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As the Legislature wraps up for the year, we look back at what was done and what lies ahead, up next. We take a look back at the Legislative session as lawmakers wrap up business for the year, next. |
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A conversation with 3 lawmakers as we look back at this Legislative session to see what was done and what lies ahead for the next Legislature. |
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Hello, I'm Richard Ager. Beth Carroll is off. Welcome to NH Outlook. We're at the NH Political Library in Concord. In state politics the bills have all been voted on and the Legislature is wrapping up its business. On Wednesday, the House and Senate voted on recommendations from their committees of conference. Those recommendations concern bills in which either chamber had made changes, and both sides met to see if they could agree on a compromise. Most bills passed easily and without debate. Then there were issues such as a bill to reform the state pension system which was facing a fiscal shortfall. Facing a crowd of pensioners wearing red shirts, negotiations had been tough - and it showed. |
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***DISCUSSION BEGINS HERE AFTER PACKAGE: SO - WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS SESSION? WHAT WERE THE BIG BILLS - AND DISAPPOINTMENTS? AND WHAT GOT LEFT BEHIND FOR FUTURE LAWMAKERS TO TACKLE? JOINING ME WE HAVE FOUR VETERAN LAWMAKERS TO DISCUSS HOW THIS SESSION WENT. SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN SEN. TED GATSAS REP. DAN EATON REP GENE CHANDLER - WELCOME ALL. 1: I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO GIVE ME A RATING OF THIS SESSION - JANUARY TO JUNE - 1-10 WITH 10 BEING LEGISLATIVE BRILLIANCE WORTHY OF ANCIENT ATHENS. PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR SCORES. HIGHPOINT? OR LOWPOINT? 2: LET'S DEAL WITH SOME PARTICULARS. THE STATE PENSION SYSTEM GOT A LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT. THE BILL WILL NOW DIVERT $250 MILLION FROM A COST OF LIVING ACCOUNT INTO THE MAIN FUND - AND THAT WILL HOLD DOWN BIG INCREASES PROJECTED IN EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS. THAT SHOULD PREVENT HUGE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES. IT WILL ALSO GRANT 1.5% COST OF LIVING INCREASES. BUT IT LEAVES OTHER BIG ISSUES UNRESOLVED, DOESN'T IT? IT DOES PROVIDE MORE AID FOR THE POOREST - ANOTHER $1000 FOR PENSIONS UNDER $20,000 - AND ANOTHER $500/YEAR FOR THOSE WHO RETIRED BEFORE 1993. IT WILL ALSO CAP PENSIONS AT $120,000/YEAR FOR NEW HIRES. 3: THIS WAS ALSO A TIME IN WHICH A WEAKENING ECONOMY CAUGHT UP WITH US. THE GOVERNOR CALLED THE LEGISLATURE INTO SPECIAL SESSION ON WEDNESDAY TO HELP BALANCE THE BOOKS BEFORE EVERYONE LEAVES TOWN. WHAT RESULTS? 4: THIS WAS ALSO A TIME FOR THE HIGHWAY PLAN PARTY TO END. FORMER TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER CHARLES O'LEARY - PLAYING THE GRINCH - ANNOUNCED THE HIGHWAY PLAN WAS LIKE A LETTER TO SANTA. NOW IT'S GREATLY PARED DOWN - AND FOCUSES MORE ON PRESERVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE THAN BOLD NEW PROJECTS. 5: A LOT WAS ATTEMPTED IN EDUCATION LEGISLATION THIS TERM. LAST SESSION WAS ABOUT DEFINING AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION. THIS SESSION WAS ABOUT COSTING IT. AND ALSO PASSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW FOR TARGETTING AID WITHOUT FIRST PAYING FOR ADEQUATE EDUCATION COSTS EVERYWHERE. THE AMENDMENT FAILED MISERABLY - NOT EVEN GETTING HALF THE VOTES IN THE HOUSE. WHY? WHAT EFFECTS WILL THIS HAVE ON FUTURE OF EDUCATION FUNDING? SEN GATSAS - I KNOW YOU HAVE PREDICTED THE RETURN OF DONOR TOWNS….ROLE OF SUPREME COURT? 6: LEGISLATURE PASSED SOME SUPPLEMENTARY MONEY FOR THE STATE'S SURVIVING CHARTER SCHOOLS. THOSE STUDENTS WILL GET AN EXTRA $1200 A YEAR ON TOP OF THE EXISTING ADEQUACY MONEY - SO THAT'S ABOUT $5000 EACH - MORE THAN REGULAR STUDENTS GET. WHY IS THAT NECESSARY? A KINDERGARTEN AID PACKAGE FOR STARTUP COSTS - FOR 12 DISTRICTS THAT DON'T OFFER IT. 7: AN ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE THAT STIRRED SOME CONTROVERSY WAS RGGI - THE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE. ESSENTIALLY, NH JOINS 9 OTHER STATES IN ESTABLISHING A CAP AND TRADE MARKET FOR GREENHOUSE GAS EMMISIONS - SUCH AS THOSE EMITTED BY COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS. YOU WANT TO POLLUTE - YOU PAY FOR THE PRIVELEGE. GOOD IDEA? PSNH HAS JUST BUILT A CLEAN WOOD-FIRED PLANT. OTHER PLANS SUCH AS WIND FARMS AND CONVERSION OF BERLIN BOILER. 8: THE DEMOCRATS NOW CONTROL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE HOUSE AND SENATE. AND YET YOU'RE FIGHTING AMONGST YOURSELVES. WHY? REP. CHANDLER, YOU WITNESSED REPUBLICANS FIGHTING WITH GOV. BENSON WHEN YOUR PARTY RAN IT ALL - IS IT BEWARE WHAT YOU ASK FOR? BETTER TO NOT HAVE IT ALL? 9: WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES THE NEXT LEGISLATURE WILL FACE? DO YOU PLAN TO BE PART OF THAT? **WRAPUP*** OUR THANKS TO: SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN SEN. TED GATSAS REP. DAN EATON REP GENE CHANDLER ALSO TO OUR HOSTS - THE NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICAL LIBRARY LOCATED IN THE STATE LIBRARY IN CONCORD. I'M RICHARD AGER - THANKS FOR WATCHING. SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK. Regulating charity gaming by tracking cash and protecting charities Addressing shortages in workforce housing by clarifying local ordinances. New Hampshire's shortage of affordable housing poses a threat to the state's economic growth, presents a barrier to the expansion of the state's labor force, and affects the ability of many communities to host new businesses Establishing a commission to study the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury suffered by New Hampshire soldiers and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. CONCORD - The very young and the state's retirees will benefit most from actions taken by the New Hampshire House of Representatives today during its final regular session. House members approved the bill that overhauls the state retirement system and the bill that makes New Hampshire the 50th state to mandate public kindergarten. The retirement bill creates an independent investment committee which will make financial recommendations to the State Retirement Board, ensuring the security of pensions in the future. “The challenges and problems in the retirement system were decades in the making, and in just one legislative session we have gone a long way to making sure the system is viable,” said Terie Norelli , Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. “With this legislation we will protect the future of state retirees and protect the taxpayers from significant increases.” Included in the measure were provisions to stabilize medical subsidies and provide a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees. The kindergarten aid bill provides help for districts to pay for the start-up costs for adding public kindergarten. “This legislation will allow the 12 school districts not yet offering public kindergarten to ensure the permanent opportunity for a public kindergarten education for every New Hampshire 5-year-old,” said Rep. Mary Jane Wallner , Majority Leader of the New Hampshire House. The House also voted on the following legislation today: o Regulating charity gaming by tracking cash and protecting charities o Addressing shortages in workforce housing by clarifying local ordinances. New Hampshire's shortage of affordable housing poses a threat to the state's economic growth, presents a barrier to the expansion of the state's labor force, and affects the ability of many communities to host new businesses o Establishing a commission to study the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury suffered by New Hampshire soldiers and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302-0095 For information online, visit www.des.nh.gov James P. Martin, Public Information Officer 271-3710; jmartin@des.state.nh.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2008 CONTACT: Jim Martin, 603 271-3710 Opinion/Editorial RGGI is good for New Hampshire Tom Burack, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Commissioner The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or RGGI is a program that will provide environmental protection, guard against rising energy prices and also benefit our economy. However, a recent Union Leader article raised concerns that New Hampshire's participation in RGGI will cause significant increases in electricity costs to the state's businesses and residents. In reality, the opposite is true - state adoption of RGGI is one of the only mechanisms we have to mitigate current increases in energy costs and protect against future price volatility. Failure to adopt RGGI because of fears regarding these short-term cost increases would be a short sighted approach to our current and future energy problems. RGGI is being adopted regionally by nine other states. Since electricity is bought and sold on a regional market, New Hampshire cannot expect to sit on the sideline and not see an impact on our rates due to RGGI implementation in surrounding states. We are not an electricity “island” and we will see a short-term increase in costs whether or not we adopt RGGI. The RGGI legislation under consideration by the legislature would enable New Hampshire to ultimately reduce electricity costs and have a positive economic impact for our State. This is accomplished by selling CO2 allowances at auction and investing the proceeds in energy efficiency as a positive step toward insulating our economy from ever-increasing energy costs. Doing nothing, or too little would be to passively accept higher costs. That would be detrimental to New Hampshire's economic development. An independent analysis by UNH has concluded that adoption of the RGGI legislation is in the state's best economic interest and will have positive economic impacts. UNH projects that investment in energy efficiency measures will reduce average industrial and residential energy bills within three years and that by 2018, RGGI would increase state employment by over 800 jobs and add $63 million to the New Hampshire economy. A further advantage of this program is that it will address rising heating as well as electrical costs. The proposed legislation contains a number of safe guards. New Hampshire can discontinue its participation at any time. Allowance price thresholds have been established beyond which funds will be rebated to New Hampshire businesses and residents. The Governor and Council will have the authority to suspend compliance with RGGI if a power emergency occurs. Additionally, yearly reports will monitor the prices and availability of RGGI allowances to affected CO2 sources, and the trends in electric rates for New Hampshire businesses and ratepayers. The New England regional electric system operator has evaluated RGGI's impact on electricity generation and concluded that the proposed program is “compatible with continued reliable operation of the system”. The fund created by the sale of the allowances is expected to receive in the range of 10 to 20 million dollars per year at the onset. However, in the unlikely event of significantly higher allowance prices, the fund is initially capped at the equivalent of approximately $60 million. DES concurs that this is a significant amount of money and appropriate measures should be implemented to ensure that the funds are invested in ways that will generate the maximum return in reduced energy costs. The fund should also be evaluated in terms of the potential demand for energy efficiency investment, which some have estimated at more than a billion dollars in New Hampshire alone. A recent study conducted for the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. estimated that the energy savings potential in New England could reduce demand by an amount equivalent to the electricity needs of all of the households in the states of Connecticut and New Hampshire combined by 2013, eliminating the need for 28 new 300 megawatt combined cycle gas fired generating plants. The best option for New Hampshire, as demonstrated by economic analysis, is to pass this legislation and invest the revenues from RGGI into energy efficiency, thus lowering the State's energy costs and helping businesses improve their bottom line. This legislation is good for New Hampshire regardless of whether one agrees that climate change poses significant future problems for our state and that CO2 emissions need to be reduced. If we fail to join RGGI, NH will see even higher electricity costs. However, by joining RGGI, we can control our own destiny and lower our energy costs while helping to protect our environment. # # # CONCORD, N.H. - A possible cigarette tax hike and a cut in _a wine discount will be used to balance New Hampshire's books. _ The Democratically controlled Legislature approved those _measures Wednesday, frustrating Republicans who had argued Gov. _John Lynch and Democrats ignored warnings last year that the budget _was just too large. _ Lynch and the Executive Council called lawmakers into special _session to take up more budget cuts later Wednesday. Lynch wants to _use the state's credit card to plug perhaps $40 million toward _filling the budget hole. Lawmakers approve more money for NH charter schools CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire lawmakers have voted to give _more state aid to six charter schools struggling to stay open. _ Legislators voted today to give an extra $1,168 per pupil next _year to state-approved schools that operate without local financial _support. That's on top of adequacy aid the schools will get per _pupil, bringing their total state aid to $5,000 per pupil. _ The charter schools are the Academy for Science and Design, _Cocheco Arts and Technology, New Hampshire Equestrian Academy, _Seacoast, Strong Foundations and Surry Village. _ The help does not come in time for a seventh school, the _Franklin Career Academy, which is closing at the end of this school _year. Outlook - education funding forum Nashua.doc |
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CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire's public pension system will _get much-needed cash to shore it up - and spare property taxpayers _steep increases under an overhaul approved by lawmakers. _ But lawmakers did not fix two key long-term problems: how to _fund future cost of living increases and how to help all public _retirees with health insurance. Instead, they voted Wednesday to _establish commissions to study long-term solutions to both issues. _ The bill sent to Gov. John Lynch would shift $250 million from _an account used to pay for cost-of-living increases for retirees _into the main pension fund. That would help hold down increases in _employer contributions. _ Without the fund shift, contribution rates for the state and _local governments would increase 53 percent in 2010. If the deal _becomes law, negotiators estimate the increase will be 14 percent _for local governments and 27 percent for the state. _ The bill also would give retirees a 1.5 percent cost of living _increase and continued help paying for medical insurtance. It also _would leave retirees with a majority on the retirement system's _board. _ The House voted 303-27 to pass the bill; the Senate, 23-0. Lynch _is expected to sign it. CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire lawmakers have passed a _10-year, $2.3 billion highway plan that cuts the current plan _almost in half. _ The bill passed Wednesday cuts more than $2 billion in projects. _Lawmakers say they expect funding for even the pared down plan to _fall short, but the plan will be reviewed every two years to make _adjustments. _ The plan also endorsed a major shift from new construction to _projects to preserve the current system and fix troubled bridges. _ CONCORD, N.H. - Lawmakers have approved New Hampshire's _Online Child Safety Act - legislation designed to protect children _from online predators and child pornographers. _ The bill approved Wednesday contains penalties for distributing _pornography involving images of children up to age 18. That's a _change from the Senate version, which set the age at 16. The _compromise keeps the age at 16 for indecent exposure and lewdness. _ It also spells out how illegal images will be handled as part of _court proceedings, allowing experts who testify on the images to _have access while protecting against any further dissemination. _ Gov. John Lynch is expected to sign the bill. NH legislators approve poker tax _Eds: APNewsNow. _ CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire legislators have passed a new _tax on Texas Hold 'Em and other poker games being run by charities. _ The legislation raises the maximum bet from $2 to $4. _ A 3 percent tax would apply in tournaments where the playing _chips had no monetary value. A 10 percent tax would apply if the _chips had a monetary value. _ The state already gets a share of wagers on Bingo and Lucky _Seven. NH governor and council call special legislative session _Eds: APNewsNow. _ CONCORD, N.H. - Governor John Lynch and the Executive _Council have taken a step to make sure New Hampshire lawmakers _stick around until they resolve the state's fiscal woes. _ Lynch and the council voted Wednesday to call lawmakers into _special session to shore up the state budget. The last special _session vote was in 1989, when the state also faced problems from _an economic downturn. _ Lynch wants to borrow money to help fill a hole in the state _budget. Republicans don't like the idea and could possibly block it _in regular session because a two-thirds vote would be needed. In a _special session, budget changes require only a majority vote. Analysis: Standoff, stalemate and stuck By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 9 hours, 45 minutes ago CONCORD - With all the heat in the proverbial kitchen these days, it might surprise the casual observer that New Hampshire's House and Senate are controlled by the same party. Democrats came to power two years ago for the first time in more than a century. They passed a two-year budget easily enough last year. It is proving a lot more difficult to pass bills that fix a budget deficit and reform the state's public pension plan. The lack of progress has Democrats pointing at each other in what is fast becoming an intra-party blame game. The budget bill is hung up over competing plans to change liquor revenue. The House wants to raise extra money by cutting the discount that big retailers get on wholesale wine purchases. The Senate has other ideas, including a 3 percent across-the-board price hike, that the House has rejected. The retirement bill is hung up on a disagreement over whether to cap pensions for police and firefighters hired after the bill passes. Speaker of the House Terie Norelli and Senate President Sylvia Larsen have met to find ways to a compromise. That led to the weekend standoff. Gov. John Lynch's hand has yet to be played. House and Senate members said they have not seen Lynch rolling up his sleeves to end the stalemates. Unless something gives in the next 24 hours, the Legislature is likely to go into a special session later this month. Nerves wore raw late last week, before both the House and Senate decided to start a shuttle diplomacy approach today. At one touchy point in late-night budget talks Friday, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, was frustrated after another House refusal to take a deal on liquor prices. "I see the cooperative nature of the House remains consistent,"." he said sarcastically. "Here we are trying to do some good for our state and once again are held at bay by House conferees." On the other side of the wall, the House has been embarrassed and frustrated over the pace of retirement reform talks. Just minutes from the finish line on retirement Friday night, talks broke down over the pension cap. Union members, especially retired teachers, crowd hearing rooms whenever the bill is up for discussion. Because the Senate has bought most of the union's arguments about how reform should look, retirees last week started applauding whenever Senate negotiators entered the room. That clearly annoyed Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham. "I would like to have everyone sitting out there applaud me. The world is too complicated a place to play to an audience," she said, addressing the crowd and the Senate. "I care more about reality than about appearances." After talks broke off early Saturday morning, the House and Senate met separately over the weekend, and continued to meet apart yesterday. Work on all bills has to finish today because printers have to have copies ready for the House and Senate session tomorrow. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Contact: Senate President Sylvia Larsen 271-2111 House Speaker Terie Norelli 271-3661 COMMITTEE REACHES AGREEMENT ON RETIREMENT SYSTEM CHANGES CONCORD - A committee of House and Senate members reached agreement today on legislation that will strengthen the state retirement system and protect municipalities from a potential 53 percent increase in their payments to the system. “In one legislative term, we've gone a long way toward creating a sound, stable and viable retirement system for the long term, securing the future of our retirees and protecting our taxpayers from a significant increase,” said House Speaker Terie Norelli. The compromise creates a new independent investment committee, made up of five members who will be selected based on their knowledge of and experience in dealing with investments. The goal is to improve the performance of the New Hampshire Retirement System's investments. House and Senate members also worked to provide extra assistance to retirees with the smallest pensions. "We wanted to do our best for our retirees with the smallest pensions, now and in the future. We want to provide a dignified retirement to the 73 percent of retirees earning less than $21,000 for their pensions," said Rep. Anne-Marie Irwin, , who chaired the conference committee. The retirement system must provide for the future retirements of 53,000 public employees-teachers, firefighters, police officers and state and local government workers-along with 20,000 already retired members. “This has been a multi-phase process involving many stakeholders and legislative leaders and we're grateful for the contributions everyone made to this effort. Stabilizing the foundation of our retirement system and keeping our promises to retirees was a critical task for the Legislature this year. We have a result we can be proud of,” said Senate President Sylvia Larsen. -more- Major points in the agreement include: Creating a new five-member independent investment committee with stringent standards for membership that require expertise and experience with investments. Transferring $250 million from the special account to the main body of the retirement system fund, reducing an overwhelming 53 percent rate increase to the municipalities to a 15 percent increase. Freezing the medical subsidy for four years then increasing it by four percent per year thereafter. In the interim, retirees would get a $500 per person contribution toward their health insurance costs with a $1,000 contribution for a couple. Retaining the current structure of the board of trustees but adding new standards to ensure every member of the board has some knowledge of business or money management. Establishing two committees - one to study the future of subsidies for retiree health insurance and another to study how best to provide cost of living increases in the future. Providing a 1.5 percent cost of living increase each year on the first $30,000 of a retiree's pension until the new COLA committee makes its report and new legislation is enacted. Providing an additional annual payment of $1,000 to those receiving pensions of less than $20,000 and another $500 per year for those who retired before 1993. Placing a cap on what any retiree can earn for a pension at $120,000 per year for new hires starting in 2009. Friday, May 16, 2008 Contact: Senator Peter Burling 271-3642 SENATEAPPROVES 10-YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONCORD - The Senate voted last night for a new and more realistic 10-year transportation plan that's expected to address repairs and upgrades to critical highways and bridges around the state. “It is incredibly important that the state of New Hampshire continue its investment in the maintenance and upgrade of our transportation system. It would be better if we could actually increase that investment but given our current financial situation, we're doing what we can and addressing our priorities,” said Senator Peter Burling. House Bill 1646 provides for the repair of Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, the widening of Interstate 93, completion of the southern leg of the Conway bypass, completion of the Granite Street exit in Manchester and repairs to 89 red-listed bridges throughout the state. It sets realistic goals for transportation improvements over the next 10 years and calls for the plan to be reviewed every two years to measure progress. The plan was developed after multiple public hearings in communities across the state and intensive study of the state's transportation needs by the Governor's Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation. The Senate also voted to add to the legislation authorization for the state treasurer to bond up to $80 million on school construction aid -- action that will only be taken if needed to maintain a balanced state budget. “The time is now to act with prudence and fiscal responsibility,” said Senate President Sylvia Larsen. “We have taken many actions to adjust our spending to respond to declining revenues,” she noted. The authorization to bond up to $40 million this year and next year provides an extra level of protection. If the bonding went forward, it would represent only half a percent of the state's debt service. Larsen said the state treasurer and the state bond counsel have said this would not affect the state's bond rating or the state's ability to borrow at the most competitive rates. “Bonding our school building program would be similar to the mechanisms already used for other capital projects, such as university construction,” Larsen said. |
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That does it for us here at the New Hampshire Political Library housed in the State Library in Concord. I'm Richard Ager. Thanks for watching New Hampshire Outlook. We'll see you next time. |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 6/8/2008 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Now on NH Outlook: A conversation with three lawmakers as we look back at this Legislative session to see what was done and what lies ahead for the next Legislature. Hello, I'm Richard Ager. Beth Carroll is off. Welcome to NH Outlook. We're at the NH Political Library in Concord. In state politics the bills have all been voted on and the Legislature is wrapping up its business. On Wednesday, the House and Senate voted on recommendations from their committees of conference. Here with me are state lawmakers to discuss the past legislative session. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sen. Maggie Hassan\ District 23, Rep. Dan Eaton\ Stoddard, Rep. Gene Chandler\ Bartlett |