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He's got record high job ratings which equals political muscle - and, he's setting his sights on solving the state's education funding crisis. How Governor John Lynch aims to do that -- and, more. That's NOW, on NH Outlook. Where NH Talks. |
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We're coming to you from NH Public Television's broadcast center in Durham for a conversation with Governor John Lynch. He's been criss-crossing the state meeting with editorial boards. His latest stop, The Seacoast. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. Since taking office in January of 2005. Governor Lynch's popularity has steadily climbed. Shortly after his Inauguration -- his job approval stood at 43%. It now stands at a "staggering" 80%. His high ratings helped launch the democratic takeover of the Legislature in 2006 and might even help democrats in 2008. Critics say he's yet to be tested. Whether that's true or not, -- he has earned tremendous political capital. How does he plan on spending it? Here to answer that question. Governor John Lynch. Welcome. Q Governor Lynch -- according to the UNH Survey Center, your approval rating with voters is at an unprecendented high. WHY do you think voters have so much CONFIDENCE in you? |
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ED FUNDING Q Solving the state's education funding quagmire has been a priority for you. you're putting your political muscle behind a constitutional amendment that calls for the state to fund 50% of an adequate education, Target AID to needy communities, and limit court review of school policy. WHY will "this" amendment fare any better than the numerous attempts in the past. that failed? How is this different? Q what is the difference between Q You've stated that CACR-18 would take the COURTS out of the education funding process. Yet, the teachers union and other groups argue the amendment would give towns little RECOURSE for towns Court Review is needed out of the funding process. Q Republicans say in order to pass the house.you need to lay out the state's potential financial obligations. They liken it to a blank check??? Understand concerns about an open-ended commitment? Failure to provide state aid figures before Legislature votes on measure. Republicans ask WHERE would that 50% of state funding be taken from ? Will school construction funding be counted against communities ed funding allotment? If so, towns could face pressure to raise local property taxes. Q You're quoted as saying that the state Supreme Court in its Claremont and Londonderry decisions "imposed restrictions on us that no other state has -- to pay the first and last dollar of educational costs." What did you mean by that? Q State BD of Education supports it, The Business and Industry Association likes it, They feel it protects them from a sales and Income Tax. yet, others have suggested this amendment opens the door to an Income tax down the road to pay for education funding? Q Tthe TEACHERS union is AGAINST it. They believe it would allow lawmakers to change the funding formula every few years, leaving districts to guess at how much state aid they would receive. Isn't that a very real CONCERN? No standards on targeting in amendment -- makes it more political. Q What would you to say to property owners worried about their bills going UP even further? Most of NH's school districts are not in the dire need that a Claremont is -- or as well off as Hopkinton -- your hometown. They are somwhere in the middle -- Q Would need to win over 2/3rds of voters in November. What happens if they say NO? Back to the drawing board?? Governor, what is your back-up plan if the voters reject your amendment? Given that you have said that we should “embrace” the Claremont decisions, rejection of your amendment suggests that you would impose whatever state taxes are necessary to pay for the entire cost of an adequate education. The Democrat Party, at your urging, is on the verge of passing a definition that most folks agree costs at least $2 billion. What new taxes would you enact to raise this $2 billion, if your amendment is rejected? Governor, I assume you intend to run for reelection in 2008 on the pledge that you will veto an income tax or a sales tax. Please assume that you are reelected but your amendment fails. To keep the pledge, you would have to drastically scale back your definition of an adequate education. Exactly how would you redefine adequacy? SCHOOL SAFETY Q NH observed a national day of mourning for the victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre Out of this tragedy came a national dialogue on Gun Control & School SAFETY. Do NH schools have emergency response plans in place -- and are they sufficient? Q DO NH colleges and universities need to re-think how they respond to emergencies and what kind of safety improvements are needed." Q Should NH's standards conform to a national standard? Are there things other states are doing that we might borrow from their playbook??? Q a mass notification system donated by alumnus at UNH -- a siren warning and then following up with a clear, deliberate and powerful voice message. The donor says it can be programmed to provide a bugle reveille to play at 5:30 every morning to get the students out of bed!” SCHOOL DROPOUT Half a high school education is no longer enough. That is why we must increase our compulsory attendance age from 16 to 18. In my budget, I will propose the funding necessary to expand alternative learning programs, including technical education, internships and night school, to help students who do not do well in traditional classroom settings. FLOODING ECONOMIC INITIATIVE Your proposed Budget directs new money to the North Country. Certainly welcomed news in that part of the state But, beyond that -- What is being done to spur economic GROWTH in the North Country? Q Broad band has been identified as a critical infrastructure need for economic growth -- but, is almost non-existent in the North Country. Is the state involved in effort to connect that region of the state? ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE Q a bill that would ban the burning of construction and demolition debris. CON: Those in the waste management industry argue that putting debris into landfills is worse than burning it. They also said extra trucking involved will put more pollution in to the air that would result form the incineration. CIVIL UNIONS Lynch was never going to lead on civil unions but had he acted weeks ago, he could have played a role in what the legislation said. Instead, he ends up signing a bill that goes as far in equating civil unions to marriage as any other such law in the country The creation of civil unions would "energize and activate" the Republican base, added Cullen, who predicted that "there will be many legislators who do not return to Concord in 2009." Civil union opponents -- largely Republicans -- have warned that voters will punish Democrats at the polls for supporting the bill. said enacting civil unions could play a role in next year's elections. State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen disagreed. "You're kidding," he said when first told of Lynch's decision. "The Democrats are going too far, too fast and Governor Lynch is going along with them," he said. "These are not the actions of a moderate governor." Q You came under fire from both sides for not weighing in -- especially after the surprise delay last week of the Senate vote on the House-passed bill. q Lynch noted his support for same-sex benefits when he was a trustee in the state university system. But he opposes gay marriage. Asked why he opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions, Lynch said, "I still think marriage is between a man and a woman, but this prevents discrimination." some have called this a gay marriage bill in disguise. My question: are Larsen and Lynch trading Senate approval of civil unions for House approval of his amendment? If the House approves it, will the Senate calendar suddenly free up? "Why would we fast-track the bill and then hold it? It has to be for purely political reasons," he said. "The only factor left is the governor." Civil unions was not one of the issues Lynch raised in his inaugural or budget addresses. He has focused more on getting a constitutional amendment passed on school funding, raising the high school drop out age, getting more children on health insurance and raising the minimum wage A civil unions bill moving quickly through the State House hit a jam yesterday and some are questioning whether Gov. John Lynch, who has been silent on the issue, is behind it. CIVIL UNIONS The creation of civil unions would "energize and activate" the Republican base, added Cullen, who predicted that "there will be many legislators who do not return to Concord in 2009." Since most of the Democratic candidates running for president support civil unions for gay couples, Gov. Lynch's move provides an easy applause line for those candidates speaking in front of Democratic crowds in the Granite State. It will be far more interesting to watch the Republican presidential hopefuls react to what will soon be the law of the land in New Hampshire. "As a lifelong Red Sox fan Legacy. pres primary.must be getting a lot of phone calls from candidates.looking for support. So, what are you telling them? Call me next year??/what |
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Gov Lynch, thank you. That wraps up our program. Thanks for watching NH Outlook where NH Talks. I'm Beth Carroll.I"ll see you around NH. |
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Preliminary flood estimates at more than $5.3 million CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire officially has enough damage to call itself a disaster after last week's floods. Governor John Lynch says the preliminary damage totals 5-point-3 million dollars. That number doesn't include Coos County. To qualify for federal help, damages had to exceed 1-point-5 million dollars. |
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GREGG ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION FOR NORTH COUNTRY BROADBAND INITIATIVE WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Judd Gregg today announced the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a funding measure containing $1 million in federal funds for an initiative to bring affordable and reliable broadband service to the North Country. This program will initiate an open-access, fixed wireless broadband infrastructure throughout Coos, Carroll and Grafton Counties. Broadband has been identified as a critical infrastructure need for economic growth, but it remains nearly nonexistent throughout the North Country. These funds will be utilized primarily for the design, acquisition and construction of the infrastructure. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Gregg was able to include funding for this project in the Fiscal Year 2007 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development bill, which is now ready for consideration by the full Senate later this year. Senator Gregg stated, “The Internet has quickly become one of the most used tools in our society; it aids people in almost every facet of everyday life from entertainment and personal communication to research and business transactions. To date, much of the North Country has been unable to access the Internet at high speeds. It is critical that we provide this service to ensure the economic opportunity and vitality of this region. I applaud the Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, NCIC and those individuals and groups who are working hard to provide these much needed services for the North Country.” Greg Eastman, President of Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, stated, “We are very thankful for Senator Gregg taking the initiative to back efforts to bring affordable broadband to the North Country of New Hampshire. This is wonderful news.” Veronica Francis, Vice-President, Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, stated, “Littleton Industrial Development Corporation thanks Senator Gregg for investing in the North Country's broadband infrastructure to help bridge NH's digital divide. These funds will stimulate our local economy by expanding wireless Internet service to the businesses and homes located in the ‘last mile’” Jon Freeman, President of Northern Community Investment Corporation, stated “This is great news for the North Country. Senator Judd Gregg’s insight to deliver resources to strategically strengthen the North Country’s broadband infrastructure will allow the region to better compete in the global economy. We appreciate the assistance and support Senator Gregg’s office has provided on this critical project.” Paul McGoldrick, Past President, Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, stated, “This is fantastic news for Northern New Hampshire as an initial contribution to broadband for the North Country. Broadband is vital to economic development and a healthy economy for the people who live and work here.” # # # |
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Over $143,000 in Economic Development Grants Announced -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHBRC 03/22/07 Over $143,000 in economic development grants administered through the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development has been awarded to seven organizations following this morning’s Governor & Executive Council session. nhbrc The funds are derived from the State’s Economic Development North & West Opportunity Initiative Program which was established to support local economic development initiatives. This program supports efforts in job retention and creation, targeted promotional campaigns, international trade and other projects promoting businesses activities in the northern and western regions of the state. “The North & West Opportunity Initiative Program is an excellent way to support innovative efforts to build economic and community development in our northern and western regions,” said New Hampshire Department of Resources & Economic Development Commissioner George Bald. “I was extremely impressed by the quality of the submissions for the grants, both in terms of their creativity and their emphasis on supporting the needs of the New Hampshire business community.” The grant recipients are as follows: City of Berlin – This grant will assist the City of Berlin in creating a comprehensive redevelopment plan which will include community planning, economic development and an impact analysis. Grafton County Economic Development Council – This grant will assist the Grafton County Economic Development Council, the Lisbon Regional Schools and New England Wire Technologies Corporation in further developing and promoting Project Lead the Way, a four-year pre-engineering program which provides junior and senior high school students with precision machining experience. NH Community Technical College – Claremont – This grant, which will assist the Community Technical College with marketing its Advanced Machine Tool Certificate Program, will address the need to consistently develop a highly trained workforce in this trade. It is a collaborative initiative involving the Community Technical College, the Tool and Technology Resource Center in Newport and the Claremont Adult Learning Center’s Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center. North Country Council – This grant will allow the North Country Council, in coordination with the New Hampshire Business Resource Center and the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, to create a five-year Economic Development Action Plan for Coos County which will include goals, measurable objectives and a detailed work plan. North Country Council – Under this separate grant, the North Country Council will provide assistance to northern New Hampshire organizations and individuals through forums and collaborative strategies as well as the development of projects eligible to receive grants. Lakes Region Planning Commission – This grant will allow for the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Lakes Region Planning Commission’s service territory which includes 30 municipalities in Belknap County, Carroll County, Grafton County and Merrimack County. Partners involved with this project include the NH Community Development Finance Authority, Economic Development Administration, Belknap County Economic Development Council, Wentworth Economic Development Council, Grafton County Economic Development Council and the Franklin Business and Industrial Development Council. Southwest Region Planning Commission – This grant will allow for the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the southwestern region of the state. It will augment the Commission’s ongoing municipal planning as well as support ongoing regional transportation planning. HGH Development, Inc. – Under this Telecom Growth Program grant, HGH Development, Inc. will create a five-year economic action plan to provide broadband services to rural regions that currently don’t have access. The project will initially provide high-speed wireless Internet service to 20 rural Harrisville residents with service transmitted wirelessly from the neighboring town of Dublin. Depending on the results of this demonstration project, phase II will work to develop a business strategy to bring service to larger numbers of customers and communities. “Having a solid game plan is the key to the success of any initiative and each of these grant applications featured an emphasis on developing comprehensive planning strategies,” added District 5 Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli. “I’m excited by the prospect of watching these projects move from inception to the planning stage to implementation. These projects are great news for New Hampshire.” For more information about the North & West Opportunity Initiative Program, call the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development at 271-2341. Return 0 |
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The state's largest teachers union announced its opposition yesterday to Gov. John Lynch's proposed constitutional amendment on school funding. Leaders of NEA New Hampshire, which represents more than 16,000 teachers, said the amendment would provide too little money to most school districts, stoke continued court battles and allow lawmakers to change the funding formula every few years, leaving districts to guess at how much state aid they would receive. The amendment "is a giant step backward," said Rhonda Wesolowski, the union's president-elect. It "would make full funding of an adequate education impossible to achieve." The proposed amendment passed the Senate this month and is beginning to be considered by the House. It states that lawmakers must define an "adequate education," determine the cost and fund at least half with state money. The proposal would also allow lawmakers to bypass portions of a recent Supreme Court decision. Last fall, the high court said the state must pay for whatever it defines as part of an adequate education. But the amendment says lawmakers can distribute education aid money however they see fit, paving the way for a plan that would target aid to the neediest school districts. Lynch, a Democrat, has touted that solution for three years, although such plans have been struck down by courts in the past. NEA New Hampshire President Karen McDonough said although the union is a "proud supporter" of Lynch and agrees with him on many other educational issues, his proposed amendment would cause public schools to suffer. While the union doesn't oppose targeting aid to needy districts, members said they worry that the state will do so at the expense of "middle-tier" districts, which make up the majority of districts in the state. Those districts, including Londonderry, the lead plaintiff in the most recent school funding lawsuit, may be forced to cut programs and services as a result, said Diane Malley, the president of the Londonderry teachers union. The amendment "will not stop the continuous battle over which towns receive what," Malley said. "It will only accelerate those battles and promote divisiveness." Jim Allmendinger, NEA New Hampshire's staff attorney, echoed Malley. The issues raised by past lawsuits - whether the state is providing an adequate education to every student, for one - are "too important" to go away, he said. Until there is a formula that provides that education to every child on a consistent basis, the court battles will not disappear, union leaders said. The proposed amendment would also hit taxpayers, they said. Requiring the state to pay for only half of the cost of an adequate education, "will allow future legislatures to redefine adequacy at minimal levels, which will leave taxpayers on the hook to make up the difference," McDonough said. Union leaders said they believe a broad-based tax "needs to be looked at," but acknowledged that such a funding plan doesn't have much support. They said they support a "patchwork quilt" approach instead, paying for schools with a variety of smaller taxes. Other leaders questioned whether the state would even pay half of the cost of an adequate education. Several who spoke at a press conference yesterday quoted a study that showed it may actually pay for only a quarter of the cost, since the cost of an "adequate education," as it stands now, is only half of what is spent on New Hampshire schools. "The 25 percent funding level will become a ceiling, not a floor in the school funding formula," Wesolowski said. "The door will shut on the school funding debate, and improvement will be impossible." McDonough said the union plans to express its opinion to House lawmakers, as well as all members of the union. Leaders will post statements on the union's website and listserv, and print its position in the monthly newsletter. Sen. Peter Burling, a Cornish Democrat and co-sponsor of the amendment, said he believes many of the union's criticisms are "heartfelt expressions of concern" but not "legally correct." Instead of opposing the proposal outright, he suggested the teachers work with lawmakers to revise both the amendment and the proposed definition of an adequate education, which passed the House last month, before they're voted on for the last time. "If we can lay down our pistols and our swords for a moment and think about how we can make both better, we can truly advance the cause of public education in this state," Burling said. Lynch responded to NEA New Hampshire's announcement by repeating the reasons why he's pushing hard for the amendment. In a statement relayed by his spokesman, Colin Manning, Lynch said the proposal "affirms the state's responsibility to education" and allows it to help the towns struggling the most with how to pay for schools. Opposing the amendment could result in those property-poor towns, such as Berlin and Pittsfield, seeing their state aid cut, said Lynch, who met with union leaders last Friday to try and drum up support for his amendment. Other groups, including the state Board of Education and the Business and Industry Association, have supported the amendment. They said it would help fend off an income or sales tax and bring New Hampshire in line with most other states, which fund education by targeting aid. Not all lawmakers are convinced, though. While the proposal passed the Senate 15-9, several House lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, have said they oppose the amendment. Responding to a Monitor survey, some Democrats said they're worried it would limit the state's commitment to public schools, while some Republicans said it would not go far enough to shut the courts out of the school funding debate, among other criticisms. ------ End of article By MELANIE ASMAR |
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Teachers say no to Lynch amendment By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 11 hours, 2 minutes ago CONCORD – The state's largest teachers union yesterday broke with Gov. John Lynch over his proposed constitutional amendment on school funding. Both the executive board and the government affairs committees of NEA-New Hampshire voted unanimously against recommending the proposal, CACR 18. The vote came after a meeting with Lynch on Friday. NEA-NH said Lynch's amendment is flawed because it would lock-in a low rate of state funding and lead to a continuation of school funding fights over which communities should get the most money. Lynch's amendment would require the state to cover 50 percent of adequacy, however adequacy is defined by the Legislature, and allow lawmakers to target aid to towns that need it most. It would continue the court's oversight of school funding issues, and would maintain an accountability system. NEA-NH and other groups critical of the Lynch plan have argued that the true cost of education is about twice the cost of adequacy. Unless lawmakers adjust the definition of adequacy, the amendment would obligate the state to pay 25 percent of real school spending, they say. Incoming NEA-NH president Rhonda Wesolowski said the proposal "is a giant step backward. The 25 percent funding level will become a ceiling, not a floor, in the school funding formula. The door will shut on the school funding debate and improvement will be impossible." NEA-NH president Karen McDonough said the organization is urging its 16,000 members to contact their lawmakers to ask them to defeat the amendment. McDonough said that the state is now required to pay 100 percent of adequacy. The amendment, she said, "will allow future Legislatures to re-define adequacy at minimal levels which will leave taxpayers on the hook to make up the difference." At its best, she said the amendment would leave property taxpayers and the biggest source of revenue for public schools. Lynch said yesterday he believes the amendment is the best way to create equal educational opportunity for all children in the state. "I have said I'm open to clarifying the wording which would strengthen the amendment," he said. "I believe this affirms the state's responsibility for public education, and I think it's a way to bring finality to the education funding debate which supports the state's responsibility for public education." CommentNH blogosphere & eventsPrintEmailPage topSite Search ?PRIOR EDITIONS ?NEWS ARCHIVE All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. © 1997-2007. |
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Lynch delays decision again Published: Sunday, April 22, 2007 Gov. John Lynch plans to sign legislation legalizing civil unions. After weeks of speculation, Lynch confirmed Thursday what many expected all along. However, the buildup let him gain some goodwill among liberals who have had many reasons to be disappointed with the governor’s don’t-rock-the boat leadership style. It also showed him as not being in control. Sound familiar? It should. That’s just what happened in the debate over whether to repeal the state’s dormant law requiring a health provider to notify a parent before a minor has an abortion. The law has never been in force, and a federal district court judge is waiting to see what the Legislature does this year before deciding what the next step should be on lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. On this one, too, Lynch remained silent while the campaign to repeal the law built to a fever pitch. Lynch was never going to lead on civil unions but had he acted weeks ago, he could have played a role in what the legislation said. Instead, he ends up signing a bill that goes as far in equating civil unions to marriage as any other such law in the country. What he has done is make sure the mobilized opposition is committed to working against him in 2008. Sure, he will now have civil-union supporters on his side – but who thinks they were going anywhere else next year? The American Research Group poll last week found 49 percent of New Hampshire residents were against civil unions and 62 percent of Republicans didn’t like the idea. The poll found 42 percent surveyed from April 16-18 are in favor of civil unions. The only age group who supported it in the poll were those 18-24. Other independent surveys found much less outright opposition to the idea. “I don’t really understand it,’’ said Dick Bennett of the American Research Group. “There’s a way to get to a majority supporting civil unions, but you had to sell the concept. This couldn’t have been handled any worse from the governor’s perspective.”By the way, whatever happened to that parental notification bill? The bill left the House on March 25 and went off the Senate radar. In response to questions, the bill surfaced Thursday, got referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and isn’t yet scheduled for a hearing. Ripple effect The bigger question is: What does this do to the rest of Lynch’s agenda? Will it help pass his constitutional amendment on school funding in the House of Representatives? It probably can’t hurt, because liberal Democrats in the House hold the key to whether Lynch has a shot of getting the 60 percent super-majority for his amendment. Senators are inviting House Democrats to amend the bill to their liking, which would include altering the provision that the state commit to pay 50 percent of what lawmakers define as an adequate education. “My first thought was 60 percent, another senator responded with 40 percent and we ended up with 50,” aid Cornish Democratic Sen. Peter Burling. “The House needs to get deeply involved in what should be the proper language for this.” At present, however, this amendment is bipartisan in name only. The only Republican who supported it in the Senate was Robert Odell of Lempster, a co-sponsor, and no Republican other than co-sponsor Hampton Rep. Nancy Stiles has stepped forward in the House to embrace it. Lynch has a lot of work ahead of him. Meanwhile, he is making real progress on other fronts. The Senate is expected to approve legislation creating a renewable-energy portfolio standard for utilities. During the 2006 campaign, Lynch embraced the goal of increasing renewable use to 25 percent of energy production by 2025. The Senate also will endorse his call to increase the state’s minimum wage. Three new Democratic senators went to bat for North Country and Lakes Region restaurant owners who don’t like the fact this also gives a pay increase to waitresses and others who rely primarily on tips for their income. A Senate committee rejected their bid to amend the bill, and the Senate is poised to send Lynch the clean measure , which he could sign later this spring. Finally, Lynch will soon nail down his campaign proposal to permanently ban construction and demolition debris. A Senate committee will take testimony on the proposal Tuesday. **** Gov. Lynch will sign civil unions bill By NORMA LOVE The Associated Press Friday, Apr. 20, 2007 CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch said yesterday he decided to sign legislation establishing civil unions to prevent and end discrimination against gays in New Hampshire. "New Hampshire has a proud history and tradition of taking the side of opposing discrimination where it occurs. This bill will go a long way toward ensuring that," Lynch told The Associated Press in an interview. "I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination," Lynch said. New Hampshire thus will become the fourth state to adopt civil unions and the first to do so without first having a court fight over denying gays the right to marry. The Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, testified for the bill as did state Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley, who also is openly gay. Civil union opponents -- largely Republicans -- have warned that voters will punish Democrats at the polls for supporting the bill. Dante Scala, a professor at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, said enacting civil unions could play a role in next year's elections. "I don't know if you can say the Democrats are running amok, but certainly this is an issue that I think will take a lot of New Hampshire voters by surprise in as much as it wasn't an issue last election," said Scala. But when asked about political fallout in state races, Lynch said, "I don't think that's a relevant question. I think the question is what is the right thing to do for New Hampshire." State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen disagreed. "You're kidding," he said when first told of Lynch's decision. "The Democrats are going too far, too fast and Governor Lynch is going along with them," he said. "These are not the actions of a moderate governor." But Democratic state Rep. Bette Lasky, who shepherded the bill through the House, disagreed with Cullen. "It's never going too far when you give people their rights and I honestly believe that the majority of people in this state want to do just that and do not want to discriminate," she said. State Rep. Fran Wendelboe, a conservative House Republican, said civil unions by itself would not hurt Democrats, but could contribute to shifts in House and Senate seats when voters look at all Democrats do over the next two years. Lynch had said previously he supports expanding health benefits to same-sex partners of state workers, but he had declined to take a public position on civil unions. He came under fire from both sides for not weighing in -- especially after the surprise delay last week of the Senate vote on the House-passed bill. Some legislators had worried the Democratic governor might part company on the bill with Democrats who control the House and Senate for the first time in more than a century. He said he announced his position on the bill after extensive discussions with lawmakers, including most of the 24 state senators. "I wanted to see that healthy debate happen in the Statehouse," he said. The Senate votes on the bill next week, and Lynch said he is confident it will pass. It would authorize civil unions beginning next year. The House passed the bill nearly 2-1 on April 4. New Hampshire will hold the earliest presidential primary next year, and candidates have been visiting the state regularly. Lynch said he doubts the enactment of civil unions would have any effect on the primary campaign. At least one presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, issued a statement commending Lynch and the Legislature "for their commitment and support for the civil rights of gays and lesbians." Lynch noted his support for same-sex benefits when he was a trustee in the state university system. But he opposes gay marriage. Asked why he opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions, Lynch said, "I still think marriage is between a man and a woman, but this prevents discrimination." House Republican Leader Michael Whalley accused Lynch of "straddling the fence." Whalley said civil unions should apply to any two people -- heterosexual or gay -- or the bill "is really same-sex marriage called something else." Neighboring Massachusetts, the only state that allows gays to marry, did so after a court decision mandating it. Vermont and New Jersey also responded to court orders when they legalized civil unions. Connecticut became the first state to legislate civil unions without court intervention two years ago. A lawsuit challenging Connecticut's marriage law was pending, but legislators said they were not influenced by it. Associated Press writer Beverley Wang contributed to this report. |
| CACR-2 Return to index of stories... |
Just barely Lynch got his constitutional amendment through the state Senate on Thursday but without the head of steam he would have liked. The 15-9 vote was barely the 60 percent he needed to move it along , and that only was because two Democratic senators, Durham Sen. Iris Estabrook and Barrington Sen. Jacalyn Cilley, essentially said they were passing it along, either out of loyalty to Lynch or because there wasn’t enough time to deal with it. Lynch partisans had been hoping Sen. Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, would go along with the amendment and join Sen. Robert Odell, R-Lempster, who has been on board from the beginning. Bragdon offered language from retired Supreme Court Justice Chuck Douglas to give lawmakers more flexibility that they only had to “reasonably’’ distribute aid and define adequacy. Senate Democrats didn’t like that, and other Senate Republicans were in no accommodating mood, and it died 22-2. Former Alton Republican Sen. Robert Boyce weighed in with a stinging commentary one day after the vote. “This amendment has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual education of children but only with the continuation of and taxpayer funding of the monopoly of public schools,’’ he wrote. Norelli summed up the difficulty amendments have had to get 60 percent of the membership of the House, not just those present and voting. That equals 239 “yes’’ votes, with two vacant House seats. “I think there is a segment in the Legislature that will say this constitutional amendment is inappropriate because it doesn’t remove the court,’’ Norelli began. “On the other hand, there will be many who say the language of the amendment is unacceptable because they believe we should provide 100 percent of adequacy. “The question is how big is that middle ground? Is it 60 percent big? |
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Residency vs. domicile The Democrats in control of the Legislature for the first time in more than 80 years are systemically changing election laws – and it’s driving the new minority to distraction. Last week, it was the elimination of straight-ticket voting , which, starting with the 2008 election, will eliminate the practice of letting voters choose all candidates of one party by making a single mark at the top of the ballot. Last November, voters checked far more Democratic than Republican straight tickets for the first time in recent history, playing a pivotal role in the surprise elections of 1st District Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and Executive Councilor John Shea of Nelson. Despite the recent success, Democrats have long railed against the practice and wasted no time in getting the bill to Lynch, who signed it Monday while he was on flood patrol. Next up is changing the definition of “domicile”. Domicile – the place someone claims as his or her home for the purposes of voting – has been the subject of several Ballot Law Commission disputes. The most notable one was Len Foy, D-Hudson, who ran for the state Senate and stayed on the ballot to oppose then-GOP incumbent Gary Francoeur. The state Senate has a seven-year residency requirement, and during that period, Foy had a residence, drivers license and work history in California. However, the BLC agreed with Foy, who argued Hudson was his domicile before and after living in California. Rep. David Pierce, D-Keene, produced the latest bill, which makes it perfectly clear anyone claiming domicile doesn’t jeopardize any other legal right. The big benefactors for this are college students. In recent elections, students have learned that voting in New Hampshire can put at risk certain scholarship aid they received from their home states. Pierce’s bill, which passed over the strong objection of Senate Republicans, would put that to rest. Sen. Robert Clegg, R-Hudson, claims the bill could go even further. “This also lets any snowbird who lives in Florida to claim domicile in New Hampshire,” Clegg said. “All kinds of folks avoid New Hampshire’s interest and dividends tax here by taking up residence somewhere else. “This says all of that doesn’t matter. You may not pay taxes, you may not live here, but come on in and vote. It’s totally wrong.’’ Rep. Jane Clemons, D-Nashua, said the bill rights its own wrong. “Voting in this state shouldn’t put all kinds of other things at risk,” Clemons said. “This bill corrects that. Residency is one thing, domicile is another, and the bill straightens that out.” Bar bill The state Senate will help rid Democrats of one problematic bill this week. The House quietly passed without debate a measure that allows any city or town to decide to let bars stay open an extra hour, from 1 to 2 a.m. This comes in the wake of rising violence in and out of city bars, especially in Manchester, along with the killing of a Manchester patrolman in the wee hours of the morning last October. The State Liquor Commission has come out in opposition since the bill cleared the House, and the Senate is expected to decide against it when it meets Thursday. Retiring bills It took three months to surface as a bill, but plans to overhaul financing of the state retirement system are now on the fast track. The Senate Executive Department and Administration Committee will hear from the public on three House-passed retirement bills Friday in Representatives Hall. Some, especially in organized labor, would prefer that the Legislature just call it a year and not pass anything, but that doesn’t appear to be a viable option. The Senate leadership supports changing the system methodology, which state retirement officials warn will be out of compliance with approved accounting standards. What is less clear is whether the Senate will also adopt the House decision that effectively means retirees wouldn’t be able to receive a cost-of-living increase for the next decade or so. That’s still under review. Real limits Rep. Steve Shurtleff, D-Concord, has one of the most significant, quiet bills this year to which every political appointee has to pay attention. It passed the House on March 21 on a voice vote after both parties worked out a compromise amendment. This would prevent almost every department head from hanging onto his or her job after the term expired. Legal advice The Supreme Court will weigh in on controversial legislation to give the decisions of marital masters the same power as those of judges. Since 1986, all rulings by marital masters in divorce and child custody matters have been subject to sign-off by a judge. The sheer volume of the work has prompted court administrators to seek this bill, which would allow the decisions of masters to become final unless a party to the case asks for a judge to review it within 10 days. Unlike judges, marital masters were named by court administrators and approved by the governor. However, in 2005, the Legislature put the Executive Council in control of confirming these quasi-judges to a fixed term. Since they are now confirmed by the council, the court contends they should have this authority. The state Senate has asked the court for an advisory opinion on whether Senate Majority Leader Joseph Foster’s bill is constitutional. Any guesses what the court will answer to that? Driving on The Motor Vehicle Industry Board has some friends in the state Senate. No one on this seven-person regulatory board can hold office for longer than two four-year terms. That would change, however, if the House agrees to a Senate amendment to an innocuous bill dealing with inspection stations. The amendment strips the term-limits provision. The board has been in operation since 1997, and includes present and past automobile dealer industry executives. Calling all phones Rep. Ken Hawkins, R-Bedford, is asking lawmakers to gather used cellular telephones. Last year, more than 100 phones were recycled and converted into 60,000 minutes of phone cards for New Hampshire troops stationed overseas. Anyone interested in joining the donation can turn it over to a local legislator. Speaking circuit • South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will be the featured guest May 4 for the Belknap County Republican Committee, which is hosting a Lincoln Day dinner cruise on the M/S Mount Washington. Tickets are $35. • Carroll County Democrats have landed Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as their guest speaker for the annual Grover Cleveland Dinner on May 12 at the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel in Bartlett. Tickets are $45. Primary notes New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is hoping to break out of the pack with a biographical ad that will begin airing on WMUR-TV early this week. Richardson announced his state co-chairs last week: former Labor Commissioner Jim Casey, lobbyist Dick Bouley and former state party Chairman Jeff Woodburn. Meanwhile, as expected, Sen. Clegg climbed aboard the bandwagon of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. “I’m not going to choose a candidate based on how much money they’ve raised,’’ Clegg began. That’s a good thing, because Huckabee has very little of it. “He’s a principled guy, a true conservative who has thought a lot about the issues facing this country,’’ Clegg added. Numbers crunch The New Hampshire First program to overhaul the financial and accounting system throughout state government will miss its first major deadline. And nobody at the Statehouse is surprised. The so-called Enterprise Planning Program is in only the first year of operation, but it has been on the drawing boards of state agency heads and financial managers for going on 20 years. Assistant Administrative Services Commissioner Joseph Bouchard delivered the bad news Thursday to the Legislative Fiscal Committee: Phase 1 won’t go live July 1 as planned. “It is absolutely the best thing to do at this time,’’ Bouchard said. So, when will it be ready? “We do not want to prematurely have dates that fail to incorporate a good implemental plan,’’ Bouchard said. Phase 1 had included automating the state budget and purchasing systems, along with hooking up a few key agencies, including the Treasury Department. The state let the deadline pass because the work kept the focus of state financial managers off a smooth finish for the fiscal year ending June 30. Lynch really wants to get that squared away after financial problems in the Department of Transportation made a mess of the last fiscal year. In fact, the books on the 2006 fiscal year didn’t officially close until last week, nine and a half months after the year had ended. It has taken several years to get enough money to award this contract, and the planning process over the past year has seen several fits and starts. Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare, said he hopes the state learns from these delays. “This is a traumatic experience for all of us,” Kurk said. “Consider what can be done so colleagues in 2017 and 2027 can undertake the next version with less transitional problems than we are facing today.” Meanwhile, Bouchard admitted state managers have concluded more money and people will be needed to carry out this job. “I believe we need additional resources,’’ Bouchard said. Look for that additional request to be dropped off with the Senate Finance Committee as it prepares to complete its own version of a two-year state budget. Kevin Landrigan is the Statehouse reporter for The Telegraph. He can be reached at 224-8804 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com. ? More Kevin Landrigan Columns Subscribe to The Telegraph. |
| flooding Return to index of stories... |
News tips & feedbackLawmakers want money for flood repairs in NH By NORMA LOVE The Associated Press 14 hours, 2 minutes ago CONCORD – Lawmakers asked the Senate yesterday to add $4.5 million to the $218 million capital budget to make repairs to a dam and a seawall affected by last week's flooding. Sen. Lou D'Allesandro asked the Capital Budget Committee to add $1.5 million to repair a dam in Goffstown. Residents below the dam have been hit twice by flooding in the past year, he said. "It's a problem that won't go away," said D'Allesandro, D-Manchester. Rep. Nancy Stiles, R-Hampton, sought $3 million for repairs to the Hampton Beach seawall. She said lawmakers included money in the last capital budget for repairs, but the problems were more extensive than thought and the money is running out. She said the recent storm shows how vulnerable the seacoast would be if the seawall was breached. Hampton Town Manager Frederick Welch said a breach by a major storm would probably wash out the state highway along the beach and nearby buildings. He noted that large rocks battered the seawall during last week's storm. Several other witnesses testified in support of $435,000 in the budget to buy Temple Mountain in Peterborough, Sharon and Temple. Sen. Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, said the purchase would be a relatively inexpensive way to create a tourist draw to the area. Groups led by the Monadnock Conservancy have already raised money from federal grants and private donations toward the $1 million purchase price. The state funding is needed to complete the purchase. Temple Mountain ski area closed in 2001, and a couple from Temple bought the land two years later to save it from development and give the community a chance to raise money for permanent conservation. Officials with the Monadnock Conservancy say the property would connect thousands of acres of conservation land, creating a 15-mile corridor of trails from Crotched Mountain in Greenfield to the summit of Temple Mountain. A condition in the House-passed budget says the purchase cannot contain deed restrictions against cell towers and motorized use, which includes all-terrain vehicles. Another bill killed by the House would have imposed the restrictions on the deed. Claira Monier, executive director of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, asked the committee to bump up the $100,000 the House included for affordable housing projects to at least $1 million. She said she can leverage the $1 million to get $7 million from federal and other sources to build 70 units compared to 6 1/2 units at the House funding level. The budget also would spend: $35 million for improvements to the University System of New Hampshire. $17 million for improvements to the New Hampshire Community Technical College system. $14 million for renovations to the vocational centers in Exeter and Manchester. $5.5 million to begin expanding the Berlin prison and to build a 150-bed minimum security unit there. $1.5 million to begin work on a residential treatment unit at the state prison in Concord. $7 million for a new Merrimack District Courthouse. $6 million for maintenance and improvements at state parks. $3 million from highway funds for a new welcome center in Chesterfield. $1 million to study for rail service from Manchester to Lowell, Mass. |
| questions Return to index of stories... |
ED FUNDING Q Solving the state's education funding quagmire has been a priority for you. you're putting your political muscle behind a constitutional amendment that calls for the state to fund 50% of an adequate education, Target AID to needy communities, and limit court review of school policy. WHY will "this" amendment fare any better than the numerous attempts in the past. that failed? How is this different? Q what is the difference between Q You've stated that CACR-18 would take the COURTS out of the education funding process. Yet, the teachers union and other groups argue the amendment would give towns little RECOURSE for towns Court Review is needed out of the funding process. Q Republicans say in order to pass the house.you need to lay out the state's potential financial obligations. They liken it to a blank check??? Understand concerns about an open-ended commitment? Failure to provide state aid figures before Legislature votes on measure. Republicans ask WHERE would that 50% of state funding be taken from ? Will school construction funding be counted against communities ed funding allotment? If so, towns could face pressure to raise local property taxes. Q You're quoted as saying that the state Supreme Court in its Claremont and Londonderry decisions "imposed restrictions on us that no other state has -- to pay the first and last dollar of educational costs." What did you mean by that? Q State BD of Education supports it, The Business and Industry Association likes it, They feel it protects them from a sales and Income Tax. yet, others have suggested this amendment opens the door to an Income tax down the road to pay for education funding? Q Tthe TEACHERS union is AGAINST it. They believe it would allow lawmakers to change the funding formula every few years, leaving districts to guess at how much state aid they would receive. Isn't that a very real CONCERN? No standards on targeting in amendment -- makes it more political. Q What would you to say to property owners worried about their bills going UP even further? Most of NH's school districts are not in the dire need that a Claremont is -- or as well off as Hopkinton -- your hometown. They are somwhere in the middle -- Q Would need to win over 2/3rds of voters in November. What happens if they say NO? Back to the drawing board?? Governor, what is your back-up plan if the voters reject your amendment? Given that you have said that we should “embrace” the Claremont decisions, rejection of your amendment suggests that you would impose whatever state taxes are necessary to pay for the entire cost of an adequate education. The Democrat Party, at your urging, is on the verge of passing a definition that most folks agree costs at least $2 billion. What new taxes would you enact to raise this $2 billion, if your amendment is rejected? Governor, I assume you intend to run for reelection in 2008 on the pledge that you will veto an income tax or a sales tax. Please assume that you are reelected but your amendment fails. To keep the pledge, you would have to drastically scale back your definition of an adequate education. Exactly how would you redefine adequacy? SCHOOL SAFETY Q NH observed a national day of mourning for the victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre Out of this tragedy came a national dialogue on Gun Control & School SAFETY. Do NH schools have emergency response plans in place -- and are they sufficient? Q DO NH colleges and universities need to re-think how they respond to emergencies and what kind of safety improvements are needed." Q Should NH's standards conform to a national standard? Are there things other states are doing that we might borrow from their playbook??? Q a mass notification system donated by alumnus at UNH -- a siren warning and then following up with a clear, deliberate and powerful voice message. The donor says it can be programmed to provide a bugle reveille to play at 5:30 every morning to get the students out of bed!” SCHOOL DROPOUT Half a high school education is no longer enough. That is why we must increase our compulsory attendance age from 16 to 18. In my budget, I will propose the funding necessary to expand alternative learning programs, including technical education, internships and night school, to help students who do not do well in traditional classroom settings. FLOODING ECONOMIC INITIATIVE Your proposed Budget directs new money to the North Country. Certainly welcomed news in that part of the state But, beyond that -- What is being done to spur economic GROWTH in the North Country? Q Broad band has been identified as a critical infrastructure need for economic growth -- but, is almost non-existent in the North Country. Is the state involved in effort to connect that region of the state? ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE Q a bill that would ban the burning of construction and demolition debris. CON: Those in the waste management industry argue that putting debris into landfills is worse than burning it. They also said extra trucking involved will put more pollution in to the air that would result form the incineration. CIVIL UNIONS Lynch was never going to lead on civil unions but had he acted weeks ago, he could have played a role in what the legislation said. Instead, he ends up signing a bill that goes as far in equating civil unions to marriage as any other such law in the country The creation of civil unions would "energize and activate" the Republican base, added Cullen, who predicted that "there will be many legislators who do not return to Concord in 2009." Civil union opponents -- largely Republicans -- have warned that voters will punish Democrats at the polls for supporting the bill. said enacting civil unions could play a role in next year's elections. State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen disagreed. "You're kidding," he said when first told of Lynch's decision. "The Democrats are going too far, too fast and Governor Lynch is going along with them," he said. "These are not the actions of a moderate governor." Q You came under fire from both sides for not weighing in -- especially after the surprise delay last week of the Senate vote on the House-passed bill. q Lynch noted his support for same-sex benefits when he was a trustee in the state university system. But he opposes gay marriage. Asked why he opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions, Lynch said, "I still think marriage is between a man and a woman, but this prevents discrimination." some have called this a gay marriage bill in disguise. My question: are Larsen and Lynch trading Senate approval of civil unions for House approval of his amendment? If the House approves it, will the Senate calendar suddenly free up? "Why would we fast-track the bill and then hold it? It has to be for purely political reasons," he said. "The only factor left is the governor." Civil unions was not one of the issues Lynch raised in his inaugural or budget addresses. He has focused more on getting a constitutional amendment passed on school funding, raising the high school drop out age, getting more children on health insurance and raising the minimum wage A civil unions bill moving quickly through the State House hit a jam yesterday and some are questioning whether Gov. John Lynch, who has been silent on the issue, is behind it. CIVIL UNIONS The creation of civil unions would "energize and activate" the Republican base, added Cullen, who predicted that "there will be many legislators who do not return to Concord in 2009." Since most of the Democratic candidates running for president support civil unions for gay couples, Gov. Lynch's move provides an easy applause line for those candidates speaking in front of Democratic crowds in the Granite State. It will be far more interesting to watch the Republican presidential hopefuls react to what will soon be the law of the land in New Hampshire. "As a lifelong Red Sox fan Legacy. pres primary.must be getting a lot of phone calls from candidates.looking for support. So, what are you telling them? Call me next year??/what |
| burning debris Return to index of stories... |
State House Bureau Chief 11 hours ago CONCORD – Environmental and public health groups joined Gov. John Lynch yesterday in support of a bill that would ban the burning of construction and demolition debris. Lynch said House Bill 428, banning the incineration of the materials known as C&D, will prevent "an unnecessary and unacceptable danger to the health of New Hampshire people and the health of our environment." A moratorium on burning the material is set to expire at the end of this year. Lynch told the Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee a permanent ban should be in place because "the risks are too great." Lynch said toxins contained in the C&D, including lead, arsenic and mercury, would be released into the air during incineration. All are known to cause cancer, and fears are higher levels in the atmosphere would result in higher incidence of birth defects, asthma, and other illnesses. The bill passed the House last month on a voice vote. A companion bill, HB 427 which bars C&D from being defined as a fuel, also passed. The bills came forward after the owners of the Bio Energy wood-to-energy incinerator in Hopkinton tried to switch from virgin wood chips to C&D as a fuel. Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas Burack said the state would be better off focusing on recycling and reusing C&D waste than in burning it as a source of energy. New Hampshire generates only a small amount of C&D itself, he said. Some witnesses noted that Bio Energy would have to import truckloads of C&D in order to have enough fuel to run the plant. Others feared that allowing C&D incineration would open the state to a flood of imported waste and more C&D incinerators. Maine imports an estimated 80 percent of the waste it burns, witnesses said. Senate President Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, said that in addition to the public health risks allowing C&D incineration, "will cause our state to become a dumping ground for out-of-state toxic waste and threaten the growth and development of clean energy." Once waste is imported to the state, ash left over from incineration would have to be buried in state landfills, others warned. Testimony was not unanimous in favor of the two bills yesterday. Some in the waste management industry argued that forcing the material to be put into landfills is worse than burning it. They also said extra trucking involved will put more pollution in to the air that would result form the incineration. CommentNH blogosphere & eventsPrintEmailPage top |
| KEY: state politics / government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/6/2007 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 25:00 NOW on New Hampshire Outlook -- where NH Talks: We're coming to you from NH Public Television's broadcast center in Durham for a conversation with Governor John Lynch. He's been criss-crossing the state meeting with editorial boards. His latest stop: The Seacoast. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. Since taking office in January of 2005, Governor Lynch's popularity has steadily climbed. Shortly after his Inauguration -- his job approval stood at 43%. It now stands at a "staggering" 80%. His high ratings helped launch the democratic takeover of the Legislature in 2006 and might even help democrats in 2008. Critics say he's yet to be tested when it comes to making tough choices, but whether that's true or not -- he has earned tremendous political capital. How does he plan on spending it? Here to answer that question -- Governor John Lynch. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Gov. John Lynch\ New Hampshire |
| KEY: education Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/6/2007 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 25:00 NOW on New Hampshire Outlook -- where NH Talks: We're coming to you from NH Public Television's broadcast center in Durham for a conversation with Governor John Lynch. He's been criss-crossing the state meeting with editorial boards. His latest stop: The Seacoast. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. Since taking office in January of 2005, Governor Lynch's popularity has steadily climbed. Shortly after his Inauguration -- his job approval stood at 43%. It now stands at a "staggering" 80%. His high ratings helped launch the democratic takeover of the Legislature in 2006 and might even help democrats in 2008. Critics say he's yet to be tested when it comes to making tough choices, but whether that's true or not -- he has earned tremendous political capital. How does he plan on spending it? Here to answer that question -- Governor John Lynch. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Gov. John Lynch\ New Hampshire |
| KEY: economy Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/6/2007 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 25:00 NOW on New Hampshire Outlook -- where NH Talks: We're coming to you from NH Public Television's broadcast center in Durham for a conversation with Governor John Lynch. He's been criss-crossing the state meeting with editorial boards. His latest stop: The Seacoast. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to NH Outlook. Since taking office in January of 2005, Governor Lynch's popularity has steadily climbed. Shortly after his Inauguration -- his job approval stood at 43%. It now stands at a "staggering" 80%. His high ratings helped launch the democratic takeover of the Legislature in 2006 and might even help democrats in 2008. Critics say he's yet to be tested when it comes to making tough choices, but whether that's true or not -- he has earned tremendous political capital. How does he plan on spending it? Here to answer that question -- Governor John Lynch. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Gov. John Lynch\ New Hampshire |