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Getting down to business at the State House -- we'll hear from journalists about the key issues before lawmakers this week. And, talk some presidential politics as well. That's NOW on NH Outlook where NH talks. |
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We're broadcasting from the NH Political Library -- housed in the State Library in Concord. Just a hop and a skip from the State House where lawmakers have been busy this week on a number of recurring issues. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. The politics of Gay Marriage is back before lawmakers. The issue of Abortion & the State's Parental Notification Law is slated for a hearing next week. Calls to end Straight ticket voting have been resurrected. And, presidential politics. is heating up in NH. Here to talk about all this and more: Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, Norma Love from the Associated Press and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. Welcome. |
| Gay Marriage 1 Return to index of stories... |
We begin with a familiar topic -- back in front of state lawmakers again-- gay marriage. Opponents of gay marriage are trying again to create further legal barriers to same-sex unions. New Hampshire does not recognize or permit gay marriage, but some legislators are trying to amend the constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. During a hearing at Reps' Hall on Thursday, supporters of the bill warned that the institution of marriage is under attack, while opponents warned that a constitutional amendment would erode their human rights. The Judiciary Committee expects to vote on the constitutional amendment bill within the next two weeks. Q With a different make-up in the Legislature. can we expect a different outcome this time around? |
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My thanks to Kevin Landrigan, Norma Love, and EdithTucker. Special thanks to our hosts here at the NH Political Library. And, thank you for watching NH Outlook, where NH talks. I'm Beth Carroll, I'll see you around NH. |
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VERSION ONE: Did you know that New Hampshire Outlook is available online on demand at nhptv.org? We've been streaming our broadcasts since the program premiered in September 2000. Whether you want to watch this show again, email it to a friend, search and watch past programs or get more information on thousands of stories and topics, you'll find it all at nhptv.org/outlook. VERSION TWO: Would you like to watch this show again? Maybe you want to email it to a friend? Are you looking for more information about our New Hampshire stories and interviews? You can do all that and more at nhptv.org/outlook. VERSION THREE: Would you like to watch this show again or email it to a friend? You can do all that and more at nhptv.org/outlook. |
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CONCORD, N.H. - The head of the New Hampshire State employees' union says several anonymous phone calls have been received from state workers saying they felt they had to sign a petition supporting veteran Safety Commissioner Richard Flynn or risk trouble on the job. Governor John Lynch wants to appoint someone else to Flynn's post, saying he wants a fresh perspective. **** Handwriting was on the wall for safety boss A Telegraph Column By Kevin Landrigan ? More Kevin Landrigan Columns Published: Sunday, January 28, 2007 It was no surprise that Gov. John Lynch pulled the trigger on Safety Commissioner Dick Flynn, whose 35-year tenure made him one of the most powerful figures in state government. After all, Lynch got three-fourths of the vote Nov. 6 and he’s got every right to have his own people in charge. Some partisan Democrats think it’s about time. If there’s one complaint about Lynch from his own party, it’s that he’s been too accommodating with Republicans. The State Board of Education is often cited as an example. First, Lynch reappointed to the board Fred Bramante, a three-time, GOP candidate for governor and the political father of a statewide property tax that Lynch has called a silly “accounting gimmick.” Then, last week, he nominated former state Rep. Steve L’Heureux, a Manchester Republican, to a Manchester area district seat. Since taking office in 2005, Lynch, unlike some of his predecessors, was not in constant contact with Flynn, commonly referred to in Concord as “the other governor,” indicating Flynn’s influence was already in decline. Lynch showed some independence from Flynn as well, appointing Concord Fire Chief Chris Pope as Flynn’s homeland security director over Flynn’s choice, former Dover Police Chief Bill Fenniman. Lynch did give Fenniman a consolation prize, naming him to head the division of juvenile justice. The governor avoided major skirmishes with Flynn, however. For example, he renamed Flynn protege Virginia Beecher as director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, despite controversy over the agency’s management. What was unexpected, however, was that Lynch would make the move on Flynn without having an unimpeachable replacement in place. Flynn’s relationship with the Executive Council that must ratify any choice has always been strong, although it got weaker with the November returns. If Lynch brought in a solid name at the same time he was giving Flynn the boot, that would go a long way toward blocking any move by Flynn to hang on. Lynch’s timing was slightly off as well. A governor can name a successor or re-nominate the incumbent within 60 days of the expiring term. That 60-day period starts Wednesday. What were the factors working against Flynn? Well, his age for starters. Renaming Flynn would mean he’d still be on the job at 82. While Flynn has the energy of a much younger man, those close to Lynch think the high-stress job in a new age of technology rightly belongs to someone younger. Then there was the fracas over how Flynn handled himself when former Gov. Craig Benson asked him to serve as a go-between to convince Attorney General Peter Heed to resign amid controversy over his rowdy behavior at a conference on domestic violence. The Executive Council ignored a prosecutor’s recommendation that Flynn be disciplined for misconduct. That prosecutor, Michael Delaney, now serves as Lynch’s legal counsel. Then there’s the issue that’s received less public notice but may be most critical: Flynn’s deteriorating relationship with the state troopers’ union. The union’s dissatisfaction with Flynn stems principally from his decision to elevate the role of the state highway patrol, often giving them overtime that in the past would go to the troopers. Some in the union also believe Flynn has been ineffective in implementing a desire by the Legislature and the governor to hire more state troopers. Flynn told lawmakers he could fill the slots through attrition and retirements, so they opted against additional funding that the troopers supported. Keep in mind, the troopers’ union played a big role in Lynch’s first election victory over then-Gov. Craig Benson. Now, Flynn supporters are circulating petitions to try and build momentum for him to remain. Will that effort succeed? In the final analysis, it’s not likely. This will be the first real loyalty test for the three Democrats on the council and the betting in Concord is that they will give Lynch the benefit of the doubt. Hampton Councilor Beverly Hollingworth is the only one of the three with long ties to Flynn, going back to her days as Senate president. To be sure, Lynch still needs a nominee with strong credentials and hopefully some political connections as well. Caught by surprise? To some, Lynch’s actions appear cold-hearted given that Flynn had no inkling before meeting with him at the Bridges House on Tuesday that his days were numbered. Flynn had even said that Lynch had assured him not to worry about his job. Word also leaked out before Lynch had the chance to brief members of the council about his plans to seek a new safety boss. This pushed a few, prominent noses out of joint. In fact, Lynch had not given Flynn the quick brush-off, and instead had wanted this initial meeting to simply let Flynn know up front he had decided not to reappoint him. The mistake Lynch made was to lose sight of the fact that Flynn is a very proud man who has given most of his adult life to the state of New Hampshire. Lynch could’ve offered Flynn the opportunity to dictate the terms of his departure. In one scenario, Flynn would get reappointed in late March only to retire of his own accord later this year. Lynch wanted to explore the possibility of Flynn serving state government on a policy-making board or commission. But according to sources, the luncheon ended quickly and bitterly. Flynn left without shaking Lynch’s hand, and the legendary workaholic didn’t return to his office that day. Flynn spoke to a few of his closest associates on Tuesday and Wednesday, so the word was on the street, and Lynch couldn’t keep a lid on the decision. Lynch’s image also took a hit when WMUR.com incorrectly reported that the governor had asked for Flynn’s resignation. It’s reminiscent of what took place last summer when Lynch quietly asked Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray to consider resigning, only to have that news leak out and become a front-page controversy. At week’s end, it looked like Lynch was starting to quell the furor. He spoke to councilors and assured them he didn’t intentionally leave them out of the loop. Finally, Lynch met with Flynn again on Thursday and, according to a source that has spoken to both men since, this one ended much more cordially. Back in the limelight Manchester Rep. Steve Vaillancourt is in the news again, but this time it has nothing to do with his nemesis, Democratic Party Vice Chairman Raymond Buckley. Vaillancourt has informed House GOP leaders of his intention to switch parties and again become a Democrat. For Vaillancourt, this will be his third party change in seven years. He first got elected as a Democrat to the House in 1996 and then four years later became a Libertarian after skirmishing with then-House Democratic Leader Peter Burling. By 2002, he was a Republican. According to those who’ve spoken with him, Vaillancourt said this move is based on the issues. As he reviewed the top 10 matters of interest to him, he discovered himself to be more of a Democrat. Vaillancourt has always been a maverick and not a party animal, so don’t look for him to play any role in trying to shape the party’s message. But for the Democrats, the decision puts them at the 260 mark in the 400-person House. Damaged goods A week ago, Vaillancourt admitted his own reputation was damaged by his allegations that his former roommate Buckley had a passion for possessing and viewing child pornography. We may have seen the first illustration of that this week. House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, gave House Republicans a 10th seat on the all-important, House Finance Committee. It was Vaillancourt who had advanced last week the argument of House Republican Leader Michael Whalley of Alton that by the balance of power in the House, the Republicans deserved 10 seats on the committee to 15 for the Democrats. Norelli OK’d the move earlier this week, which will require a change in the House rules to be voted on next month. Now, you may recall, Whalley wanted Vaillancourt on the committee. Norelli vetoed that request because Kenneth Gould, R-Derry, had requested that he remain on the panel. So when it came time for Whalley to make his recommendation for the new seat, he didn’t choose Vaillancourt. Whalley instead installed Lynne Ober, R-Hudson. Now fully staffed House Speaker Norelli has completed her staff, hiring her own Concord lawyer, David Frydman, as a full-time legal counsel. Frydman’s background includes working as a professor at Franklin Pierce Law School and prior to that working as a real estate developer and advocate for affordable housing. A Harvard University graduate, he is married to Senior Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Patterson. Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen first named Frydman to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Agency. For the past few years, he’s been a stay-at-home dad, just like the new, House Chief of Staff Donald Manning. Norelli was smart to make Frydman a full-timer, especially in her first term, to make certain things are done correctly. She’s also someone who cares deeply about policy, so having a legal advocate at the table for important negotiating sessions only insures her interests are well served. It also avoids the conflicts of interests that any lawyer could have, spending half the day working for the Legislature and the other half working for a law firm that might have clients that have to deal with state government. Ethical quandary #1 The new House Democratic leadership is facing its first ethical dilemma, thanks to a “New Hampshire Business Review” report on Rep. Tara Reardon, D-Concord. The business journal reported that Reardon’s father-in-law is Dick Bouley, a lobbyist who represents the Community Financial Services Association. The association is a national group that represents payday loan lenders and opposes legislation that would cap the rates of those loans. Reardon’s husband, James Bouley, is a Concord city councilor and a lobbyist for Advance America, the largest payday loan lender in the nation. Reardon said she might declare a conflict but would still vote on such legislation if it comes up. She has been on the committee that would review rate capping legislation for several terms, and has opposed capping interest rates in the past, arguing that would only lead companies to charge the maximum allowed. She did say she would recuse herself on issues that her husband participated in as a lobbyist. She may get the chance, as Bouley has in recent weeks took over the lobbying clients of Michael Dennehy, who is now working as national political director for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. Those clients include Commonwealth Brands Inc., a cigarette manufacturer; Affiliated Computer Services, which holds a $61 million contract with the state Medicaid system; and DirectBuy, an online vendor of products to consumers at discount prices. House Democratic leaders suspect some GOP operative, anxious to sully the reputations of the new guard, planted the story. Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, said Reardon’s conduct has always been above reproach. “This is such a small state that with 400 of us, potential conflicts are almost inevitable,’’ Campbell said. Working in the sunshine House Speaker Norelli is taking steps to make the legislative process more transparent to the public. One idea is to create streaming audio sessions on the Internet for critical meetings of the House Finance Committee as it puts the two-year state budget together. Another is to get committee chairmen to place into the public, House record the bills planned to be voted upon at an executive session. Currently, executive session notices are published, but for some committees, it could mean a vote on any one of more than 50 bills in its possession. Both changes make a lot of sense and would serve to bring the “Peoples’ House’’ closer to the people. Smoking and politics Former Attorney General Tom Rath’s lobbying firm is broadening its base at the dawn of a critical legislative session. Two of his associates recently signed up to represent Reynolds America of Greensboro, N.C. That’s Reynolds as in tobacco manufacturer R.J. Reynolds. This is probably a good year for the entire tobacco industry to bulk up. With state budget writers looking for more revenue, the first tax to get raised will be the cigarette tax, which at 80 cents per pack is still half as much as any other New England state. No repeat at DOT Gov. Lynch assured the Executive Council this week that he’s staying on top of the troubled finances at the Department of Transportation, and doesn’t intend to have a repeat performance in this fiscal year. It’s no small embarrassment to the can-do chief executive that we’re into January 2007 and the state’s financial audit is still not completed because auditors are still trying to make sense of the DOT books. Ordinarily, the budget year ends on June 30, the state books are closed, and the audit completed by the end of September. “I can see us never getting caught up,’’ declared Councilor Raymond Wieczorek, R-Manchester. Lynch directed Administrative Services Commissioner Donald Hill to develop a timetable for this fiscal year. “This will not happen again. I have made that very clear,’’ Lynch said. Hill said he still believes his agency needs more financial expertise to support its new chief financial officer, former state comptroller Thomas Martin. Federal highway officials have already volunteered to work hours in New Hampshire to assist, Hill said. The key unresolved issue is the balance sheet for state highway projects that are principally paid for with federal money. Walk a mile in his shoes Andrew Stern, president of the nation’s Service Employees International Union, will be in Manchester on Wednesday to promote his working class agenda. Stern has begun a “walk a day in the shoes of workers’’ program to highlight the plight of the middle class. On Monday, he’ll be in Sioux City, Iowa. Stern is the author of “A Country That Works: Getting America Back on Track,’’ which promotes a liberal reform of the tax code, expansion of health care benefits and more retirement protections for employees. Kevin Landrigan is the Statehouse reporter for The Telegraph. He can be reached at landrigank@nashuatelegraph.com or 224-8804. ? More Kevin Landrigan Columns |
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CONCORD - 10 a.m., CACR1, only recognizes marriages between one man and one woman, Representatives Hall. ** Critics Mock N.H. Proposal to Further Limit Gay Nups CONCORD, N.H. — Critics mocked a proposed change to New Hampshire’s marriage law Tuesday, calling the bill ludicrous, homophobic and silly as they urged legislators to toss it out. Opponents of Fremont Republican Daniel Itse’s bill find it problematic and puzzling. They worry it breaches the divide between church and state, taking aim at liberal clerics who perform marriage and commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples. Itse, sponsor last year and this year of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, denied that’s the point of the bill, which had a hearing Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee. He said the bill’s intention is to extend an exemption that so far has only been given to Quakers and rabbis. The exemption makes clear that Quakers and rabbis have the right to perform marriages according to their custom, even though both religions do not have ordained clergy. Itse’s bill would change the law to allow all “religious officiants authorized by their church, religion, sect, or denomination to solemnize marriages in the way usually practiced among them”—with a catch. Those ceremonies would only be allowed “provided that such marriages do not conflict with existing state law prohibiting marriage between persons of the same sex.” “This makes it a purely religious ceremony and hopefully those who enter into such an arrangement will really think of it as before God and not before the governor,” Itse said. Liberal ministers say they want the same thing, which is why they’re angered by the bill. Unitarian Universalist ministers told the committee the bill violates their religious freedom because they regard same-sex couples joined in ceremonies as married in the eyes of their church. The Rev. Emily Burr, pastor of Mount Kearsarge Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Andover, asked how the law would be enforced. “Will police be marching into sanctuaries, arresting ministers and rabbis?” she said. Betsy Janeway, wife of Democratic state Sen. Harold Janeway, said lawmakers should keep the bill if they’re in need of a good laugh. She sarcastically suggested the bill be amended to ban gays from church bingos, suppers and food pantries. |
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AP-NH--Obama 2008-Staff,0079 Obama adds New Hampshire staff preman CONCORD, N.H. - Senator Barack Obama has added staff to a New Hampshire office, moving the potential 2008 candidate toward a formal campaign announcement. Obama has hired Mike Cuzzi, a Kerry campaign veteran, as his deputy campaign manager. He also has hired Paul Tsongas' daughter, Katrina, a field coordinator. The Illinois Democrat says he will announce his intentions for a presidential campaign February 10 in Springfield, Illinois. --- Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http:/www.unionleader.com AP-NY-02-01-07 0800EST |
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GUILIANI BRETTON WOODS — A sell-out crowd of over 425 packed the ballroom of the Mount Washington Hotel on Friday night to hear Rudy Giuliani, often called "America's Mayor" deliver the keynote speech at the 85th annual dinner meeting of the Littleton Chamber of Commerce.subscribers ** MITT ROMNEY LANCASTER — Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will make a campaign swing through the North Country tomorrow - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton isn't coming to New Hampshire this weekend after all. She canceled her first presidential campaign visit to the first-in-the-nation primary state due to the death of the stepfather of her husband, former President Clinton. HANOVER, N.H. - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is accusing President Bush of giving the country a sales job on Iraq rather than an honest assessment of the conflict. Speaking at New Hampshire's Dartmouth College, the 2004 vice presidential nominee also repeated his challenge to Democratic rivals in the Senate to stand firm against Bush's Iraq policy and plan to send over 21-thousand more troops to Iraq. CONCORD, N.H. - Former New York Governor George Pataki has told supporters in New Hampshire that he's not ready to jump into the presidential race and won't object if they get behind other candidates. Pataki said he wasn't going to rush a decision about running and instead wanted to focus on policies, not politics. |
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No gas behind tax increases A Telegraph Column By Kevin Landrigan ? More Kevin Landrigan Columns Published: Sunday, January 21, 2007 Don’t be looking for any gas tax increase coming out of the Democratically controlled Legislature this year. There are two very good reasons why that’s the case. Reason 1: Gov. John Lynch doesn’t want one. Reason 2: The last thing House Democratic leaders in charge want to do right out of the box is raise taxes. Rep. John Graham, R-Bedford, will make the argument for one Wednesday when the House Public Works and Highways Committee takes up a proposal to create a commission to study the highway fund. His proposal would tie the tax to the state’s inflation rate, which would automatically lower or raise the tax depending on the state of the economy. Look for the House committee leadership to rule Graham’s amendment as non-germane and, therefore, out of order. This, however, would not prevent Graham from seeking to attach the amendment in committee while it considers the bill. The state’s 18-cent tax has not been changed since 1990. Cities and towns get 12.5 percent of the money from the tax to pay for maintaining local roads. Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, said a study is needed and then a public education campaign to convince voters it would make sense to raise the tax. “I think an argument can be made for more revenue but not without a lot of study first to determine what if any amount is really needed,’’ Campbell said. More delays in audit report The shaky condition of the state’s audited financial report is having political and practical ramifications. The Legislative Fiscal Committee got the bad news this week that the report will probably not be complete until this April. That’s at least seven months later than had been expected. The Department of Transportation’s poor accounting of its Highway Fund balance is the principal reason. The political outcome is pretty straightforward. For Lynch, it appeared to be the last straw that caused him to lose all confidence in the leadership of Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray. Lynch asked Murray whether it made sense for her to move on earlier than next Dec. 3, when her six-year term would have expired. At present, Murray is not showing any signs of leaving soon, so for the foreseeable future, Lynch has to make the best of what is not a good situation. The financial ramifications are less clear but no less important. For starters, the lack of a financial report could affect the state’s bond rating, although the state wasn’t planning to incur any debt in the near future. What is more pressing, however, is the widening of Interstate 93. The state has planned since 2005 to speed up the construction project by issuing so-called Garvee Bonds that rely upon the promise of future federal and state revenues. If issued, the bonds could speed up completion of the roadwork by two to four years. According to industry analysts, however, the uncertainty over the Highway Fund balance effectively eliminates any chances for issuing Garvee Bonds. Ethics bill stalls in Congress Leave it to New Hampshire’s senior senator to be right in the middle of a Capitol Hill stalemate over ethics reform. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., has been pushing for a line-item veto since his early days in the House of Representatives two decades ago. Gregg offered an amendment last Wednesday to the Senate ethics bill that would give the president the ability to strike out specific spending items in budget legislation. The proposal would have allowed Congress to retain spending items a president didn’t want with a simple majority vote. A move to force a vote on the bill without the Gregg amendment failed, 51-46, well short of the 60 votes needed to shut off a filibuster. The ethics legislation now in limbo would have barred lawmakers from accepting gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists, made it more difficult for former lawmakers to lobby their old colleagues, denied pensions to lawmakers convicted of serious crimes, required more reporting by lobbyists on their activities and required disclosure of the pet projects lawmakers insert into legislation. Benson back in the limelight Former Gov. Craig Benson isn’t back in politics but got back into the news this week when he went to Lisbon to announce an expansion of the laptop computer program he started while in office. With assistance from Apple Computer, Benson was able to handout laptops for each sophomore student to carry to class. Lisbon Region High School was chosen because it met the criteria of financial need and a commitment by leadership to education in technology. Lisbon is one of the five property-poor school districts that originally sued the state over education funding back in 1991. Off to a good start It was another good week for the state’s two new members of Congress. Second District Congressman Paul Hodes won election as president of the 42-person Democratic freshman class in the U.S. House. Of those in the group, 30 took seats previously held by Republicans, including the two in this state. His election came after he worked out a power-sharing arrangement with his closest competitor, Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz who will serve as vice president. Ohio Congressman Betty Sutton will serve as the group’s secretary. “Democrats won the House back because we pledged to change the way things work in Washington, and the freshmen members are intent on seeing that promise through,” Hodes said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has committed to attending the weekly meetings of the first-term members, Hodes added. First District Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter learned this week that she had been assigned to much sought-after positions on working groups for the House Armed Services Committee. One deals with preparedness and the other with troop levels. The first has much to do with the future of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, while the second obviously will play a major role in the congressional response to President Bush’s plan to increase U.S. forces in Iraq. Low grade for business vitality The state’s grade for business competitiveness averaged out to a “B” this week. The Corporation for Enterprise Development ranks all the states on 67 variables to determine which are the best in stimulating job growth, encouraging innovation and preparing a future work force. New Hampshire got an “A’’ for both economic performance and for developing job growth capacity, but a “D’’ for business vitality. Why the low grade? The survey found the state’s rate of business failures was above the national average and that new businesses here generate fewer jobs than in most other states. The latter is principally because so many of New Hampshire’s new firms are very small businesses, if not sole-member proprietorships. Pluses for the state identified in the report, and their national ranking in parenthesis, were its high rate of pay , the growth in salaries , K-12 testing outcomes , use of high technology , academic R&D and private R&D. Connecticut and Delaware led the field with the most “A” grades. Special honors for Granny D The Executive Council and Gov. Lynch will honor Granny D. Haddock with a celebration at their meeting next Wednesday. Haddock turns 97 Jan. 24. Members of the trombone and accordion dance band Tattoo will perform a unique rendition of “Happy Birthday.” The band accompanied Granny D at events throughout her U.S. Senate campaign in 2004. Haddock walked 3,200 miles across the country to promote campaign finance reform in 1999. She’s now set her sights on reforming state campaign laws and has spoken to hundreds of lawmakers during a recent speaking tour. The organization promoting her latest effort is Public Action for Clean Elections. More information on Haddock’s activities can be found at www.grannyd.com Another funding dilemma The new sex offender law and an ongoing court case against the state Department of Corrections present some expensive problems to this Legislature. Solving this dilemma would cost the state more than $25 million of state-backed bonds, and that’s one half of what Lynch has said the state can afford in the next, two-year capital budget. Fortunately for the project, it can be done in three phases, which would reduce how much has to be spent from this two-year budget. Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen is asking for the money to renovate the Tobey Building on the state hospital complex as a 64-bed, secure psychiatric treatment unit for the most dangerous sexual predators and others who are best kept outside the conventional prison setting. The new law allows the state to seek the civil commitment of predators for up to five-year intervals after they serve their prison sentence. The court order known as Holliday vs. N.H. Department of Corrections calls on the state to create by May 2007 a separate residential treatment unit for inmates with mental illnesses. In the ruling, the judge found that housing these inmates in the state prison violated the state’s duty to supply appropriate housing and treatment programs. This new project would allow the state to close a six-bed unit on the grounds of the state prison in Laconia, which has housed sexual predators who were never convicted but civilly committed. Commission omission? Was Manchester Mayor Frank Giunta a last-minute addition to the state crime commission? Lynch named Giunta to the commission and invited him to a press conference announcing its formation, but the mayor couldn’t make it due to a scheduling conflict. When Lynch signed the executive order creating the group, Guinta’s name was not on the document. Hmmm. Lynch’s gubernatorial opponent, Jim Coburn, called for a statewide crime strategy during the campaign and shortly after the slaying of Manchester officer Michael Briggs. |
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“What’s the next chairman’s two top jobs? That is to be a good fundraiser and an articulate spokesman of the party’’ said Arnie Arnesen, Democratic activist and 1992 gubernatorial nominee. “I love Jim Craig, but didn’t his disastrous congressional campaign raise legitimate questions he could do either one?’’ Craig undoubtedly will become the next party boss, and he has a history of being sold short. Now, Democratic critics are putting the pieces together, and it makes them seethe even more. That’s why, for example, at Lynch’s inaugural address, Craig was in the front row of dignitaries to watch the speech. Buckley? He was exiled to the balcony of Representatives Hall. The transition already was under way, but it wasn’t until 30 hours later that Buckley would rock New Hampshire’s political world with his stunning withdrawal. |
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A similar bill died in May when the House tacked on a provision against REAL ID; NH could ration medicine in emergency under bill By NORMA LOVE Associated Press Writer CONCORD, N.H. _ Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen asked lawmakers Tuesday for the power to ration medicine, close buildings and cancel public events in health emergencies. The governor would have to agree in writing each time the commissioner invoked his emergency powers. Stephen told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee the power would enable the state to react quickly to disease outbreaks by closing and decontaminating buildings and cancelling events if they pose a health threat. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, lawmakers gave the state the power to seize vaccines and other medicines in short supply, but that authority has since expired. Stephen said the bill is in response to problems uncovered during an avian flu drill in 2005. A pandemic probably would trigger existing, broader powers under a state of emergency declared by the governor. Stephen said the specific powers he is requesting in this bill would probably be used to deal with isolated health incidents, such as hepatitis exposure at a fast food restaurant, though the powers could be applied more broadly. Sen. Bob Clegg, the bill's prime sponsor, said the state needs to be ready to respond quickly to a disease like the avian flu. ''When gets here, it will be too late,'' he said. The bill would create an ethics committee to advise the commissioner on rationing medicines that could mean life or death in a pandemic or other widespread disease outbreak. The state would reimburse people whose property was seized at a government rate, not necessarily at cost. The bill is almost identical to one that passed the House and Senate last year, but died in a dispute between the chambers over whether the state should participate in the federal Real ID program. The House added an amendment to bar participation and the Senate killed the bill. The Real ID Act calls for all states to conform to national drivers' licensing requirements by next year. ''It was a game of chicken we ended up playing, and no one won,'' said Clegg, R-Hudson. Rep. Neal Kurk _ who offered the Real ID amendment that led to the bill's demise _ is a sponsor of the emergency powers measure this year. ''It provides for public health emergencies by allowing the state to make best use of materials,'' said Kurk, R-Weare. The public can appeal the state's actions to the superior court, he noted. ''This gives significant powers to the commissioner. They can't be given to him unfettered,'' he said. |
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Michelle's Law goes national By MARK HAYWARD Union Leader Staff Friday, Jan. 26, 2007 A federal version of Michelle's Law -- the New Hampshire law that requires continued family health-care coverage for seriously sick or injured college students -- was introduced in the U.S. Senate yesterday, sponsored by New Hampshire's two Republican senators and Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton. The legislation takes aim at the huge employer self-funded health-care market and seeks to close a loophole found in most health-care plans. Most family health-care plans cover college students, but require them to maintain a full-time course load. For Michelle Morse, a former Plymouth State University student suffering from advanced colon cancer, that meant choosing between maintaining her health-care coverage or dropping to part-time status and socking her parents with $550 a month in additional premiums. Morse, who was diagnosed in late 2003, bucked her physician's advice and remained in college full-time. She graduated, but died Nov. 10, 2005. In a joint statement released yesterday, the three senators said they were proud to introduce Michelle's Law to make sure that students in similar situations do not lose their health-care coverage. The legislation was filed just days after Clinton announced her campaign for the Presidency. "She's a member of the Health and Education Committee, and it's always good to have bipartisan support for legislation," said Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., author of the bill. ?NH families head to Capitol Hill to lobby for federal Michelle's Law ?Michelle's Law wins legislative approval "She certainly has political ambitions. These days it seems like everyone in the Senate has political ambitions. My intention is to get something done here," he said. Sununu said Michelle's Law deals with a very small number of cases -- the less than 1 percent of students who go on medical leave. But for those it covers, the law makes a big difference, he said. Clinton's office helped draft the legislation, Sununu said. Michelle's mother, Manchester resident AnnMarie Morse, said she doesn't know how the three senators got onto the bill. She traveled to Washington in September to talk to the New Hampshire delegation about the bill. Morse had an appointment with Clinton, but the senator was running late, so she settled for a meeting with her staff. She believes Sununu or Sen. Judd Gregg reached out to Clinton. "That's wonderful. It's a bipartisan issue now. We're reaching both sides of the aisle. That's what we did in New Hampshire," Morse said. State law covers traditional premium-financed health insurance purchased from insurance companies, and Gov. John Lynch signed Michelle's Law last year. It did not apply in Morse's case. The Morse family was insured under her employer's self-funded plan, which is governed by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA law. In New Hampshire, roughly 47 percent of workers were covered under self-funded plans in 2004, according to figures compiled by the state Insurance Department. |
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By KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Telegraph Staff klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com Published: Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 CONCORD – A state Senate committee is recommending the repeal of straight-ticket voting, a practice that allows a voter to select the candidates of one political party with a single mark on the election ballot. A short time after the bill’s first public hearing, the Senate Internal Affairs Committee voted 4-1 to endorse it. “I had forgotten some of the abuses from it until people reminded me of them at the hearing,’’ said Sen. Peter Burling, D-Cornish, the committee chairman. This outcome seemed likely since Democrats took back control of the Senate on Nov. 7 for only the second time in 90 years. With 14 Senate Democrats, the final vote should be overwhelming as three Senate Republicans are on record supporting the proposal, Burling said. Ironically, straight-ticket voting played a pivotal role in the Democratic victories of November that allowed them to take control of the 400-person House of Representatives and unseated longtime Executive Councilor Peter Spaulding, a Hopkinton Republican. But after the election, Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan urged lawmakers to do what her party had been pushing for, for more than a dozen years. “If we were for this when we were in the minority, we ought to be for this when we are in the majority,’’ Sullivan said. Gov. John Lynch has already said he would sign the legislation if it reached his desk. Straight-ticket voting is a throwback to a time when many voters could not read the ballot and needed a simple way to express their sentiment. Supporters offer it gives dedicated party voters an option to more quickly cast a ballot especially in presidential elections where the lines at the polls are longer. Kevin Landrigan can be reached at 224-8804 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com. |
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Romney to visit North Country Thursday, February 1st. Edith is covering: I'll cover him at the Cabot Motor Inn in Lancaster, a photo op at Lowe's Gas Station in Randolph, and then possibly a bit of his visit at the Town and Country in Shelburne, all stops on Route 2, going from west to east. Beno Lamontagne in Colebrook has worked on the schedule as well as Scott Mason, a dairy farmer up in Stratford who is the Coös County Republican chair. The Republicans are energized locally, as you can imagine. AP-MA--Romney-2008,0117 Romney, McCain tout endorsements in each other's backyard BOSTON - Likely Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain are playing the endorsement game on the eve of a Romney visit to New Hampshire. The former Massachusetts governor announced that he has lined up several supporters in McCain's home state of Arizona, including Paul Gilbert, one of that state's most prominent attorneys. At the same time, however, the senator's exploratory committee announced that he had lined up support from the entire legislative delegation in Coos County, New Hampshire. Romney -- who owns a vacation home in New Hampshire -- is scheduled to address a health care policy forum tomorrow at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, as well as visit several towns in Coos County. AP-NY-01-31-07 1125EST |
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AP-NH--Pataki 2008,0138 Pataki releases N.H. supporters if they can't wait prejhmmanmurfn CONCORD, N.H. - Possible presidential candidate George Pataki told a group of New Hampshire supporters he is not ready to jump into the race and won't object if they get behind other candidates. The New York Republican spoke at a private dinner last night in Manchester. He had no public stops during his one-day visit to New Hampshire, which has the nation's earliest presidential primary. At the dinner, he said he wasn't going to rush a decision about running and instead wants to focus on policies, not politics. Pataki stepped down as New York's governor this month. Former New Hampshire state Representative Dave Currier was with Pataki yesterday. He says Pataki did not close the door on a presidential run, but simply said he isn't ready to jump in now. AP-NY-01-31-07 1432EST |
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CLINTON-2008 Clinton cancels campaign visit to New Hampshire klmaaa NEW YORK - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has canceled her first presidential campaign visit to New Hampshire this weekend due to the death of her husband's stepfather. Richard Kelley died yesterday in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was 91. Kelley, a former food brokerage executive, married Bill Clinton's mother, Virginia, in 1982. He was her fourth husband.He has remained close to the Clintons since Virginia Kelley's death in 1994. New Hampshire's Senate President, Sylvia Larsen, says Democrats are hoping there's a still a good chance she'll be coming back to visit in February. AP-NH--Clinton-New Hampshire TOP,0100 Clinton cancels campaign visit to New Hampshire jhmap NEW YORK - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has canceled her planned presidential campaign visit to New Hampshire this weekend. Campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Hanley says Clinton had to cancel because former President Clinton's stepfather is seriously ill. The stepfather -- Dick Kelley -- lives in Arkansas. The former food brokerage executive married Bill Clinton's mother, Virginia, in 1982. Hanley did not elaborate on the nature of Kelley's illness. Clinton campaigned in Iowa, another key early voting state, last weekend and was scheduled to spend Saturday and Sunday traveling through New Hampshire, which hosts the first presidential primary in 2008. AP-NY-01-31-07 1557EST |
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Panel: Stop bill to ban health center funding By KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Telegraph Staff klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com Published: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007 CONCORD – Abortion opponents urged the Legislature on Tuesday to block any government contracts with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England or other groups that offer abortion services. Less than an hour after their pitch, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 5-0 to recommend the bill be killed. “I don’t think it’s workable at all,’’ Sen. Iris Estabrook, D-Durham, said after the hearing. Sen. Sheila Roberge, R-Bedford, said government should not sanction abortion by contracting with Planned Parenthood. “I simply don’t believe the state should be involved in funding to this organization whatsoever,’’ said Roberge, who wrote the bill. Barbara Richards is director of the Lighthouse Pregnancy Center in Center Ossipee. “I pick up the pieces that are left when Planned Parenthood gets done with young girls,’’ Richards said. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester also supported the bill. But a New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union official claimed the bill as written would ban all government contracts to public acute care hospitals, free clinics and most obstetricians and gynecologists who may not advertise but provide abortion services. “This is a discriminatory bill that attempts to deal with the people least able to afford the health care,’’ Executive Director Claire Ebel said. Last year, 64 percent of those who went to Planned Parenthood clinics had annual incomes of less than $14,400, said Dawn Touzin, vice president of public policy and government affairs. That represents 150 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three. There are no state dollars spent to support abortions, but the Executive Council and governor must approve the awarding of federal grant contracts to Planned Parenthood and others that perform abortion services for poor women. Daniel Hogan of Nashua, an activist in the anti-abortion community, said Planned Parenthood gets 18 times more money than anti-abortion groups in the state that promote abstinence from sex. Touzin said her group played a part in the state recently getting a $25 million federal grant to help reduce the state’s teen pregnancy rate. Kevin Landrigan can be reached at 224-8804 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com. |
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Norma attended this at the state house on Tuesday 11:00am SB 102-FN relative to the powers of state government in the event of an incident or outbreak of communicable disease |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/04/07 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 25:00 Now on New Hampshire Outlook -- where NH talks. We're broadcasting from the NH Political Library -- housed in the State Library in Concord. Just a hop and a skip from the State House where lawmakers have been busy this week on a number of recurring issues. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. The politics of Gay Marriage is back before lawmakers. The issue of Abortion & the State's Parental Notification Law is slated for a hearing next week. Calls to end Straight ticket voting have been resurrected. And, presidential politics is heating up in NH. Here to talk about all this and more: Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, Norma Love from the Associated Press and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Kevin Landrigan\The Telegraph, Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat, Norma Love\Associated Press |
| Key: national politics / goverment Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/04/07 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 25:00 Now on New Hampshire Outlook -- where NH talks. We're broadcasting from the NH Political Library -- housed in the State Library in Concord. Just a hop and a skip from the State House where lawmakers have been busy this week on a number of recurring issues. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. The politics of Gay Marriage is back before lawmakers. The issue of Abortion & the State's Parental Notification Law is slated for a hearing next week. Calls to end Straight ticket voting have been resurrected. And, presidential politics is heating up in NH. Here to talk about all this and more: Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, Norma Love from the Associated Press and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Kevin Landrigan\The Telegraph, Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat, Norma Love\Associated Press |