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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. It's been a busy week. We've seen a suprise twist in the Gubernatorial Race, More scandal for Craig Benson's former company, Worries on the Housing Front, and Gay Marriage making Headlines EVERYWHERE. |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
Here to talk about all this from Concord are: Norma Love from the Associated Press, & James Pindell from Politicsnh.com and here in the studio, Mike Pomp, Host of WTSN's Open Mike" Talk show, and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. |
| Intro Politics: Lynch Return to index of stories... |
Big News this week in Gubernatorial Politics -- and the filing period hasn't even begun. Hopkinton businessman, John Lynch --annouced he would be seeking the corner office. The Democrat -- resigned from his post as head of the University of New Hampshire Board of Trustees--in order to run. Lynch says he'll formally announce early next month. The news -- had a ripple effect..and we saw other "potential" candidates like House Minority Leader Peter Burling "bow out" and throw their support to Lynch: Q JAMES: We know you follow these matters very closely. Bring us up to speed on the doings in the Gubernatorial race? Who's in -- who's out. Q JAMES: John Lynch's name was mentioned in the past -- but he seemed to be out of the picture -- What changed? Q EDITH: We've talked about the uphill battle for Phil McLaughlin and Peter Burling as far as name recognition outside of Concord. What about John Lynch? I imagine name recogniton is an even GREATER challenge for Lynch? Q JAMES: Lynch would appear to be a democratic version of Craig Benson -- Paint us a picture of who John Lynch is? Q NORMA: What's been the reaction to all this at the capital? Mr Benson not to happy with John Lynch's decision to run. Q MIKE Pomp: Is the Governor's race even on the radar screen of your listeners? Q Edith/ Mike: I understand John Lynch has taken the pledge against a sales or income tax. I imagine that would be a pre-requisite for someone hoping to challenge Governor Benson? Q JAMES: John Lynch, like Governor Benson has deep pockets. Reportedly he has millions of dollars at his disposal. Benson spent 10-million of his own money in last election. Lynch hoping NOT to have to use his own money. Says he does NOT plan to stay within the state spending cap . Any guesses on what kind of spending we're going to see? Q MIKE: that could be good news for the radio station.Big Advertising buys. Q James: You had a conversation with Mark Fernald, the 2002 Democratic Gubernatorial nominee. Is he out of the running this time around? |
| Enterasys Return to index of stories... |
More scandal for Governor Benson's former company as 3 former top executives of Enterasys Networks are indicted on federal charges they conspired to INFLATE the company's revenue. Enterasys is the main successor to Cabletron Systems -- the company which Benson co-founded in 19-83. Benson -- who was on the board of directors at the time of the alleged conspiracy --resigned when he became Governor. Q James: Is this likely to become an issue in the Gubernatorial Race. Craig Benson touts his business acumen in running the state. Does this give ammunition to Lynch's campaign? |
| Intro Conference Return to index of stories... |
This was the last week for legislators from both houses to hammer out differences in their bills. The committees of conference met all week. Some bills were killed. Others sailed through in about a minute. Richard Ager spent several days following the committee action. Here's a look at two committee debates. |
| Tag Conf Cmte Return to index of stories... |
In the end, House and Senate negotiators did reach a tentative deal on Senate Bill 302. All towns will receive the same amount per student, but poor towns will also share 135 million dollars in additional aid with 23-million of that money coming from property-rich towns. The statewide property tax rate will rise by just under 3%. The Legislature's 11th hour education funding agreement has left a number of people angry. The plan reduces aid to some of the state's neediest communities, and retains so-called DONOR towns Q MIKE: There's a lot of frustration out there among communites --that already had budgets in place. What kind of reaction are you picking up on? Q EDITH: Education Funding has long been a hot-button issue. Some Lawmakers say the compromise plan is the Best they can do. Portsmouth's Mayor says shes outraged. How are communities reacting in the North Country? Q NORMA: Is this Education Funding COMPROMISE likely to be passed into law? Some Lawmakers are predicing it WON'T pass? Next week VOTE. Q JAMES: Even Governor Benson -- who had vowed to RID the state of donor towns -- is not rejecting this plan outright. I would imagine this will be another hot issue on the gubernatorial campaign trail. NORMA: This week -- Conference Committees met -- and it would appear there was some TENSION. I know you were there -- was this year any different than in past years -- or, more business as usual? . |
| Prescription Drugs Return to index of stories... |
The high cost of drugs still in the news. This week we learned this week that New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg plans to introduce a bill that would allow Americans to buy prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. Gregg held a hearing yesterday to examine the safeguards needed to import prescription drugs. He says Americans are turning to other countries or the Internet to buy drugs and he wants to make sure any medicine they order isn't going to hurt them. The Senator expects to introduce legislation to legalize the practice after the Memorial Day recess. Q EDITH: In the past you've indicated that local pharmacists in the North Country were NOT happy with the Governor's support of Reimported Drugs -- they called it anti-business. I can't imagine they would be happy with Senator Gregg's stand? |
| Intro Peter Return to index of stories... |
This week in Manchester, there was a conference that dealt, in part, with the lack of affordable housing in NH. One of the speakers, Peter Francese - a demographics and marketing expert spoke about the economic problems associated with "age restricted" housing -- affordable housing restricted to those 55 years and older. |
| Tag Housing Return to index of stories... |
Housing is key to the state's economic vitality. Q Edith: The Seacoast area has certainly seen real estate prices SOAR -- pricing out a lot of families. How big an issue has affordable housing been in the North Country. |
| Gay Marriage Return to index of stories... |
Gay Marriage back in the News. Making headlines across the country as Massachusetts becomes the first state ever to recognize same-sex marriages. Gay couples from all over including NH streamed into the Baystate this week seeking marriage licenses. This prompted MA Governor Mitt Romney to take steps toward nullifying marriage licenses granted to "out-of-state" couples. Meanwhile the attorneys general of Rhode Island and CT issued non-binding opinions that raised the possibility that Massachusetts' same-gender marriages will be HONORED in their states. So it looks like the next legal battle ground will shift to whether out-of-state couples have the right to marry in Massachusetts -- and if so, whether those marriages will be recognized in other states. Q James: Gay weddings have pushed the MARRIAGE issue into the election-year spotlight. We know where Governor Benson stands on the issue he's opposed. What about his challenger John Lynch, has there been any indication on where he stands on the issue? |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
My thanks to Norma Love and James Pindell in Concord, and Mike Pomp and Edith Tucker here in Durham. And, thank you for watching. Next time on New Hampshire Outlook we'll talk to NH state education commissioner Nicholas Donahue and Fred Bramante-- chairman of the State Board of Education about the new reforms underway. I'm Beth Carroll. We'll see you next time. |
| Next OutlookTease Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire.we're talking about real world learning and education reform. Monday at ten on New Hampshire Public Television. Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook, we're talking about real world learning and education reform. Tonight at ten on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| School Funding Return to index of stories... |
-- Governor Craig Benson says he doesn't like either school aid choice facing him - the law due to take effect July First or a new funding system legislators are voting on next week. Benson says House and Senate Republican leaders crafted a new school funding system that - if rejected - will leave the state with a system with constitutional problems. He says that system also would distribute 235 million-dollars less in non-property tax aid due to an error in the law. Benson says the alternative would be to adopt the new system which distributes 429 million-dollars in non-property tax aid through a new formula. Unlike the law it would replace, the new plan would continue requiring the wealthiest towns - "donor" towns - to subsidize poorer ones. Benson has long advocated for giving communities a five-year estimate of their aid. He also opposes "donor" towns. AP-NY-05-20-04 1433EDT AP-NH-XGR--School Funding Negotiators reach tentative agreement on new aid formula nmljayst -- Negotiators working to fix New Hampshire's school aid law reached a tentative agreement today on a new distribution system that includes a nine cent increase in the statewide property tax. Senate Majority Leader Bob Clegg and Deputy House Speaker Michael Whalley released an outline of the deal about an hour before the deadline to settle differences on bills. The state would supply a total of 796 million dollars in aid. Of that, 429 million dollars would come from non-property tax sources. The statewide property tax rate would be three dollars and 33 cents per one thousand dollars of value instead of the three dollars and 24 cents the law calls for next year. All towns would get three-thousand-390 dollars per pupil in state aid. The amount would rise with inflation in future years. Poor towns would be eligible to share 135 million dollars in additional aid. Rich towns would contribute 23 million dollars toward schools in poorer towns. AP-NY-05-19-04 1452EDTAP-NH-XGR--School Funding Negotiators make progess on school funding change -- House and Senate negotiators said today that the impact on rich towns would be dramatic if New Hampshire extends the current school aid law unchanged for another year. Negotiators released aid calculations showing what would happen if they extend the law without modifications. Under that scenario, property taxpayers would pay more toward schools and state aid from other state taxes would be 60 million dollars less than budgeted. That would resolve the state's budget problem. By some estimates, the state will be 52 million dollars in deficit at the end of the next fiscal year and spending 60 million dollars less on school aid would take care of the problem. Extending the law unchanged also would significantly impact rich towns. Deputy House Speaker Michael Whalley estimated rich towns would contribute about 45 million dollars toward schools in poorer towns. AP-NY-05-18-04 1910EDTAP-NH-XGR--School Funding-TOP Negotiators set time to meet nmlkwmsrman updates with meeting -- House and Senate negotiators appear ready to take away a tax break they gave wealthy towns last year and make them continue contributing money to poorer communities for education. The lawmakers met today to address problems with a school aid law due to take effect July first. The law would significantly alter the way school aid is calculated and distributed. But instead of modifying the law, negotiators appear ready to jettison it altogether and keep a system in place similar to one used to distribute aid this year. Lawmakers have until a Wednesday afternoon deadline to settle their differences. Negotiations resume tomorrow. AP-NY-05-17-04 1745EDT Legislators trying to fix New Hampshire's school aid law have reached a tentative agreement on a distribution system that includes a nine cent increase in the statewide property tax. Under the plan, the tax rate would be three dollars and 33 cents per one thousand dollars of value instead of the three dollars and 24 cents the law calls for next year. |
| key:state politics/government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/21/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:46 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. It's been a busy week. We've seen a suprise twist in the Gubernatorial Race, More scandal for Craig Benson's former company, Worries on the Housing Front, and Gay Marriage making Headlines EVERYWHERE. Here to talk about all this from Concord are: Norma Love from the Associated Press, & James Pindell from Politicsnh.com and here in the studio, Mike Pomp, Host of WTSN's Open Mike" Talk show, and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Norma Love\The Associated Press James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com Mike Pomp\WTSN AM1270 Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat |
| key:education Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/21/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:46 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. It's been a busy week. We've seen a suprise twist in the Gubernatorial Race, More scandal for Craig Benson's former company, Worries on the Housing Front, and Gay Marriage making Headlines EVERYWHERE. Here to talk about all this from Concord are: Norma Love from the Associated Press, & James Pindell from Politicsnh.com and here in the studio, Mike Pomp, Host of WTSN's Open Mike" Talk show, and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Norma Love\The Associated Press James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com Mike Pomp\WTSN AM1270 Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat |
| key:family/marriage Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 05/21/04 22:00 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:46 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. It's been a busy week. We've seen a suprise twist in the Gubernatorial Race, More scandal for Craig Benson's former company, Worries on the Housing Front, and Gay Marriage making Headlines EVERYWHERE. Here to talk about all this from Concord are: Norma Love from the Associated Press, & James Pindell from Politicsnh.com and here in the studio, Mike Pomp, Host of WTSN's Open Mike" Talk show, and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Norma Love\The Associated Press James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com Mike Pomp\WTSN AM1270 Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| ed funding wire Return to index of stories... |
-- Governor Craig Benson says he doesn't like either school aid choice facing him - the law due to take effect July First or a new funding system legislators are voting on next week. Benson says House and Senate Republican leaders crafted a new school funding system that - if rejected - will leave the state with a system with constitutional problems. He says that system also would distribute 235 million-dollars less in non-property tax aid due to an error in the law. Benson says the alternative would be to adopt the new system which distributes 429 million-dollars in non-property tax aid through a new formula. Unlike the law it would replace, the new plan would continue requiring the wealthiest towns - "donor" towns - to subsidize poorer ones. Benson has long advocated for giving communities a five-year estimate of their aid. He also opposes "donor" towns. |
| broker fees wire Return to index of stories... |
-- The Legislature's audit division will be looking into fees paid to brokers for handling New Hampshire's state insurance contracts. A legislative committee approved the audit today. It will probably take months to complete. Broker fees became an issue last year when former Benson administration volunteer Linda Pepin was paid 187 thousand dollars to work on the state's health insurance contracts. The attorney general's office concluded Pepin and Personnel Director Joseph D'Alessandro did nothing criminal but acted unethically in orchestrating the arrangement. D'Alessandro subsequently resigned. |
| lynch wire - Return to index of stories... |
Democrat John Lynch has resigned from New Hampshire's state university system board of trustees so he can run for governor. The Executive Council accepted Lynch's resignation yesterday. Governor Craig Benson didn't say anything, though he said previously he was taken aback when Lynch announced he was forming a campaign committee. Benson said when he reappointed Lynch to the university system position, Lynch promised not to run. Lynch had been chairman of the board. At yesterday's council meeting, Republican councilors Raymond Burton and Peter Spaulding praised Lynch's performance as chairman. |