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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. This week.will gay people be allowed to marry, will prescription drugs be more affordable, and startling accusations against two state legislators. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
Joining us in studio - Jeff Feingold of the New Hampshire Business Review and Lars Trodson of the Portsmouth Times. Thanks to you both. We are having some technical difficulties so we are with out our guests from Concord today. |
| Intro Gay Marriage Return to index of stories... |
This week, the debate over gay marriage got a lot of attention, both here and around the nation. For the last few days, we've been watching an impassioned debate taking place in the Massachusetts legislature - as lawmakers consider whether to alter state law to permit gay marriage or civil unions - or perhaps impose a ban on both. Last night, dozens of gay marriage supporters held a rally in front of the New Hampshire state house. The rally was organized by the New Hampshire Freedom to marry coalition. The demonstrators were protesting a bill that will be heard by the state Senate on Tuesday. The legislation would define marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman and prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed out of state. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Richard: TODAY LARS, IN HEARING THAT BILL AT THE STATEHOUSE, DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE THE SCENES ENACTED AT THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATE YOU ARE THIS WEEK? I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE AN EXPANSION OF THAT ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS INFLAMED PASSIONS, IN A WAY LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN SOMETIME. IT GOES TO THE CORE OF PEOPLE'S BELIEF ABOUT THEIR OWN FAITH. IT GOES TO THE CORE OF THEIR BELIEF OF WHAT A FAMILY IS, AND IT SPEAKS TO THE BELIEFS OF SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK A NEW HAMPSHIRELY-- A FAMILY CAN BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS. SO YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOME RALLIES ON BOTH SIDES, I THINK, THAT ARE GOING TO BE LARGE. THEY'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO BE STATE PEOPLE INVOLVED, BUT IMPORTED FROM ALL OVER, I BELIEVE. AND YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A VERY IMPASSIONED DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE. NOW, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, TO ME, A MATTER THAT SHOULD BE LEGISLATED BUT THERE AGAIN I'M ALSO CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT BY THE ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHY TWO GAY PEOPLE GETTING MARRIED TAKES ANYTHING AWAY FROM MY MARRIAGE. Richard: SOME PEOPLE DO BELIEVE THAT. JEFF, ARE WE ON THE EDGE OF A SOCIAL REVOLUTION? WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS FOR MANY YEARS STARTING BACK IN THE '60s WITH THE RIOTS AND THE BEGINNING OF THE GAY LIBERATION. Richard: BUT IN SEEING A SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE COME DOWN SAYING THAT THE CONSTITUTION DICTATES THAT GAY MARRIAGE MUST NOW BE ALLOWED. THAT'S HOW THEY INTERPRETED IT. SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GAY WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THAT RULING, THINK IT IS THE PURVIEW OF THE LEGISLATURE. I THINK IT IS THE STATE GOVERNMENT. THE STATE HAS A ROLE TO DEFINE WHAT MARRIAGE IS AS OPPOSED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BRINGING THIS INTO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY. Richard: IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE IS DICTATING WHAT A MARRIAGE IS. BUT THE BILL IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE WOULD DICTATE WHAT A MARRIAGE ISN'T, DOESN'T IT, BECAUSE IT WOULD SAY THIS STATE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THOSE GAY SAME-SEX MARRIAGES TOMORROWED-- PERFORMED OUT OF STATE. ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE MY SUSPICIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO BE A TUMULTUOUS DAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURE. BUT I HAVE SOME SUSPICIONS THAT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO BE, IN THE END, AS POLARIZE. IT WILL BE POLARIZING ISSUE BUT THERE WILL BE MORE ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER. THERE IS ENOUGH OF AN ETHOS IN THE STATE SAYING JUST LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE AND LET THEM BE. IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE FAITH THAT'S HOW PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ACTUAL WILLLY LIVE THEIR LIVES. I'VE SEEN IT MYSELF PERSONAL. I THAT'S TRUE. Richard: DO YOU THINK IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FURTHER DIVIDE THE COUNTRY? IT DIVIDES THE COUNTRY. ABORTION DIVIDES THE COUNTRY. WE ARE DIVIDED COUNTRY ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. ALL THINGS SEEM TO BE SEEN RIGHT NOW THROUGH A POLITICAL PRISM RIGHT NOW IF YOU WILL. YES, WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY DIVIDED COUNTRY. THIS IS ANOTHER UNEXPECT THE WEDGE BECAUSE IT IS A FAIRLY RECENT PHENOMENON. Richard: DO YOU ANY THIS COULD AFFECTER KERR'S CANDIDACY? HE IS FROM MASSACHUSETTS AFTER ALL. JOHN KERRY IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT HIS STANCE AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE. Richard: BUT IN FAVOR OF CIVIL SEASON UNIONS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE. IT IS A LEGAL TERM, I SUPPOSE. THE OTHER THING IS THAT JOHN KERRY'S RESPONSE RIGHT NOW AND IT HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD SO FAR, HIS STANCE ON GAY MARRIAGE AND CIVIL UNIONS IS THE SAME AS VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY WHO HAS SAID HE IS FOR CIVIL UNIONS. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE GETS AWAY WITH SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT IT'S TRUE. I DO HAVE TO SAY ANOTHER THING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK IT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE BUT IT IS INFLICTING ITSELF ON IT. ANOTHER MATTER IS THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES OUT THERE THAT ARE EMOTIONAL BESIDES THIS ONE. THERE'S THE WAR IN IRAQ WHERE PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH DIVIDED ON IT. THERE'S THE WHOLE WAR ON TERRORISM. THERE'S THE ECONOMY. THERE'S HEALTH CARE. THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES BEYOND THIS ISSUE OF JOBS BEING SHIPPED OVERSEAS WHOLESALE NOW. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, THE POCKETBOOK ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO MATTER TO MOST PEOPLE. OF COURSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL BE MOTIVATED BY GAY MARRIAGE ISSUE. BUT ON THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS, I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO BRING OUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY ABOUT SO MANY OTHER THINGS. THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO MAKE. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT IT. OR AN I.T.GUY WHOSE JOB JUST GOT SENT TO INDIA. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THAT. Richard: PRESIDENT BUSH HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE VISIBLY SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BAN GAY MARRIAGE. THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHERE STATES HAVE RULED UNTIL NOW. MANY HURDLES TO GO BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGES FROM OTHER STATES. IT IS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE WHAT A MARRIAGE IS. THAT'S WHERE THE MARRIAGES TAKE PLACE, IN A STATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I MEAN I UNDERSTAND FROM A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE WHY THIS IS BECOMING AN ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK IT'S A WEDGE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT LOGICALLY, IT SHOULDN'T BE A FEDERAL ISSUE. JEFF HAD AN INTERESTING POINT. I HEARD A STATE LEGISLATURE SAY THIS MORNING, AND I'LL PARAPHRASE THE QUOTE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE COMING BEFORE THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE LEGISLATURE IN 100 YEARS. JEEZ, THE BIG DIG, ECONOMY ISSUES, I MEAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW IS AWASH IN RED INK. WE HAVE A WAR WHERE THE DISCUSSION IS WHETHER THE REASONS WE WENT TO WAR ARE VALID OR NOT. THESE ARE REAL WORLD ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THIS MAY BE AN INTERESTING TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO HAVE THE POLITICAL LEGS THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO BE COMPLAINING ABOUT IN THE SUMMERTIME. I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD BE A MORE POWERFUL ISSUE IF THINGS WERE PERFECT RIGHT NOW. WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. Richard: YOU SAID IT BEFORE THE SHOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN BOSTON IN THE SUMMERTIME. AND WE'LL BE AT THE STATEHOUSE ON TUESDAY TO SEE HOW THE BILL READS OUT. |
| Intro Prescription Drugs Return to index of stories... |
Governor Benson announced on Wednesday that he ready to launch his plan to reimport prescription drugs from Canada. The first step is seeking a federal waiver from Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Without the waiver, reimportation is illegal. There has been opposition to Benson's plan from NH pharmacists as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers. Here's what the governor said about that. |
| Prescription Drugs Return to index of stories... |
Gov. Craig Benson - "Pharmaceutical companies make the highest profit margins of just about any industry in this country. they make more than car companies, oil companies, any other industry. So I don't feel bad for them. And what I think we need to do is make drugs affordable and available for everybody who needs to take them. We have some great breakthroughs, but as you know, a lot of our tax dollars paid for those breakthroughs - and yet we're getting charged repeatedly for that." |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Richard: WHY ARE THE PHARMACEUTICALS COMPLAINING. BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR, IT IS INTERESTING, HE IS GOING AFTER THE BIG PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES NO ONE LIKES THEM, LIKE BANKS AND UTILITIES, WHATEVER. YOU THE BUT THE PHARMACISTS ARE GETTING SQUEEZED IN THE MIDDLE, ESPECIALLY THE INDEPENDENT PHARMACISTS. THE LOCAL DRUGSTORE, THEY'RE DISAPPEARING. A VANISHING SPECIES. THESE GUYS FIRST OF ALL HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH COMPETITION FROM BIG PHARMACEUTICAL CHAINS, PHARMACY CHAINS LIKE RITE-AID AND CVS AND DEALING WITH THE COMPETITION FROM WAL-MART WHICH WILL JUST KILL THEM. NOW ADD ON TO THIS RECENTLY THE STATE HAS SAID TO PHARMACISTS, WE ARE GOING PAY YOU LESS MONEY FOR MEDICAID PRESCRIPTIONS, LOWER THAN THE WHOLESALE PRICE WE PAYING BEFORE. THAT'S KILLING THEM. AND NOW WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR SAYING WELL, WE ARE GOING BUY OUR DRUGS FROM PHARMACISTS IN CANADA. AND THESE GUYS, THEY'RE BEING DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS BY THESE IDEAS. I'M NOT SAYING. OF COURSE THE PROBLEM OF THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IS HORRIBLE, IT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. BUT THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG ON THIS IF WE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING LESS FOR OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. AND IT WILL BE THE PHARMACISTS. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT. Richard: THEY'RE GOING TO BE BYPASSED. THINGS ARE BYPASSED AS YOU POINTED OUT TO SOME EXTENT, A LOT OF HEALTH PLANS, STATE EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUY FROM OUT OF STATE BY MAIL, NOT FROM CANADA, BUT STILL, YOU KNOW NEW HAMPSHIRE PHARMACISTS ARE NOT GETTING THAT. NOT GOING THROUGH THEM AT ALL. Richard: THIS IS A POPULAR CAMPAIGN? AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR STAND TO TAKE. WE HAVE CERTAIN CORPORATE VILLAINS, BANKS AND SUCH AND THEY GO IN CYCLE. RIGHT NOW IT IS THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WHICH DOES, AT LEAST NOW HAVE THE APPEARANCE THAT IT IS AWASH IN MONEY. I HAPPEN TO SEE A CHART IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" THE OTHER DAY. IT WAS A STORY ABOUT NBC NEWS AND THEY HAD A CHART OF THE TOP TEN ADVERTISERS ON NBC NEWS. EIGHT OF THE TOP TEN WERE YOUR CLARITIN, YOUR CPLAVIX. THAT'S EIGHT OF THE TOP TEN ADVERTISERS ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS. A RECENT PHENOMENON OF THE ADVERTISING ON TV IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO. Richard: THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT DRUG COMPANIES SPEND FAR MORE ON THE ADVERTISING THAN ON THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THEY OFTEN CLAIM IS AT THE BASIS OF THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROTECTION. THE GOVERNOR IS RIGHT ABOUT THE WHOLE MATTER THAT AT THE CORE OF IT, IT PROBABLY IS THE PROFITS OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COMPANIES AND THEY'RE ANSWERABLE TO THE SHAREHOLDERS. THEY'RE PUBLICLY HELD COMPANIES BUT IT IS NOT AS EASY AS SAYING WE ARE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR DRUGS OR PAY LESS FOR THEM. ONE OF THE REAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LAST MEDICARE BILL PASSED THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED, THAT YOU HAVE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, HUGE CONSUMER OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THROUGH PLURKD AND OTHER KINDS OF PROGRAMS, AND THEN WHAT WE HAD IN THE PROVISION IN THERE IS THAT BASICALLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T NEGOTIATE PRICES WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. THAT'S AN AUTOMATIC INFLATIONARY IT'S FORCING THE RISES UP EVEN MORE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE HUGE CUSTOMERS WHO CAN'T NEGOTIATE. Richard: WE'LL SEE IF THE WAIVER DOES COME THROUGH. AND ON TO ANOTHER STORY. |
| Intro Kerns Ethics Return to index of stories... |
On Monday, the House Ethics Committee held a hearing into various allegations against Rep. John Kerns. Among them, that he wrote bad checks with "State of NH" printed on them, and that he improperly used his position as a state representative. |
| Kerns Ethics Return to index of stories... |
Track: Kern's troubles began with a series of calls to the Dover school board last summer. He left several voicemails after a flyer was put on his car to notify him he could not park his car on school property. The committee played those voicemails. Voice of John Kerns - ".I will have a letter sent to you indicating that lot is a public lot and may be used for this purpose after hours and that you are not permissible - it is not permissible for your agency to regulate that. So I want to hear back from whoever is putting flyers on state vehicles and I want a callback by tomorrow." "End of message" Voice of John Kerns - ".What I will promise you, and this is off the record - and just to you, Commissioner, and not Foster's Daily Democrat. I can't wait to strike down your bill in the legislature and your program because it discriminates against the poor. And if you have evidence that suggests otherwise, please provide it. That way, it saves me from introducing the bill to shut you down." Nick Skaltsis/ Former Chair - Dover School Board - "That was the threat. The intimidation was the first voice mail, the threat was the third. We sat as you did after labor day and played all three tapes as elected members of the school board.wasn't acting the way he should." |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Richard: WELL, AS WE SAW, THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE DOVER SCHOOL BOARD WAS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO SPOKE AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE KERNS. KERNS HIMSELF DID NOT SHOW UP AND REALLY NOBODY SPOKE ON HIS BEHALF. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE SITUATION, LARS? WELL, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF A HUMAN STORY HERE? I DON'T KNOW REPRESENTATIVE KERNS. I'VE NEVER SPOKEN TO HIM OR REPORTED ON THE ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES HERE ASIDE FROM THE EXPULSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. I MEAN THERE'S A HUMAN BEING HERE AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING HIM RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT THE STORY IS, THAT'S UP. THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE KERNS NEWS AND HOW HE IS HANDLING IT IS HIS BUSINESS. I HOPE HE HAS FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WILL RALLY AROUND HIM AND HELP HIM WORK THROUGH THIS WHOLE. BECAUSE HE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS BESIDES THE ETHICS COMMITTEE. LEGAL PROBLEMS, ALLEGATION OF PASSING BAD CHECKS. Richard: HE HAS BEEN CHARGED. AND HAS COME OUT AND SAID HE THREAT-INED HIM. HE HAS SAID ONE OF HIS PROBLEMS HAS BEEN THAT HE HAD SOMETHING CALLED A NEAR PARKINSONIAN ILLNESS. IRTALKED TO SOME DOCTORS AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. APPARENTLY HE IS ON SOME MEDICATIONS. IT IS OBVIOUS HE HAS SOME TROUBLES. BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HIM BEFORE A YEAR OR SO AGO ON THIS SHOW. HE HAD SOME. THERE WERE SOME OTHER ISSUES INVOLVING HIM AND IT'S NOT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE MUSHROOMED INTO THIS OTHER. INTO THIS WORLD OF JUST. . Richard: HE DID SHOW UP LATER IN THE WEEK AT THE HILLSBORO COURT TO FILE SUIT TO TRY TO STOP THE ETHICS COMMITTEE FROM MOVING AGAINST HIM. I DON'T BELIEVE THE COURT HAS THAT JURISDICTION. HE REITERATED THAT HE HAD SOME MEDICAL PROBLEMS WHICH MAY HAVE LED TO SOME OF HIS ACTIONS, BUT AS THE ETHICS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN POINTED OUT DURING THE HEARING, NO DOCUMENTATION OF ANY OF THOSE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. ALSO HE'S ALSO PLAYED THIS GAME WITH THE ETHICS COMMITTEE FOR MANY WEEKS NOW. THEY'VE TRIED TO HAVE HEARINGS WITH HIM AND HE HAS DODGED THEM. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAW THE CHAIRMAN THERE BEFORE REPRESENTATIVE JASPER, YOU KNOW, HE'S A PRUDENT GUY, AND I THINK HE HAS TRIED TO CUT THE REPRESENTATIVE KERNS A LOT OF SLACK. AND I THINK TO HAVE HIM. 23, 24 YEARS OLD. HE'S A YOUNG GUY. AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE MISGUIDED ON SOME THINGS. THEY HAVEN'T EXPELLED A STATE LEGISLATURE SINCE 1912 OR 131913. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THEY DO LIGHTLY. Richard: THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WILL BE ISSUING ITS RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING OF THE HOUSE. AND SPEAKING OF ACTIVITIES OF THE STATEHOUSE. |
| Galway Confirmation Return to index of stories... |
Today - we had the Swearing in of Richard Galway as the newest member of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. The ceremony was held this morning in the Executive Council chamber. Governor Benson administered the oath of office to Justice Galway, who has been a Superior Court judge since 1995. He is probably best known for his ruling in 2001 that found the statewide property tax to be unconstitutional as administered. That verdict was later reversed by the Supreme Court. WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD SO FAR ABOUT JUDGE GALWAY? HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED. HASN'T BEEN A CONTROVERSY. WENT SMOOTHLY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE CHIEF JUSTICE BRODERICK, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING HE IS CHIEF JUSTICE BRODERICK BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE IN THE BACKGROUND THE BATTLE OVER WHO IS GOING TO APPOINT THE CHIEF JUSTICE. THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ARE TRYING TO PASS A LAW. ARGUMENTS ARE COMING UP IN EARLY MARCH. AN INTERESTING THING TO SEE AND THE ISSUE IN THE SUPREME COURT IS THE EDUCATION FUNDING. IT IS NOT GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON. AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE REPLACING JUSTICE BROCK. Richard: ANY INDICATION WHICH WAY GALWAY MIGHT LAND HIMSELF? IF PAST INDICATION, HE IS NOT FOR IT. THAT'S THE WAY I'M READING IT RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. THAT WAS THE DECISION IN 2001? YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ARGUMENTS ARE GOING TO BE. PEOPLE SPECULATE AT THE TIME THAT HE RULED THE WAY HE DID TO SEND IT TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THEY JUST HAD A RULE ON IT. THAT WAS IT. A PERENNIAL ISSUE. IT IS THE ISSUE. Richard: HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. BECAUSE I MIGHT BE SO BOLD AS TO PREDICT GAY MARRIAGE AND DEBATE OVER THAT WILL GO AWAY FAR SOONER THAN THE EDUCATION FUNDING. PEACE ACROSS THE RIVER BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURT? |
| Resignations Return to index of stories... |
I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO A COUPLE OF INTERM HAPPENINGS AT THE STATEHOUSE. THIS WEEK A COUPLE OF RESIGNATIONS. JEFF, KATHY SCAMBADY RESIGNED. HE WAS THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SHE WAS THERE A LONG TIME. WHEN THE GOVERNOR CAME INTO OFFICE, SHE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE HE HAD IN HIS SIGHTS. IT WAS APPARENT FROM THE BEGINNING HE WAS TRYING TO REMAKE H.H.S. AND HE HAS BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL AT IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE HAS GOT RID OF A FEW OF THE TOP PEOPLE ALREADY. HE HAD A MISSTEP FORMER COMMISSIONER VALIS WHO WAS FORCED TO RESIGN AND NOW WE HAVE COMMISSIONER STEVEN WHO IS JUST FORGING AHEAD WITH A LOT OF INITIATIVES, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY. HE HAS UPSET A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH HIS SUGGESTIONS BUT KATHY SCAMBADY, SHE IS THERE WITH INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON AT H.H.S. AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT. IT SHOULD RAISE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHO OVER THERE KNOWS WHERE EVERYTHING. WHERE EVERYTHING BELONGS. AND WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW BLOOD OVER THERE AND A LOT OF BUREAUCRATS SCARED OF THEIR OWN SHADOW AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT. JUST A LOT OF CHANGES AND SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS IS. YOU KNOW, LARS, I KNOW THAT SHE REMARKED AS SHE RESIGNED THAT SHE WAS LEAVING BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENT VISION OF WHAT H.H.S. SHOULD BE. HER VISION DIFFERING FROM THAT OF THE NEW COMMISSIONER JOHN SEVEN. WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF THAT AGENCY? I THINK THAT BENSON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON, BECAUSE IT WAS THE PRIMARY PLATFORM THAT HE HAD, WAS MONEY ISSUES. AND HOW WAS THE STATE GOVERNMENT GOING TO SAVE MONEY? AND YOU DON'T NECESSARILY PARTICULARLY WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE INCREDIBLE TENURE THAT KATHY SCAMBADY HAD, ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT YOU WANT TO BY SAYING WE ARE GOING TO SPEND LESS. THAT'S GOING TO BE DIRECTLY CONTRADICT THE DIVISION AND THE PURPOSE THAT YOU'VE HAD THROUGHOUT ALMOST THREE DECADES OF SERVICE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH, I THINK A PHILOSOPHY OF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO WHAT WEAK, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND LESS MONEY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. SO THAT'S GOING TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO MORE. Richard: LET'S SEE HOW THAT SHAKES OUT. UNDERGONE A NUMBER DURING THE YEARS. AND AT A TIME WHEN ITS MANDATE IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. Richard: OTHER RESIGNATION TAKING EFFECT. ROBERT ANDERSON, HEAD OF THE I.T.DEPARTMENT. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.& THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVE FRZ OF THE GOVERNOR WHO COULD BRING ALL THE TECHNICAL TOGETHER. THAT IS HIS EXPERTISE. SGLICH RE' SIGNED EFFECTIVE OF THE MORNING HE WAS DUE TO GIVE SOME TESTIMONY TO THE STATE SENATE ON SAVINGS THAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED. THE SENATE PRESIDENT VOICED A LOT OF. HE WAS UPSET ABOUT THE PROMISED $11 MILLION IN CUTS AFTER HE CUT THE STATE BUDGET AFTER ALL THOSE MONTHS, ONE OF THE ITEMS IS THAT THEY PROMISED THERE WILL BE $11 MILLION IN CUTS RELATED TO THE NEW OFFICE AND HAVEN'T SEEN A DIME YET. MR. ANDERSON STREAMLINED A LOT OF IT AND BROUGHT IN A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY BUT THE SAVINGS HAVE NOT APPEARED AND IT DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THEY'RE GOING TO. I THINK THAT'S SOMEWHAT OF A ROOKIE MISTAKE. DON'T PIGEONHOLE YOURSELF. ESPECIALLY NOT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. TAKE OUT NICKELS AND INDICTMENTS WHEREVER WE CAN GET THEM. |
| Budget Return to index of stories... |
Richard: THE SAVINGS ARE A BIG PART OF THE MANDATE OF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS OR HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE EXPECTED TO SAVE SOME MONEY. AND THERE THAT VAIN, ACTUALLY THIS WEEK THERE WAS A NEW REPORT THAT CAME OUT FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CENTER AROUND PUBLIC POLICY CENTER SHOWS THIS STATE HAS GONE THROUGH $200 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES. WE DON'T HAVE FLEXIBILITY OR ROOM LEFT, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE BUDGET? DO YOU WADE INTO THE WATERS. HOW DO YOU RAISE REVENUE? YOU CAN'T OBVIOUSLY FIRST OF ALL THIS GOVERNOR IS NOT GOING TO RAISE TAXES. APPARENTLY NOT. BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IS STILL ROCKY. I WOULD SAY EVEN TALKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES WOULD HAVE A FLATTENING EFFECT ON WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING WITH THEIR CASH RIGHT NOW. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO REVISIT THE BUDGET? BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, JUST BECAUSE THE STATE IS NOT RAISING TAXES, DOESN'T MEAN TAXES AREN'T BEING RAISED AT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVEL. . IT'S TOWN MEETING TIME RIGHT NOW. I KNOW IN MY TOWN WE WERE THINKING OF BUILDING A SCHOOL AND EXPANDING ANOTHER ONE. I WAS GOING TO PUT SOME OTHER THAN ON IT, I WOULD SAY IT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH. TOWN MUNICIPAL BUDGETS HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED BY VERY MUCH AT ALL. EVERYBODY IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FACT. MOST OF THE COSTS OF THE RISING PROPERTY TAXES ARE DRIVEN BY THE COST OF EDUCATION AND THE CHANGES WE HAVE IN OUR IN THE WAY THE MONEY IS DIVIDED NOW, THERE IS GOING TO BE LESS MONEY GOING TO CITIES AND TOWNS. |
| Concealed Weapons Return to index of stories... |
Richard: YOU CAN PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER. ONE LAST THING BEFORE WE GO, THERE WAS A GUN STORY THIS WEEK. THE STATE SENATE TOOK UP A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR PERMITS FOR CONCEALED WEAPONS, CAR RIG A CONCEALED WEAPON AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A LEGAL PERMIT FOR THE PISTOL OR REVOLVER, YOU COULD CARRY IT WITHOUT GOING TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE CHIEF AND ASKING FOR THAT THERE. WAS SOME OPPOSITION TO THAT. THE POLICE HATE THIS. THEY CAN'T STAND IT. AND WITH VERY GOOD REASON, YOU KNOW. YOU'RE WALKING UP TO SOMEBODY'S CAR, YOU DON'T WANT TO. YOU WANT TO DO A CHECK ON HIM AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR SITUATION IS. POLICE WILL TELL YOU THAT WALKING INTO DOMESTIC DISPUTES ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS KINDS OF SITUATION THAT THEY CAN GO TO. THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. AND YOU WANT TO HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN TO PROTECT YOURSELF AS BEST YOU CAN WHEN YOU ARE WALKING INTO THESE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. Richard: JEFF, YOU GET THE LAST WORD. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. PEOPLE WALKING IN AND OUT OF TOWN HALLS AND ALL THESE BUSINESS OFFICES. SOMEONE HAS A GRIPE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. AND HE OR SHE HAS A CONCEALED WEAPON. Richard: THAT'S THE SCENARIO AND THE LAST WORD BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK. |
| Goodbye Guests Return to index of stories... |
That's all the time we have for this week. Jeff and Lars thanks to you for being with us this week. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook - We're headed outdoors to learn about the art and science of ice fishing in New Hampshire. That's on Monday's program. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
We'll see you next time. 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 |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. We're headed outdoors to learn about the art and science of ice fishing in New Hampshire. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: Media Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/13/04 22:00 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, will gay people be allowed to marry, will prescription drugs be more affordable, and startling accusations against two state legislators. Joining us in studio - Jeff Feingold of the New Hampshire Business Review and Lars Trodson of the Portsmouth Times. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager, Jennifer Vachon NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Jeff Feingold\NH Business Review, Lars Trodson\Portsmouth Times |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at other stories making news this Friday. |