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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook -- the first from our nifty new set. This week: A showdown in the Senate --and Fuel Prices on the rise -- But, overshadowing it all.the disaster in the Gulf Coast -- and how NH is responding. Here to talk about all this and more from Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and James Pindell from PolticsNH.com, and here in Durham: Jeff Feingold of the NH Business Review, and Mike Pomp, NewsDirector at WTSN-1270 AM. Welcome. |
| Senate President 1 Return to index of stories... |
We begin with the turf-battle in the state Senate. A special session was called Friday to deal with the dis-content over Tom Eaton's leadership. The Nashua Republican had been serving his 2nd term as the Senate's leader - but, all that changed in a matter of minutes early friday morning. Amid criticism he gave his staff too much power--- an emotional Eaton resigned as Senate President minutes before the Senate voted for Manchester Republican Ted Gatsas to replace him. Q TOM: Give us some background on this? Why did Tom Eaton lose favor with his supporters??? Q JEFF: How unusual is it to vote out a leader MID-term? Q Clearly an emotional moment for Tom Eaton. He keeps his senate seat. We're likely to see Staff Changes --but, what about committee assignments? will there be shuffling and rewarding of loyalists??? BETH: Sen Burling was quoted as saying: "We have a new majority prepared to take Senate on a different path" Q JAMES: What can we expect from the New President, Manchester Republican Ted Gatsas? Q MIKE/ JAMES: The Democrats and the Governor have stayed far away from this one. A smart move? DEMOCRATS issued statement saying Senator Eaton brought this on himself.put his job as President first, job of representing district LAST.Tom Eaton is suddently the least Influential person in Concord. OUCH!! Q MIKE: Do you think the average person is touched by any of this? Q TOM/JAMES: Will this affect the legislative agenda?? Q JEFF: What about EDUCATION Funding: Sen Gatsas was primary sponsor of the ED funding plan that was passed which got rid of donor towns, targeted aid. but kept the statewide property tax. A lawsuit by communities losing aid.already filed. WHAT are the implications for EDUCATION FUNDING? Gatsas, of Manchester, is probably best known as the author of the education funding formula that became law this year. Gatsas, 55, built a coalition to get his plan through the Senate, defeating a plan put forth by Republican leaders. |
| Sen. Clegg reax Return to index of stories... |
Senator Robert Clegg -- who resigned his position as Majority Leader this summer after a "FALLOUT" with Tom Eaton -- had this to say about what led to today's decision. TOM: WILL Clegg be back in a leadership post? |
| Governor reax Return to index of stories... |
After the vote Governor Lynch weighed in on the changing of the guard saying it's up to the Senate to decide how it wants to govern itself. |
| Katrina & NH Return to index of stories... |
Dominating the news this week--the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. A live "multi-network" telethon friday night raised money for survivors. A similiar telethon was held 4 years ago following 9-11. While the American public is busy raising money and providing relief, the Government is being criticized for how it's responded to the crisis. Friday, FEMA Director Michael Brown was removed from the Katrina effort. Q All The criticism may not be FAIR.but, JAMES: politics is about performance --isn't it? Q The Fundraising has been immense HERE and all over. Everywhere you go money is being raised to send to survivors -- Irving gas stations, Verizon, Local rotaries.turnpikes.local businesses what have you seen out there??? |
| emergency mgmt mtg Return to index of stories... |
It may be far from home --but, events in New Orleans have prompted discussions in NH on how we can better plan for disasters in this area. A joint legislative committee held its quarterly meeting with emergency health officials on Friday to talk about PREPAREDNESS in the wake of Katrina. Q TOM/JAMES: Any sense on how well NH is prepared for disaster.natural or otherwise? Q We're more likely to suffer from a bad ice storm rather than an attack. BETH: Like the Rest of the country --- NH has extended a helping hand to the Gulf Coast, dispatching members of the National Guard -- firefighters, utility workers, even funeral directors. MIKE: It looks like Plans to HOUSE evacuees at Pease.didn't pan out? Now, talk of some stranded families here when storm hit. |
| fuel & gas prices Return to index of stories... |
We're certainly feeling the ripple effects of the natural disaster -- with soaring FUEL costs. Consumers all over the state are paying the price at the pump-- as market forces react to a severe supply disruption. A gallon of unleaded gasoline is over 3-dollars -- and prices continue to fluctuate. One driver reportedly bought a lock for his gas tank cover -- in case thieves start siphoning gas. Q JEFF: This has got to create havoc with local budgets and businesses.that hadn't counted on skyrocketing gas rates? Q MIKE: How is this likely to affect the economy? Q Even the Governor has tried to STABIILZE gas prices -- asking the federal government to waive environmental restrictions on gasoline to minimize shortages. TOM/JAMES: Any other steps you're aware of happening at the state level to stablize things? Our NH stocks Q Higher fuel prices also raising the price of NATURAL GAS, WOOD and other commodities. |
| Legis agenda Return to index of stories... |
Recently , House Republicans got together to set goals for the next legislative session which begins in January. Q Tom, what are the priorities for the next session? Q Speaker Doug Scamman said the hope is that House members will work together to produce bills that already reflect some compromise. Is this could or bad for the democratic process? Where were the democrats in all this? |
| Eminent Domain Return to index of stories... |
NH's Eminent Domain laws are coming under scrutiny following a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing private land to be turned over to private developers. Does the state need to strengthen existing state law, or move forward with a constitutional amendment to further protect private property owners' rights? Q Some Lawmakers are concerned that eminent domain is beng used for political payback against 2 justices. both of whom own property in New Hampshire, David Souter and Stephen Breyer. Any sense as to what we might see? Facing a Sept 16th deadline for filing requests for bills to be drafted. Q Jeff: Eminent domain viewed as erosion of private property rights.doesn't go over well in NH |
| Supreme Ct Return to index of stories... |
The John Roberts Confirmation hearings are slated for Monday. and, Supreme Court Justice David Souter will be in NH next Friday for a special dedication at the state Supreme Court. Q A 2nd opening on the court raises new questions about the FATE of a NH abortion law that goes before the court this fall |
| Pres Politics Return to index of stories... |
This summer we saw a lot of presidential posturing -- and the beat goes on. 2-time Presidential Candidate Steve Forbes is coming to NH in October. Q James: What's that all about. Forbes will speak at a "Bring the Flat Tax to NH" event at the Saint Anselm College New Hampshire Institute of Politics on October 3. His visit lasts through Oct. 4. Q Any other visits on the horizon? |
| Shipyard Return to index of stories... |
The latest plan for closing military bases now rests with President Bush. The BRAC commission gave its final report to the President late Thursday. MIKE: Shipyard folks should feel confident he'll accept the list? MIKE: Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn Sirrell announced this week she wasn't running for re-election after 14 years in city government. She's played a big role in the education funding debate and in saving the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Sirrell: proud of being known as "the People's Mayor" -- is serving her fourth two-year term. JAMES: Is this a political victory for Senator Judd Gregg? Who else stands to gain from this decision? |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
My thanks to Tom Fahey and James Pindell in Concord. and Jeff Feingold and Mike Pomp here in Durham. And, thank you for watching. I'm Beth Carroll. We'll see you next time. |
| clegg Return to index of stories... |
These dog days are coming to an end, but it's been anything but a lazy summer at the Statehouse with the place buzzing over Sen. Bob Clegg's resignation as majority leader and the widening — and now very public — rift between Clegg and Senate President Tom Eaton. As reported here and everywhere last week, the fallout between the two one-time powerful allies stems from a sense Eaton allowed Senate Chief of Staff Amy Bourgault and Deputy Chief of Staff Jay Flanders too much power. Apparently it's not just Clegg who felt that way. A number of senators have reportedly gone to the Senate president and asked he do something about the two staffers. It is said some of those senators told Eaton to fire the two because of the animosity that has been created. One Statehouse insider said Eaton quickly refused those requests and "that's what pushed them all over the edge." Pushed them over the edge? There is a group of senators looking to overthrow Eaton. Don't be surprised if his one-time confidante Clegg is among them. "Once people get back from vacations I think this will intensify," one senator said. So are the votes there to dethrone Eaton? Well, we know about the Gatsas-Green gang which includes Sens. Dick Green, Ted Gatsas, John Gallus, Sheila Roberge and Jack Barnes. These five Republicans opposed Eaton's run for a second term as president Add to the group Clegg and Sen. Robert Letourneau of Derry. While Eaton and Clegg lent a helping hand to Letourneau during the last election, the freshman senator is very tight with Clegg on a personal level. Then you have Sen. Andy Martel of Manchester. It has been said Martel has had his own battles with Bourgault and the second-term senator is still steamed at the fact Eaton plotted to derail the governor's education funding plan at the last minute. Martel was on board with the governor's plan because it boosted aid to his constituents in Manchester and Litchfield. This brings us to Sen. Joe Kenney of Wakefield, who has really taken it on the chin from Eaton in the last year. First, Kenney lost his chair on the Transportation Committee. Then, Eaton agreed to accede to the House in the capital budget committee of conference which meant taking out $500,000 for a dental clinic in Tamworth Kenney had pushed for. Clegg, who was on the conference committee, refused to budge on the issue and was replaced on the committee by Eaton. That's a fairly solid nine and, of course, it would take 13 votes to install a new president. Also, there are questions as to what side of the fence Sen. Peter Bragdon of Milford sits. So far, he's reportedly uncommitted. However, let's remember neither Eaton or Clegg offered a helping hand last November. That could play into Bragdon's decision. Aspirations Just about every Statehouse observer you talk to says the same thing: Sen. Chuck Morse wants very badly to be Senate president. It seems Morse has been talking with just about everybody regarding the ongoing turmoil in the Senate leadership. This has led many to question where Morse's loyalties are, which is strange considering he's assistant majority leader. As one GOP senator put it this week, "There's a lot of blood on the floor of the Statehouse and it may get worse." The Dems The Democrats have stayed far away of this one and that's a smart move. While Sens. Lou D'Allesandro and Joe Foster are considered in the Eaton camp, the other six Democrats are seen as an undecided voting block. Of course, the Democrat who comes out the best in all of this is Gov. John Lynch. All of this soap opera material began to emerge last week when Lynch began his two-week vacation. He and his office have stayed out of the fray and have consistently resisted being pulled into it all. "The governor comes out of all this smelling like a rose," said one state official. "Maybe he should take another week off and let this thing go on without him." More troopers Word is Clegg will sign on as a sponsor to a bill adding more state trooper positions. Adding 14 troopers was a campaign pledge by Lynch and part of the governor's budget proposal. During work on the budget in the Senate Finance Committee, the troopers were removed from the spending plan. Clegg maintains he is not trying to rub it in Eaton's face and that he always supported the troopers. "I was with Lou the whole time trying to get more troopers. Even before this happened I was on board with Lou's bill," Clegg said Friday. 'Low-key' Presidential hopeful and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney hosted what was a called a "low-key" gathering of state GOP heavyweights at his Wolfeboro lakefront home last Sunday. You read the guest list here first, which included GOP national committeeman Tom Rath, committeewoman Nancy Merrill, Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin, possible gubernatorial candidate Bruce Keough, former GOP state party chair Steve Duprey and his wife Susan, one-time congressional candidate Sean Mahoney of Portsmouth, current state party chair Warren Henderson and his wife Linda, Richard Ashooh of BAE Systems and Sen. Judd Gregg's chief of staff, Joel Maiola. Not to leave anyone out, Carroll County Commissioner Marge Webster was also there as well as Griffin's son Michael Griffin. Councilor Griffin said Romney talked about the GOP party here in New Hampshire. "He said we have two Republican senators and two Republican congressmen and there's no reason there shouldn't be a Republican governor," Griffin said. Word is Romney also talked about pork barrel spending at the federal level and other domestic issues such as job creation. Apparently Romney didn't get close to the subject of Iraq. Ace Next time you see Lynch Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Vlacich just call him "Ace." Vlacich, who has been playing golf for only about four years, did what most golfers never do in a lifetime this past week. On Thursday, Vlacich knocked in a hole-in-one. At Manchester's Intervale Country Club Vlacich launched a beauty of a nine iron on the 135-yard eighth hole. Vlacich's playing partners were House Democratic Leader Jim Craig, lobbyist Bob Blaisdell and yours truly. |
| education Return to index of stories... |
CONCORD, N.H. - The attorney general's office said the latest education funding lawsuit in New Hampshire belongs in a lower court. The state argues a lower court must examine the details of the new law to determine whether it meets the state's obligation to pay for education. An 18-town coalition is challenging the law's constitutionality and says constitutional issues generally are decided at the Supreme Court. The towns maintain the law can be proven unconstitutional without a Superior Court trial. The coalition argues the new law is unconstitutional because some towns are left to pay for schools with their local property taxes alone. They say that violates the Supreme Court's finding that it is the state's responsibility - not each town's - to pay for an adequate education for every pupil. |
| Tonight at 10 Promo Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook: How rising energy prices are affecting New Hampshire residents and businesses. Join us Monday at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Public Television. =============================== Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook: How rising energy prices are affecting New Hampshire residents and businesses. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| NH Area Code Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Area Code Study says N.H. area code should last several more years dewcon CONCORD, N.H. - The agency that plans telephone area codes in the United States predicts New Hampshire will not have to add a second code for at least a few years. The North American Number Planning Administration estimates the 6-0-3 numbers will run out in 2008, but a phone numbering expert says it probably will take longer than that. New Hampshire's Public Utilities Commission expects to begin planning with the government soon on what to do when the numbers run out. The state will have two basic choices, giving new numbers a new area code, or splitting the state into two area codes. AP-NY-09-06-05 0919EDT |
| key: National Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 09/9/05 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook -- the first from our nifty new set. This week: A showdown in the Senate -- and Fuel Prices on the rise -- But, overshadowing it all.the disaster in the Gulf Coast and how NH is responding. Here to talk about all this and more from Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and James Pindell from PolticsNH.com, and here in Durham: Jeff Feingold of the NH Business Review, and Mike Pomp, NewsDirector at WTSN-1270 AM. Welcome. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\The Union Leader, James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com, Jeff Feingold\NH Business Review, Mike Pomp\News Director, WTSN-AM 1270 |
| key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 09/9/05 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook -- the first from our nifty new set. This week: A showdown in the Senate -- and Fuel Prices on the rise -- But, overshadowing it all.the disaster in the Gulf Coast and how NH is responding. Here to talk about all this and more from Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and James Pindell from PolticsNH.com, and here in Durham: Jeff Feingold of the NH Business Review, and Mike Pomp, NewsDirector at WTSN-1270 AM. Welcome. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\The Union Leader, James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com, Jeff Feingold\NH Business Review, Mike Pomp\News Director, WTSN-AM 1270 |
| key: Environment Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 09/9/05 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this Friday Edition of New Hampshire Outlook -- the first from our nifty new set. This week: A showdown in the Senate -- and Fuel Prices on the rise -- But, overshadowing it all.the disaster in the Gulf Coast and how NH is responding. Here to talk about all this and more from Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and James Pindell from PolticsNH.com, and here in Durham: Jeff Feingold of the NH Business Review, and Mike Pomp, NewsDirector at WTSN-1270 AM. Welcome. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\The Union Leader, James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com, Jeff Feingold\NH Business Review, Mike Pomp\News Director, WTSN-AM 1270 |
| key: UNH Return to index of stories... |
no UNH stories |
| pres. politics Return to index of stories... |
Romney warns of flagging education system in speech at Raytheon ANDOVER, Mass. - Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney sounded a lot like a presidential candidate in a speech today that reached many New Hampshire voters. Romney brushed on foreign policy topics including terrorism and the conflict in Iraq as well as domestic issues at a town hall meeting with employees at the defense contractor Raytheon. Though the company is in Andover, Massachusetts, many of the workers are from New Hampshire. Romney told the crowd that the United States is in danger of falling behind foreign competitors if does not keep apace with its math and science education. He says the American education system is failing to keep up with other countries that are producing growing numbers of math and science P-H-D students. Romney, who's acknowledged that he's considering a presidential run, later greeted each worker as patriotic music blared over loudspeakers. Asked about his president-like appearance, he laughed and said he hoped he looked gubernatorial. AP-NY-08-30-05 1920EDT ### Friday, September 2, 2005; Page A04 Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was there last week. So was Sen. John F. Kerry. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is expected next week. The Republican governor of Massachusetts? A little later this month. The 2008 presidential election is still a long way off, but the potential contenders have begun making their way to New Hampshire. More than a dozen lawmakers believed to be considering bids have been to the Granite State, the expected site of the first presidential primary election, since last November. Among the Democrats, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was there in June. So was retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark. Sen. Evan Bayh has been up. So has John Edwards -- three times, in fact. Sen. Russell Feingold is slated to make his first trip later this month. Politics Trivia Judge John G. Roberts Jr.'s wife Jane Sullivan Roberts is a lawyer and has worked for most of her life in the Washington area. She was a member of the first freshmen class of women allowed at which northeastern college? Holy Cross College Boston College Colby College Williams College Republicans have been just as busy. Sen. John McCain visited in December. Since then, colleagues Chuck Hagel , George Allen and Sam Brownback have stopped by. Same goes for Rep. Tom Tancredo and former House speaker Newt Gingrich. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has been to the state three times. "It's way early," said state Republican Party Chairman Warren Henderson, who attributed the unusually early forays to the wide-open nature of the '08 race. It will be the first in more than 50 years in which neither a sitting president nor a vice president is running. The visiting lawmakers typically spend their time at fundraisers, picnics, potlucks and house parties -- wherever they happen to be invited. For some, such as Huckabee, who was making his first trip to New Hampshire, the visits give them an opportunity to introduce themselves to local activists. For others, it's a chance to meet old supporters. "It's all about putting a toe in the water," Henderson said. "You might want to go see what kind of response you get. Do New Hampshire audiences react to you the same as audiences in your home state? For a lot of these folks, they may not really know how they're going to be perceived." Preemptive Strikes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where there are potential 2008 candidates, there are ads with '08 overtones. Several advocacy groups have found a way to push agendas by capitalizing on the possible presidential candidates' ambitions. One of the first was StemPAC, when it announced it would begin running television ads in New Hampshire criticizing Frist for not supporting legislation that would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Weeks later, a Florida-based evangelical group called the Center for Reclaiming America announced it would run radio and television spots in Iowa also attacking Frist -- who, in the interim, had reversed himself on the research -- for supporting the controversial legislation. Now comes word that the anti-tax Club for Growth is airing ads in New Hampshire criticizing McCain for opposing a bill that would end the estate tax. "I think he intends to run for president," Club for Growth chief Pat Toomey said, adding: "I think Senator McCain cares about the opinions of New Hampshire voters." **** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: NH Democratic Party, 225-6899 Oct 29th: NH Democrats' Jefferson-Jackson Dinner to Feature Sen. Evan Bayh MANCHESTER, NH -- U.S. Senator Evan Bayh will be the keynote speaker at the annual New Hampshire Democratic Party "Jefferson-Jackson" Dinner on October 29th. "We are delighted to have Senator Bayh back in New Hampshire for this important night," said Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan. "Senator Bayh is a leading force in the national Democratic Party, and we are thankful for his friendship and dedication to New Hampshire Democrats." The dinner will be held at the Center of New Hampshire Radisson in Manchester, NH. Tickets are available for purchase online beginning at $50 at www.nhdp.org or by calling 225-6899. If purchased after October 7th, tickets will cost $65 apiece. The Jefferson-Jackson dinner is one two annual fundraising dinners held by the NH Democratic Party to support its efforts on behalf of local Democrats throughout the state of New Hampshire. Past speakers have included General Wesley Clark in 2004, Governor Jeanne Shaheen in 2003, Senator John Edwards in 2002 and Vice President Al Gore in 2001. For more information about Senator Bayh, please visit http:/www.allamericapac.com. ### |
| Evergreen Return to index of stories... |
As the work of rescuing stranded hurricane survivors winds down in Louisiana and Mississippi, another type of work is beginning. With about 150 estimated dead in Mississippi and possibly ten-thousand dead in New Orleans, some workers now are going about the grim business of recovering and identifying those remains. At least two members of Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team come from New Hampshire. Jaffrey funeral director Mark Cournoyer was called to Mississippi last week to help tend to the dead. Merrimack psychologist Donna Hastings also is in Mississippi. Body recovery assignments usually are limited to two weeks. Neither can discuss details of their confidential work, but Hastings says she is responsible for the emotional and psychological health of team members involved in body recovery. CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire state troopers and firefighters from several communities are joining the response to Hurricane Katrina.Utility workers, rescue crews and volunteers. funeral directors called in to help identify remains and * funeral director from Jaffrey called in to tend to the dead. Q q President Bush is declaring September 16th as a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of the hurricane. AP-MA--Katrina-Schools Schools plan for expected influx of students from hurricane BOSTON - Schools superintendents on the Cape are meeting today to discuss how to handle an expected influx of new students evacuated from areas hit by Hurricane Katrina. Camp Edwards on Cape Cod is expecting to house about 25-hundred storm refugees. An unknown number of them will be school-aged children. State and local officials say the top priority is to get the children into classrooms as soon as possible so they don't fall behind. Bourne schools have told the state Department of Education that they can accommodate about 200 students. The state plans to waive state educational laws and enroll the children without the required paperwork or vaccinations. AP-NY-09-06-05 1316EDT ========================================== AP-NH--Katrina-Irving Oil Irving Oil donating 100-thousand to hurricane relief dewho Shows the company's American operations are based in Portsmouth PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - A regional oil company is giving New Englanders another way to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Today, Irving Oil announced it is donating 100 thousand dollars to the American Red Cross, and placing collection boxes in its 125 stores and gas stations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. The company's American operations are based in Portsmouth. Harry Hadiaris, director of Irving's convenience stores, says his employees are saddened by the disaster and many customers said they wanted to help. AP-NY-09-06-05 1342EDT ====================================================== AP-NH--Katrina-Response State troopers, firefighters joining Katrina response dewman bc Adds Dover CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire state troopers and firefighters from several communities are joining the response to Hurricane Katrina. Governor John Lynch is sending eight state troopers and four cruisers to Louisiana and Mississippi. Firefighters from several communities also are headed south. They include four from Concord, nine from Manchester and six from Dover. About 500 members of the New Hampshire National Guard already are in the south. AP-NY-09-06-05 0848EDT CONCORD, N.H. - Eight New Hampshire state troopers who were headed south to help out in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are staying put for now. The governor's office says the troopers may be called on later to relieve officers already helping out in Louisiana and Mississippi. |
| priorities Return to index of stories... |
CONCORD — Eminent domain reform, tougher laws on child sex abuse and immigration enforcement are among a short list of top priorities for House Republicans when they return to work in January. About 125 Republican House members met yesterday at the State House in a pre-session effort to set goals for next year. House Majority Leader Michael O'Neil of Hampton said the list of concerns also includes fixing education funding, adopting more Medicaid reforms and putting an unexpected surplus into the state's dwindling Rainy Day Fund. "This is the first time we've ever had a pre-session caucus. It gives us a head start on where we're headed as a body," O'Neil said. Lawmakers may begin filing legislation on Sept. 12. O'Neil and Speaker of the House Douglas Scamman said the hope is that House members will work together to produce bills that already reflect some compromise, instead of forcing committees to cobble a single bill from many on the same subject. On eminent domain reform, for example, Scamman said, "We'd like to see people get discussions out of the way before a bill is drafted." He said he thinks the state Constitution and state laws offer property owners better protection than many states, but agreed with O'Neil when he said they "may need some tightening up." House and Senate committees are studying the issue, raised in a U.S. Supreme Court decision, to see what kind of legislation ought to be proposed. If things run as Scamman expects, the House will conclude its business in May and free members to campaign for reelection. Although it wasn't listed in the GOP's top five priorities, Scamman said he'd like to see a repeal of the statewide property tax. The repeal would be part of a tweak to the education funding formula that would be aimed at eliminating three donor towns that cropped up after the current law passed in June. He also wants to use part of the surplus to refund $5 million that the budget required counties to pay for the costs of caring for the elderly and disabled. Counties raise their funds through local property taxes. O'Neil said he wants to approach child sex abuse on two fronts — mandatory sentencing and changes in notification laws on sex offenders. He said that the so-called Jessica's Law that took effect in Florida yesterday will serve as a model for a New Hampshire law, but could be passed with changes. "We have to fit the laws we pass for the state of New Hampshire," O'Neil said. Increasingly, he said, New Hampshire laws are viewed as models for other states. The Florida law requires a mandatory 25-year prison term on the first conviction for sexual assault on a child under age 13, lifelong requirement to register as a sexual offender and a requirement to wear an electronic bracelet that can track the offender anywhere he or she moves. O'Neil said the House will "take a long hard look at the court case in Jaffrey," that dismissed local trespassing charges against illegal immigrants. He said he wants the House to consider instituting penalties against employers who hire illegal aliens. "We'll work with law enforcement on how we can enforce these issues," he said. **** Speaker lists top priorities for GOP in ’06 By KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Telegraph Staff landrigank@telegraph-nh.com Published: Friday, Sep. 2, 2005 CONCORD – Immigration reform, tweaking the education aid law, a crackdown on child sex offenders, tightening eminent domain laws and dealing with at least a $25 million revenue surplus are the top 2006 priorities of House Speaker Douglas Scamman, GOP leaders said Thursday. More than 125 rank-and-file Republicans attended a closed-door caucus to hear ideas for bills, and Majority Whip Pamela Price, R-Nashua, said members of Scamman’s top echelon would review whether to add to their goals and objectives. House Majority Leader Michael O’Neil, R-Hampton, told reporters Scamman’s group wants to repeat successes of 2005 when they focused on a small, targeted agenda. The pre-session caucus on issues in the House is the first of its kind, O’Neil said. “I think it’s a great beginning and this gives us a head start on where we are headed from here,” O’Neil said. Hudson Republican Rep. David Buhlman and others are pursuing legislation to overcome a district court judge’s ruling and give local law enforcement more authority to address illegal immigration. O’Neil said any such bill should also include stiffer penalties against companies in the state known to employ illegal aliens. “I don’t think it’s a witch hunt and that’s not the intent. If you are here illegally and the police happen to stop someone, we believe local law enforcement needs to have the ability to bring that case into court,” O’Neil said. The new education aid law needs to be reopened to correct a flaw that made three towns – not one, as expected – donor communities subsidizing aid to all other school districts. Lawmakers knew Hebron would get this distinction, but a bill is needed to strike Jackson and New Castle, which were added due to a disagreement between legislators and education bureaucrats over the law’s language, O’Neil said. Scamman said he’d like to use this opportunity to achieve the goal he and Gov. John Lynch shared to repeal the statewide property tax. House GOP leaders will resist attempts to revamp the thrust of the education aid grants, the subject of two lawsuits brought by Nashua and a coalition of property-richer towns that also lose grant money. “There is much less chance of that happening,” Scamman said of wholesale changes. Legislators will study two model laws to increase jail terms for child sex offenders and empower all local police to notify residents when an offender moves into town upon release from jail, O’Neil said. Merrimack Republican Rep. Maureen Mooney chaired a House task force that will complete a report next week on changes needed to restrict government takings of private property to benefit another private individual. Scamman said he would prefer that panel’s work be merged with the work of a similar Senate committee in response to a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling. A state tax audit produced $25 million in past tax payments by an unknown number of companies. Scamman said his top priority for this money would be to erase a two-year, $5 million increase in county government’s share of care for the disabled and the needy. The remaining money should be put into the Rainy Day Fund, a reserve account set aside for fiscal emergencies drained to help pay for the existing two-year state budget. Lynch has said he supports giving more money to a land preservation program, and lawmakers are expected to make bids to increase spending on human services and state prison programs. Scamman said he’s not supportive of those requests. “We, as Republicans, are not inclined to fund things that have been asked for and turned down before,” Scamman said. Additional spending may be necessary to deal with soaring fuel and heating oil costs. Administrative Services Commissioner Donald Hill said the major state agencies don’t have “pre-buy” fuel and gas contracts that locked in purchases at rates below the recent price spikes. “This will probably be an area of unexpected need,” Hill said. Kevin Landrigan can be reached at 224-8804 or landrigank@telegraph-nh.com. Discuss This Article Topic Posts Author Posted No messages. |