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 Show OpenReturn to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. In this program - We're counting down to the first-in-the-nation primary countdown - it's less than three weeks away. We'll have this weeks latest. And the state legislature went back to work this week. Vetoes, Medicaid, a supreme court nominee we're covering it. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
But first let's introduce this week's guests. Joining us from the statehouse in Concord - Norma Love of the Associated Press. And here with me in Durham, Lars Trodson of the Portsmouth Times, and Sam Youngman of Politics-N-H-dot-com. Thank you all for joining us. |
| Primary Countdown Return to index of stories... |
First - Howard Dean is now endorsed by both of the leading Democrats from the last election. Last month, Al Gore endorsed Dean. On Tuesday, it was Bill Bradley's turn: |
| Bradley SOT Return to index of stories... |
Bill Bradley: "IN 2000 MANY AMERICANS IN IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CROSS THE COUNTRY GAVE ME THEIR SUPPORT. I CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THEIR CONFIDENCE A SACRED TRUST. THIS YEAR MANY OF THEM ARE ASKED ME WHO AMONG THIS VERY CAPABLE GROUP OF CANDIDATES I WOULD RECOMMEND. MY ANSWER IS HOWARD DEAN!" |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
WELL, SAM, WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS IT A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT? WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS IS LARGELY SYMBOLIC. BOTH GENERAL CLARK AND SENATOR KERRY ARE RIGHT WHEN THEY SAY NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS DON'T LIKE TO BE TOLD WHO TO VOTE FOR. THIS IS ALWAYS THE CANDIDATES THAT DON'T GET THEIR ENDORSEMENT THAT SAY THAT. A LITTLE BIT IS SOUR GRAPES BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ALSO LOST. HOW MUCH WEIGHT DO THEY CARRY. WHAT YOU ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN THE POLLING IS YOU ARE SEEING GENERAL CLARK IS GAINING. GOVERNOR DEAN IS STALLED. AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT. IT DOES LEGITIMATIZE WITH THE WASHINGTON, D.C. INSIDERS. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN GENERAL CLARK SAYING HE COULD PREVENT ANY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TYPE TRAGEDIES FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. WILL THAT HELP OR HURT HIM? I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SAY IT WOULD HELP OR HURT IMHIM. IT'S SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT A POLITICIAN. THESE ARE THE STATEMENTS WE'RE USED TO FROM GOVERNOR DEAN. THINGS YOUR HANDLES ARE WATCHING YOU SAY AND WISHING YOU WEREN'T SAYING THEM. IN THE END WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO GOVERNOR DEAN. HIS BASE IS SOLID. I BELIEVE. THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LOOK FOR AN ALTERNATIVE. A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE. THEY ARE LOOKING TO GENERAL CLARK BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE SENATOR KERRY HAS THE MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW. YOU WONDERED HOW LONG THE WHITE HOT INTENSITY OF DEAN CAMPAIGN WAS GOING TO LAST. THIS IS SORT OF THE -- THIS WHOLE PRIMARY PROCESS HAS BEEN SORT OF CHARACTERIZED BY GAFFES AND MISSTEPS AND MISSTATEMENTS AND REFINEMENTS OF PREVIOUS STATEMENTS AND SPINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE'RE KIND OF -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY IMMUNE TO THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THINGS ARE DAMAGING. DON'T GU ET THE SENSE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE ROLLING VCRS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE RECORDING ALL THE STATEMENTS. I HAVE TO WONDER IN WHICH ORDER THEY'LL REAPPEAR. WHAT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HASN'T HAD THESE MISSTEPS. BUSH HAD IT WHEN THE REPORTER FROM BOSTON SAID DO YOU KNOW -- REMEMBER THAT WHOLE THING WITH -- THE PRESIDENT OF THE ONE OF STANES. EXACTLY. AND YOU KNOW, BUSH IS NOT A FOREIGN 308CY -- POLICY GUY, DOESN'T KNOW THE WORLD. EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR THE CIENTD OF -- KIND OF SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL GAFF THAT GERALD FORD COMMITTED 40 YEARS AGO. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT DURING THE DEBATE WITH JIMMY CARTER. WHAT THAT GAFF DID WAS SHOW -- HE SAID POLAND WAS FREED. THAT SHOWED A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AT LARGE. WE HAVE KIND OF ELEVATED THE MISSTATEMENTS AND THESE THINGS TO THAT KIND OF LEVEL. DO YOU KNOW WHAT AIM SAYING? THEY ARE NOT. THEY ARE PEOPLE FEELING THEIR WAY. FOR GENERAL CLARK TO SAY THAT HE CAN PREVENT A 911 KIND OF ATTACK FROM HAPPENING IS A SILLY THING TO SAY. DON'T YOU THINK PEOPLE CONNECT. AT SOME LEVEL YOU CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE WHY IT IS. YOU LOOK AT THE PERSON, YOU LIKE THE PERSON. YOU SAY THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT GUY, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO EXPLAIN IT BUT I LIKE HIM. THEN THEY EXAMINE WHEN THEIR POLICIES ARE. THEY SAY I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT GAP. ACTUALLY WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING THIS WEEK IS THAT HOWARD DEAN STATED THAT FROM A RELIGIOUS POINT OF VIEW IF GOD THOUGHT HOMOSEXUALITY WAS A SIN, HE WOULD NOT HAVE CREATED GAY PEOPLE. KIND OF AN INTERESTING INTRODUCTION ON HIS PART TO RELIGION IN THE CAMPAIGN. HE IS NOT REALLY SEEMED TO RELY ON IT UNTIL NOW. YOU GET THE SENSE IF SOME ADVISORS ARE SAYING SOME OF THE SOUTHERN STATES, THE MORE RELIGIOUS STATES WOULD LIKE TO HEAR RESONANCES. HE IS GOING AFTER THAT POPULATION? I DON'T THINK SO. HE DOESN'T NEED TO DO NOIG GET THE GAY VOTE FRANKLY THIS IS ONE CAUCUS. THAT IS AN OPENING STATEMENT ABOUT WHETHER GAY MARRIAGE IS DEFENSIBLE OR NOT. YOU'LL HAVE PRESIDENT BUSH PAINTED AS AN ULTRALIBERAL. YOU GO TO THE SOUTH INVOKING RELIGION AND TALK ABOUT RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE. IT'S A STRONG DEFENSE AND A PREEMPTIVE MOVE. IT'S SMART |
| Intro Clark Tax Plan Return to index of stories... |
General Wesley Clark announced his Tax Plan on Monday - - families making up to $50,000 - pay no taxes - up to $100,000 - get a tax cut. He was on NH Outlook Monday night and talked about the plan. Here's some of what he had to say: |
| Clark Tax SOT Return to index of stories... |
Gen. Wesley Clark: "IT WILL NOT REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL TIME ON THE DEFICIT. WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE TOP 1/10TH OF ONE PERCENT OF AMERICAN FAMILIES, THOSE WHOSE INCOMES ARE GREATER EACH YEAR THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S ONE TENTH OF ONE PERCENT OF THE FAMILIES TO PAY 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS MORE. NOW, THESE ARE THE FAMILIES THAT GOT THE EQUIVALENT OF $128,000 $128,000 -- AN AVERAGE OF $128,000 TAX CUT UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH. WE'LL ASK THEM TO PAY 5%AGE POINTS MORE". |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
SAM, WHAT DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS CRYING CLASS WARFARE HERE? ABSOLUTELY. THEY WILL. MAYBE THAT'S NOT A WAD THING. GOVERNOR DEAN HAS HAD THE SUCCESS OF ENERGIZING THE LEFT. I THINK IT'S THE MODERATES GETTING LEFT OUT. YOU KNOW, I THINK GENERAL CLARK IS TRYING TO STEAL VOTES FROM GOVERNOR DEAN. MAYBE THAT IS WHAT HE IS DOING WITH THIS. MAYBE TIME WILL TELL. IT'S A CLASS WAR. THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS WILL SAY. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT TRULY AS A FAMILY OF FOUR AT $50,000. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO EVEN A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WOULD FIND THAT REALISTIC TOSM MAKE THIS COUNTRY RUN, YOU NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INCOME. YOU CAN'T GET THAT FROM A SMALL GROUP OF RICH PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO DO IT ON THE MASSES. THAT'S HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN. THERE'S A REASON I'M A JOURNALIST I'M NOT A MATHEMATICIAN. I CAN'T DO NUMBERS. AND YOU ARE IN A CERTAIN INCOME BRARKT THEY ARE FLUID NUMBERS AT ANY RATE. NORMA, I GUESS WHAT OCCURS TO ME IS THAT WITH THIS SO MANY OF CANDIDATES RELEASING VARIOUS TAX PLANS, HOW MUCH IMPACT ANY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE. I THINK PROBABLY MOST THINKING PEOPLE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CANDIDATES CAN ENACT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO ENACT. I THINK THAT PROVED ITSELF WITH GEORGE W. BUSH. YOU SIMPLY AS ONE PERSON CAN MAKE ALL THOSE PROMISES BUT PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN JADED ABOUT PROMISES. THEY SAY WELL, YEAH, I BELIEVE YOU BELIEVE THAT AND I'M GLAD YOU BELIEVE, THAT I CAN AGREE WITH YOU, AND MAYBE YOU'LL GET THERE, BUT YOU PROBABLY WON'T. THINKING PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THAT DECISION TO SIDE WITH SOMEONE THINKING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE EVERYTHING THEY SAY. I THINK ACTUALLY NORMA ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER, TOO S THAT IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, YOU ARE GOING TO GO ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IS GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT 90% OF ISSUE, WHETHERS IF ABORTION, CHOICE, MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU ARE GOING TO ASSUME THAT THAT CANDIDATE IS GOING TO STAND WITH YOU ON THOSE ISSUES. WHAT YOU ARE REALLY ROOK FOR TO A LARGE DEGREE IS LIKABILITY. CLARK IS GOING TO PRESENT THESE PROPOSALS. HE IS GOING TO PUT THE PLATFORMS OUT AND YOU ARE NOT SO MUCH ASSESSING WHEN HE SPEAKS THE CONTENT OF WHAT HE IS SAYING, YOU ARE SORT OF LOOKING AT HIS PROPOSAL AND EVALUATING WHETHER YOU CAN TRUST THE GUY OR NOT AND WHETHER YOU LIKE THE GUY OR NOT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. A WILL THE OF THIS PROCESS IS PROMISES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE KEPT. RIGHT NOW SENATOR LIEBERMAN IS SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS THE FLAWS IN WHAT HE VIEWS AS FLAWS IN GENERAL CLARK'S PLAN. HE IS HOPING PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO HIM HE IS DOING THE SAME TO DEAN. HE IS HAMMERING AWAY WITH DEAN'S TAX PLAN. CERTAINLY THERE'S A NUMBER OF VERY INTERESTING IDEAS. THIS WEEK SO MANY PROPOSALS. ONE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS CAME OUT WITH A PLAN TO ELIMINATE LEGACY ADDITIONS TO COLLEGES. HE WAS THE FIRST IN HIS FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND HE PROBABLY PICKED UP ON THE FACT THAT PERHAPS THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PREVIOUS GRADUATES OF COLLEGE HE WENT TO MAYBE HAD AN EASIER TIME GETTING IN THE REASON THEY GIVE THEM AN EASIER TIME IS BECAUSE HOPEFULLY THE PEOPLE DONATE MONEY TO THE COLLEGE THAT'S THE GREAT WEAKNESS TO THE PLAN YOU ELIMINATE LEGACY HELP YOU MIGHT ELIMINATE A -- IT'S A SHOT AT PRESIDENT BUSH TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE DEMOCRATS. IT'S THAT THEY -- YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO GET GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING FROM THE CRAID TOLL THE GRAVE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. WHY IS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REALLY DISCUSSING WHAT A PRIVATE INSTITUTION COULD OR COULDN'T DO. IT'S PROBABLY AN APPEALING THING TO SOME PEOPLE WHAT IT IS IN THIS STAGE OF THE GAME SENATOR EDWARDS IS LOOKING AT HIS POLLING NUMBERS AND LOOKING FOR TRACTION. WELL, JUST BEFORE WE LEAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY FOR THIS WEEK, I WANTED TO GO TO -- THERE WAS A POLL THIS WEEK CNN U.S.A. TODAY POLL SHOWING A PRIZING RESULT STATISTICAL DEAD HEAT BETWEEN WESLEY CLARK AND HOWARD DEAN WITH SENATOR KERRY QUITE A BIT FURTHER BEHIND. WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THIS? I THINK GENERAL CLARK IS COMING ON FOR A WHILE. HE STOPPED CAMPAIGNING IN IOWA AND IT'S BEEN REALLY CONCENTRATING ON NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE IS RUNNING SOME GOOD ADS TO YOU WOULD EXPECT HIM TO START DOING WELL. ABOUT NOW IS WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO SEAT UNDECIDE VOTE START TO BREAK. FROM THE FIRST WEEKEND HE WAS HERE JUST AFTER ANNOUNCING, HE HAS COME INTO HIS OWN. HE HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING HEAR ALL THE TIME. DO YOU THINK THE DEAN CAMPAIGN IS GETTING NERVOUS? I DO THEY WOULDN'T BE HANDING OUT THAT LITERATURE. YOU ARE REFERRING TO WHAT? THE FLIERS THEY WERE HANDING OUT AT THE CLARK --. CLAIMING THAT CLARK IS A CLOSET REPUBLICAN. EVEN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THEM --. QUITE A CLOSET TO COME OUT OF, ISN'T IT? YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, YES. JUST BY ACKNOWLEDGING CLARK IS IN THE RACE IS A SIGN THEY WERE NERVOUS. BEFORE THAT THEY WERE RUNNING A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN. THEY WERE TRAVELING THE COUNTRY. NOT FOCUSSING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA. NOW THEY ARE RESPONDING MORE TIME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. YOU PROBABLY -- WHAT IS GOING INSIDE -- HAPPENING INSIDE ITS KERRY CAMPAIGN? THEY MUST BE A LITTLE BIT -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY CONFUSED BUT THIS IS A STRUGGL. THEY ARE CLAIMING SIGNS OF LIFE, POINTING TO PROMISING NUMBERS IN IOWA THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S A GREAT DEGREE OF OPTIMISM THERE THEY BELIEVE IN THEIR CANDIDATE AND THEY ARE MESSAGE. THEY HAVE BEEN INUNDATED WITH PROCESS QUESTIONS FROM THE BEGINNING. THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THEIR MESSAGE ABOVE THE PROCESS QUESTIONS. THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME |
| Benson Medicaid Return to index of stories... |
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROCESS HAPPENING HERE INSTATE TOO I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO STATE NEWS. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GETTING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE GETTING BACK TO SESSION. FIRST, I SHOULD SAY AS WE'RE GOING TO TAPE RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR IS ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A TRIP TO WASHINGTON. HE WENT DOWN TO GET ANSWERS ON WHETHER THE STATE WILL GET ALMOST $300 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS THAT IT HAS BEEN RELYING ON TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. I JUST SPOKE TO THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS SECRETARY AND HE SAYS THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE A RESOLUTION. THEY MET FOR TWO DAYS. DETAILS ARE FORTHCOMING BUT THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE STATE WILL BE KEPT HOLE THROUGH FISCAL 2005. NORMA THAT SOUNDS LIKE GOOD NEWS? IT IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LEDGE RATE IS TOUR LEAVES AT THE END OF MAY ON TIME INSTEAD OF STAYS ALL SUMMER LIKE IT DOES LAST YEAR. WHAT WAS AT STAKE WAS ABOUT 350 MILLION AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT STATE PROBABLY WILL GET ALL OF IT. DOESN'T MEAN WE'LL GET IT INTO THE NEXT, WHICH IS WHOLE ANOTHER BIG HOLE IF WE DON'T GET IT. FOR NOW WE'RE OKAY. IT INVOLVED THREE DIFFERENT MEDICAID PROGRAMS. ONE OF CARE OF PEOPLE AT HOSPITALS ONE WAS -- IT HAD TO DEAL WITH THE DIFFERENCE IN THE RATES PAID FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE AT NURSING HOMES AND THE THIRD ONE WAS A NEW PROGRAM DEALING WITH A TAX ON REVENUES EARNED ON MEDICAID, NURSING HOME BEDS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS, I GUESS, THE PRIVATE PAYING CLIENTS IN NURSING HOMES THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY MEDICAID PATIENTS WILL PROBABLY END UP LOSING OUT OF THIS. I'M TOLD IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY. IT BENEFITS OF COUNTS A GREAT DEAL. ABOUT $12 MILLION A YEAR MORE THAN LAST YEAR. NOW THAT LAST PART OF RESOLUTION, THE NURSING HOME TAX, THAT WAS REALLY A KEY TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE CURRENT BUDGET WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, WASN'T IT? WELL, THIS IS -- WHEN GOVERNOR BENSON WHEN HE DID HIS BUDGET, HE CUT THE RATE FOR A NUMBER OF PROVIDERS INCLUDING RATES PAID FOR MEDICAID NURSING HOMES. THE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN SCREAMING FOR A LONG TIME THAT THEY WERE LOSING MONEY UNDER A COST SHARING ARRANGEMENT THAT THEY MADE WITH THE STATE FIVE YEARS AGO THAT ARRANGEMENT EXPIRED. THEY HAD TO COME UP WITH A NEW DEAL. THE NEW DEAL WAS WRAPPED AROUND ONE BEING MADE WHOLE IN WHAT RATES THEY WERE GETTING AND TWO GETTING MORE MONEY SO THAT THEY WERE NOT CONTINUING TO LOSE MONEY UNDER THE COST SHARING ARRANGEMENT AND IT WAS ALL WRAPPED AROUND THIS TAX ON THE NURSING HOME REVENUES. SO IF THAT FELL APART, IT WAS GOING TO PUT THAT WHOLE DEAL BACK -- IT WAS GOING EXPIRE JUNE 30TH AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. IT WAS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS TO THE STATE, NOT TO HAVE THAT DEAL GOOD FORWARD. YOU KNOW, I HEARD THAT THE GOVERNOR ORIGINALLY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE DAY OF MEETINGS BUT HE STAYED DOWN FOR TWO. THEY WERE ACTUALLY APPARENTLY TRIED TO SAY WELL WE'LL MOVE ALONG AND SEE YOU LATER. HE REFUSED TO LEAVE WITHOUT THE ANSWERS. THROUGH 2005 DOES MAKE YOU WONDER WHERE TO FROM THERE? WELL, QUICKLY ISN'T THAT WHERE THE STATE BUDGETS ARE GOING ANYWAY? WHERE ARE WE HEADED? WHERE IS THE REVENUE GOING TO COME FROM. NORMA WOULD THE STATE HAVE NOT GOT THN MONEY IF BENSON HADN'T GONE DOWN THERE? APPARENTLY WE WERE GETTING MONEY FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. THE STICK LETTER WAS THE NEW ONE ON THE TAX ON NURSING HOME AND WHETHER WE "HELD HARMLESS" THE PRIVATE -- NURSING HOMES WITH PRIVATE PAYING CLIENTS. IT'S NOT JUST NEW HAMPSHIRE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE DECISIONS. THIS ARE OTHER STATES LOOKING LIKE CALIFORNIA TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS WITH THEIR BUDGET. THEIR BILLIONS AND BILLION AND WE'RE JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILLION WHAT THEY DID WITH US COULD HAVE EFFECTED WHAT HAPPENED WITH WHAT THEY DID WITH OTHER STATES |
| State Legislature Begins Return to index of stories... |
MOVING ON TO OTHER STATE BUSINESS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WENT BACK INTO SESSION THIS WEEK BEGINNING THE SECOND YEAR OF ITS TWO YEAR SESSION. FIRST UP WAS BUSINESS FROM LAST YEAR DEALING WITH GUBERNATORIAL VETOES. ONLY ONE WAS OVERRIDDEN AND THAT WAS A BILL THAT WILL EXTENT STATE OWNERSHIP OF THE SKY HAVEN AIRT IN ROCHESTER. I SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING OVERRIDE, LAY IN THE SENATE. IT WAS 21-3. SENATOR DICK GREEN WHO HAS HAD HIS DIFFERENCES WITH THE GOVERNOR SPOKE TO IT. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH, YOU KNOW THE SENATE WAS SENDING A STATEMENT TO THE GOVERNOR BESIDES SIMPLY THE QUESTION OF THE STATE OWN AN AIRPORT. THE SENATE OVERRODE THEM ON TWO VETOES YES, THAT'S TRUE ALTHOUGH THE SECOND ONE ON THE BANKING DEPARTMENT DIDN'T GET. THAT ONE WAS SUSTAINED IN THE HOUSE RIGHT. DO YOU GET THE SENSE NORMA THAT THERE WAS A SECONDDAIRY OR IMPLICIT MESSAGE COMING OUT OF SENATE? I THINK THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. I THINK THAT THE FEELING ON SKY HAVEN WAS THAT IT WAS BEING HELD UP AS A WETLANDS PROCESS. THE STATE NEEDED TO MITIGATE WETLANDS ISSUES TO MAKE THE AIRPORT PROFITABLE SO THEY COULD EXPAND IT. ROCHESTER WAS WORKING ON THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME AND THEY FELT THAT, YOU KNOW, HEY, MAYBE IT WAS SOUR GRAPES. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I THINK THEY FELT THAT EVERY LEGISLATURE LIKES TO THROW ONE BACK AND THIS WAS THE ONE THEY THREW BACK. IT'S TRUE. WITH LET'S GO ON TO THE THIRD BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A NOMINEE TO FILL THE VACANCY ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT. JUDGE RICHARD GALWAY IS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE. HE IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS DECISION IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT IN 2000 BY THE COALITION OF DONOR COMMUNITIES. THE COALITION CHALLENGED THE STATEWIDE PROPERTY TAX. GALWAY RULED THAT THE TAX WAS UNEVENLY ASSESSED AND HENCE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. HE ALSO ORDERED THE STATE TO REPAY $880 MILLION IT HAD ALREADY COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED. THE CASE WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT WHERE IT WAS OVERTURNED. CLEARLY, A VERY INTERESTING CHOICE I THOUGHT FOR THE SUPREME COURT? WELL, I THINK IT FITS IN WITH GOVERNOR BENSON'S WORLD VIEW ABOUT THE TAX SITUATION. WHEN HE WAS RUNNING, HE WAS PLAYING -- OF COURSE A RESIDENT OF RYE WHICH WAS ONE OF COMMUNITIES A DONOR. DONOR COMMUNITY, YEAH SO CALLED RICH COMMUNITY LIKE ALL THE DONOR COMMUNITIES SAY THAT THEY ARE SO-CALLED RICH. BUT I THINK THAT, YOU HAVE A CASE HERE WHERE A RARE CASE PERHAPS WHERE JUDGE BROCK AND GOVERNOR BENSON AND JUDGE GALWAY ARE ALIGNED ON AN ISSUE OF THE HE CAN QUIT OF THE -- EQUITY OF THE STATEWIDE PROPERTY TAX SITUATION. THIS FITS IN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S WORLD VIEW. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT CALL ATE LITMUS TEST. THEY ALWAYS CALL ABORTION A LITMUS TEST FOR SUPREME COURT NOMINEES, LOOKING FOR TARGETED A OR THAT KIND OF WORLD VIEW THAT MUST BE THE FUTURE LITMUS TEST. ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT GALWAY IS THE TWO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES WHO UPHELD HIS DECISION MANY IN THAT PROPERTY TAX CASE WERE IN FACT CHIEF JUSTICE AND NEW RETIRED DAVID BROCK AND CURRENT CHIEF JUSTICE BRODERICK THE THREE WHO OVERTURNED HIM ACTUALLY FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE PROPERTY TAX THEY DIDN'T WANT TO THROW IT OUT BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT QUITE RIGHT. IT LED TO SWEEPING CHANGES. IT POINTS UP TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OF USING A TAX THAT IS ASSESSED LOCALLY WITH DIFFERENT METHODS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON A STATEWIDE BASIS. YOU HAVE A HOUSE IN ONE TOWN THAT IS ASSESSED AT $100,000 AND A HOUSE IN ANOTHER TOWN MILES AND MILE AS WAY AT $100,000. CAN THEY BE TAXED? THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THE JUDGE SAID NO. THE THREE JUSTICES THAT OVERTURNED HIM SAID YEAH, IT'S A -- WE UPHOLD THE TAX BUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN STATE. YOU NEED TO GO AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS AND IT LED TO SOME BOARDS TO SET STANDARDS SO THAT EVERYBODY DID IT THE SAME ACROSS THE STATE THEY ARE TINKERING WITH THAT, AREN'T THEY, NORMA? THEY ARE. THEY ARE STILL --. STILL RUMBLINGS OF DISCONTENT. COMMUNITIES ARE SAYING DON'T TOUCH US BECAUSE WE'LL END UP PAYING OR MORE THIS IESH YOU IS NOT RESOLVED ANOTHER INTERESTING ASPECT WAS THAT WHEN THE GOVERNOR MADE THE NOMINATION IT WAS NOT AS CHIEF JUSTICE BECAUSE THAT CASE IS GOING BE HEARD BY A SUPREME COURT PANEL ALTHOUGH NOT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ON FEBRUARY 25 NL AS TO WHO GETS TO NAME WHO IS THE CHIEF JUSTICE. NORMA, ANY EARLY INDICATIONS ON WHICH WAY YOU THINK THAT MIGHT GO? I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING CHOICE BECAUSE IF THEY DECIDE THAT THE LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND INDEED THE CONSTITUTION GIVES THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL THE RIGHT TO DO IT THEY TAKE THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF THE PICTURE. IF THEY SAY NO THE LEGISLATURE HAS A RIGHT TO SET THE STANDARDS, THEY ARE BASICALLY GIVE THE LEGISLATURE, WHOM THEY HAVE HAD DIFFERENCES WITH, MORE SAY OVER THEIR AFFAIRS THAN THEY MIGHT LIKE. QUICK BACKGROUND IN THAT THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS THE LONGEST SERVING JUSTICE WOULD REPLACE THE OUTGOING JUSTICE WHICH WAS BROCK AND THE LONEST SERVING JUSTICE WAS BRODERICK. HE MOVED UP. BENSON SAID I DON'T THINK I LIKE BEING TAKEN OUT OF THIS PROCESS. HE IS CHALLENGING THAT HE HAS NOT SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT NOMINATE JUSTICE BRODERICK. EXACTLY. I THINK HE SAID HE WOULD CHOOSE FROM AMONG THE FOUR EXISTING JUSTICES, BUT I WASN'T AT THE CONS MEETING I READ THAT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE SAID HE SAID THE JUSTICE MAY BE THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON. HE WAS LOOKING AT THE PROCESS OF HOW THIS WHOLE THING -- HOW THE LAW CAME ABOUT ALL BE ARGUED IN LATE FEBRUARY. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, CACR-2 WHICH IS GOING TO BE DEBATED AT THE STATEHOUSE. I'LL READ THIS THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF IT. THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND CURRENT RESOLUTION LIMITS THE JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ALL LEGISLATIVE DETERMINATIONS CONCERNING THE CONTENT, INTENT BENEFICIARY AND LEVEL OF FUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A RATIONAL BASIS. NORMA, CAN YOU TRANSLATE THAT FOR ME? THE BASIS OF THE AMENDMENT IS IT GIVES EXCLUSIVE AND A EMPHASIS EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OVER FUNDING AND POLICY TO THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK THAT THOSE WHO ARGUE FOR THE AMENDMENT BELIEVE THAT ALL THEY ARE DOING IS TURNING A CLOCK BACK TO A TIME WHEN THE LEGISLATURE DID THAT. WE HAD PROPERTY TAXES ENACTED LOCALLY PAYING FOR THE BULK OF EDUCATION. THOSE WHO ARGUE AGAINST IT SAY IT TAKES THE RYES 6 EVERY CHILD TO HAVE AN ADEQUATELY FUNDED EDUCATION OUT OF HANDS OF THE COURT SO IT'S SUBJECT INTERPRETATION TO ME EXCLUSIVE MEANS EXCLUSIVE. SO IT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING DEBATE NEXT WEEK. |
| Look Ahead Return to index of stories... |
SAM, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. IT'S GOING BE A RUN UP TO THE IOWA CAUCUSES AND A LITTLE PAST THAT OUR OWN PRIMARY ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW ALL EYES ON IOWA. WE HAVE A CRUNCH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THIS WEEKEND AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK TO IOWA. WE'LL SEE GENERAL CLARK OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HE IS GOING TO HAMMER IT THROUGH. EXPECT TO SEE THAT IN THE POLLS LIEBERMAN, TOO, OBVIOUSLY AND SENATOR LIEBERMAN IS REALLY STEPPED UP HIS ENERGY. WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL TRANSLATE INTO THE POLLS OR THE VOTING PLACES, THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. ANY EXPECTATION ON WHO MIGHT FINISH FIRST IN IOWA? ARE YOU GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE? THERE ARE A LOT OF -- IT'S GAMETIME. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON OUT THERE THAT ARE CHANGING THE DYNAMIC BY THE MINUTE. SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE COACH AT THE SIDELINE. THAT'S IT SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU. |
| Guest Goodbye Return to index of stories... |
Well that's it for this Friday edition. Sam Youngman and Lars Trodson thanks for being here. And up at the statehouse, Norma Love thanks so much, for being with us. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire. You've heard the names Dean, Kerry, and Lieberman. But what about Bosa, Rigazio, Callus? Monday on Outlook, we'll give you a chance to meet some of the lesser known candidates running in the race for the White House. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
I'm Richard Ager. 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. You've heard the names Dean, Kerry, and Lieberman. But what about Bosa, Rigazio, Callus? Meet some of the lesser known candidates running in the race for the White House. Join us Monday at 10:00 |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. You've heard the names Dean, Kerry, and Lieberman. But what about Bosa, Rigazio, Callus?Meet some of the lesser known candidates running in the race for the White House. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: Media Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 01/09/04 22:00 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, We're counting down to the first-in-the-nation primary countdown - it's less than three weeks away. We'll have this weeks latest. And the state legislature went back to work this week. Vetoes, Medicaid, a supreme court nominee we're covering it. Joining us from the statehouse in Concord - Norma Love of the Associated Press. And here in Durham,Lars Trodson of the Portsmouth Times and Sam Youngman of PoliticsNH.com. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager, Jennifer Vachon NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Norma Love\Associated Press, Lars Trodson\Portsmouth Times, and Sam Youngman\PoliticsNH.com |
| Supreme Court Nomination Return to index of stories... |
We have a nominee to fill the vacancy on the State Supreme Court. Judge Richard Galway is currently a superior court judge. He is best known for his decision in a lawsuit brought in 2000 by the coalition of donor communities. The coalition challenged the statewide property tax. Galway ruled that the tax was unevenly assessed and hence unconstitutional. He also ordered the state to repay $880 million it had already collected and distributed. The case went to the Supreme Court where it was overturned. |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at other stories making news this Friday. |