS, IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS AT STAKE IN HEALTHCARE. THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES WHICH ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND THE WHOLE DEBATE IN THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THE IDEA THAT DOCTORS ARE JUST NICE GUYS WHO WALK AROUND DOING GOOD THINGS FOR PEOPLE, AND THAT SOMEHOW MONEY ISN'T INVOLVED, LONG SINCE GONE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUGE DOLLARS, A VERY SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE G.N.P. OF OUR COUNTRY. AND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE. JOSH LAURA, AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT BEARS MENTION THAT ON THE DAY THAT COMMISSIONER VAILAS RESIGNED-- ACTUALLY, ALMOST EXACT MOMENT I WAS STANDING THERE WHEN RICHARD TALKED TO HIM, GOVERNOR BENSON AT THAT POINT WAS STILL STANDING BEHIND COMMISSIONER VAILAS-- SAID THAT HE SAW AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS AS THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND CERTAINLY IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE. AND HE ALSO SAID HE INTENDED TO HAVE COMMISSIONER VAILAS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM IN SOME CAPACITY. SO IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS FIGURE IN OR DON'T FIGURE IN INTO FOREGONE DECISIONS SUCH AS THE STATE'S HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. CERTAINLY BUSINESS COULD BE HEADING THAT WAY. AND IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. Laura: ONE MORE QUESTION, THEN I WANT TO MOVE ON. FOR YOU, EDITH TUCKER, OUTSIDE THE REPORTERS IN CONCORD, YOU KNOW, WHO COVER THESE ISSUES VERY CLOSELY. DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE, SAY IN THE NORTH COUNTRY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE OR ELSEWHERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS NICK VAILAS STORY? REALLY THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL? EDITH WELL, I THINK SO. FIRST OF ALL, NICK VAILAS HAS A FARM, BUFFALO FARM, IN ERROL, WHICH IS IN COOS COUNTY. Laura: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. EDITH AND I COVERED A VISIT THAT HE TOOK TO THE NURSING HOMES. HE WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. TALKED WITH ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS. THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT HOW MUCH UNDERFUNDING IS INVOLVED IN MEDICAID AND MEDICARE, AND HOW EXPENSIVE TO THE TAXPAYERS RUNNING THE NURSING HOMES-- WHICH ARE PRETTY ESSENTIAL-- ARE. THERE'S A DEFICIT OF ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR IN COOS COUNTY, WHICH ARE PICKED UP BY COOS TAXPAYERS. SO, YES, PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS THE STATE'S LARGEST BUDGET. Guy JUST AS ONE LAST NOTE, AND THAT IS THAT I CAN'T HELP THINKING THAT GOVERNOR BENSON IS GOING TO PROBABLY EXAMINE THE OPINIONS AND LIKELY POLICIES OF THE NEXT COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, TO MAKE SURE MAYBE THEY FIT A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY WITH HIS OWN. Laura: WELL, AND WHEN A NEW PERSON IS NOMINATED AND BROUGHT IN, I'M SURE WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HIM OR HER. SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT THEN. I WANT TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER BIG STORY THIS WEEK. |
| Education Funding Return to index of stories... |
Tuesday, Governor Benson strongly backed a constitutional amendment that would allow only lawmakers to set education funding policy: what schools would receive state help, how much the state will pay and the source of funding for education. But the Governor's Amendment is facing some competition. There are two other proposed amendments. Guy - similar attempts have been made before but none have made it to the ballot. What's your take on all of this? |
| Edu. Fund. Discuss Return to index of stories... |
GUY WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING, ACTUALLY. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT CLARIFIES THE DEBATE. SINCE THE-- EXCUSE ME-- SINCE THE 1997 SUPREME COURT RULING THAT SAID THAT THE STATE HAD AN OBLIGATION TO PAY FOR ADEQUATE EDUCATION FOR THE SCHOOLCHILDREN-- THE STATE AND NOT THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS-- THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF EFFORTS TO SORT OF DO IN RUNS AROUND THAT. EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS THE LEGISLATURE DOES A KIND OF "NAH, NAH," RESOLUTION, WHERE IT SAYS WE DON'T. WE DON'T AGREE WITH THIS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CANDIDATES WHO HAVE SAID, "I WON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE COURT." WELL, THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE. WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE CONSTITUTION AS THE SUPREME COURT HAS INTERPRETED IT, IS TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS RIGHT ON THIS, AND THAT THE CONSTITUTION DOES SAY WHAT THE COURT SAYS IT DOES. AND THAT THE STATE SHOULD PAY FOR EDUCATION. BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OLD DAYS WHEN PROPERTY TAXES VARIED ENORMOUSLY TOWN BY TOWN, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY VALUE IN THE TOWN, WHERE SOME PEOPLE PAID $7,000 OR $8,000 ON $100,000 HOME, AND OTHER PEOPLE PAID $200 OR $300 ON THAT HOME. IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT KIND OF A SYSTEM, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY PROBABLY NEXT YEAR TO VOTE FOR IT. AND THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT, UP OR DOWN. Laura: EDITH TUCKER, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS LATEST ATTEMPT FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO OVERTURN THE CLAREMONT DECISION? EDITH WELL, I'M JUST. I'M NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AD NAUSEAM. AND I AGREE WITH GUY, I GUESS, THAT THIS WILL GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT. WHAT IT IS THEY. THEY WANT. AND IT'S ALL VERY WELL TO SAY THAT YOU DON'T WANT THE COURTS IN. BUT EQUITY IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT, AND IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, OF COURSE, WHERE MOST TOWNS DON'T HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF ASSESSED VALUATION AND THEY DO HAVE CHILDREN TO EDUCATE AND RATHER EXPENSIVELY WITH TRANSPORTATION AND SMALL CLASSES, THIS IS A KEY, KEY ISSUE. AND IT IS ACROSS THE STATE, OF COURSE. Laura: RICHARD AGER, WHY IS THE GOVERNOR BACKING THIS NOW? RICHARD OH, HE RAN ON IT THE LAST TIME, SO THIS IS NO CHANGE FOR HIM. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THIS IS GOING TO NEED THREE-FIFTHS OF THE VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO JUST GET ON THE BALLOT. AND OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS. ONCE ON THE BALLOT, IF WE ASSUME THAT THEY MAINTAIN ENOUGH COHERENCE TO ACTUALLY GET IT ON THE BALLOT, THEN TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS MUST VOTE FOR IT, IN ORDER TO CREATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO RETAIN OR HAVE RETURNED TO THEM THE POWER TO SET EDUCATION FUNDING. THE FLY IN THAT OINTMENT OF COURSE IS THAT IN THE PAST, THEY HAD THAT POWER AND DIDN'T EXERCISE IT. THAT'S WHY THE CLAREMONT LAWSUIT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. WELL, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY PROPOSED. GOVERNOR BENSON HAS SAID MORE DETAILS WILL COME OUT. AND CERTAINLY I THINK WE TAKE A GREAT LEAP OF FAITH ON THE. ON PEOPLE TO ESSENTIALLY SAY, "WELL, OKAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST TAKE THE COURTS OUT OF IT, AND WHATEVER THE LEGISLATURE SAYS GOES." THAT COULD BE A RISKY PROPOSITION. Laura: GO AHEAD, GUY. GUY IT'S MORE THAN RISKY. WE'VE HAD THE HISTORICAL RECORD ON THAT ONE. WE USED TO HAVE A LAW, THE OGDEN-BLICK FORMULA THAT WAS GOING TO SEND TARGETED AID TO INDIVIDUAL CITIES AND TOWNS THAT WERE PROPERTY POOR. THAT WAS A PROMISE. THAT WAS A LAW. Laura AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE PUMPED UP OUR LOTTERY, TOO, ISN'T IT, GUY? GUY OH, YEAH. YEAH, WE WERE GOING TO. BUT HERE'S THE POINT. WHENEVER IT GOT TO BE BUDGET TIME, THE LEGISLATURE SAID, "DARN, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY." AND SO THEY NEVER SENT. THEY NEVER FULLY FUNDED OGDEN-BLICK. NEVER FULFILLED THE PROMISE. AND, YEAH, IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE 1997, BUT THERE ARE SOME OF US LEFT, I GUESS, WHO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS. DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THEM? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. BUT, THE LEGISLATURE, IF IT HAS FULL AUTHORITY, DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. AND, IN FACT, THAT'S WHAT IT USED TO DO. NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS SO LOW THAT EVEN IF YOU DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT SPENT ON EDUCATION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LAST IN THE COUNTRY, IN TERMS OF STATE AID TO EDUCATION. THE SCHOOLS ARE BEING FUNDED. THE QUESTION IS: HOW DO YOU WANT TO FUND THEM? Laura: JOSH, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. AS I UNDERSTAND SOME STATE LAWMAKERS WERE PRETTY SURPRISED THAT GOVERNOR BENSON HAD THIS BIG PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT SUPPORT FOR A CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT. Josh WELL, WHEN CERTAINLY. YOU KNOW, AS RICHARD POINTED OUT, WHEN HE RAN, IT WAS HARD TO AVOID THAT. HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND RETURNING IT TO THE PEOPLE. AND HE AT THAT POINT DISPLAYED A GREAT APPETITE FOR KIND OF. ALMOST RULING BY ALMOST LIKE A PLEBISCITE, LET'S JUST LIKE PUT IT TO THE PEOPLE. AND. BUT THEN LAST YEAR, WHEN THE AMENDMENTS STARTED GOING BEFORE THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THERE WAS NO. HE. THERE WAS NO INPUT FROM HIS OFFICE. HE NEVER CAME AND TESTIFIED. SOME PEOPLE. IN FACT, THE SPONSOR OF THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, LEO PAPINO COMPLAINED TO THE TOWN THAT HE HAD TRIED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT. AND SO, A SUBCOMMITTEE OUT OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE WAS FORMED, AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING THIS OUT. BUT CERTAINLY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNEW FOR CERTAIN THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE BUDGET'S DONE, THIS WAS GOING TO BE A FOCUS OF GOVERNOR BENSON. Laura: AND, FINALLY, RICHARD AGER, THE CHANCES THAT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD GET WHAT IT NEEDS, FIRST OF ALL, TO PASS THE LEGISLATURE, NEVER MIND TO, YOU KNOW, BE PASSED BY THE VOTERS. Richard WELL, YOU KNOW, THREE-FIFTHS IS NOT INSURMOUNTABLE AS I SAID, BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THE MORE MODERATE WING OF THE REPUBLICANS STAY WITH THE MORE CONSERVATIVE AND THAT THEY MAINTAIN COHERENCE, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND MANY DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD SUPPORT THIS IN EITHER CHAMBER. THEN THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT GET PLAYED OUT DURING AN ELECTION CYCLE, YOU KNOW, AS A QUESTION TO THE VOTERS? AND I WOULD TEND TO THINK THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A FAIR AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISING ON ITS OWN TO SELL IT SEPARATELY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE FOUGHT OUT DURING AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. AND THIS WOULD HAVE TO STAND ON ITS OWN. Laura: AND SPEAKING OF EDUCATION, THERE'S ANOTHER EDUCATION TOPIC THAT WE DO NEED TO MOVE ONTO, AND THAT IS THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ACTUALLY ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A MAJOR REASSESSMENT OF HOW IT RUNS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. |
| Intro Education Initiative Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire is about to embark on a major reassessment of how it runs public schools. The governor and education officials announced Wednesday that the state's education standards will be redefined through a series of public meetings and hearings. Here are a few remarks from the announcement. |
| Education Initiative Return to index of stories... |
I refer to this as the mother of all opportunities. The last major education reform effort was nearly a century ago. It's time once again to bring state-wide focus on how best to educate our students. I think there needs to be a sea change in the way we educate our children, and that's what we're proposing here. A huge change. |
| Discuss Education Initiative Return to index of stories... |
Richard you were at the event. the governor is calling this a "sea change" hoping to give students a passion for learning. What kind of "sea change"?? Richard WELL, AS HE. AND ANOTHER PHRASE HE EMPLOYED, WAS EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE, WITH ONE EXCEPTION AND THAT'S NO NEW TAXES. WHICH IS A RATHER LARGE SET-ASIDE, BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT IF YOU LIKE. THEY WANT TO QUESTION. THE STANDARDS THAT GOVERN THE PRACTICES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS ARE DUE TO BE RENEWED. THEY'LL EXPIRE IN ABOUT A YEAR. AND THEY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE STANDARDS. HOW LONG SHOULD A SCHOOL DAY BE? HOW LONG SHOULD A SCHOOL YEAR BE? Laura: PRETTY BASIC STUFF. Richard WELL, VERY BASIC, AND THEY WANT TO OPEN IT UP. FRED BRAMANTE, AS YOU HEARD, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WAS TALKING ABOUT EXAMPLES SUCH AS PERHAPS WE SHOULD AWARD FOREIGN LANGUAGE CREDITS TO STUDENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, SPEND A SUMMER IN FRANCE LIVING WITH A FAMILY. HE WANTS TO OPEN IT UP SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE WHAT STUDENTS ACCOMPLISH AND WHAT THEY LEARN IN THE REAL WORLD. THE REAL WORLD BEING, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE PHRASES THAT THEY USED, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO INCORPORATE MORE OF IT IN THE SCHOOLS. Josh ANOTHER INTERESTING ASPECT OF THIS IS THE WAY IN WHICH THIS COLLIDES WITH FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS UNDER "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND." AND I THINK THE THINKING OF FRED BRAMANTE AS WELL AS NICK DONOHUE, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND GOVERNOR BENSON IS THAT PERHAPS THERE MIGHT BE SOME ROOM FOR DEREGULATING SOME COMPONENTS OF STATE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL STANDARD THAT'S KIND OF A BACKSTOP TO ENSURE THAT THINGS DON'T, YOU KNOW, GET TOO OUT OF HAND. AND NONE OF THEM ARE SAYING MUCH THAT WAS VERY SPECIFIC ON WEDNESDAY. AND THEY'RE PLANNING TO HAVE TOWN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INPUT IN THE, YOU KNOW, EVERY COUNTY AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO IT'S CERTAINLY. I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS. IT'S CERTAINLY EASY TO TALK BIG AT THIS POINT, SO WE'LL SEE. I MEAN, FRED BRAMANTE DOESN'T PROFESS TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS ON THIS. I MEAN, HE, I THINK HE LOOKS AS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO BRAINSTORM. Laura: HE. YEAH, FRED. IT'S OKAY? Laura: YEAH. ACTUALLY, LET'S LET EDITH GO AHEAD. BECAUSE I THINK SHE'S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING AND THEN, GUY, YOU GO AHEAD. EDITH YES, WELL, FRED BRAMANTE OF COURSE HIMSELF WAS A MUSIC TEACHER WHEN HE STARTED HIS CAREER, BEFORE HE STARTED HIS OWN MUSIC BUSINESS. AND HE'S. WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR WAS TERRIBLY KEEN TO SEE EDUCATION OPENED UP SO THAT MORE CHILDREN COULD BE SUCCESSFUL. SO ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT IT IS SOMEWHAT RESPONSIVE TO "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND," I THINK THESE IDEAS HAVE BEEN FRED BRAMANTE'S FOR A LONG TIME. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL-TO-CAREER PROGRAMS, IN WHICH APPRENTICESHIPS COUNT. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE GOTTEN YOUNGSTERS WHO AREN'T TERRIBLY SUCCESSFUL AT SITTING BEHIND A DESK ALL DAY, OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING THE RELEVANCE OF EDUCATION, I THINK HE TRULY BELIEVES IN THOSE. AND IT DOESN'T SEEM UNREASONABLE THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING ANOTHER LOOK. NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE A SCHOLAR. JOSH ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS IS THAT BASICALLY THE BOTTOM LINE THEY SAY IS THAT THE MINIMUM STANDARD-- AND THEY'RE VERY TECHNICAL PORTIONS OF THAT SUCH AS SQUARE FOOT PER CLASSROOM AND, YOU KNOW, RATIOS REGARDING BUILDING SIZE AND THAT SORT OF THING-- IS THAT THERE'S BEEN TOO MUCH. THEY'RE ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION. AND WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE THE OTHER DAY WAS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON ENSURING THAT STUDENTS EMERGE FROM SCHOOLS EDUCATED AND. YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY FRED BRAMANTE BELIEVED THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, MANY WAYS TO SKIN A CAT ON THAT SCORE. Laura: GUY MacMILLIN, YOUR THOUGHTS. GUY WELL, I LIKE FRED BRAMANTE. FRED IS ONE OF THESE GUYS, NOT ONLY DOES HE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, HE DOESN'T EVEN OWN A BOX. HE'S A BRAINSTORMER AS JOSH HAS SAID. BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A POINT HERE WHERE WE SHOULD BE A LITTLE CAUTIOUS. REEXAMINING ALL THE STATE STANDARDS IS ONE THING. THROWING THEM OUT LIKE THEY TRIED TO DO ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, IS. IS QUITE ANOTHER. AND I THINK WE NEED TO REEVALUATE ALL THE TIME. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. BUT THE SCHOOLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE NOT BAD. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE, POLITICAL FORCES IN THIS STATE THAT WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK THAT THEY'RE AWFUL, AND THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM IS BAD, AND THAT WE'LL HAVE TO THROW THEM AWAY AND REPLACE THEM WITH LITTLE, PRIVATE ACADEMIES AND THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING. I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS. I LIKE THE SCHOOLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T REEXAMINE EVERY STANDARD AND EVERY ASPECT OF THE WAY SCHOOLS ARE RUN. AND WE'LL CERTAINLY FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE. |
| AMC Lodge Return to index of stories... |
ONE MORE STORY THAT WE DO NEED TO COVER NOW-- TOURISM. A BIG BUSINESS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE and Friday, a new destination opened up in the North Country. The Highland Center at Crawford Notch is a jewel in the crown of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Edith, What are people in the North Country saying aboutthe new Center? How much is the center a departure from what the AMC tradtionally does? |
| Tourism discussion Return to index of stories... |
EDITH IT IS A BIG DEAL. AND IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB BOUGHT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO; KEEPING WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS. THEY BOUGHT SOME 500 ACRES. NOW, AT THE TOP OF CRAWFORD NOTCH, THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN AMUSEMENT PARK THERE, A BIG ONE. Laura: AN AMUSEMENT PARK? EDITH BIG AMUSEMENT PARK. AND SO THEY BROKERED A DEAL IN WHICH THEY ENDED UP KEEPING 26 ACRES, AND WITH THESE OTHER TWO CONSERVATION GROUPS, TURNING OVER TO THE NATIONAL FORESTS, THE REST OF THE LAND. WHICH IS WHY CRAWFORD NOTCH LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES NOW. AND ON THE SITE OF THE OLD CRAWFORD HOUSE WHICH WAS A HUMONGOUS GRAND HOTEL, THEY HAVE BUILT A $9 MILLION FACILITY WHICH INCLUDES RENOVATED CARRIAGE HOUSE WITH CLASSROOMS AND MEETING ROOMS, A 120-BED HOTEL HOSTEL-- SOME OF WHICH ARE DORMITORY ROOMS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PRIVATE ROOMS PLUS MEETING ROOMS AND A RESTAURANT-- FOR WHICH THEY REQUIRED A BEER AND WINE LICENSE. AND THEY ALSO HAVE A LITTLE STUDIO NEARBY. THEY HAVE A CRAWFORD NOTCH VISITOR CENTER, FOR WHICH THEY GOT SCENIC BYWAY FUNDS TO PARTIALLY PAY FOR. SO IT'S A BIG COMPLEX OF FOUR OR FIVE BUILDINGS UP THERE. Laura: SO WHAT'S THE ISSUE FOR PEOPLE? I MEAN, YOU HEAR ABOUT THE. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE. EDITH THE ISSUE FOR PEOPLE IS THAT THEY NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TWIN MOUNTAIN CAROL. THIS INTERCHANGEABLE WORDS REALLY, SELECTMEN THAT THIS WAS AFTER ALL A TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. Laura: NONPROFIT. EDITH NONPROFIT. AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARDS SCHOOL TAXES, BUT THEY WOULD AGREE TO GIVE $10,000 A YEAR WITH SORT OF A SLIDING SCALE UPWARD OVER TIME, NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS TO THE TOWN AS PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES. AND IN THE MIDST OF AN ENORMOUS TAX REVOLT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT THIS TOWN HAS BEEN A DONOR TOWN, SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSMEN, PARTICULARLY DOUG BUSE WHO OWNS A MOTEL AND LAUNDROMAT OBJECTED TO THE FACT THAT $10,000 ON A $9 MILLION INVESTMENT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE ENOUGH. Laura: WELL, IT WOULD NORMALLY BE TWICE AS MUCH, RIGHT? EDITH IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE. LAURA I MEAN, IT'S A POINT WHERE. I THINK IT'S A POINT WORTH CONSIDERING. I MEAN, IT SEEMED LIKE IT'S. IT'S IN COURT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT, EDITH? EDITH WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THAT THE. THIS MR. BUSE BROUGHT IT TO THE SELECTMEN'S ATTENTION AGAIN WHEN A.M.C. APPLIED FOR THE BEER AND WINE LICENSE, WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN MENTIONED DURING THE VARIOUS DISCUSSIONS OF THIS NEW BUILDING. WHICH REQUIRED A VARIANCE FOR HEIGHT. IT GOES OVER THE TOWN OF TWIN MOUNTAIN'S HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS. SO A LOT OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BEFORE THE BUILDING BEGAN. AND. BUT WHEN THEY ASKED FOR WINE AND BEER LICENSE, THIS REALLY PUT THE FAT IN THE FIRE. AND THIS GUY BEGAN TO DO RESEARCH ON THE STATE CONSTITUTION, HIS INTERPRETATION OF VARIOUS OTHER LAWS. AND HE ASKED THE SELECTMEN TO SEE WHETHER REALLY THE WHOLE THING WAS TAX-EXEMPT AND. Laura: SO WHERE DOES IT STAND NOW, EDITH? EDITH WHERE IT STANDS NOW IS THEY'VE. THE SELECTMEN HAVE TURNED TO THEIR TOWN LAWYER. THE TOWN'S LAWYER IN BRIEF HAS SAID THAT MAYBE SOMETHING COULD BE DONE. BUT THE SELECTMEN ARE MULLING WHAT THEIR NEXT STEPS WILL BE. Laura: WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ONE FOR NEXT WEEK. |
| Trowbridge Return to index of stories... |
Laura: I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS WEEK, NEW HAMPSHIRE LOST A PIONEER. C. ROBERT TROWBRIDGE CREDITED WITH TAKING YANKEE PUBLISHING TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE. TROWBRIDGE WAS ALSO A STATE LEGISLATOR AND LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DUBLIN WHERE YANKEE PUBLISHING IS BASED. |
| Thank Guests Return to index of stories... |
Well thats it for another week, Edith Tucker and Richard Ager thanks for being here. And up at the statehouse, Guy MacMillin and Josh Rogers, thanks also to you, for being with us. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook, Homeland Security, the threat, the response and the role for business. We'll bring you highlights of a homeland security conference and profile a Granite State business that's making a contribution to military anti-terrorism efforts. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
We'll see you next time. 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 |
| Weekend Promo Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. Homeland Security, the threat, the response and the role for business. Join us Monday at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Homeland Security, the threat, the response and the role for business. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: Media Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 9/12/03 22:00 HOST: Laura Knoy Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, the state budget - This week, we'll talk about the resignation of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nick Vailas over conflict of interest charges, the Governor's education funding initiative and a big push for education reform. A new destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the North Country and more. Joining us this week from the statehouse in Concord, Guy McMillin of the Keene Sentinel and Josh Rogers of NHPR. And here in Durham this week are Edith Tucker of the Coos County Democrat and Richard Ager of New Hampshire Outlook. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Jennifer Ellis NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Guy MacMillin\Keene Sentinel, Josh Rogers\NHPR, Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat, Richard Ager \NH Outlook |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at other stories making news this Friday. |