|
|
|
|
 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. It was a busy week at the statehouse. Gay Marriage, concealed weapons, the death penalty. Not to mention resignations and lawsuits. We'll get to it all. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
But first - let's introduce this week's guests. Joining us this week from the state house in Concord - Norma Love of the Associated Press and Kevin Landrigan of the Telegraph. And here in Durham we have Dan Tuohy of the Eagle Tribune and James Pindell of Politics N-H dot com. Thank you all for joining us. |
| Intro Gay Marriage Return to index of stories... |
First up - an issue that is playing around the nation. On Tuesday, the Senate Public Institutions Committee held a hearing on a bill that would ban recognition of same-sex marriages performed out of state - and it would also define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Much of the testimony focused on religious beliefs - and how those beliefs influence our society. Let's listen to two members of the clergy who spoke at the hearing. |
| Gay Marriage Return to index of stories... |
Rev. Edward Arsenault\Diocese of Manchester - "AS TO OUR SOCIAL TRADITION, MARRIAGE IS MORE THAN JUST A WORD. IT IS THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCK THAT DEFINES HUMEAGE CIVILIZATION. MARRIAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. IT'S MEANING SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED BY SHIFTING OPINION OR EVEN BY VOTE. MARRIAGE IS THE CONSTANT THAT HAS UNABLED OUR SOCIETY TO ADVANCE. WE ARE WHO WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS THE UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. TODAY THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED BY CIVIL AUTHORITY AS A MEANS TO PROTECT MARRIAGE ITSELF. IF OTHER RELATIONSHIPS ARE GRANTED STATUS EQUAL TO THAT OF MARRIAGE THEN THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCK OF SOCIETY IS UNDERMINED." Rev. Gene Robinson\Episocopal Bishop - NH - "IF THE PROPOSERS OF SENATE BILL WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN PROTECTING MARRIAGE THEY WOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE FAILING ECONOMY WHICH REQUIRES HUSBANDS AND WIVES TO WORK TWO AND THREE JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IF THIS WERE REALLY ABOUT PROTECTING MARRIAGE THEY WOULD BE PROSE POSING A RESOLUTION NOT RECOGNIZE WEDDINGS PERFORMED AT ATLAS VEGAS WEDDING CHAPELS FOR PEOPLE WITH TOO MUCH TO DRINK. CAN WE ALL AGREE THAT BRITNEY SPEARS DID MORE TO UNDERMINE THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE IN THE 55 HOURS BETWEEN WHEN SHE SAID I DO OR DON'T THAN ANY GAY OR LESBIAN COUPLE. ISN'T DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A GREATER THREAT TO MARRIAGE. IS THERE ANY PERSON IN THIS ROOM WHOSE MARRIAGE IS IN ANYWAY ADVERSELY EFFECTED OR DMINISHED BY THE LOVE AND COMMITMENT BY PARTNER OF 15 YEARS AND I SHARE WITH ONE OTHER." |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
RICH - THERE'S ACTIVE DEBATE IN SEVERAL STATES RIGHT NOW. WHY HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? THIS BILL WAS FILED INITIALLY BETWEEN THE MOST RECENT COURT RULING. THAT'S A FACTOR AS FAR AS GETTING THE -- THE EMOTIONS ON BOTH SIDE OF ISSUE. THERE'S NO TURNING BACK AS FAR AS THIS ISSUE ALONE. THE SUPPORTERS SAY THEY WANT TO CLOSE A LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW OR ENFORCE NEW HAMPSHIRE TO RECOGNIZE THESE GAY MARRIAGES OR UNIONS FROM OTHER STATES. THAT'S INTERESTING YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOOPHOLE DAN BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOESN'T THINK THERE IS A LOOPHOLE AT LEAST NOT AS FAR AS MARRIAGE IS CONCERNED. HE THINKS THAT THE STATE COULD'SLY NOT RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE. WHAT IS AT ISSUE FOR HIM AND I GUESS FOR THE GOVERNOR IS CIVIL UNIONS. THE GOVERNOR OPPOSED BOTH SAYS HE CAN'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TWO. HE THINKS THE LAW IS NEEDED FOR THAT REASON. OTHER PEOPLE THINK IT'S NOT NEEDED FOR THE PURPOSES STATED. Richard: DID YOU GET THE SENSE. THERE WAS SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON THE RELIGION AND BELIEFS AT THAT HEARING THAT THERE WAS SORT OF A BLURRING BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. THERE WAS A LOT OF REPS WHO WERE CITING SCRIPTURE AS JUST FICTION FOR THE BILL. IT'S ALMOST MORE INTERESTING AND NORMA POINTS IT OUT. MAYBE THERE IS A LOOPHOLE MAYBE THERE ISN'T. THE DISCUSSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND THE LOOPHOLE HOWEVER THIS MUCH BIGGER ARGUMENT BECAUSE IT'S A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCRIPTURES OR HUMAN RIGHTS. YOU BLEW IT TO BE THIS HUGE EVENT EVEN IF IT'S ABOUT LEGALEES IF WE NEED IT OR DON'T NEED IT. JIM IS RIGHT IN THE CONS CONSECRATION OF JIM ROBINSON AS THE FIRST OPENLY GAY BISHOP TO THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD CERTAINLY RAISED THE BAR FOR THIS ISSUE HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE EVEN BEFORE THE BILL WAS FOUND. I ALSO THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT YOU HAVE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MASSACHUSETTS, YOU HAVE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SAN FRANCISCO WHERE THE MAYOR HAS ISSUED MARRIAGE LICENSES TO GAY COUPLES. THEY HAVE MARRIED OVER 2000 THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THE ISSUE TO THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT AND CHALLENGE ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY. YOU HAVE THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO SAYING I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS. YOU HAVE THIS THREAT TO SOME PEOPLE'S BELIEFS OF WHAT MARRIAGE SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S RAISED THE DISCUSSION, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SERGE I THINK THE. Richard: CERTAINLY GETTING THE SENSE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT THE JOHN KERRY COMING FROM MASSACHUSETTS WHERE MUCH OF THAT ACTION HAS TAKEN PLACE. NO MATTER WHAT JOHN KERRY SAYS WHICH IS THAT HE IS FOR CIVIL UNIONS BUT AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE THE PERCEPTION WILL ALWAYS BE BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WILL KEEP HITTING IT IS THAT JOHN KERRY IS FROM MASSACHUSETTS AND HE IS A BIG LIBERAL AND IS FOR GAY MARRIAGE AND THREATENING YOUR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE. CLEARLY IT WILL BE COMING UP ESPECIALLY IN KERRY IS THE NOMINEE. I WANT TO POINT OUT BEFORE THE WE LEAVE THE TOPIC THAT THE HOUSE HAS HISTORICALLY KILLED THE BILLS. THIS YEAR IS PROBABLY A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WE'LL STAY TUNED ON THAT ONE. |
| Concealed Weapons Return to index of stories... |
THERE'S A LOT OF ACTION IN THE SENATE AS WELL. THE SENATE DID VOTE ON A BILL THAT WOULD LET ANY GUN OWNER TO CARRY THAT WEAPONS A CONCEALED WEAPON AND THEY WOULD NOT NEED A PERMIT ANYMORE. WHEN THE VOTE CAME IT PASSED 13-106789 I SPOKE TO SENATORS AFTERWARDS. THEY CITED THE ROLE OF LOCAL NRA THE GUN OWNERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IN INFLUENCING THE VOTE. DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AS WELL, DAN? I WOULD SAY SO. THEY HAVE A VERY ACTIVE PACK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AS FAR AS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MAYBE NOT AS MUCH BUT, YOU KNOW GOVERNOR BENSON AND REPUBLICAN PARTY TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. IT'S GOING BE AN ISSUE IN NOVEMBER. I NOTICED, TOO, KEVIN THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OPPOSITION TO THIS AT THE HEARING. ONLY ONE POLICE CAPTAIN SPOKE THERE IN SPITE OF OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION TO POLICE IN THIS MEASURE. DO YOU THINK THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE MEASURE LIKE THIS DOESN'T GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND WE'LL PROBABLERY SEE THEM ON THE NEXT ROUND? PROBABLY. THIS IS ANOTHER 35R L- PENNSYLVANIA DIME LIKE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH GAY MARRIAGE. THIS SITE AS LIVED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE THERE'S BEEN RELUCTANCE TO ADOPT THE BILLS BEFORE. THE STATE SENATE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE. THE GUN LOBBY HAS ALWAYS HAD A LOT MORE INFLUENCE AMONG THE MANGE YORT IN THE STATE SENATE AND NOW WITH 18 REPUBLICANS, WE HAVE -- THIS IS THE LATEST INSTALLMENT. LAST YEAR YOU'LL REMEMBER THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL REGARDING GUN MANUFACTURE LIABILITY GIVING PROTECTION TO GUN MAKERS. Richard: AS THE PROSPECT OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IVES COMING THIS INFLUENCE SENATORS WHO DON'T WANT TO GET CHALLENGED ON THE RYE? CERTAINLY THE SENATE IS MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN PAST YEARS. I THINK THAT THEY ARE JUST -- BASICALLY VOTING ALONG WHAT POSITIONS THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN ANYWAY, MOST OF THEM. |
| Intro Death Penalty Return to index of stories... |
After the vote on concealed weapons, the Senate was not finished with contentious issues. Next, they debated a bill that would raise the age of eligibility for the death penalty from 17 to 18. Here's some of that debate. |
| Death Penalty Return to index of stories... |
Sen. Robert Clegg\R - District 14 - "MY POINT IS SOMEONE COMMITS MURDER AND UNDER OUR STATUTE IT'S VERY LIMITED. THEN THEY HAVE CHOSEN THE PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR VICTIM AND IN MY OPINION THE PUNISHMENT FOR THEMSELVES. I THINK IT'S WRONG. I LISTENED TO THOSE EXPERTS TELL ME HOW SOMEONE 17 YEARS OLD DIDN'T HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO MAKE A JUDGMENT. YET WE HAVE DEBATED IN THESE CHAMBERS ABORTION BILLS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND YET THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION." Sen. Clifton Below\D - District 5 - "THE STATE TAKING OF A LIFE DENIES ANY POSSIBILITY OR THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL TO OVERCOME THE EVIL POSSESSED THEM AT ONE POINT. THE POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE REDEMPTION FOR THEM TO REFORM THEMSELVES TO CHANGE THEMSELVES, IF WILL YOU, FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE SALVATION." |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Richard: DAN, VERY CLEARLY EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY ON A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE. VERY NARROW VOTE. ONLY 12-11 THAT IT PASSED BY. WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS WAS THE MARGIN HERE? THE MARGIN REALLY WAS THE ARGUMENT THAT THE 17 YEAR OLDS ARE JUVENILES. THEY HAVEN'T DEVELOPED EMOTIONALLY. THAT MAY NOT FLY IN THE HOUSE. WE'LL SEE. BUT AS YOU POINT OUT, IT WAS A ONE VOTE MARGIN. IF THE PRESIDENT IN THIS CASE HAD VOTED AGAINST THE BILL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TIE VOTE AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE DIED. HE WAS VOTING OR NOT VOTING AS HE IS WANT TO DO AS FAR AS HE CAN ELECT WHETHER OR NOT TO VOTE SO HE CHOSE NOT TO IN THIS CASE. HE WAS NOT ON HIS AGENDA AS A LEADERSHIP ISSUE. Richard: I WAS AT THE HEARING AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TESTIMONY ABOUT HOW 17-YEAR-OLD BRAINS DEVELOP AND ARE DIFFERENT FROM 18-YEAR-OLD BRAINS. THEY HAD A COUPLE OF NEUROOLOGIST SPECIALISTS THERE. FOLLOWING THAT THE SENATOR MADING THE POINT DURING THE HEARING AND DEBATE IF YOU CAN'T BE DEFINED FOR THAT REASON HOW CAN BE ALLOW 17-YEAR-OLD U.N. WOMEN TO MAKE A DECISION TO TERMINATE THEIR PREGNANCY. YOU KNOW, RICHARD WE'RE SO SCHIZOPHRENIC AS A STATE IN HOW WE TREAT TEENAGER. YOU CAN DO ONE THING AT 17 AND ANOTHER AT 13 AND 18 AND WE SAY YOU CAN SMOKE BUT NOT DRINK AND VOTE BUT GO OFF TO WAR. WE CAN'T MAKE UP OUR MINDS WHEN SOMEONE IS OLD ENOUGH TO DO WHAT. WITH WHEN THEY CHANGED THIS LAW SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO LOWER THE AGE THAT 17 YEAR OLDS WERE SUBL SUBJECT TO THE DEATH PEN YACHT THEY FEAR WERE WERE GETTING DRUG CRIME FROM MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE OUR LAWS WE'RE LENIENT FROM MASSACHUSETTS LAWS. SO THEY CHANGED THE AGE FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THEM. Richard: IT SEEMS STRANGE BECAUSE THERE'S NO DEATH PENALTY IN MASSACHUSETTS AND I WONDER HOW IT COULD BE TOUGHER THAT WAY. WHAT I'M REFERRING TO IN THE DRUG -- THE WHOLE AGE OF 17 BEING OKAY YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH NOW CAME OUT OF THAT. THAT WHOLE MENTALITY. IT WASN'T THE ISSUE OF THE DEATH PENALTY. IT WAS WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER AND THEY WOULD USE TEENAGERS TO KEEL THE DRUGS KNOWING THE TEENAGERS WOULDN'T BE TREATED THE SAME HERE AS THEY WOULD BE IN LOWELL. AND THE LEGISLATURE DIED -- DECIDED TO BUY INTO THAT GET TOUGH ARGUMENT. IT SEEMS LEANING THE PENDULUM IS SWINGING BACK HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE CELEBRATED CASES ONE IN FLORIDA WITH MINORS SENTENCED TO BE PUT TO DEATH AND NOT PARDONED BUT RATHER THE PUNISHMENT REDUCED OR THE PROSECUTOR SEEKING A LESS SERIOUS PENALTY. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF YEARS HERE IN THIS STATE HAD A HAVE PASS PASSED -- PAST SINCE WE HAVE HAD A JUVENILE MURDER OF SUBSTANCE. WE HAVE HAD HAD THEM HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THAT HAS HELPED THIS CAMPAIGN AS WELL. IT'S A DIFFICULT ARGUMENT TO OPPOSE. EVEN FOR CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS. IT'S A DIFFICULT BILL FOR CRAIG BENSON IF IT GETS TO HIS DESK. Richard: THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING, TOO, AND THAT WAS I WAS EXPECTING MORE FIREWORKS IN THE HOUSE ON AN ABORTION RELATED BILL THIS WEEK. I DIDN'T HAPPEN. WAS HAVE THAT? THIS BILL MANY SAW AS FLAWED. IT WAS BANNING PUBLIC FUNDING OF ABORTION AND THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF FOLKS THAT SAW IT GOING WELL BEYOND ABORTION INTO FAMILY PLANNING AND COUNSELING AND IN INDIRECT OR DIRECT PUBLIC USE OF MONEY. WE WENT SORT OF BACK TO WHAT WE HAD BEEN CUT CUSTOM MARY TO SEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT IS A 2-1 VOTE AGAINST RESTRICTING ABORTION IN THIS REGARD. |
| Abortion Return to index of stories... |
WE HAVE OTHER ABORTION KILLS BSH BILLING COMING UP. AFTER THE RECESS WHICH IS NEXT YEAR THERE ARE HEARINGS ON MAKING IT A CAPITAL CRIME TO KILL A FETUS. WE'LL GET TO THAT IN TIME BUT THURSDAY WAS A DAY OF I WOULD SAY REAL DISTRACTIONS FOR THE HOUSE. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF REASONS. |
| Intro Kerns Resignation Return to index of stories... |
Thursday was a very distracting day for the House for a couple of reasons. First, Rep. John Kerns made what could be his final statehouse appearance. On Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee recommended his expulsion. Thursday, Kerns returned to the legislature and tried but did not get permission to address the House. He did meet with representatives of the Speaker, and shortly afterward came this announcement. |
| Kerns Resignation Return to index of stories... |
Karen Wadsworth\Clerk - NH House - "THIS IS A LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 19, 2004 TO THE SPEAKER OF HOUSE. DEAR SPEAKER CHANDLER THIS IS TO INFORM YOU OF MY RESIGNATION FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE MY CONSTITUENTS OF BEDFORD I THANK YOU FOR THE UNDERSTANDING. SINCERELY J EDWARD KERNS." THE HOUSE WILL BE IN RECESS. THE HOUSE WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:00. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Richard: CLEARLY WE CAN SEE THE MOOD IN THE HOUSE WAS WELL GLAD THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE SOLVED. KEVIN, WHAT WAS THE SENSE THAT YOU GOT OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS CERNS. THERE WAS ANY SYMPATHY TOWARDS HIM, DO YOU THINK? THERE WAS A LOT LESS SYMPATHY THAN ORDINARILY THERE WOULD BE TO ANYONE FACING ETHICS CHARGES IN THE LEGISLATURE. TO SOME DEGREE, I THINK EVEN REPRESENTATIVE KERNS WOULD ADMIT HE BROUGHT THAT UPON HIMSELF BY REFUSING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND REFUSING TO IN ANY WAY RESPOND TO THE CHARGES BY MAKING A LOT OF STATEMENTS INCLUDE BEING HIS OWN MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE UP AND REFUSED TO BACK UP. HE ENDED UP ACTUALLY LOSING MANY OF THE POTENTIAL ALLIES HE HAD HAD BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE WARY OF WHOLE ETHICS INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS THAT OCCURS. I THINK THAT ONE OF THINGS IF HE HAD GONE TO THEM IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY INFORMALLY TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS AND SAY, I MADE A MISTAKE I'LL MAKE RESTITUTION, WHATEVER AND I WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN HE WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY. IT WAS HIS UNLGNESS OR INABILITY TO WORK WITH THEM THAT BROUGHT ABOUT HIS DOWN FALL. NOW WE HEAR HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. I PREDICT THAT THE BEDFORD REPUBLICAN CHAIRPERSON WILL FIND MANY PEOPLE, MORE THAN ENOUGH TO RUN IN THE PRIMARY. OF COURSE HE WON A PRIMARY TWO YEARS AGO TO WIN A SEAT IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT IT CERTAINLY ISN'T THE SAME MAN THAT FACED VOTER TWOS YEARS AGO. HE DOES HAVE SUPPORT OUT. THERE HE IS ONLY 23 WITH A BIG VICTORY AND PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION RESTRICTIONS. CERTAINLY IN THE FIRST FWHIL RECENT PEOPLE TROY RESTRICT ABORTION IN ANYWAY. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS FIND PARTICULARLY TROUBLE BEING THIS. AND NOT THAT KERNS RESIGNED BUT THAT RATHER THERE WAS A AS DAN POINTS OUT THEY SAW SO MUCH POTENTIAL THERE. A VERY YOUNG OUTSPOKEN NOT AT ALL SHY LEGISLATOR WHO HAD VERY CONSERVATIVE STREWS AND WAS ARTICULATE. AND YOU KNOW, YOU -- AND THOSE FOLKS IN BOTH PARTIES AND ACROSS THE IDEA LOGICAL SPECTRUM ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. HIS RESIGNATION WAS NOT THE ONLY DISTRACTION FOR THE HOUSE. |
| Harrasment Lawsuit Return to index of stories... |
ON THURSDAY A MERRIMACK JURY FOUND THE HOUSE GUILTY. THE JURY ORDERED THE HOUSE TO PAY $13,000 IN LOST WAGES AND ABOUT 55% OF $17 5,000 IN DAMAGES. AND DURING THE TRIAL THE SPEAKER HAD HE HAVE TESTIFIED TO THE JURY THAT HE IN FACT I BELIEVE HAD NO POWER TO DISCIPLINE THE MEMBER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. OBVIOUSLY DAN THE JURY DIDN'T BUY IT. TOUGH CASE TO MAKE. IT WAS A TOUGH CASE AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT IN SOME WAY TO DEFEND THAT BECAUSE IT'S CONTUSIONAL LAW VERSUS -- IT'S NOT AN ORDINARY. IT'S NOT A PRIVATE COMPANY IT'S THE LEGISLATURE AN OWE ELECTED BODY OF OFFICIALS VERSUS AN EMPLOYEE. BUT THERE WERE VERY DIFFICULT CASE AS WELL FOR TOM AND DOROTHY PIKES ATTORNEY TO PROVE. LET'S IS A FIRST OF ALL SPEAKER CHANDLER AND OTHERS THOUGHT THIS MATTER WAS CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY FOR BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED. LITTLE DID THEY KNOW AS WE FOUND THIS WEEK IT WAS NOT IN ANY WAY AND IT'S GOING GOING TO BE FALLOUT POTENTIALLY FROM THIS. THEY ARE EXPECTING AN APPEAL OR CONSIDERING AN APPEAL BUT THE OTHER THING THAT STRUCK ME AS UNUSUAL TALKING TO DOROTHY PIKE AFTER THE VERDICT WAS SHE SAID THERE WERE OTHER WOMEN IN THE STATEHOUSE WHO HAD SIMILAR STORIES TO TELL. THINK WHAT THEY PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK AT IS SOME KIND OF A SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY THAT ENCOMPASSES LEGISLATORS AND ALSO WHETHER DWRORT I PIKE WANTED IT OR NOT THEY DO HAVE AN ETHICS PROCEDURE IN PLACE AND I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT INVESTIGATING THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES REGARDLESS OF CONFIDENCEALITY YOU CANNOT ALLOW THAT KIND OF THING TO GO ON BECAUSE IT EMBARRASSES THE HOUSE AND IT HUIES THE WOMAN. SO IN FACT IS THERE NO EFFECTIVE POLICY IN PLACE RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW REGARDING HOUSE MEMBERS? HOUSE MEMBERS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO A WHAT YOU CALL A LITTLE BRIEFING. IT'S VOLUNTARY WHETHER THEY GO OR NOTE. THEY HAVE A POLICY FOR STAFF BUT IT DOESN'T COVER LAWMAKERS. BECAUSE OF BELIEVE THEY ARE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND CONSTITUTIONALLY THEY ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. THIS GOES BACK TO THE CERNDZ MATTER. BECAUSE YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE CATCH 22 THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF ARE THOSE THAT SUPERVISE THE SEKTZ AND RESEARCH FOLK BUZZ THEY CAN'T DISCIPLINE A MEMBER OF LEGISLATURE. ONLY THE HOUSE CAN DISCIPLINE A MEMBER. THE FULL HOUSE WAS GOING TO BE ASKED TO DO IN THE CASE OF REPRESENTATIVE KERNS. EVEN THE SPEAKER HIMSELF CAN'T FORMALLY EXPEL SOMEONE, REMOVE SOMEONE. HE CERTAINLY HAS POWER WITH REGARDS TO ASSIGNMENT OF COMMITTEES AND WHERE THIS PERSON PARKS THAT SORT OF THING BUT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE QUITE A BIT OF THEIR OWN POWERS OVER WHAT THEY DO AND DON'T DO. I THINK DAN IS RIGHT. THEY WILL APPEAL. I THINK THEY HAVE TEN DAYS AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT APPEAL TO BE FILED WITHIN THOSE TEN DAYS. ONE LAST THING FOR ME ON THAT CASE, THE JURY REALLY SEEMED TO CONSIDER DOROTHY PIKE'S ARGUMENT AS FAR AS WAS THERE SPECIAL TREATMENT GIVEN TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE FORMER OF SALEM BECAUSE THE POLICY WAS BASED IN 1994, IT COVERED OR STATED IT COVERED LAWMAKERS. THEY CHANGED IT INTO 2002 TO REMOVE THAT WORDING BECAUSE AS SPEAKER CHANDLER SAID THERE'S NO WAY IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE STATE REPRESENTS. SO YOU THINK THE JURY MAY HAVE BEEN DEMANDING SOME KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY NO MATTER WHAT WAY THEY ARRANGED IT. THEY CHANGED THE POLICY EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS AFTER THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE TIMING OF THE EVENTS DIDN'T LOOK GOOD AT LEAST ON PAPER. |
| Inro Dean Out of Race Return to index of stories... |
Howard Dean dropped out of the Presidential race this week following a third-place finish in Wisconsin. We'll talk about that in a moment, but first, here's reminder from the campaign trail of how Dean built a campaign, faced issues of his electability, and excited a lot of new voters along the way. |
| Dean Out of Race Return to index of stories... |
Sara Goodman/Lyme - "My question is about the political equation for beating George Bush. He showed us in 2000 that he'll stop at nothing to steal the election. I worry that a progressive governor from a small, mostly rural and white state - how's it going to play across the nation? I just - all I care about - I agree with every word that came out of your mouth - I am so glad to hear a Democrat sound like the Democrats I grew up with. " Gov. Howard Dean - "You know why we're going to win this election and beat George Bush? Because the other Democrats make their mistake of planting their flag in the middle of what they think the electorate is but it's an ever-shrinking rightward-moving electorate because so many people have given up. They don't think we can take this country back and they don't believe in the system anymore. What I'm going to do is reach out to the people who have given up." |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Richard: JAMES? I WOULD SAY WE CAN CONCLUDE HE REALLY DID REACH OUT. WHAT HAPPENED HE WAS THE LEADER? HE WAS THE LEADER AND YOU SAY IN THAT EVENT. IT KIND OF EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER DURING THE RISE OF HOWARD DEAN. IT IS AN OUTDOOR EVENT. Richard: YOU HAD CROWS OF HUNDREDS GATHERING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. IT COST $3 OR $5 TO ATTEND. IT WAS A FUND RAISER TECHNICALLY. HE WAS ABLE TO RAISE AN OWE NORM AMOUNT OF MONEY. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WE DON'T RAISE MONEY WE SPEND THE MONEY HERE. IN THE END, IN THE END THIS RACE WAS A HECK OF A LOT OF DEMOCRATS GRATITUDE FOR HOWARD DEAN. IT'S A STORY THE RICE AND FALL OF HOWARD DEAN THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASSES FOR 50 YEARS AND IT'S ONE THAT IS VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH. Richard: DO YOU THINK WE HAVE BOOKS COMING OUT ON THIS? THERE'S TWO HOWARD DEAN BOCHS OUT THERE, ALREADY, RIGHT? HOWARD DEAN HAS TO SHOW THAT A CANDIDATE SHIEMZS WHEN YOU ARE IN A LEAD YOU HAVE TO THROTTLE BACK. YOU CAN'T GO FULL BOTHER EVERY DAY LIKE HE WAS DOING. HIS ARGUMENT WAS PEOPLE LIKED THE OUTSPOKEN HOWARD DEAN. SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA -- LIKE JOHN KERRY DID HE ASSUMED THE LEAD AND WAS VERY MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS AND HE TRIED TO LOOK MORE PRESIDENTIAL AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HOWARD DEAN. MY FAVORITE MEMORY WAS SEEING HOWARD DEAN IN MANCHESTER DOING A GREEK DANCE AT THE GREEK FESTIVAL. Richard: NOT BEING GREEK HIMSELF, RIGHT. THE OTHER THING HOWARD DEAN UNDERSTOOD AND DIDN'T FORGET BUT I DON'T THINK HE COULD HAVE RECOGNIZED HOW FATAL IT WAS WHEN YOU NEVER WANT TO PEAK TOO EARLY IN A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. HE PEAKED WAY TOO EARLY. THERE WAS NO WAY TO KEEP ALL THAT HELIUM IN THE BALLOON BEFORE THE ELECTION. OF COURSE IT LEAKED OUT. ONE THING THAT HE DOES AND STILL WILL BRING TO THIS IS A WHOLE NEW BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T INVOLVED BEFORE AND IF WE CAN MARSHALL THEM TO VOTE IN THE LEN ELECTION FOR A DEMOCRAT THAT'S WHAT 500, 600,000 PEOPLE. Richard: YOU GET THE SENSE TOO THAT IT'S NOT QUITE OVER YET SIMPLY BECAUSE OF EXISTENCE OF MORE THAN 600,000 PERSON LIST WHO CONTRIBUTED SEE YACHT INTERNET AND CLEARLY WE'RE ENERGIZED TO TAKE PART IN THIS CAMPAIGN. HE IS STILL ENCOURAGING HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE OTHER STATE HAS HAVE YET TO VOTE TO VOTE FOR HIM SO THEY CAN HAVE PROGRESSIVE DELEGATES AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. HE SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE THIS CAMPAIGN STILL SOME WHAT OF A MOVEMENT. HE LINGERS AROUND AND BRINGS TOGETHER PROSIVE AND THAT THEY HAVE A FUND RAIDING BASE AND ALL THIS. HOWARD DEAN ISN'T GOING AWAY. DO YOU THINK THAT'S PART OF REASON JOHN HE HAD WARS STAYS IN BECAUSE HE IS STILL TRYING TO -- HE KNOWS MOST OF DEAN FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR DEAN AND JUST IN EVERY STATE HE GOES TO TRIES TO TAP INTO THAT E-MAIL GROUP. YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT, KEVIN AND AS YOU KNOW MANY OF THE DEAN SUPPORTERS ARE NOT THE BIGGEST FANS OF JOHN KERRY EITHER, SO. Richard: THAT'S ONE OF THE REMAINING STORIES OF THIS CAMPAIGN HOW DO YOU WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE WHO WHOWZ HEART AND MINDS WERE WON OVER BY HOWARD DEAN. AT THE SAME TIME JOHN EDWARDS IS MORE HAWKISH ON THE WAR BY JOHN KERRY. WHETHER YOU BELIEVE KERRY IS NOT A FACTOR. HE IS CLOSER TON DEAN THAN PERHAPS JOHN HE HAD WARS. WE NEED TO GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT HOWARD DEAN THIS GUY WHO GOT VERY LITTLE MEDIA COVERAGE IN 2002 WHEN HE WAS GOING AROUND STUMPING FOR STATE SENATE CANDIDATES HE WOULD SAY WOULD YOU HOLD A HOUSE PART FOR ME TO A PERSON WHO WAS A PROMINENT DEMOCRAT. THE DEMOCRAT WOULD BE LIKE WELL I'M NOT SURE I WOULD WILL SUPPORT. HE SAID THAT'S FINE JUST SHOW UP. HERE HE IS YOU KNOW IN DECEMBER RECEIVING THE ENDORSEMENT OF AL GORE AND LATER ON BILL BRADLEY AND KEVIN IS RIGHT HE PROBABLY DID PEAK TOO EARLY. Richard: LET'S NOT FORGET HE CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING TO THE DICTIONARY AND THAT'S THE WORD BLOG. A WORD HE LEARNED HIMSELF. |
| Goodbye Guests Return to index of stories... |
Well that's it for this week's Friday edition. Dan Tuohy and James Pindell thanks for being here. And up at the statehouse, Norma Love and Kevin Landrigan thanks to you both, for being with us. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. Internet stalking - the numbers are on the rise. We'll talk with one expert to find out how you can reduce you risk of being a target. Thats on Monday - we hope you'll join us. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
I'm Richard Ager. We'll see you next time. 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 Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. Internet stalking - the numbers are on the rise. Find out how you can reduce you risk of being a target. 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. Internet stalking - the numbers are on the rise. Find out how you can reduce you risk of being a target. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: Media Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/20/04 22:00 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. It was a busy week at the statehouse. Gay Marriage, concealed weapons, the death penalty.Not to mention resignations and lawsuits. We'll get to it all. But first - let's introduce this week's guests. Joining us this week from the state house in Concord - Norma Love of the Associated Press and Kevin Landrigan of the Telegraph. And here in Durham we have Dan Tuohy of the Eagle Tribune and James Pindell of Politics N-H dot com.Thank you all for joining us. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS:Dan Tuohy\Eagle Tribune, Norma Love\Associated Press, Kevin Landrigan\Telegraph, James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at other stories making news this Friday. |