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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. As we tape our show the weather outside is not cooperating - a few of our guests are unable to join us. So we're changing our format a bit. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
So joining us by phone from her home in Randolf Edith Tucker of the Coos County Democrat. Edith - thanks for being here. Edith is on the phone because as you know, we have a big winter storm moving in and it's a long drive through the notches. And joining us this week from the state house in Concord - Kevin Landrigan of the Telegraph. Thanks to you for sticking around to be with us. |
| Intro Vouchers Return to index of stories... |
Let's start with School Vouchers! Should parents get them to help send their children to private or religious schools? That was the subject of a.very close vote at the statehouse on Thursday. Here's some of the debate. Graphic: |
| Vouchers Return to index of stories... |
Rep. Gene Chandler - "The majority of the committee on education wishes to refer House bill 1353 FN, a act mandating open enrollment in schools statewide." Track: The school voucher bill was the latest attempt to divert public funds to private schools including those run by churches. Graphic: Under the proposal, over a 7 year period, an greater number of vouchers would be distributed each year with 2,000 vouchers in year 1 increasing to 14,000 vouchers in year 7. Each voucher would be worth about $2700 - 80% of the state's defined cost of an adequate education. Track: Opponents of the bill say the numbers alone should doom this measure. Deanna Rousch - "The cost of this bill for fiscal 2005 - according to the legislative budget assistant office, is over $6 million. By the fiscal 2009, that will rise to over $32 million annually. Ultimately, it is estimated that this program will drain $45 million annually from public schools." Track: But supporters say this is about more than money. Rep. Sandra Carson - "This is about education and empowering parents to make educational choices irregardless of where they live and how much money they earn. The wealthy have always been able to afford school choice for their children. This amendment gives those who can least afford a private schol education the opportunity to make a choice on behalf of their children. " Rep. Alf Jacobsen - " This is a bill that radically changes what our traditional historic educational program has been. It does so by funding persons going to non-public schools including sectarian schools." Track: And that, according to opponents of vouchers, violates the state constitution. Rep. Steve Vaillancourt - "It says, and I quote: "No money raised by taxations shall ever be granted or applied for the use of the schools of institutions of any religious sect or denomination. How can you say that this bill would not simply be money-laundering in an attempt to get around the constitutional provision?" Rep. John Alger - "The point I make again - the only money authorized in these certificates will be for secular or non-religious education. It cannot be used for courses in religion. " The house will attend to the state of the vote - 171in the positive - 172 in the negative - the motion fails. Richard Ager - "The decisive margin was provided by Rep. Richard Leone who flew to NH for the vote. He left immediately to return to Florida to tend to a family emergency." Rep. John Alger - "The governor supports vouchers, it's in the Republican platform, it's supported by House leadership. But now you see, we have a bunch of people who say they are Republicans, but are they really if they're not willing to support this major kind of an issue?" Richard Ager - "DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE TODAY'S EXERCISE REPEATED ANYTIME SOON?" Rep. Deanna Rush - " Yes I do. There is a core group in the House that is probably going to take the same amendment and gut another one of our bills in education and try to put it on there. |
| Vouchers Discussion Return to index of stories... |
RICHARD: WELL, KEVIN, YOU WERE IN THE HOUSE FOR THE VOTE. WHAT WAS THE THINKING BY HOUSE LEADERSHIP, DID THEY EXPECT THIS TO PASS? I THINK THEY THOUGHT ALL THE STARS WERE IN ALIGNMENT, AND THAT BECAUSE THE SPEAKER AND GOVERNOR WERE BOTH IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS MODEST SCHOOL CHOICE BILL IT WOULD START UP GRADUALLY AND RAMP UP OVER SEVEN YEARS, THAT ENOUGH REPUBLICANS WOULD SUPPORT IT, ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR. EDITH, WHAT'S YOUR SENSE, THERE WERE COMMENTS BY REPRESENTATIVE ALGER IN QUESTIONING WHETHER THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO REFUSED TO VOTE FOR CHOICE AREN'T REAL REPUBLICANS. DO YOU THINK THIS IS A LITMUS TEST FOR THAT PARTY? OH, I DON'T THINK IT WILL TURN OUT TO BE. I THINK THE STATE IS SO BURIED -- VARIED ON WHAT DIFFERENT SKICH SITS WANT. I'M NOT SURPRISED IT WAS FUNDAMENTALLY A STALEMATE. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THIS PROPOSAL REALLY HAD WAS THAT IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN, AS YOU KNOW, RICHARD, THERE'S A LOT OF ANGST ABOUT THE EDUCATION FUNDING LAW N. THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, MANY COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE DEAL WITH LESS STATE AID RATHER THAN MORE STATE AID THE WAY THEY'VE CHANGED THE LAW. SO TO INTRODUCE ANY PROPOSAL THAT WOULD WITHDRAW ANY FUNDS AT ALL FROM THEIR EDUCATION TRUST FUND GRANT THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING IS REALLY HARD FOR EVEN A LOT OF MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO SWALLOW. YES, CERTAINLY GIVEN THE AMOUNTS THAT WERE REITERATED BY REPRESENTATIVE RUSH THERE, THIS INCREASING AMOUNT EVERY YEAR, THAT PROBABLY HELPED TO SCARE OFF AT LEAST SOME REPUBLICANS. WE'VE HAD AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT UP HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY IN WHICH A CONSORTIUM OF TEN HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER TO START A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT WAS JUST APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND FUNDED WITH A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THREE YEARS FOR AT-RISK AND DROPOUT YOUTH, WILL BE CALLED THE NORTH COUNTRY ALTERNATIVE CHARTER SCHOOL. AND SO THIS IS AN INTERESTING WAY OF GOING THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS TO SET UP A SCHOOL DESIGN FOR A SPECIAL GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS WHO AREN'T THRIVING IN THE CONVENTIONAL SETTING. SO I THINK WE'LL SEE UNDER THE CHARTER SCHOOLS MORE OF THIS KIND OF EFFORT. KEVIN, DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS PERHAPS EVEN BEFORE THE SESSION IS OVER, SEE THIS COME UP AGAIN? WELL, ACTUALLY THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A MOVE FILED LATE YESTERDAY TO RECONSIDER THIS BILL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DEADLINES HAVE PASSED FOR THESE KIND OF LEGISLATION TO BE TAKEN UP WITHOUT A TWO THIRDS VOTE. BECAUSE THEY USED A BILL FROM LAST YEAR, IN ORDER TO PUT THIS AMENDMENT ONTO IT, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A TWO THIRDS VOTE JUST TO RECONSIDER WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK, WHICH IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN. BUT SURE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT PREVENTS ANYONE ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AS THE PERSON SPOKE OF TRYING TO STICK ANOTHER AMENDMENT ON A DIFFERENT BILL IN ORDER TO BRING IT FORWARD. BUT THE HOUSE GENERALLY HAS A TRADITION OF ONCE DEALING WITH A SUBJECT IN A YEAR TO BE VERY RELUCK TAP TO CHANGE ITS MINE, EVEN IF IT IS A CLOSE VOTE. YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE CHANGING THEIR MINE THE SECOND TIME IT BROUGHT TO THEM, SIMPLY SAYING WELL, THE HOUSE HAS SPOKEN, I THINK WE OUGHT TO MOVE ONTO OTHER THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME YESTERDAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THE DEMOCRATS WERE COMPLAIN GOING IS A VERY SIMILAR BILL HAD BEEN SENT FOR FURTHER STUDY JUST A FEW WEEKS BACK, AND THEN THIS ONE APPEARED WITH ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME LANGUAGE. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THE ONLY CHANGE THAT BEEN PUT IN WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANT WAS THAT THE STUDENT WHO WOULD GO TO THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS SUBSIDIZED BY VOUCHERS, THEIR STANDARDIZEDED TEST RESULT WAS HAVE TO BE PROVIDED TO THE STATE SO THERE WOULD BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AS TO WHETHER THEY'RE LEARNING AS MUCH AS THERE IS NOW IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLSNESS OKAY. |
| Intro Sampson Return to index of stories... |
The death penalty is back in the news. That's because a US District Court judge in Massachusetts has ordered that convicted murderer Gary Sampson be executed in New Hampshire. Sampson murdered two men in Massachusetts and is accused of another murder in New Hampshire. Phil Vaughn has some background. |
| Sampson Discussion Return to index of stories... |
WELL, EDITH, 65 YEARS SINCE THE LAST EXECUTION. WHAT EFFECT DO YOU THINK THIS ORDER IS GOING TO HAVE ON THE DEBATE OVER CAPITAL PUNISHMENT HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? WELL, I THINK IT WILL PROVIDE GON, IF YOU RECALL, THE LEGISLATURE WAS GOING TO OUTLAW, WHAT WAS PROPOSED AND GOVERNOR SHAHEEN VETOED THAT, HAD TO DO WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND SOMEONE KILLING THEM. UP HERE THE SPECULATION THAT CAME UP AT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, ALL THE SCHMOOZING BEFORE AND AFTER, WAS THAT THE FEDERAL PRISON WOULD BE BUILT BY THE TIME THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND THAT LIKELY IT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT BERLIN, BRINGING A VERY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE NORTH COUNTRY. WHAT'S THE SENSE OF THE STATE HOUSE, CLEARLY THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE STATE HERE. I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY SAID THAT HE WILL DO WHAT HE CAN TO COMPLY HERE. BUT DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THERE COULD BE SOME REVIVING OF A MOVE TO BAN THE DEATH PENALTY? AFTER ALL, THERE WAS A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE BANED THE DEATH PENALTY THAT GOT VETOED BY GOVERNOR SHAHEEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO. THAT'S RIGHT, EDITH HAS REFERED TO THAT. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY MOVE THIS YEAR TO TRY AND COMPLETELY REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY. THOSE WHO SUPPORT SUCH A REPEAL ARE AWARE GOVERNOR BENSON IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE DEATH PENALTY, SO YOU REALLY NEED A VETO PROOF MAJORITY IN ORDER TOOVER COME WHAT YOU COULDN'T OVERCOME WITH JEANNE SHAHEEN. SO I THINK AFTER THIS NEXT ELECTION THEY'LL PROBABLY REJOIN THE DEBATE IN 2005 AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WITH ENOUGH TIME WELL BEFORE MR. SAMPSON WOULD BE EXECUTED HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT AS WELL THAT WITH REGARD TO PROFESSOR SHE'S' REMARK ABOUT HAVING THE EXECUTION IN CONNECTICUT, ONE OF THE IRONIES HERE IS THE MURDER THAT SAMPSON COMMITTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, ALLEGEDLY, IF HE WAS CONVICTED, HE WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE DEATH PENALTY HERE, BECAUSE AS EDITH MENTIONED OUR DEATH PENALTY IS VERY NARROWLY DRAWN. AND IN THAT CASE, HE SIMPLY BROKE INTO A HOUSE, AND A POLICE SAY KILLED A PERSON, THAT WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS ANYTHING BUT LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE HERE IF HE WAS CONVICTED. SO THIS CASE IS LITERALLY BEING PUT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S LAP, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A DEATH PENALTY STATUTE. DOES IT SEEM THAT IT TAKES US, YOU KNOW, THIS STATE ACTUALLY BEING INVOLVED, HAVING A CASE IN WHICH AN EXECUTION WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE, TO REALLY BRING THIS DEBATE TO A FORE? I REALLY HAD THE MURDERS HAPPENED IN COLEBROOK ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, THE MURDERER WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SUBJECT TO THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE HE MURDERED STATE TROOPERS, EXCEPT OF COURSE HE WAS KILLED IN THE COURSE OF THE RESOLUTION OF THAT. SO IT DID NOT COME TO THE COURTS. IT'S INTERESTING, I WAS WORKING FOR THE COOS COUNTY DEMOCRAT AT THAT TIME AND WE PUT THE PAPER OUT THAT NIGHT, TUESDAY NIGHT, AND WE'RE A WEDNESDAY PAPER, WE HAD ARMED OFFICERS IN THE BUILDING PROTECTING US. IT WAS UNCLEAR AT THE TIME WHETHER THE PERPETRATOR WAS GOING GENERALLY AFTER NEWSPAPER EDITORS, SINCE HE HAD KILLED AN EDITOR IN COLEBROOK. AND LISTENING TO THE SCANNER COVERING THE STORY, DID MAKE ME SHIFT MY VIEWS TOWARDS THE DEATH PENALTY, AND I WAS NOT DISMAYED AT ALL WHEN THE SLAYER OF THESE FOUR PEOPLE IN COLEBROOK WAS KILLED HIMSELF, AND WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LENGTHY TRIAL AND DISCUSSION AND SO FORTH. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION WE WILL BE COVERING THE DEATH PENALTY HEARING IN THE SENATE ON MONDAY. THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE OF PEOPLE SUBJECT TO THE DEATH PENALTY. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT TOO, RICHARD, IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO SUPPORTS THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT GOING TO TAKE A POSITION ON THAT BILL. BECAUSE THE IDEA OF CRUEL AND INHUMAN PUNISHMENT AGAINST SOMEONE UNDER 18 IS A VERY TOUCHY SUBJECT. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS DECIDED TO LET THE LEGISLATURE DECIDE. OKAY. WE'LL TOUCH MORE ON THAT NEXT WEEK. |
| Intro Primary Return to index of stories... |
The biggest round of primaries and caucuses yet took place Tuesday night with voting in seven states. When the results were in, John Kerry emerged as the biggest winner while the field of candidates continued to narrow. Here's the roundup: |
| Primary Return to index of stories... |
"John Kerry" Track: Sen. John Edwards picked up his first win - South Carolina where he was born. Sen. John Edwards - "The truth is we still live in two different Americas.that works for everybody - that's what this election is all about. " Track Edwards ran a close second in Oklahoma - which went to Wesley Clark. Gen. Wesley Clark - "The results are in and we have won. Oklahoma is OK by me.this first election I've ever won. " Track: It was a tough night for the rest of the candidates. Sen. Joseph Lieberman - "I have decided tonight to end my quest for the Presidency of the USA.you bet I am." Track: Al Sharpton finished third in South Carolina but maintained an optimistic message. Rev. Al Sharpton - "Tonight we started a movement that will transform.astounding boost in the arm for the Sharpton campaign." Gov. Howard Dean - "The votes are starting to come in and we're going to have a tough night but we're going to keep going and going." Track: The Dean campaign - and the others trailing Kerry - are focusing on the delegate count. Graphic: 2,161 delegates are needed win the nomination. Among the major candidates, Kerry currently has 244, Dean has 121, Edwards has 102, Clark has 79. Kerry Dean Edwards Clark Lieberman Kucinich Sharpton 244 121 102 79 25 5 2 Track: The race continues with caucuses on Saturday in Washington and Michigan and on Sunday in Maine. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Primary Discussion Return to index of stories... |
WELL, FROM BEING AN ALSO RAN TO BECOMING APPARENTLY INVINCEIBLE, IN LESS AN MONTH IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING TIME FOR JOHN KERRY. AND KEVIN, NOW AFTER HIS 51% WIN IN MISSOURI, HE'S GOT THE BACKING OF RICHARD GEPHARDT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WINING TO MAKE A WEAK CANDIDATE LOOK STRONG. AND THIS CALENDAR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PUT TOGETHER ACTUALLY ONLY REINFORCED THAT, WITH SO MANY STATES, PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES FALLING RIGHT AFTER NEW HAMPSHIRE, HE HAD THE ABILITY AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO TURN THAT BOUNCE INTO A BOOMERANG ON THE OTHER CANDIDATES. AND EDITH, YOU'VE GOT TO IMAGINE THAT WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS SUPREME COURT MAKING ITS RULING THAT GAY MARRIAGE SHOULD BE THE LAW IN THAT STATE, THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR HOME STATE SENATOR ANY FAVORS, ARE THEY? WELL, THEY'VE ALREADY ACTUALLY MADE THAT RULING. WHAT THEY JUST ISSUED WAS AN ADVISORY OPINION ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION. IN MASSACHUSETTS THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT CAN GIVE AN ADVISORY OPINION WHEN ASKED ABOUT PROPOSED LEGISLATION. SO IT MEANS THAT THINGS ARE SPEEDIER THERE THAN IN MANY OTHER STATES. NO, I THINK THAT THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR SENATOR KERRY. I THINK HE IS IN A VERY SIMILAR POSITION TO WHAT GOVERNOR DEAN DID IN VERMONT, AND HE'S SAYING HE'S IN FAVOR OF CIVIL UNIONS, WHICH WOULD DO MORE OR LESS THE SAME THING, BUT PROTECT THE WORD MARRIAGE, OR HE THINKS IT'S PROTECTING IT. IT CERTAINLY IS ONE OF THOSE WEDGE ISSUES, IT'S HARD TO KNOW JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY FEEL PASSIONATELY ON THIS TOPIC. IT DOES SEEM LIKE WHAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE FIGHTING OVER HERE IS THE OWNERSHIP OF THE WORD, MARRIAGE. BECAUSE I CANNOT DETECT A SORT OF REAL LIFE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CIVIL UNIONS AND WHATEVER GAY MARRIAGE WOULD BE. WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE WORD HAS AN IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS AND EVEN SECULAR CONTEXT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. RIGHT, BECAUSE CIVIL UNIONS GRANTS ALL THE LEGAL RIGHTS. THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK IT'S RATHER THE WAY IT WAS WITH SO-CALLED TEST TUBE BABIES, WHEN THEY, WHEN THAT FIRST HAPPENED OR ANY OF THE OTHER NUMBER OF CONTENTIOUS ISSUES ABOUT PARENTHOOD AND SO FORTH, THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH IN THE LAST TEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS. IT TAKES QUITE A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND THE FACT THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACTUALLY IS A DECLINE IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S BOTHERING TO GET MARRIED. WHETHER THEY'RE OF OP SIT SEXES OR NOT. AND SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT BUSH ADDRESSED IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION, AND IN HIS PLATFORM THAT HE'S EAGER TO HELP PEOPLE GET MARRIED. SO THE WHOLE TOPIC OF MARRIAGE, AND PARENTHOOD SEEMS TO BE ONE THAT IS RAPIDLY CHANGING IN THE PUBLIC'S VIEW. I'M SURE THIS LITTLE CULTURE WAR WILL HAVE ELEMENTS IN THE UP COMING ELECTION. IT WILL, AND ONE THE PROBLEMS JOHN KERRY HAS IS THAT UNLIKE HOWARD DEAN HE VOTED AGAINST THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT IN 1996 THAT BILL CLINTON SIGNED. AT THE TIME, IRONICALLY ENOUGH, JOHN KERRY WAS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AGAINST THEN MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR BILL WELD, A MODERATE REPUBLICAN WHO SUPPORTED GAY RIGHTS. AND HE SAW THE WHOLE DEBATE IS A UGLY AND UNNECESSARY. HE WAS ONLY ONE OF 16 DEMOCRATS WHO TOOK THAT VOTE, AND OBVIOUSLY NOW IT'S GOING TO BE USED AGAINST HIM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. |
| Gov Jury Duty Return to index of stories... |
Another story making news this week - Governor Craig Benson spent much of his week serving jury duty. As deliberations continue in a sexual assault case word comes that the Governor may have been removed from the case. Kevin can you give us an update? AT THIS HOUR WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE HAS REMOVED GOVERNOR BENSON AS A JUROR BECAUSE OF A QUESTION THAT THE MEDIA ASKED HIM UPON LEAVING THE COURTHOUSE THURSDAY NIGHT. THE QUESTION WAS, ARE YOU AWARE THAT A DEFENSE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO REMOVE YOU AS A JUROR? HE SAID HE HAD NOT BEEN AWARE. BUT THE VERY QUESTION WOULD RAISE DOUBTS IN CERTAINLY AND CREATE A PROBLEM ON APPEAL SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT MOTION COULD PRESENT SOME KIND OF BIAS THAT THAT JUROR COULD THEN BRING BACK INTO THE DELIBERATIONS. SO THE JUDGE FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMOVE GOVERNOR BENSON, AND AN ALTERNATE WILL REPLACE HIM. AND AT THAT POINT DELIBERATIONS WILL HAVE TO START ALL OVER. AND THE LAST WORD IS GOING TO GO TO YOU, KEVIN, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK. |
| Guest Thanks Return to index of stories... |
That's all the time we have for this week. Thanks to you Edith for being with us by phone. And Kevin as always it was great to have you with us. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
I'm Richard Ager. Thanks for joining us. |
| Founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to the Stratford Foundation which has provided continuing major funding for the production of NH Outlook |
| Monday Promo Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. We'll be talking about the Death Penalty in New Hampshire. We will have coverage of the Senate hearing that day, and analysis. Join us Monday at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. We'll be talking about the Death Penalty in New Hampshire. We will have coverage of the Senate hearing that day, and analysis. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: Media Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/06/04 22:00 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 27:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, the countdown is on. We're recapping the week's top stories. School Vouchers, the Gary Sampson Death Penalty Decision, and primary politics. Joining us this week Edith Tucker of the Coos County Democrat and Kevin Landrigan of the Telegraph. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager, Jennifer Vachon NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat, Kevin Landrigan\Telegraph |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at other stories making news this Friday. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. We'll be talking about the Death Penalty in New Hampshire. We will have coverage of the Senate hearing that day, and a studio discussion. Our guests will include Renny Cushing, a death penalty opponent whose own father was murdered. We hope you'll join us on Monday. |
| Gay Marriage Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Gay Marriage-N.H Gay marriage in Massachusetts divides some in N.H. -- While Massachusetts grapples with a court ruling that gives a green light to gay marriage, New Hampshire lawmakers soon will take up a proposal to limit marriage to between a man and woman. The New Hampshire Senate will take up a bill February 17th to bar gay marriages, as well as to prevent the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states. Yesterday the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that nothing short of gay marriage will pass constitutional muster. The court says same-sex couples are entitled to all the benefits of marriage. Brian Rater, chairman of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, says he is excited by the Massachusetts ruling. He says it is about more than just specific legal benefits -- it also is about the rights of an entire class of people. But New Hampshire Roman Catholic Bishop John McCormack says the marriage of man and woman is a divine gift that should not be altered by any person or society. He says the court was wrong. AP-NY-02-05-04 0610EST |
| Road Report Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Road Report Report says more work needed on state's roads -- A new report says New Hampshire's roads and bridges are in better shape than five years ago, but still need significant improvements. The Road Information Program report found that 35 percent of the state's urban highways are congested, up from 21 percent in 1995. The average commute time increased from nearly 22 minutes in 1990 to more than 25 minutes in 2000. The group says that means New Hampshire commuters spend an additional 28 hours a year in traffic. The report said that necessary road projects could be completed sooner if federal highway funding increased 50 percent. It also said the state could also speed up work on deficient bridges and miles of roadway in need of reconstruction and resurfacing, as well as increase funding for rail and bus transit projects throughout the state. Congress is working on the six-year surface transportation legislation and under several plans, New Hampshire would receive less federal money than it does now. AP-NY-02-05-04 0719EST |