Senator: Raise retirement age of safety workers
01/27/2011

Senate Republicans are proposing raising the retirement age for public safety workers as one of the ways to shore up New Hampshire's public pension system. Senate Republican Leader Jeb Bradley of Wolfeboro is the prime sponsor of pension reforms he says will stabilize the system. Bradley, other Senate Republicans, business leaders and local officials plan to discuss the proposal in detail today. "Unfortunately there is no short-term fix," Bradley said. Bradley released some details yest more ...

Budget shortfall close to $1 billion
01/13/2011

CONCORD – Communities and school districts face cuts in education funding, and continued sparse revenue-sharing in the next state budget, House Finance Committee Chairman Rep. Kenneth Weyler warned yesterday. He needs to close what the Legislative Budget Assistant's Office estimates could be a nearly $900 million budget gap going into the next two years. Weyler, R-Kingston, said he'll do what he can to come up with a balanced budget, but towns, cities and school districts have to do some work, more ...

GOP lawmakers seek tax cut for rooms, meals tax
01/13/2011

Four Republican state lawmakers are proposing legislation to reduce the impact of the state's rooms and meals tax on New Hampshire communities and businesses. During the past year, the state collected $58 million in rooms and meals taxes, collected from a 9 percent tax imposed on diners and lodgers. The $58 million was bolstered by a 1 percent increase of the tax withheld by the state, while cities and towns saw zero increase in their dispersions. Newly elected state Sen. Nancy Stiles, R-H more ...

'Evergreen' clause repeal bill advances
01/13/2011

PORTSMOUTH — Administrators from Seacoast communities were in Concord on Tuesday, testifying on legislation that would eliminate the automatic extension of employee contracts known as the "evergreen" clause. After representatives of Portsmouth, North Hampton and Hampton spoke at the Statehouse, the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee voted 4-1 to recommend passage of the legislation and send the bill to the full Senate. Sen. Bob Odell, R-Lempster, is the prime sponsor of Senate B more ...

Some N.H. lawmakers think outside the budget box with bills
01/13/2011

CONCORD – The Legislature is back in session, poised to tackle such big issues as the state's fiscal crisis, the death penalty, taxes, education funding and gay marriage. But not all of the 864 Legislative Service Requests (LSRs) submitted by lawmakers this year deal with such weighty topics. The color purple, stove polish, margarine and the "Elgin Marbles" are all on the list of proposed laws for 2011. In a column last week in the New Hampshire Union Leader, Charles Arlinghaus, president of t more ...

Lynch begins fourth term
01/06/2011

Gov. John Lynch was sworn in today to serve a historic fourth term as governor amid a political sea change that leaves him as a Democratic governor facing veto-proof Republican majorities in the state House and Senate. In his inaugural address, Lynch acknowledged the need to work in a bipartisan fashion. “New Hampshire is a special place because of the hard work and innovation of our people, but also because of thoughtful bipartisan policies we’ve pursued over the decades,” Lynch said. more ...

Gov. Lynch sworn in for historic fourth term
01/06/2011

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch began his historic fourth consecutive term in office calling for programs to boost business growth, a constitutional amendment on school funding and refinements of a controversial parole reform law. Lynch was sworn in at noon today by new Supreme Court Chief Justice Linda Dalianis. He is the only person in state history to serve four consecutive terms as governor. Before outlining his plans for the next two years, Lynch highlighted successes over the past six. He cite more ...

GOP welcomes back guns to the State House
01/06/2011

CONCORD – Republicans started off the year by allowing guns in and around the New Hampshire House chambers Wednesday, and starting an ouster attempt against a leading Democrat. The change in gun policy reverses a long-standing ban on firearms in Representatives Hall and adjacent areas. Republicans supported the change in a loud voice vote. Democrats tried to win a ban on deadly weapons in the House gallery area, but were defeated by the three-to-one GOP majority. Firearms have been banned from more ...

Democratic Party boss could be forced from office
01/06/2011

CONCORD – Republicans plan hearings that could force New Hampshire Democratic Party executive director Rep. Michael Brunelle of Manchester out of the New Hampshire House. Speaker of the House William O'Brien ordered committee hearings on accusations that Rep. Phil Greazzo, R-Manchester, made on the House floor today. Greazzo accused Brunelle of violating the state Constitution that bars legislators from being paid, acting as counsel or as "an advocate on any cause." He and other Republicans a more ...

NH lawmakers return, Lynch inauguration set
01/03/2011

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Democrat John Lynch will be inaugurated Thursday to a historic fourth consecutive term as New Hampshire's governor. The inaugural festivities begin in the morning with a breakfast honoring state employees. After Lynch is sworn in, he will hold a brief meeting with the new Executive Council. Lawmakers convene on Wednesday to formally start the legislative session. Some committees plan organizational meetings this week. The House and Senate committees on revenues and ta more ...

Lynch: Balancing budget is top priority
12/22/2010

Democratic Gov. John Lynch is upbeat about working with the state House and Senate next month despite overwhelming Republican majorities in both chambers. Lynch said Tuesday he is looking forward to the legislative session that starts next month. "I am going to do everything I can to be cooperative and I expect that the leadership of the House and Senate will do the same," Lynch said in an interview. Republicans won 298 of the 400 House seats last month and 19 of the 24 Senate seats. more ...

Will cuts shift costs downward?
12/06/2010

The last few years have been rough for organizations that rely on state funding, and dramatic changes to the political landscape may soon complicate matters for school districts, municipalities and health care providers. November's GOP sweep of the Legislature means anyone lobbying for state support will need to figure out new personalities and new priorities, but organizations with a stake in next year's budget have the same worries they did two years ago. Cuts at the state level, they say, more ...

Finances are top concern for GOP
12/06/2010

The new Republican majority has three priorities in the upcoming session: budget, budget, budget. That was the mantra lawmakers repeated around the State House yesterday as they met to appoint their leadership. "The budget needs to be fixed very quickly," Bartlett Republican Rep. Gene Chandler said in nominating House Speaker Bill O'Brien of Mont Vernon. New Hampshire wants a government that has "not abandoned the common fiscal sense we bring to our own lives and when we attend town meetin more ...

Rep.-elects form new bloc caucus
12/06/2010

CONCORD — A group of recently elected freshman lawmakers have formed a caucus to advance constitutionally based legislation — and don't plan to act with traditional deference to party elders. The Natural Rights Caucus, a group of as many as 20 Republican legislators, was founded by six freshmen who are determined to vote as a bloc and insert their issues and abilities as soon as possible. "You can't sit back and watch veterans do everything," said Rep.-elect Andrew Manuse of Derry. "You ne more ...

Debate takes aim at state retirement system costs
12/06/2010

DOVER — The question of how to make the state retirement system financially viable in the long term has put cities and towns at loggerheads with unions, with each arguing for different changes. Rising costs for municipalities have led to discussions among city and town officials about certain areas that could be examined for possible financial savings. "People have been talking about this for the past few years because costs continue to escalate for communities," said Portsmouth City Mana more ...

GOP power could shape bureaucracy
11/10/2010

Democratic Gov. John Lynch has lost an important ally - one that wields almost as much power as he does. When the new five-member Executive Council is sworn in this January, it will consist entirely of Republicans. The current council has three Democrats and two Republicans. The shift comes at a time when judicial vacancies abound - including the chief justice's seat on the Supreme Court - and when numerous commissioners will be up for reappointment. The government is also trying to cut spend more ...

GOP majority must begin balancing act
11/09/2010

Republican lawmakers won major victories in the state House and Senate with promises of cutting spending and balancing the budget. Now, it's time to deliver. When the legislative session begins in January, the biggest challenge will be addressing a budget shortfall pegged at between $600 million and $800 million. Republicans have taken fee and tax increases largely off the table but say they are open to considering a variety of other ideas - from consolidating office functions to reforming th more ...

A wide variety of new legislators
11/09/2010

A diverse bunch of new Republican lawmakers will join the New Hampshire House of Representatives next year. Their ranks include a self-described "computer geek," a part-time police officer, a third-generation well driller and a former snowboard instructor who wants to ensure that redistricting is handled fairly. Their ambitious are, in some ways, as different as their backgrounds. They all favor a smaller, cheaper state government, but many plan to support legislation tailored to their distri more ...

Can Lynch be relevant with GOP supermajorities?
11/09/2010

Has Gov. John Lynch become irrelevant? Lynch was elected to an unprecedented fourth term by New Hampshire voters Tuesday, but woke up Wednesday to a radically changed political environment in Concord. Lynch, who has prided himself on seeking bipartisan consensus since he took office in 2005, was among a small band of Democrats who survived the historic Republican tidal wave on election night. But now he faces veto-proof Republican supermajorities in both the House and Senate. The fact is t more ...

Bragdon selected as next Senate president
11/09/2010

CONCORD – Newly-elected Republican members of the state Senate have chosen Sen. Peter Bragdon of Milford to be the next Senate President. Bragdon, also Republican, has been in the Senate since 2004 and for the past four years served as minority leader. He also served a two-year term in the New Hampshire House. He was the unanimous selection of the 19-member Republican caucus yesterday, but his rise to the Senate's top post will not become official until Dec.1, when all 24 senators vote to more ...

Lynch, Stephen face off in forum
10/07/2010

CONCORD — Democratic Gov. John Lynch and Republican rival John Stephen butted heads Friday in a live radio forum on the economy over who's better-suited to lead New Hampshire out of the recession. Stephen said Lynch's poor management will leave the state with an $800 million hole in the next budget — a figure some analysts say may be too high. Stephen said he would cut spending 10 percent across the board and veto new spending proposals to balance the budget, then cut taxes on business. St more ...

Gov. Lynch announces $70m surplus for 2010
10/07/2010

CONCORD – The state closed its books with a $70 million surplus for 2010, and saw healthy business tax payments in September, the Lynch administration announced yesterday. The two bits of upbeat economic news drew immediate criticism from John Stephen, Republican candidate for governor. He accused Gov. John Lynch of using "smoke and mirrors accounting gimmicks" to hide the true budget picture, which he said is dire. Lynch said the results were the result of "strong fiscal management." Not more ...

Lynch appeals to Republicans
09/17/2010

One day after sewing up the Democratic nomination in his bid for a fourth term, Gov. John Lynch looked to his right yesterday, accepting the support of a dozen prominent Republican leaders who said his leadership transcended party labels. While Lynch has courted - and boasted of - Republican support in his previous campaigns, yesterday he drew the backing of one of the state's most connected Republican powerbrokers: Joel Maiola, former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg. Maiola is not more ...

Retirement System won't release data despite court order
09/17/2010

The New Hampshire Retirement System is refusing to release the names of the state's top pension earners, despite a court order requiring them to do so. Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge David Garfunkel ordered the retirement system on Sept. 2 to comply with a right-to-know request filed by the New Hampshire Union Leader for the names of the 500 state retirement system members who received the highest annual pension payments in 2009 and the amounts of these payments. Garfunkel wrote in more ...

Drug take-back day planned
09/17/2010

Unwanted or expired prescription drugs piling up in cabinets at home can be safely disposed of during "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day." State police and local law enforcement agencies across the state are taking part in the program initiated by the DEA and set for Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The point of the nationwide "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" is to decrease a source of illegal use which poses an unacceptable risk to public health and safety, according to a DEA sta more ...

John DiStaso's Granite Status: NH GOP stresses unity, takes aim at Dems
09/17/2010

UNITY. It appeared genuine when more than 300 Republicans gathered for the party's Unity Breakfast at the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester yesterday. But unity events always seem that way. We'll see what happens now that the primary is history and the ticket has been chosen. Can the bitterness of the U.S. Senate and 1st District U.S. House primaries be easily set aside? Time will tell, but if there are any special elixirs needed to heal the wounds, they are named Barack Obama, John Ly more ...

Primaries are usually crazy, but not crazy like this one
09/17/2010

DERRY – Blame paperwork, or the new online reporting requirement. Blame the universe and its effect on the calendar, giving us a later Labor Day and earlier first Tuesday in November than usual. But so far, no one is blaming Secretary of State Bill Gardner for the primary squeeze that had local election officials working against the clock to beat filing deadlines. "I'm not angry at Secretary Gardner," said Dorothy Marsden, Pelham's town clerk. "This is my job, so I did what I had to do." more ...

Stephen vs. Lynch: Finally, a real race
09/17/2010

As he runs for an unprecedented fourth term, Gov. John Lynch will at last get a tough election challenge. Will he respond by finally dropping the bipartisan shtick and running on the big-government agenda he and his party have been implementing for the last several years? On Tuesday night, he was at it again, talking about the need to forget partisan differences and play nice. If only the governor and his majority party had actually done that. What they did instead was raise spending, rai more ...

Primary nears finish
09/13/2010

Before she could make up her mind about her choice in tomorrow's primary, Nashua voter Cathy Lambert had to clear up one misconception about Republican Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte. Lambert wondered: Had Ayotte really been endorsed by the pro-choice Planned Parenthood? Ayotte, a pro-life former attorney general who fought against Planned Parenthood in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, was unequivocal. "No. Not at all," Ayotte said, referring Lambert and a friend to the Supreme Court c more ...

Candidates' last chance to woo undecided voters
09/13/2010

CONCORD — New Hampshire candidates are sprinting in the final days before Tuesday's primary to woo undecided voters with one central theme that can be summed up in a four-letter word: jobs. Regardless of party, the sales pitch is essentially the same — one of reviving the economy with the right incentives for businesses to create jobs. Secretary of State William Gardner predicted Friday one in four of New Hampshire's 919,154 registered voters would vote Tuesday with twice as many voting in more ...

N.H. GOP hopes primary picks are Nov. winners
09/13/2010

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Energized New Hampshire Republicans are spending millions of dollars trying to retain the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg. The Federal Election Commission says New Hampshire Republican candidates have spent more than $9 million. Front-runner Kelly Ayotte has spent $2 million. She got a boost among conservatives with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement in July over Ovide Lamontagne who is closing fast despite only spending $400,000. Multimillionaire bu more ...

Vitriol flows in N.H. Senate battle
09/13/2010

In a meeting with Foster's editors last year, state GOP Chairman John E. Sununu said there was an anger among Republicans that could surface in the 2010 elections as the party's candidates showcased their differences from Democrats. Based on the recent proliferation of expensive attack ads among some U.S. Senate candidates, it would seem Sununu hadn't been too far off. State GOP Spokesman Ryan Williams acknowledged some campaigns in the last few weeks leading up to the Sept. 14 primary ha more ...

Granite Status: Pollls show Republican U.S. Senate primary race dead heat
09/13/2010

CLOSER AND CLOSER. Ovide Lamontagne continues to close in on Kelly Ayotte in the battle for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination. On the heels of a Sunday night poll showing Ayotte's lead narrowing to 7 percentage points (see item below) comes a poll this afternoon by Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies. It shows Ayotte with 35 percent, Lamontagne with 31 percent, Bill Binnie with 14 percent and Jim Bender with 10 percent. The margin of error is listed as 3 percent. Watch for an update wi more ...

State revenues up slightly for fiscal year's first 2 months
09/09/2010

CONCORD – The state is enjoying a small surplus of revenues after two months of the 2011 fiscal year, which began July 1. As September opened, the state found itself with $8.3 million more in tax revenues than were called for in the budget plan. August provided a $10.3 million revenue bonus, coming in at $109 million. It more than offset a slight $2 million shortfall from July and puts the state 4 percent ahead of where it expected to be in terms of tax revenue. September, when many bus more ...

State revenues up slightly for fiscal year's first 2 months
09/09/2010

CONCORD – The state is enjoying a small surplus of revenues after two months of the 2011 fiscal year, which began July 1. As September opened, the state found itself with $8.3 million more in tax revenues than were called for in the budget plan. August provided a $10.3 million revenue bonus, coming in at $109 million. It more than offset a slight $2 million shortfall from July and puts the state 4 percent ahead of where it expected to be in terms of tax revenue. September, when many bus more ...

Savings from Medicaid system hard to predict
08/30/2010

Faced with a looming budget deficit in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars, whoever wins the governor's race in November has some messy arithmetic waiting for him or her next year. John Stephen, a Republican candidate and the former head of the state health department, has touted one solution that he says is all but guaranteed to plug much of that budget hole. Stephen says the state can save hundreds of millions of dollars by converting its Medicaid program into a "managed care" sys more ...

GOP negative campaigns persist
08/30/2010

CONCORD — The head of New Hampshire's Republican Party has made a second plea to GOP candidates to avoid negative campaigning, but the request is going as unheeded as the first one. In an op-ed piece this week in state newspapers, GOP Chairman John H. Sununu warned Republican candidates they may not win in November if they attack each other before the Sept. 14 primary. "It may seem to be advantageous to go negative to win the primary, but almost certainly going negative will make it more d more ...

Primary spending spree in NH's Senate campaign
08/30/2010

MANCHESTER – Had enough political ads? Brace yourself, more are on the way, particularly from the U.S. Senate candidates who likely will stage the most expensive Senate primary in state history. Before the primary race is over Sept. 14, the four major Republican candidates in the race are projected to spend between $15 million and $18 million trying to win the GOP nomination. Prior to this race, the most expensive U.S. Senate primary was in 2002 between incumbent Bob Smith and challenger J more ...

Two lobbyists: One stupid debate
08/30/2010

The two candidates for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Hampshire's 2nd District are pointing fingers at each other and shouting a single word: "Lobbyist!" It's a fight that is beneath both of these accomplished, intelligent women. Ann McLane Kuster is the left-wing's darling. She's also a career lobbyist, not in dreaded Washington, but in Concord. But she's refused to use that word. Her opponent, the somewhat more moderate Katrina Swett, has enthusiastically reminded voters exa more ...

Tom Fahey's State House Dome: Dollars from doughnuts fuel Stephen campaign
08/30/2010

There's a lot of money in doughnuts. Just ask Dunkin' Donuts. Better yet, ask Republican John Stephen, whose campaign for governor has gotten a pile of money from the doughnut crowd. Stephen's campaign finance report last week showed, ironically, a dozen contributions from limited liability companies that run doughnut shops out of a single Massachusetts office. There were another half dozen from doughnut LLCs in Connecticut. Total contributions from most of them hit $4,000. Altogether, more ...

Lynch loans his campaign $500k
08/27/2010

CONCORD – If money in the bank sets candidates apart, then the leading contenders for governor this year are incumbent Gov. John Lynch and Manchester Republican John Stephen. Each has spent in the six figures so far, and still has more than $700,000 available to spend on his campaign, according to reports from their committees. Lynch reported Wednesday that he has raised more than $1.3 million so far, including a $500,000 personal loan he has made to the campaign. The campaign committee, N more ...

N.H. Lottery ditches new online game
08/19/2010

The New Hampshire Lottery Commission has scrapped a recently proposed online game that would have let gamblers "play" their lottery tickets on their home computers. Lottery officials said they decided to cancel the interactive game, called PlayNowNH, in order to focus on improving other pieces of the commission's work, such as beefing up promotional efforts and reassessing scratch ticket offerings. "In light of our other challenges at this time, it is clear that the resources needed to i more ...

Sen. candidates stress what sets them apart in Portsmouth debate
08/19/2010

PORTSMOUTH — It was symbolic when the six Republican candidates for U.S. Senate stood up together side-by-side during a debate Wednesday. It resembled their positions on major issues. All said they would have voted against extending long-term unemployment benefits. All argued Elena Kagan should not have been appointed to the Supreme Court. All said man-made global warming hasn't been proven. Their similarity was acknowledged by fringe candidate Gerard Beloin, a roofer from New Boston. " more ...

N.H. expects $22 million pick-me-up
08/09/2010

After months of uncertainty, the state appears likely to get $22 million more in federal money in 2011 than it had budgeted for. "This is clearly good news," said Kristen Van Ostern, budget director for Gov. John Lynch. The U.S. Senate yesterday passed a bill that could give New Hampshire up to $95.6 million in education and Medicaid money, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In total, the Senate bill would give $16.1 billion to states in additional Medicaid mone more ...

Mental health cuts doing damage, experts fear
08/09/2010

A new round of state budget cuts to the mental health system is adding to the financial burden of local communities by increasing the strain on police and hospital emergency rooms, and reducing the quality of client care, according mental health center directors and advocates for the mentally ill. Regional mental health centers statewide are absorbing another $1 million in state-ordered cuts this fiscal year, following on the heels of $7.6 million in cuts since 2008. This year, the cuts are more ...

Smoke dings: The Lynch Disadvantage
08/09/2010

Well, Gov. John Lynch has finally done it. He has raised New Hampshire's cigarette taxes so high that they are harming businesses. This year, cigarette sales in Maine rose for the first time in 20 years, The Associated Press reported last week. It is possible that Mainers are so upset with President Obama's policies that more of them have taken up smoking. But Maine and New Hamsphire revenue officials say the likely culprit is New Hampshire's higher cigarette tax. John Lynch has pushed and more ...

Committee orders hold on online lottery game
07/21/2010

Gamblers hoping to buy lottery tickets for a new online, interactive game in New Hampshire will have to wait at least until September. A legislative committee ordered the Lottery Commission yesterday to wait until the committee approves the game, pointing to a state law that requires such a move. Lottery Commission Executive Director Charles McIntyre said he will put together a formal proposal for the PlayNowNH game for the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee's September meeting. The more ...

Fiscal Committee delays PlayNowNH at least until September
07/21/2010

CONCORD – The Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee this morning prohibited the New Hampshire Lottery Commission from implementing it's PlayNowNH online game until at least September. The new computer-assisted game raised the ire of lawmakers, who say they never were informed before PlayNowNH was announced. Before moving forward with the new game, the Fiscal Committee wants a report at its September meeting from the Lottery Commission.

Battle brews as NH officials eye consumer protection
07/21/2010

CONCORD – The fight over national financial reform may be over, but a legislative battle is looming here over whether to create broader oversight for banks and other regulated businesses. The governor, the Attorney General's Office and some legislative leaders are calling for changes to the state's Consumer Protection Act, contending an alleged Ponzi scheme that cost investors millions of dollars proves the current system does not work. Meanwhile, the head of the state bankers' association more ...

Lynch orders 5 percent cuts for next two years
07/18/2010

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch ordered all state departments to cut their budgets by 5 percent for each of the next two fiscal years. In his letter to executives, Lynch stated he wants a close look at becoming more efficient, programs that can be reorganized or eliminated, ways to use technology to cut costs and ways for agencies to centralize and collaborate on services. In short, Lynch wrote, "We must prepare now to meet the budget challenges of the next two-year budget cycle . . . reduce adm more ...

Selling state property a tricky task
06/21/2010

Last summer, the state floated a plan to sell or lease state parks. After public outcry, the plan was withdrawn. For years, lawmakers have been trying to lease Cannon Mountain, but bills to accomplish that were always defeated. In 2006, a master plan for the Sununu Youth Center in Manchester said the Department of Health and Human Services may sell two unused parcels on the campus. This year, lawmakers changed "may" to "shall," since the sale had not been completed. A bill signed into l more ...

New Hampshire may be for sale
06/21/2010

CONCORD — Want to buy a building from the state of New Hampshire? How about helping manage the lottery, or the liquor stores? After a difficult budget session, New Hampshire legislators approved a plan that calls for a commission to inventory state properties for possible sale or lease, as well as explore the privatization of some state-run programs. The goal would be to bring in $60 million to help close a $295 million budget gap by June 30, 2011. While there is no formal list yet, severa more ...

Does board clear way for games?
06/16/2010

Here's how Rep. Derek Owen, a Hopkinton Democrat, sees the new gaming regulatory oversight authority signed into law Thursday: "It's like bringing in a dog or cat cage and having it ready in case you get a dog or cat." But would the state buy the cage with no intention of getting the pet? That's the question that lawmakers and lobbyists are asking. While some say the new authority is necessary to regulate gambling that already exists in the state, others say the authority is a clear move towa more ...

Election 2010 in N.H.: Budget seen as key issue
06/16/2010

PORTSMOUTH — The ongoing struggle to balance the state budget may well be the defining issue in state elections this fall, according to one New Hampshire political expert. The filing period for the House and Senate ended last week, and Democrats will seek to hold on to their majorities after elections this November, while Republicans aim to capture control of both houses. Go & Do Republican cocktail reception When: Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Where: Sheraton Harborside Hotel Ti more ...

John DiStaso's Granite Status: Sgambati won't seek reelection from State Senate District 4
06/16/2010

SGAMBATI OUT. The state Senate majority office has confirmed that two-term Democratic incumbent Kathleen Sgambati is retiring from the Senate. The statement follows: "Sgambati, who served as Deputy Majority Leader and Chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, leaves behind a legacy as one of the Senate's strongest advocates for New Hampshire's working families. "Throughout her four years in the Senate, Sgambati established herself as the chamber's most unyielding def more ...

Latest budget fix: selling off state land
06/07/2010

The latest proposal by lawmakers to fill the state budget gap is to raise $50 million by selling or leasing unnecessary state properties. Sen. Harold Janeway, a Webster Democrat, called that a "modest estimate of what could be realized." Janeway proposed creating a commission to identify assets that could be sold, with possible properties ranging from the former Lakes Region correctional facility to a former National Guard training site. But the plan has its critics. "There's no idea what more ...

House, Senate to meet over shortfall
06/07/2010

New Hampshire legislators need a lantern in the State House dome to offer guidance on what to expect during this week's special session to deal with a projected $295 million budget shortfall: one lantern if video slots is in the budget bill or two if it is out. The number of lanterns would be a clue as to whether Wednesday's special session will take a single day or be a mirror of the impasse experienced by House and Senate negotiations over the budget and last much longer. Democratic Ho more ...

Special session outlined
06/07/2010

If the New Hampshire House has its way, this week's special legislative session to address the state's budget deficit will be done with in a matter of one, two, three. Set the rules tomorrow, present a bill to the public on Tuesday, vote on Wednesday. Late Friday afternoon, the House speaker and Senate president sent out a joint statement expressing optimism about the process. "We are making progress to ensure we can reach consensus on a bill at Wednesday's special session that will balance t more ...

State budget impasse a backdrop for tax debate
06/07/2010

The latest state budget impasse is further proof that lawmakers need to free the state from an excessive reliance on property taxes — or so the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition argues. The Coalition — and Democratic lawmakers who agree — are on one side of what has become a perennial debate in New Hampshire politics. On the other side are Republicans, who argue the problem is excessive spending on an overly large government. People don't want the state to find new taxes, Republican Se more ...

Is the governor facing a 'Lynch' mob?
06/07/2010

CONCORD – It wasn't long ago that Republican state senators running for reelection embraced Democratic Gov. John Lynch, at least symbolically. "Their way of running for office back in 2006 was to get together and say, 'We like Governor Lynch as much as the Democrats do,'" recalled University of New Hampshire associate political science professor Dante Scala. "They left the poor guy at the top of the ticket (Jim Coburn) hanging in the wind." Things weren't much different in 2008. Just as more ...

New life for old proposals
05/10/2010

Call it musical bills. A legislative amendment that would allow PSNH to build a solar energy system in Manchester, using $5 million that would otherwise go to a renewable energy fund, was rejected overwhelmingly in the House last week. But that doesn't mean it's gone. On Thursday, Sen. Betsi DeVries, a Manchester Democrat, introduced an amendment - with virtually the same language - to another Senate bill. "I think it's a vitally important project for Manchester, which had difficulty findi more ...

NH revenue estimates: politically charged art and science
05/10/2010

In a year of glum headlines about the state budget crisis, the April tally sheet for fiscal year 2010 was especially sobering as revenues came in a record $41 million below estimates. The state is $98 million, or 5 percent, below revenue projections through 10 months of the 2010 fiscal year — and more than $32 million below 2009 totals. The latest budget crisis could lead to anywhere from a $220 million deficit through 2011 — or it could reach as high as $300 million, according to some analys more ...

Legislators study fighting finance fraud
05/10/2010

CONCORD – A joint House and Senate team began digging into banking, securities and consumer protection laws yesterday to see how they can prevent a repeat of an alleged $80 million fraud scheme. Even before they have an attorney general's report on Financial Resources Mortgage Inc. and CL&M, both in Meredith, Commerce Committee members began hearings meant to bring about changes in state law. The committee was set up in response to pressure from Rep. James Splaine and Rep. Paul McEachern, more ...

Panel's bill would save $181 million
05/07/2010

The House Finance Committee yesterday approved a bill that would save the state $181 million through new revenue sources, bonding and spending cuts. The committee recommended the bill, a revised version of Gov. John Lynch's proposal to close a $220 million budget shortfall, by a 13-12 vote, mostly along party lines. Democrats, with the exception of state Rep. Sandra Keans of Rochester, supported the bill. Republicans opposed it. "Doing nothing would be irresponsible," said Committee Chairw more ...

Health, human services commissioner: change necessary
05/07/2010

PORTSMOUTH — Confronting rising demand and steep cuts, N.H. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said his department is trying to transform the way it delivers services to residents. Speaking to a large crowd at the weekly Portsmouth Rotary meeting and lunch, Toumpas outlined a 12 percent increase in the demand for services from the department, which handles nursing, elderly and mental health patients. The department has been asked to cut nearly 9 percent of i more ...

Law would allow N.H. towns to set additional meals, rooms taxes
05/07/2010

PORTSMOUTH — The city could levy its own rooms and meals tax if the state Legislature pushes forward changes that originated in the House Finance Committee. On Tuesday, that committee voted to redirect $6.1 million in rooms and meals tax revenues it shares with municipalities across New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Union Leader then reported that the committee voted 13-12 to give cities and towns the opportunity to pass local versions of the rooms and meals tax that would be calculated on top more ...

House panel backs budget fix plan
05/07/2010

CONCORD – Taxes on estates, tobacco and electric generation were part of a $181 million budget repair plan the House Finance Committee passed by a one-vote margin yesterday. The bill goes to the full House on Wednesday loaded with other changes meant to help close a budget deficit projected to be $220 million by June 2011. Among its more controversial components is a plan to move inmates from the state prison for women in Goffstown to the Sununu Youth Center, a secure site in Manchester for c more ...

Panel nixes cigarette tax increase
05/06/2010

The House Finance Committee yesterday rejected a suggestion by Gov. John Lynch to raise the cigarette tax by 20 cents. The committee recommended passing tax increases on electricity generators, insurance premiums, estates over $2 million and pet shops. It agreed to tax tobacco products other than cigarettes at a rate equivalent to the current cigarette tax rate. It also recommended taking $2.5 million from dedicated funds. Almost all of the tax increases were approved along party lines, w more ...

House panel eyes prisons
05/06/2010

Lawmakers will consider a last-minute proposal today that would seem to be the purview of prison officials and the state Department of Health and Human Services. The plan would close the women's prison in Goffstown, move the female inmates to the state's juvenile detention center and relocate those juveniles to the former prison in Laconia. But neither state agency had a hand in the proposal or knew it was coming, officials said yesterday. The pitch did not come from Gov. John Lynch either, h more ...

Lawyers to state: Save files
05/06/2010

Policy holders of the Joint Underwriting Association's medical malpractice fund are preparing to sue the state - again - to gain access to excess money left in the fund. Attorneys for the policyholders sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Delaney on Tuesday warning that "regrettably, it appears that further litigation is unavoidable." The attorneys instructed the state to preserve all records relating to the JUA. In the current budget, Gov. John Lynch and the Legislature had approved more ...

Lynch vows to veto slots
04/19/2010

Gov. John Lynch said yesterday he would veto a bill to legalize video slots in New Hampshire if it reaches his desk. The House will vote Wednesday on a Senate bill to allow the gambling operations at six sites in New Hampshire, including two on the Massachusetts border. Lynch said he would veto both the Senate bill and one proposed in the House that scales back the number of sites to five. The governor said the House version was not an improvement. But Lynch did not slam the door shu more ...

Lawmakers hear pleas from needy
04/16/2010

AIDS patients, cancer survivors, judges and single mothers pleaded before the House and Senate Finance committees yesterday to save state services. About 150 people lined the walls of the hearing room and spilled into the hallway at the beginning of the hearing, which lasted almost seven hours. The most impassioned pleas came from advocates for the Department of Health and Human Services and the judicial system. Jennifer Decker, 32, of Portsmouth attended the hearing in a wheelchair with more ...

Gambling loses key panel vote
04/16/2010

A House committee yesterday voted against a bill that would legalize slot machines at six locations across the state. The bill is now headed to a vote of the full House, where its prospects appear dim. But advocates say the possibility of expanding gambling isn't entirely extinguished this year. With Gov. John Lynch and lawmakers debating how best to close a projected $220 million hole in the state budget, gambling may remain an option in an emergency. "I think you've got to figure this more ...

Lynch to nominate Burack to 2nd term
04/16/2010

Gov. John Lynch will nominate Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas Burack to a second term. Burack took over as commissioner Nov. 1, 2006, from Republican Mike Nolin, whose term had expired. Lynch, a Democrat, had nominated Burack in July 2006, but Nolin fought to keep his job. The Executive Council, which approves nominations, did not readily confirm Burack to replace Nolin. Lynch spokesman Colin Manning said the governor plans to nominate Burack to a four-year term at today's Exe more ...

Pass bill to clarify business tax rules
04/16/2010

This is a slightly edited excerpt of testimony given Tuesday to the House Ways and Means Committee by Business and Industry Association President Jim Roche. I am here to express the BIA's support for Senate Bill 497, which offers solutions to two critical New Hampshire business issues, the taxation of distributions from limited liability companies and partnerships as dividends under New Hampshire's interest and dividends statutes, and the reasonable compensation deduction against the busines more ...

Gambling bill gets brushoff in House
04/16/2010

CONCORD – A House committee split Thursday on whether to recommend a bill that allows six casinos and up to 17,500 slot machines around the state. By a 13-7 vote, the Local and Regulated Revenues Committee said a Senate-passed gambling bill – SB 489 - should be killed. The full House votes on the bill next week. The bill came up for debate after one day-long public hearing and a half-day work session. The debate Thursday occurred just hours after the Massachusetts House voted 120-37 to leg more ...

Lynch: Yes to fourth run, no to gambling
04/16/2010

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch will attempt to do what no other governor has done in New Hampshire history: win a fourth consecutive term. However, he also said Friday he would veto a bill to expand gambling, which is bound to upset some of his supporters. The bill has already passed the Senate and will be voted on by the House next week. "It is my intention to run for reelection in 2010," Lynch told reporters in the State House yesterday. "I want to continue to make a difference in the lives o more ...

$220 Million Budget Gap Cuts Deep
04/09/2010

Gov. John Lynch yesterday laid out a combination of cuts, new revenue and debt restructuring in an attempt to fill a $220 million budget shortfall for the two-year period ending June 2011. "These are very difficult decisions. They will result in the closure of programs, and they will, very understandably, impact some citizens," Lynch said. The proposal would make $85 million in cuts to general fund spending, nearly half of which would come from the Department of Health and Human Services more ...

Gov. John Lynch's Proposed Budget Cuts
04/09/2010

Gov. John Lynch's proposed budget cuts would: Make $85 million in general fund spending cuts in fiscal years 2010-11, including $41.6 million to the Department of Health and Human Services Raise the tobacco tax by 20 cents Lay off 30 to 35 employees Cut 1 percent of aid to cities and towns from retirement funding, the rooms-and-meals tax, and education aid Avoid reinstating a waiting list for people with developmental disabilities Pay for the repeal of the campground tax more ...

Senate Votes To Repeal Campsites Tax Increase
04/09/2010

The Legislature has repealed a 9 percent tax on campsites that took effect last July, the second of two highly unpopular taxes that appear headed for extinction. That tax, and another one that affected some small business owners, were both passed during last-minute budget negotiations last year as a way to raise revenue. Business owners balked at being subject to an 87-year-old LLC tax affecting investors that was extended to them. Legislators have supported a repeal on the extension or more ...

Gaming At Loudon? 'No-Brainer'
04/09/2010

If lawmakers allow slot machines and gaming tables, it's a "no-brainer" they belong at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, not at the dog track in Belmont, the racetrack's general manager said yesterday. "I don't want to put another facility down," Jerry Gappens said. "But I think it's a no-brainer in terms of what we have to offer." No other venue in the state is better at drawing visitors (400,000 last year) or making the state money, he said. Gappens spoke at a press conferenc more ...

Gambling Payoffs To Be Taxed
04/05/2010

A good day at the races or a winning lottery ticket may have you feeling a little less lucky come tax time. New Hampshire's new 10 percent tax on gambling winnings, due April 15, applies to nearly all games of chance: racetrack wagers, lottery and scratch tickets, keno, bingo, raffles, slot machines, and poker games. And it's due on all winnings, no matter how small. "You pay that tax on dollar one," said Margaret Fulton, assistant commissioner of the state Department of Revenue Administ more ...

Gov. Lynch Looks To Online Gambling
04/05/2010

Instead of casinos, Internet gambling is one of the options Gov. John Lynch is considering in an attempt to close a growing budget deficit. Next week, Lynch will unveil his plan for gambling in New Hampshire, and the legalization of online gaming is one of the vehicles the governor is reviewing, his spokesman, Colin Manning, said. Lynch last month voiced opposition to a Legislative push to permit slot machines and casino-style gambling in Hudson, Seabrook Greyhound Park and three other sit more ...

Gambling Vote Too Close To Call
04/05/2010

Editor's note: Kelly Hearn conducted the following Q&A with Bruce Berke, president of Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group, a Concord-based lobbying firm. Question: What is happening on the gambling front? Berke: Because it represents a potential revenue source, gambling plays into this debate as to whether there should be budget cuts, new taxes or some tax repeals. Some think that, morally, the state should not be in the gambling business. Some prefer a state income tax or state sales taxes ov more ...

Lynch On Internet Gambling: Baffling
04/05/2010

CONCORD – Though he opposes allowing slot machines and casino-style gambling, Gov. John Lynch might support the legalization of online gambling to close a growing budget deficit. That possibility has proponents and opponents of expanded gaming in the state shaking their heads. Lynch plans to unveil his plan for gambling in New Hampshire this week. Legalizing online gaming is among the ideas he's considering, spokesman Colin Manning said. Manning did not provide details. "This is one of more ...

Tom Fahey's State House Dome: Gambling Takes Center Stage Again
04/05/2010

Gambling will take the spotlight again this week. On Tuesday, a House committee starts debate on whether to pass Senate Bill 489, which would allow up to 17,000 slot machines in six casinos. Outright approval there is doubtful, but the full House can ignore the committee's opinion when it votes on the bill later this month. By Friday, Gov. John Lynch will bring out his plans for closing a projected $140 million budget deficit. New revenue ideas from the Lottery Commission and other agenci more ...

Pressure Builds For Expanded Gambling In NH
04/05/2010

CONCORD – Pressure is building in the House to cut back on the scope of a proposal to expand gambling in New Hampshire. At the same time, historic resistance to gaming is softening among House members. A Senate bill now in the House would add up to six locations for up to 17,000 legalized slot machines and table games, with set prices for licenses. As a House committee worked through more than a seven-hour hearing yesterday, panel members and witnesses discussed cutting the number of lo more ...

Lottery Commission Chairman Steps Down
04/03/2010

New Hampshire Lottery Commission Chairman Richard Campbell Jr. didn't pick a random date for his resignation. He timed it to May 1, when he thinks the ice will be out on First Connecticut Lake in Pittsburgh, where he has a camp. "It's time to go fishing," the 70-year-old chairman said yesterday. Campbell, who has been on the lottery commission nearly 11 years and its chairman for just over half that time, submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. John Lynch earlier this week. He cited more ...

Unions Developing Trusts For Retiree Medical Costs
04/03/2010

Unions representing the state's teachers and firefighters are creating a new way to let public employees save for their medical costs in retirement. If the plans go forward, New Hampshire could be the first state to have a statewide system of retiree medical trusts. "It's for the employees, by the employees, of the employees," said state Sen. Harold Janeway, a Webster Democrat who wrote a legislative resolution endorsing the idea. The retiree medical trust is a concept developed over more ...

Gambling, State Retirement System Areas Of Concern
04/03/2010

NORTH HAMPTON — State representatives for District 13 and selectmen from Exeter, Stratham and North Hampton held a "frustrating" meeting Monday, March 29, to discuss the impact of decisions made at the state level on local towns. Board of Selectmen and town managers from these three communities shared their frustrations and concerns with how the state budget, retirement system increases and potential expansion of gambling are affecting their towns. While many called it "frustrating," selec more ...

House Committee To Hear Prison Bill
03/29/2010

A House committee will hold a hearing Thursday on a Senate bill aimed at reducing crime and state prison costs. Under the bill, prison inmates would be paroled at least nine months before their maximum sentences end so they can be supervised as they transition back into their communities. The provision does not apply to civil commitments. The state would focus supervision on high-risk offenders on probation or parole and return some violators to jail for one to five days instead of back to p more ...

Lynch's Budget Cuts Double House's
03/29/2010

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch's initial budget cuts will be roughly twice the $47 million proposed by House budget writers, a person familiar with the governor's plan said Friday. The person said Lynch is still refining his strategy to close a projected $142 million shortfall in the budget that runs through June 2011. Lynch spokesman Colin Manning declined Friday to discuss the plan's details. "The governor has been working with agency heads to develop a strategy so we have a balance more ...

Lynch Still Faces A Growing Deficit
03/29/2010

CONCORD – The gloomy number is always changing, but at the moment, the state faces a $140 million deficit in the two-year budget that runs through June 30, 2011. To address the gap, there are three distinct groups of lawmakers: one that wants to cut more spending, one that favors imposing a sales or income tax, and one that wants to expand gambling. At the eye of the storm sits Gov. John Lynch. Lynch has consistently promised to veto a broad-based tax. Last week, he unexpectedly came ou more ...

State House Dome: NH Dishes Out Millions For Computers
03/29/2010

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief Sunday, Mar. 28, 2010 AMIDST ALL the budget angst, government agencies are talking a lot about expensive computers these days. At the Department of Revenue Administration, a new $7 million system will be done within a year or so. The Division of Motor Vehicles' plans for a new $8 million system to replace a 20-year-old system that uses outdated COBOL coding. The Health and Human Services department continues work on a $60 million, five-year more ...

Senators Pass Slot Machines
03/26/2010

The state Senate voted yesterday to approve expanded gambling, 14-10. The vote came after an hour-long debate over a bill, sponsored by Manchester Democrat Lou D'Allesandro, that would allow slot machines and table games in six locations throughout the state. "This bill will create thousands of jobs, with private capital and private investment, for people that need a job to put food on the table," D'Allesandro said. Gov. John Lynch, who previously said he wanted to wait to hear from the more ...

House Delays $47 Million Question
03/26/2010

The New Hampshire House yesterday tabled a proposal to cut $47 million from the state budget by a vote of 212-151. Though the House Finance Committee unanimously recommended the cuts, Democratic leaders said they wanted to wait until more information was available to determine what cuts to make. "I know there will be cuts, but I know that we have not yet had the benefit of the commissioners' recommendations of where to cut and do the least harm," said House Majority Floor Leader Dan Eato more ...

Democrats Have Chickened Out
03/26/2010

I have been watching the state revenue shortfall evolve for over a quarter of a century. I believed that when the Democrats took over the Legislature we would finally have a chance to do the right thing and get rid of New Hampshire's over-reliance on the local property tax. I was sadly mistaken. The leadership has refused to make even a good effort to challenge the threatened veto of Gov. John Lynch. New Hampshire is the eighth wealthiest state in the nation. Hundreds of millionaires live he more ...

Seabrook Town Officials Favor Gambling Expansion
03/26/2010

SEABROOK — The town's top elected officials are hoping legislation to expand gambling at the Seabrook Greyhound Park and several other state venues, which won an early victory Wednesday with Senate approval, will come up aces when the House votes on it later this year. The legislation would allow slot machines and casino-style gambling at six venues, including The Lodge in Belmont and Rockingham Park in Salem. The Seabrook Board of Selectmen backs the plan; Gov. John Lynch and several advo more ...

Lynch: Bill Goes Too Far Expanding Legal Gambling
03/26/2010

CONCORD – The gambling expansion bill that passed the state Senate yesterday will have to change to win Gov. John Lynch's support. The bill spreads legal gambling too far and has too little regulation in place, Lynch spokesman Colin Manning said. Lynch said the issue should wait until a study commission on gaming files its final report in late May. Manning said Lynch's opposition should not be a surprise to the Senate. "The governor told legislative leadership that he does not support t more ...

NH Senate Passes LLC Tax Repeal Bill
03/26/2010

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Senate easily passed a bill that repeals the controversial LLC tax, and updates the state's interests and dividends tax. The Senate dispensed with any debate and cast an unrecorded voice vote in favor of the bill, SB 497. In addition to repealing the I&D tax on distributions by limited liability corporations, it also set clear guidance on how much business owners, partners and investors can take in compensation before profits are subject to business taxes. The b more ...

Senate OKs PSNH Solar Panel Project
03/26/2010

Local reaction was mixed after the New Hampshire Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a measure to allow the state's largest utility to put up a solar panels park on a Manchester landfill, a project that's expected to create about 60 jobs. The controversy isn't over the project but how it will be financed — under the measure, Public Service of New Hampshire will be allowed to keep as much as $5 million it was scheduled to pay into a state-controlled renewable energy fund through 2014. more ...

NH House May Table Its Spending Reduction Bill
03/26/2010

CONCORD – After working long hours last week to find $47 million in budget cuts, House Democrats plan to pull the plug on the spending reduction bill today. The House will be asked to table House Bill 1664, which the House Finance Committee passed 24-0 a week ago. The bill cuts services to the disabled and brain injured, takes LCHIP preservation fees for the state's general fund, cuts nearly $5 million for the courts and pushes up retiree health and pension costs. All the changes would have b more ...

Firefighters File Lawsuit Against LGC
03/12/2010

The Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire sued the Local Government Center yesterday, accusing the center of siphoning off taxpayer-funded health insurance payments to cover other expenses. The firefighters allege the LGC used health premiums to set up a separate workers' compensation fund and renovate its headquarters, in violation of state law. The lawsuit seeks damages, to be paid from the LGC to cities and towns, in the form of the alleged misdirected insurance payments - an amount more ...

Election 2010: New Hampshire Governor
03/12/2010

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch still has little reason to worry in his expected bid for reelection this fall. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state shows the Democratic incumbent holding on to comfortable double-digit leads over three top Republican foes. Former state Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen runs closest with Lynch in his first match-up with the governor since announcing his candidacy in late February. Stephen trails Ly more ...

Health Care Cost Commission Bill Moves To Full Senate — And Draws Fire
03/12/2010

The N.H. Senate will soon vote on two bills sponsored by Seacoast lawmakers that, if enacted, could shed light on the rising costs of health care and health insurance premiums. Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, is lead sponsor of bipartisan Senate Bill 505 to set up a permanent three-member commission to review hospital costs. Hassan said the new quasi-government body would function much like the state Public Utilities Commission and would be charged with studying all the factor more ...

House Speaker Won't Ask Legislator To Step Down
03/12/2010

House Speaker Terie Norelli will not ask state Rep. Dan Eaton to step down from his leadership position because of a continuing investigation by the attorney general's office. "Neither you nor I have any evidence that Representative Eaton has in fact engaged in any wrongdoing," Norelli, a Portsmouth Democrat, wrote in a letter to House Republican Leader Sherman Packard of Londonderry. "Until such time as the Attorney General's investigation is concluded and its report issued, it would be pre more ...

Death Penalty Expansion In Interim Study
03/12/2010

The state Senate yesterday voted 14-10 to ask a death penalty commission to look at applying capital punishment to murders that take place during home invasions. The Senate voted to send to interim study a bill prompted by the October break-in at a Mont Vernon home, in which Kimberly Cates was murdered and her daughter severely injured. State Sen. Sheila Roberge, a Bedford Republican, said she was "disappointed the Senate Democrats believe someone breaking into your home and killing you more ...

Marijuana Bill Secures Wide Margin
03/12/2010

The New Hampshire House yesterday voted 214-137 to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. "We felt the penalty was greater than the offense," said state Rep. Steve Shurtleff, a Concord Democrat and chairman of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, which approved the bill 16-2. The legislation would decriminalize possession of less than one-quarter ounce of marijuana. Currently, marijuana possession is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jai more ...

Park Fees On The Way Up
03/12/2010

Don't expect any more half-price Wednesdays at the state parks. The Department of Resources and Economic Development has developed a plan to increase park fees, which is expected to bring in an additional $131,000 in revenue to the state parks fund. The legislative fiscal committee today will consider approving the increase, which would go into effect for the upcoming season. Parks Director Ted Austin and Commissioner George Bald wrote in their submission that the state's parks fund more ...

State Sued Over Pensions
03/09/2010

The city of Concord and two other plaintiffs yesterday filed a lawsuit with 294 backers claiming the state violated the state Constitution by increasing what municipalities and school districts must pay into the pension system for police officers, firefighters and teachers. The state for years had paid 35 percent of the employer contribution to the New Hampshire Retirement System for those employees, but the current budget reduced that portion to 30 percent this year and 25 percent next year more ...

State Sued Over Pensions
03/09/2010

The city of Concord and two other plaintiffs yesterday filed a lawsuit with 294 backers claiming the state violated the state Constitution by increasing what municipalities and school districts must pay into the pension system for police officers, firefighters and teachers. The state for years had paid 35 percent of the employer contribution to the New Hampshire Retirement System for those employees, but the current budget reduced that portion to 30 percent this year and 25 percent next year more ...

State Sued Over Pensions
03/09/2010

The city of Concord and two other plaintiffs yesterday filed a lawsuit with 294 backers claiming the state violated the state Constitution by increasing what municipalities and school districts must pay into the pension system for police officers, firefighters and teachers. The state for years had paid 35 percent of the employer contribution to the New Hampshire Retirement System for those employees, but the current budget reduced that portion to 30 percent this year and 25 percent next year more ...

Judge: Laid-off State Workers Have First Dibs
03/09/2010

The Community College System of New Hampshire must give priority in hiring to laid-off state workers, according to a superior court ruling released Friday. The State Employees' Association filed suit in Merrimack County Superior Court in January on behalf of Kevin Morales of Belmont, Robert Keller of Pembroke and Steven McCosh of Berlin. All three were laid off by the state in either July or October, due to budget cuts. Their applications were not given priority when they applied for open po more ...

Reps Want Legislative Inquiry Into $100m Meredith Mortgage Company Scam
03/09/2010

PORTSMOUTH — Reps. Jim Splaine and Paul MacEachern are meeting with House Speaker Terie Norelli today to push a legislative inquiry into how a Lakes Region mortgage company could allegedly defraud hundreds of people out of close to $100 million. The Portsmouth Democrats say the public trust is at stake if the only review is by the Office of the Attorney General, which they say faces conflicts of interest. Norelli, D-Portsmouth, was traveling and could not be reached for comment Monday. Bu more ...

Health Care Cost Commission Bill Moves To Full Senate — And Draws Fire
03/09/2010

The New Hampshire Senate will soon vote on two bills sponsored by Seacoast lawmakers that if enacted could shed light into the rising costs of health care and health insurance premiums. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, is lead sponsor of a bipartisan proposal (SB 505) to set up a permanent three-member hospital cost review commission. Hassan said the new quasi-government body would function much like the state Public Utilities Commission and would be charged with studying all the factors that go more ...

Towns Sue N.H. To Save Funding
03/09/2010

CONCORD — A lawsuit backed by 294 municipalities, counties and school districts was filed Monday against the state of New Hampshire, contesting the state's reduced contribution to the state pension fund for local police officers, firefighters and teachers. The city of Concord, Belknap County and Mascenic Regional School District are the lead plaintiffs, though the communities propose making it a class action suit. The lawsuit was filed in Merrimack County Superior Court. "The lawsuit is ba more ...

House Mulls Repeal of Campsite Tax
03/08/2010

New Hampshire's House is considering repealing a 9 percent tax on campsites that took effect last July. The House votes Wednesday whether to eliminate the tax that was enacted to help pay for state spending. Campgrounds were added to the state's tax on hotel rooms and restaurant meals. The tax, which went into effect July 1, applies to recreational-vehicle and tent-sites. Supporters argue basic tent sites are assessed very little tax. But opponents say the tax will drive away campers more ...

N.H. Borrows $50 Million to Pay State Jobless Claims
03/08/2010

New Hampshire is borrowing $50 million from the federal government to pay state jobless benefits through mid-May. Employment Security Commissioner Tara Reardon said last week the state had predicted it would need to borrow the money but thought it would be at the end of last year. She said it is the first time the state has had to borrow to pay jobless claims. She said New Hampshire is the 30th state to turn to the federal government for help. "We prepared in January to borrow," she more ...

Gambling Business Keeps Stake In Game
03/08/2010

New Hampshire lawmakers historically have rejected bills to legalize video slots, but Millennium Gaming owner Bill Wortman refuses to quit trying to bring them to the state's only horse race track. Wortman has been trying for four years to get reluctant state lawmakers to change their votes and allow slots at Rockingham Park race track in Salem. He thinks the latest version of the bill will win over some lawmakers because it promises to bring jobs to the state. Wortman has spent thou more ...

Gaming Operator Still Trying In N.H.
03/08/2010

CONCORD (AP) — New Hampshire lawmakers historically have rejected bills to legalize video slots, but Millennium Gaming owner Bill Wortman refuses to quit trying to bring them to the state's only horse race track. Wortman has been trying for four years to get reluctant state lawmakers to change their votes and allow slots at Rockingham Park race track in Salem. He thinks the latest version of the bill will win over some lawmakers because it promises to bring jobs to the state. Wortman ha more ...

Official: NH Rep Intruded In Probe
03/08/2010

CONCORD – The enforcement chief at the State Liquor Commission yesterday accused a member of the New Hampshire House leadership of exerting undue influence over his bureau's investigation of whether a Keene tavern owner "over-served" an intoxicated person three months ago. Eddie Edwards, who has headed the enforcement bureau for more than four years, said in an interview he believes a separate criminal probe by the Attorney General's office on the circumstances surrounding his bureau's invest more ...

State House Dome: Lynch May Be Gambling Buzz Saw
03/08/2010

The attempt to expand gambling in New Hampshire may be building strength in the Legislature, but it could run into a buzz saw elsewhere in the State House. Gov. John Lynch said Friday he's got big concerns about how fast gambling could spread once slots get a foothold. He noted that the number of proposed slot machine parlors has been steadily growing in bills lawmakers review. From slots at four race tracks in the first attempts more than 15 years ago, the crowd has grown to include race more ...

House Considers Easing Up On Pot
03/03/2010

New Hampshire's House is considering decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults - seven months after Gov. John Lynch vetoed a bill that would have legalized medical use of the drug. Lynch also opposes the new House bill to allow adults to possess one-quarter ounce or less of the substance; the bill does not address medical use. The House is scheduled to vote on the measure today. Anyone under age 18 caught with one-quarter ounce or less would be subject to a $200 more ...

NH Coffers Fail To Fill; More Cuts Predicted
03/03/2010

CONCORD – The state's financial picture may be worse than it was thought just two months ago, if tax revenues in February are a reliable indication. Administrative Services Commissioner Linda Hodgdon said that shortfalls by the end of this fiscal year in June are trending worse than earlier estimates. Gov. John Lynch last month told his department heads they need to find $140 million in cuts, most of them coming in the fiscal year that starts July 1. Hodgdon said that figure was based more ...

Medicare Part D Payment Cut Will Help Deficit
03/01/2010

The state of New Hampshire will share in an Obama administration windfall that couldn’t come at a better time. OK, it only makes a small dent in the $140 million budget deficit that Gov. John Lynch declared two weeks ago requires another round of deep spending cuts. But given a dysfunctional Washington – more on that later – Lynch and the Democratically-led Legislature will take whatever good news comes its way. The bonus comes because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services un more ...

Left Out Of LLC-Repeal Loop
03/01/2010

CONCORD – The heads of the House and Senate budget writing committees have not been included in talks among key Democratic lawmakers to repeal the controversial limited liability companies (LLC) tax. Gov. John Lynch and other House and Senate Democratic leaders have agreed the expansion of the 5 percent interest and dividends tax to LLCs and their investors should be repealed, sources say; details have yet to be finalized. "The governor has been talking about the LLC tax with the Democrati more ...

John Stephen To Run For Governor
03/01/2010

CONCORD – Promising to cut business taxes and still balance the state budget while bringing jobs back to New Hampshire, Republican John Stephen today said he'll become a candidate for governor within the next week. Confirming earlier reports in the New Hampshire Union Leader and on UnionLeader.com, the lifelong Manchester resident and former state health and human services commissioner said in an interview that three-term Gov. John Lynch, who is expected to seek re-election, has failed the st more ...

Times May Be Changing For LLC Tax
03/01/2010

Now that rules are in place for the LLC tax, it's time to change it. Democratic lawmakers last week, over objections of Republicans, adopted final rules for administering the LLC tax. Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, said she and others in the Senate want a change. "The Senate remains concerned about the larger issues surrounding the implementation of this tax and is working diligently to adopt a better policy for the 2010 tax season," she said shortly after the rules pa more ...

GOP Rep Takes State Senate Seat
02/17/2010

Republican State Rep. David Boutin won yesterday's special election for state Senate by a margin of 57 percent to 42 percent, according to preliminary numbers. Boutin beat Democratic State Rep. Jeff Goley in the race to represent District 16, the seat formerly held by Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas. The district includes Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett and part of Manchester. "Jeff is a good, decent person who ran a good, clean campaign," Boutin said last night. "He campaigned hard, I camp more ...

Bill Targets N.H. LLC Tax
02/17/2010

CONCORD — A bill that rolls back what is known as the LLC tax and reforms tax laws on business owners' compensation could cost the state $84 million, state tax officials said Tuesday. The bill sponsored by a group of Republican and Democratic Senate and House members would repeal an extension of the 5 percent interest and dividends tax that passed last summer. The change was made to add $30 million in state revenues as a budget-balancing move. Senate Bill 497, sponsored by Sen. Lou D'Alles more ...

HHS Chief: Department Must Change
02/16/2010

The Department of Health and Human Services has serious money problems - and they won't go away until the department changes the way it does business, said HHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas. "Short term, all we can do is cut," Toumpas told the Monitor editorial board. "Long term, we need to fundamentally change what we're doing." The problem is that the number of people using the department's services is rising. And the department, already the state's largest, can't count on any extra mo more ...

Anti-Tax, Pro-Labor On Ballot Tomorrow
02/15/2010

An anti-tax Republican will face a pro-labor Democrat tomorrow in a state Senate race that has centered on economic issues. Voters in Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett and part of Manchester will choose between Republican David Boutin and Democrat Jeff Goley. The winner will take the Senate District 16 seat vacated by Republican Ted Gatsas, who resigned after he was elected mayor of Manchester in November. Both men are state representatives. Goley, of Manchester, has served in the House s more ...

Statewide Forums Debate Gambling
02/15/2010

Several hundred New Hampshire residents are participating in community conversations to discuss the risks and benefits of expanded gambling. Members of the UNH Cooperative Extension helped organize and train facilitators for the meetings, which were held yesterday in 11 cities and towns. As the state's economic woes deepen, lawmakers are considering a plan to legalize video slot machines at six locations. The bill's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, believes the odds of success more ...

More Gambling Gets Cautious Local Support
02/15/2010

ROCHESTER — Note to those eyeing allowing slot machines in New Hampshire: you've got support, but the deal is hardly done. If a six-hour meeting Saturday among nine area residents and one person representing a horse doctor proved anything, it's people think expanded gambling can be a boon to the state's finances without devastating its quality of life. They also made it clear people aren't willing to hand the store over without guarantees on the quality of jobs and protection for businesses. more ...

Groups Divided On Expanded Gambling
02/15/2010

By Joshua Clark news@seacoastonline.com February 14, 2010 2:00 AM For more than six hours, approximately 20 Seacoast residents came together to participate in an open, deliberative conversation weighing the pros and cons of expanding gambling in the state. Held at Portsmouth High School, the discussion was one of 11 "What's at Stake" events held across the state. Discussion among the two small groups participating in the Portsmouth event focused on the potential revenue an increase in more ...

Lynch Tells Agencies To Plan For Cuts
02/12/2010

Gov. John Lynch yesterday asked state agencies to plan to cut their budgets to fill an estimated $140 million budget gap. "We are committed to ensuring a balanced budget and ensuring that state government continues to meet its core responsibilities, including preserving public safety, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and funding education," Lynch said in a statement. In a meeting with agency heads, the governor asked each agency to develop plans to reduce its general fund spending more ...

State Asks For JUA Rehearing
02/12/2010

State officials have asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling denying the state access to $110 million from a medical malpractice fund. "The motion for rehearing is meant to correct some factual disputes," Gov. John Lynch said yesterday. The motion, filed Monday, asks the court to rehear or reconsider its Jan. 28 opinion. In that opinion, the court said in a 3-2 decision that the state could not take money out of the Joint Underwriting Association's medical malpractice fund more ...

NH Lawmakers Weigh Smoking Ban For Parks, Beaches
02/12/2010

Friday, February 12, 2010 CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — State lawmakers are considering bills banning smoking at state parks and beaches. One would ban smoking at the park's public gathering areas, such as the pavilions and restrooms. At a legislative hearing Thursday, Ted Austin of the Parks and Recreation Department said his agency is not taking a position on the proposal but says it does get complaints about second-hand smoke. But the acting head of the Cigar Association of New Hampshire, Ed more ...

Giving Slots Another Whirl
02/08/2010

Senate Finance Chairman Lou D'Allesandro has tried unsuccessfully a dozen times in as many years to get reluctant New Hampshire lawmakers to expand gambling. He's betting his odds of success are better this year because the economy is in the doldrums and state and local governments need money to plug budget holes - money he says could be generated by legalizing video slots. "We've never been this desperate," said D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat. D'Allesandro's latest bill would a more ...

Cuts Outlined To Shore Up Social Services
02/08/2010

The Department of Health and Human Services laid out dozens of proposed cuts yesterday, in an attempt to fill an anticipated $43 million hole in its budget for this fiscal year. Hospitals will bear a large portion of the cuts, but the impact will be felt everywhere, from child care centers to nursing homes. Most of the shortfall is due to the economy, which has driven more individuals to seek state services. "There were 19,000 more individuals seeking safe harbor within DHHS (last year) more ...

Bills Split On Residency Rules For Sex Offenders
02/08/2010

A hearing on a proposed law that would ban sex offender residency restrictions like those the city of Dover once had is slated for Wednesday in the state House of Representatives. Meanwhile, a bill proposing the opposite — to create statewide residency restrictions — also is coming before lawmakers Wednesday. House Bill 1484 would prohibit any political subdivision of the state from adopting an ordinance or bylaw that restricts the residence of a sex offender or an offender against childre more ...

Lynch: Cut Corrections Spending, Inefficiencies
02/08/2010

PORTSMOUTH — The state spends more money on corrections than on the university system, Gov. John Lynch said Wednesday, and, "It's a fact I'm not proud of at all." With the state looking at an estimated shortfall of $140 million over the next two years, Lynch told the Portsmouth Herald editorial board on Wednesday more cuts will be needed, including the possibility of more layoffs. Approximately 45 percent of the state budget goes directly to municipalities, and another 30 percent goes to t more ...

N.H. Revenues Fall $12M Behind In January
02/08/2010

State revenues in New Hampshire for January were down by $12.7 million, the fifth month of the fiscal year that revenues were below estimates. Overall, January revenues totaled $108.4 million, which was 10.5 percent below estimates. For the first seven months of the 2010 fiscal year, revenues were $41 million, or 4 percent below projections. "We have some concern that revenues are still coming in at a lower rate than we had anticipated," said Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, more ...

Senate Questions Returning $5 Million To Cities, Towns
02/08/2010

CONCORD – The New Hampshire House this week voted to return $5 million to cities and towns with money from the state's tax on rooms and meals. The vote would leave a new $5 million hole in the state budget, if the Senate follows the House's lead. Senate agreement on the change is hardly a certainty. Revenues have been falling short each month and the loss of a $110 million decision at state Supreme Court last week worsened the state's financial problems. Republicans, who comprise the mi more ...

Senator Wants Slots, But Not In His City
02/08/2010

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Senate Finance Chairman Lou D'Allesandro has tried unsuccessfully a dozen times in as many years to get reluctant New Hampshire lawmakers to expand gambling.He's betting his odds are of success are better this year because the economy is in the doldrums and state and local governments need money to plug budget holes - money he says could be generated by legalizing video slots. "We've never been this desperate," said D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat. D'Allesandro's more ...

Mentally Ill Suffer From Budget Cuts
02/08/2010

NASHUA – Six years of incremental budget cuts have left the state’s mental health centers on the brink of financial catastrophe, according to mental health experts. They worry that more cuts will push them over the edge. Over the edge, in this case, would mean cutting services to mentally ill people as counselors are forced to reserve their time and resources for more severely ill patients. It’s a position in which all of the state’s community mental health centers find themselves to o more ...

Rainy Day Fund Drained For Budget
01/25/2010

The state's rainy day fund will be left with less money than any other time in recent memory, after the state Fiscal Committee voted to take money from the fund to balance the 2008-2009 budget. The committee voted unanimously to take $79.7 million from the state's revenue stabilization account, also known as the rainy day fund, to close the books on 2009. That leaves the fund with less than $10 million on hand. "We had a gap from 2009 that needed to be filled, and because we wanted to be more ...

Rep. Seeks To Quiet Motorcycle Noise, Mandate Helmets
01/25/2010

NORTH HAMPTON — Depending on the duration and destination of his ride, Al Contois might take his Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide for a ride without wearing a helmet. "Helmets do provide safety, but I believe in choices," said Contois, a Stratham resident who works as president and general manager of Seacoast Harley-Davidson. "Customers coming up from Massachusetts take their helmets off at the border," he said. "We have a motto here, 'Live free and ride.'" State Rep. Judith Day lives in the more ...

State Of The State: Lynch Addresses Unemployment
01/25/2010

CONCORD – Jobs, health care and education top the priorities Gov. John Lynch laid out yesterday in his State of the State speech. Lynch sounded a note of optimism on prospects for economic recovery early in his address. "We are beginning to see glimmers of light through these dark clouds," he said, after mentioning the harsh toll the recession has taken on the state's economy, businesses and families. Unemployment is better than the national average, companies are beginning to hire, and more ...

State Proposes Altering LLC Tax
01/21/2010

The state Department of Revenue Administration yesterday laid out new proposed rules for the LLC tax. Revenue Commissioner Kevin Clougherty said the changes were made as a result of public input and were aimed at simplifying the process of paying the tax. "The proposed rules from November have been significantly changed to address the concerns raised as part of the process," Clougherty said. Clougherty submitted the rules to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, wh more ...

GOP Predicts Victories In N.H.
01/21/2010

Energized New Hampshire Republicans are hoping Scott Brown's upset victory in Massachusetts signals three years of Democratic rule will end in November - and political analysts said yesterday they may get their wish. GOP Party Chairman John H. Sununu told reporters Brown's victory over Democrat Martha Coakley on Tuesday for the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy for more than four decades shows that voters don't like what Democrats are doing in Washington with health care and more ...

NH Biz Groups Speak Out On Tax Rules
01/20/2010

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire business groups say the expansion of an investments tax to some small business owners will still hurt them, despite the release of new rules guiding how the tax will be applied. Revenue officials believe the tax won't be an issue for most small businesses because they reinvest profits to grow their businesses. The Small Business and Industry Association says the tax on some owners of limited liability companies and partnerships amounts to an income tax t more ...

As House eyes cuts, plea made to hold off
01/20/2010

CONCORD – A plan to cut $25 million from the state's $11.5 billion budget drew a long line of public and private agencies pleading to be spared yesterday. Republicans, citing already lagging revenues in the state's two-year budget, proposed the cuts as a way to avoid more radical steps a year from now. "We should start to do this responsibly, earlier rather than in one fell swoop later," Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare, told the House Finance Committee. The GOP plan "puts us on a downward glide pa more ...

Sen. Maggie Hassan Aims To Tackle Fourth Term
01/19/2010

District 23 State Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, is running for her fourth term, saying the state faces many challenges and opportunities she wants to tackle. Although the filing dates for state office isn't until June, Hassan said Jan. 17 that she has every intention of running. Hassan has served in the Senate since first being elected in 2004. "I think we have a lot of challenges and opportunities as a state, and I want to help move the conversation towards solutions," she said. Distri more ...

Candidates Join Efforts To 'Take Back The Statehouse'
01/19/2010

Two local politicians are joining efforts to make a change in Concord. It's a hopeful return to the Statehouse for Russell Prescott, 49, and Marshall "Lee" Quandt, 62, who are running for the District 23 state Senate and District 13 state representative seats, respectively. Prescott of Kingston, held the position of District 23 state senator from 2000 to 2004, while Quandt of Exeter, was a four-term state representative through 2008. Senate District 23 serves the towns of Exeter, Stratham, more ...

LLC Sues State Over New Tax
01/19/2010

A lawsuit says New Hampshire's expansion of a 5 percent interest and dividends tax to limited liability companies is unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court by Wennin LLC of Manchester, a real estate holding company, seeks an injunction to block the state from collecting the pending tax. A lawyer for the company told the Union Leader all LLCs are "haunted" by the tax because they don't know how it will affect them. The state is preparing rules to collect more ...

Panel Keeps Gun Ban For State House
01/18/2010

7-5 vote affirms December decision By SHIRA SCHOENBERG The ban on guns in the State House will remain in place, legislative leaders decided yesterday. "The facilities committee has a responsibility for maintaining civil behavior in the building," said Senate President Sylvia Larsen, a Concord Democrat. "A safe environment where the public can come in to testify, children can visit with their fourth-grade class, and the public feels safe as well as legislators and employees who work in more ...

GOP Picks Boutin For Senate Race
01/13/2010

State rep running to replace Gatsas By SHIRA SCHOENBERG State Rep. David Boutin yesterday beat Terry Pfaff by a landslide in the Republican primary for the District 16 state Senate seat. Boutin, 56, of Hooksett, won every ward and ended the night with twice as many votes as Pfaff - 1,690 to 848. The vote tallies were preliminary last night, and the exact numbers could change when the secretary of state certifies them today. "I believe what won it for me is my message," Boutin said. more ...

Sen. Hassan: Legislature Made Mistakes In LLC Tax Decision
01/12/2010

But she says levy fills $30M N.H. budget gap By Jennifer Feals jfeals@seacoastonline.com State Sen. Maggie Hassan said she understands the public's concerns about the LLC tax included in the state budget, and now believes that, in hindsight, the Legislature should have been more forthcoming about its intentions. But, she added Monday at a meeting with the Exeter Rotary Club, extending the interest and dividends tax to these companies was a decision made with a tough economy and the state' more ...

N.H. House Shuts Out Public, Bans Citizens From Committees
01/12/2010

Scamman blasts rule banning citizens from state committees By Michael McCord CONCORD — A vote last Wednesday to change rules in the state House of Representatives has left at least two Seacoast lawmakers puzzled. Both Democratic and Republican House leaders supported a rules change to allow only elected lawmakers serve on short-term House study committees starting this session. Previously, state agency personnel or outside experts could serve on panels, which are established by law prec more ...

State Defers Insurance Fund Raid
01/11/2010

Officials await court ruling on account By SHIRA SCHOENBERG The state will not spend any money from a medical malpractice fund until the state Supreme Court decides whether that money legally belongs to the state. That also means the state will delay closing the financial books on 2009, the state Fiscal Committee decided yesterday. Originally, the state had planned to use $65 million from the Joint Underwriting Association fund to balance the 2009 budget. Another $45 million from t more ...

NH To Take Money From Savings To Close 2009 Books
01/08/2010

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire may be dipping into its savings to close the books on the fiscal year that ended June 30. Administrative Services Commissioner Linda Hodgdon wants the joint legislative Fiscal Committee to approve transferring almost $80 million from savings to eliminate a deficit so the books can be closed. The committee plans to take up the request at Friday's meeting. If approved, the state would have a balance of just under $10 million in savings. The state had plann more ...

Seacoast Area Chamber Leaders Band Against New Tax On Some LLCs
01/08/2010

PORTSMOUTH — The leaders of numerous Seacoast area chambers of commerce have banded together to express frustration with a new tax law they say was passed without proper public input and could deeply impact small businesses. Some feel legislation that makes the distributions from some limited liability companies subject to a 5 percent interest and dividends tax, is little more than a veiled attempt to gouge New Hampshire small businesses that make up the backbone of the state's economy. Th more ...

Human Services Faces $38M Cut
01/08/2010

N.H. department head to present his plan to governor By Norma Love Associated Press CONCORD — The head of the state's Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday he will present a plan to cut $38 million from his budget to the governor and lawmakers within 10 days. DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said he hopes lawmakers will act on the cuts next month so they can be implemented by the end of March. Toumpas declined to give specifics, but said he does not anticipate across- more ...

Vote Augurs Greater Help For Autistic
01/07/2010

Reps: Cover behavioral treatment By KAREN LANGLEY State-regulated insurers would have to cover behavioral treatments for autism under a bill the New Hampshire House passed yesterday, the first day of the legislative session. Insurers already are required to cover autism treatments, but advocates say companies do not pay for behavioral therapies that help some autistic children develop typical behavior. Rep. Susi Nord, a Candia Democrat, told legislators yesterday the change would sa more ...

Distrust, Confusion Surround New Hampshire's 'LLC Tax'
01/07/2010

EXETER — Let us be heard on the LLC tax. That was the unified message Wednesday at a news conference with concerned business owners and leaders from the Seacoast's six chambers of commerce. At issue was the lack of public hearings and understanding of how the expansion of the state's 5 percent interest and dividends tax to cover some LLC types of business organizations will work. "We were not afforded a chance to speak on this," said Steve Davis of Staffing Sense, an LLC in Stratham. "We d more ...

December Revenue Hits Mark
01/06/2010

Between July 2009 and the end of the calendar year, state revenue was $27.9 million less than what the Legislature had projected, with December's total revenue coming in higher than expected. The state has so far taken in $854 million, compared with a projected $881.9 million, based on new revenue figures released yesterday. But the numbers have been improving each month. Revenue for December was $178.4 million, or $3.2 million higher than what had been expected, though the overage was due t more ...

Small Business Owners Rally Against 11th-Hour LLC Tax
01/06/2010

By LORNA COLQUHOUN BERLIN – Tim Burnell has grown his North Country business to the point where he'd like to hire a fourth employee. But with change looming for limited liability companies in New Hampshire, he's holding off. "I'd like to hire another person, but frankly, the questions I have on the tax are giving me pause and my need to hire is going to wait," said Burnell, who owns a direct marketing company in Franconia. He was one of 10 people speaking at the first of three public more ...

Legislature To Focus On Economy
01/04/2010

Democrats, Republicans clash on best course By SHIRA SCHOENBERG Monitor staff It's the economy, stupid. That Bill Clinton campaign mantra could apply to the upcoming legislative session, as representatives on both sides of the aisle agree that taxes, spending and jobs will be the major issues. "Our main concern is going to be the economy," said House Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner of Concord. "Watching how New Hampshire's doing, trying to look at ways of promoting jobs, monitori more ...

Economy Top Lawmaker Focus In 2010
01/04/2010

Legislature looking at budget, jobs By: Michael McCord When New Hampshire lawmakers return to the State House Wednesday to start their second session of the legislative cycle, they will begin sorting through about 800 bills. However, the state budget, economy and job creation will likely be the top focus for both Republican and Democratic lawmakers as an election year looms. "During these challenging economic times, people are concerned about finding jobs, making their small business more ...

Gun Ban Draws Rapid Fire
12/23/2009

New State House rule attacked by GOP By SHIRA SCHOENBERG Monitor staff A mix of pro-gun activists and Republican legislators are protesting a new rule that bans weapons from the State House. "My reaction is outrage," said Rep. Daniel Itse, a Fremont Republican. "It's a serious restriction on a constitutional right." On Monday, the legislative facilities subcommittee, which includes House and Senate leadership, voted 8-3 to ban individuals from carrying firearms or other deadly wea more ...

State Gaming Study Commission Says Much More Analysis Needed
12/23/2009

By Adam D. Krauss akrauss@fosters.com DOVER — This much is clear: Granite Staters gamble and some pump millions into casinos across New England. But that information makes up a sliver of what's being considered by Gov. John Lynch's Gaming Study Commission. The panel has until late May to put together a final report breaking down the pros and cons of the Legislature possibly allowing expanded gambling — and it looks like it will use every minute of it. "The Commission needs more analy more ...

NH Lawmakers Vote To Ban Weapons From State House
12/22/2009

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Democratic lawmakers in the New Hampshire Legislature have voted to bar weapons from the Concord State House and two other nearby buildings. The New Hampshire Union Leader says a special committee that oversees legislative facilities voted Monday to reinstate a ban that had been in place from 1996 to 2006. The policy was withdrawn because it didn't define the area where weapons were forbidden. Republicans did not support the measure considered Monday because they felt more ...

Crowd Protests LLC Tax
12/17/2009

Law passed with haste, critics say By SHIRA SCHOENBERG Monitor staff More than 200 people turned out yesterday at a Department of Revenue Administration hearing to protest a new tax on interest and dividends paid out by limited liability companies. Business owners and politicians called the tax an income tax that would drive small businesses out of business or out of state. "In these new rules, you didn't consider all the sacrifices we as small-business owners endured to get wher more ...

LGC Turns Over Records To Investigators
12/17/2009

Center's request for privacy denied By DANIEL BARRICK Monitor staff Two days after a superior court judge ruled that the Local Government Center could not block investigators' efforts to examine its financial records, the center said it would hand over its files to state regulators, who then rejected the LGC's request that a judge maintain jurisdiction over them. In a press release yesterday afternoon, the LGC said it would produce all documents requested by state securities officials more ...

More Than 200 Attend Hearing On NH Business Tax
12/17/2009

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Some New Hampshire small business owners who are subject to a new tax complained at a state hearing Wednesday that they never had the chance to address it and fear it will threaten their livelihood and future job growth. "Any way I look at this I see a cost," said Carolyn Virtue of Sanbornton, who started a small medical case management business for seniors with her sister 10 years ago. The Department of Revenue Administration held the hearing to gather comment on rule more ...

Hearing On Controversial NH Business Tax Wednesday
12/16/2009

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire officials are holding a hearing on rules they will use to collect a new tax on small businesses - but the businesses say they never had a chance to address the tax and fear it will hurt them and the economy. The Department of Revenue Administration is holding the hearing Wednesday on rules extending the state's 5 percent interest and dividends tax to income derived from limited liability companies and partnerships. The tax change was passed as part of bu more ...

Panel OKs Gambling Report, But Says It Has More Work To Do
12/16/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief CONCORD – The commission studying issues around legalized gambling approved an interim report yesterday that says it's still got a lot of work ahead of it. The commission has reviewed data on economic effects in other states, heard expert testimony, visited casinos in Connecticut and talked with local officials there. But it needs more information before it can make findings by its June deadline for a final report to Gov. John Lynch. The main task more ...

Business Owners To Governor: Ax New Tax
12/15/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief Representatives of the small business community called on Gov. John Lynch today to use his executive power to block a new tax they say will hurt the state economy. The group opposes a proposed expansion of the state's 5 percent interest and dividends tax to include distributions by limited liability corporations (LLCs). Speakers said the new tax will hurt job growth and investment, and called on tax haters to file comments on their Web site, www.s more ...

Major cuts in human services
12/10/2009

By Michael McCord news@seacoastonline.com December 09, 2009 2:00 AMCONCORD — Plans for deeper budget cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to be announced next month. DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas told a legislative fiscal committee last week that his agency has estimated it will have a $38 million shortfall by the end of the budget year on June 30 if current trends continue and cuts aren't made. The cuts are coming as Medicaid and other support service sp more ...

Governor Puts Halt To Pay Increases For Managers
12/10/2009

Increases Approved For Current Calendar Year POSTED: 3:05 pm EST December 9, 2009 www.wmur.com CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is putting a halt to pay increases for managers in 2010. Lynch and the Executive Council approved a handful of increases Wednesday for the current calendar year. Lynch said it would be unfair to arbitrarily reject them since others already had gotten their raises this year. But Lynch said considering the economic times, it's appropriate to put a more ...

Lynch To Name New Liquor Commissioner
12/10/2009

The Associated Press- Gov. John Lynch plans to nominate the owner of a Sunapee restaurant to serve on New Hampshire's Liquor Commission. Lynch announced yesterday he will nominate Joseph Mollica, owner of One Mile Restaurant, at today's Executive Council meeting. If confirmed, Mollica would finish Pat Russell's term, which expires July 1, 2011. Russell retired earlier this year. Lynch said Mollica has more than 20 years experience in the restaurant industry as an operator and owner in more ...

Layoffs loom as Lynch is attacked
10/14/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief CONCORD – Roughly 300 workers will be laid off or transferred to lower-paying positions this month as Gov. John Lynch moves to save $25 million in the state budget. Lynch said he warned for months layoffs would be necessary if state workers rejected a contract that called for 19 unpaid furlough days over two years. State Employees Association members voted 2,708 to 1,875 to reject the contract, which would have covered 11,500 state workers. "It's more ...

SEA workers reject contract proposal
10/13/2009

By MARK HAYWARD New Hampshire Union Leader Unionized state workers have rejected a contract proposal that called for 19 days of furloughs over two years, setting the stage for hundreds of layoffs, a State Employees Association official announced last night. Fifty-nine percent of voting SEA members rejected the deal, which also would have restored some bumping rights for state workers who might be laid off. The contract covers about 11,500 state workers. The votes, cast and mailed in o more ...

State revenue falls behind: Income for August off by $17.6 million
09/03/2009

By SHIRA SCHOENBERG Monitor staff September 03, 2009 State revenue for the month of August came in $17.6 million lower than expected. According to a report released Tuesday by the Department of Administrative Services, the state took in $93.9 million, instead of the $111.5 million the Legislature had predicted. The revenue this August was $4.8 million lower than last August. The new figures drew fire from Republican leaders, who accused the Democratic majority in the Legis more ...

Speaker Norelli: N.H.'s fiscal house is in order
09/03/2009

By Deborah McDermott dmcdermott@seacoastonline.com September 03, 2009 2:00 AMPORTSMOUTH — House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, said although the Legislature had to make some tough decisions to bring the state's fiscal house in order this past session, she believes New Hampshire is in much better shape than other states and said oversight provisions are in place in case projected revenues fail to materialize. Looking toward the future, she said, "I'm open minded to taking a look at rev more ...

N.H. smart to protect its tax-free status
09/03/2009

Opinion September 03, 2009 2:00 AMBack in April, Gov. John Lynch wrote a letter to the New Hampshire Legislature in support of a bill to protect Granite State businesses from having to collect sales taxes for other states — primarily Massachusetts. "We should not allow Massachusetts to turn New Hampshire businesses into tax agents for Massachusetts," the letter said. In July, he came to the Seacoast for a ceremonial signing of the bill into law. Lynch and the Legislature were reacting more ...

Republicans call for state special session
09/03/2009

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Staff Writer klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com CONCORD – Republican legislative leaders called upon Gov. John Lynch to convene a special session to cut spending in a state budget embroiled in a $110 million court dispute and faced with lagging revenues over the past two months. Senate Republican Leader Peter Bragdon, of Milford, and House Republican Leader Sherman Packard, of Londonderry, asked Lynch to release state agency head work papers from last fall that assumed a 3 more ...

Gambling study panel looking for funds without entanglements
09/02/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch's special commission on gambling will be looking for money with no strings attached to cover the costs of staff, research and polling. The new Gaming Study Commission met for the first time yesterday to view a proposed schedule leading to a progress report in December and a final report in May 2010. Lynch appointed the 15-member commission to look at all aspects of expanding gambling in June after the Legislature finishe more ...

Contract talks fall to pieces
09/02/2009

Contract negotiations between the State Employees' Association and the state broke off last night over a dispute regarding corrections officers. The dispute came just days after the parties had announced a tentative agreement. Each side blamed the other. "It came as a surprise to us that the state feels they hadn't agreed on a major portion of the tentative agreement that's integral for us to move forward," said SEA President Gary Smith. Colin Manning, a spokesman for Gov. John Lynch more ...

Panel studying gambling seeks funding sources
09/02/2009

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Staff Writer klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com CONCORD – The first challenge facing the high-powered commission to independently explore the expansion of legal gambling is to find enough money with no strings attached to fund the review. Chairman Andrew Lietz outlined Tuesday an ambitious schedule with multistate research and issue development, polling and coordinated focus group dialogue to culminate in a report to Gov. John Lynch and the Legislature by June 1. But L more ...

Judge's ruling puts $110 million hole in state budget
07/30/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief CONCORD – A court ruling on Wednesday blocked the state from balancing its budget with $110 million from a medical malpractice fund. Belknap County Superior Court Justice Kathleen McGuire said the state had no right to the funds because they belong to the Joint Underwriting Association. The JUA was established by state law in 1975, but operates independent of state control. The recently enacted state budget bill counted on the funds to balance bo more ...

Ruling leaves state with big budget hole
07/30/2009

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Staff Writer klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com CONCORD – A superior court decision Wednesday cost the state $110 million and could force Gov. John Lynch and the Legislature to reopen the two-year state budget that's less than a month old. In a strongly worded opinion, Associate Justice Kathleen McGuire ruled the state had no right to claim as its own surplus money in an account that helps subsidize the cost of medical malpractice and liability insurance coverage for health more ...

Ruling sets state back $110 million
07/30/2009

Striking a major blow to the state's new budget, a judge ruled yesterday that Gov. John Lynch's plan to seize $110 million from the surplus of a state-established medical malpractice fund is unconstitutional. Belknap County Superior Court Judge Kathleen McGuire found for a group of doctors and hospitals insured by the fund that claimed the money rightfully belongs to them. She found that the state budget plan to seize the money violates state and federal constitutional prohibitions against t more ...

Official: Contracts will be tough
07/02/2009

The state's chief negotiator charged with hammering out a new union contract with state employees said yesterday that he hopes to seal a deal within a week, but it's difficult for the state to offer either long-term promises or contract sweeteners amid an ongoing recession and severe budget crunch. The challenge facing Assistant Secretary of State Tom Manning is eight figures large: The newly passed two-year budget requires the executive branch to lop $25 million over two years off of person more ...

Deep cuts, higher fees on the way
06/25/2009

The Legislature yesterday narrowly approved an $11.5 billion state budget that, backers and detractors say, widely spreads the recession's pain around New Hampshire. The plan provides for laying off hundreds of state employees, shuttering the Laconia prison and the Tobey School, cutting social programs, and raising a wide variety of fines and fees. Gov. John Lynch swiftly pledged to sign a budget that he had lobbied hard to pass and billed as "tough but responsible." The total number of more ...

As protesters rally, lawmakers OK $11.5b budget
06/24/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief CONCORD – Lawmakers who voted for the state's new two-year budget yesterday said they had to make difficult decisions that cut some services and raised taxes and fees to cover declining revenues. That didn't convince more than 120 people who showed up for a lunchtime anti-budget rally outside the State House. New Hampshire lawmakers passed the $11.5 billion two-year budget yesterday, saying it makes tough choices in tough times. While tax prote more ...

State House Dome: Parties split over $11.6 billion budget
06/21/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief ALL IT TOOK was some late-night taxing and cutting, and the state got a balanced budget package early Friday. The joint House and Senate budget committee passed $85 million in tax hikes and enhancements in the space of about two hours late Thursday night. The budget spends about $11.6 billion overall, but so many changes went through the system late in the process that the Legislative Budget Assistant's office was forced to work into the weekend t more ...

As home rates fall, tax looms
06/03/2009

On the eve of a key budget vote in the state Senate, one big question remains: Where will the money come from? At the eleventh hour, with opposition running fierce on proposals to expand gambling and to create new taxes on the wealthy, lawmakers and the governor's staff are rushing to vet new revenue ideas, including extending real estate taxes to property refinancing. As of yesterday, the details were still unclear on how a refinancing tax would work. Officials say that, depending on the ra more ...

Unions join gambling campaign
05/12/2009

Labor organizations yesterday said expanding gambling in New Hampshire could bring in more cash to shore up the state budget while providing jobs. At a news conference in Concord, labor groups called upon legislators to broaden gambling laws in the state and cited a project supported by the Fix It Now New Hampshire Coalition that supporters say could bring the cash-strapped state $200 million a year, depending on how the operation is taxed. New Hampshire faces a $650 million gap in a $3. more ...

State House Dome: Fence now a hot seat for Lynch
05/10/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief Sunday, May. 10, 2009 GOV. JOHN LYNCH soon will have to decide on gay marriage for New Hampshire. On Friday, House Bill 436 arrived at the Secretary of State's office. It won't be long before it goes to Speaker of the House Terie Norelli and Senate President Sylvia Larsen for signature, and then to Lynch. He'll have five days to act or it becomes law without him. Lynch said last week that his office is getting so many calls on gay marriage that more ...

State budget hearing draws a crowd in Laconia
04/15/2009

By GAIL OBER gober@citizen.com Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Alan MacRae/for the Citizen COMMUNITY LEADERS and private citizens pack the cafeteria at Laconia Middle School for a state Senate hearing on the proposed state budget Tuesday evening. Corrections officers showed up in droves at the Laconia Middle School cafeteria to ask members of the New Hampshire Senate Finance Committee to reconsider the 2010-2011 proposed budget cuts. As part of Gov. John Lynch's proposed budget, the Laco more ...

Tax protest rallies today in Concord, Manchester
04/15/2009

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2009 MANCHESTER – Several hundred people fed up with taxes will protest government spending at tea party rallies today in Concord and Manchester. One rally is scheduled for noon on the steps of the New Hampshire State House. A second rally, one of hundreds around the country on this Tax Day, will be at 5:30 p.m. in Victory Park in Manchester. The New Hampshire chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the host of the Concord event, has lined up a dozen speakers on gov more ...

Taxing days: The people get fed up
04/15/2009

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2009 In 1773, patriots in Boston rebelled against their government, throwing 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. The colonists were angry over the Tea Act, which imposed no new tax and actually lowered the cost of tea. So what in the world were they angry about? The Tea Act gave the East India Company the exclusive right to sell tea in the colonies, and allowed the sale only through authorized merchants. Colonists who had been buying smuggled Dutch tea for three year more ...

Job fair turnout was a grim sign of the times
04/15/2009

Not since five of the state's biggest banks went under in the early 1990s has an economic event so loudly announced that New Hampshire's economy is in trouble. Last week, about 10,000 job seekers were desperate enough to travel to Manchester and wait for hours for a shuttle to a job fair which held out the prospect of 1,500 jobs. The turnout snarled traffic and frustrated participants. With similar events scheduled around the state, planners should consider some way to fairly limit the turnout. more ...

NH state workers protest cuts
04/14/2009

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire state employees are hitting the street in Concord on Wednesday, Tax Day, to speak out against cuts aimed at public employee jobs. The State Employees Association says public workers are being targeted by city, county and state leaders for layoffs and cuts in pay and benefits, when there is a greater need for services. Union members will be in front of the Statehouse and shopping in Concord businesses around lunch time to say they also pay taxes and fees a more ...

Dems 'share pain,' GOP picks budget battle
04/07/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 9 hours, 25 minutes ago CONCORD – Democrats admit there's a lot to dislike in the $11.5 billion budget they want the House to pass this week, but they say it's better than the Republican alternative. The GOP, however, says Democrats have balanced their two-year budget plan with a critical misstep of raising taxes during a recession, and by holding money back from communities. The two sides exchanged criticisms yesterday, as Democrats outlined th more ...

Budget has something for everyone
04/07/2009

Everyone found something to hate yesterday as lawmakers hashed over the state budget proposed by the House Finance Committee, a plan that contains program cuts, tax increases, layoffs, and increases in benefit costs paid by state employees and retirees. The whole House is expected to vote on the package tomorrow. In a tough year, with needs up and revenue streams sharply down, budget writers said they hoped their $11.5 billion plan for 2010 and 2011 would "spread the pain" among all. "Th more ...

Bill would allow recording of police
03/27/2009

A bill letting residents audio-record police officers in the line of duty if they get permission first cleared the House of Representatives on Thursday. State Rep. Joel Winters, D-Nashua, said law enforcement can video- and audio-record citizens without consent during routine traffic stops. It’s only fair that the public should have the same right as long as the police officer agrees to it, he said. “This is a civil liberties issue,’’ said Winters, who authored the bill (HB 212). But Re more ...

Senate considers tree-cutting bill
03/27/2009

Three months after a devastating ice storm, New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it easier for utilities to trim or remove trees on private property to protect their power lines. Under current law, utilities need consent from property owners before cutting. The bill would waive that requirement if owners do not respond to a written notice within 45 days. Owners who object could appeal to local officials, but utilities would not need permission if a tree posed an more ...

State House Dome: Searching for more $110 million rainbows
02/16/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009 "There is no magical pot of gold at the end of a mythical rainbow," Gov. John Lynch said in his inaugural speech last month. That was before he found $100 million, not under the rainbow, but in a little-known malpractice insurance fund the state set up more than 25 years ago. The Joint Underwriting Association solved a malpractice crisis when private insurers left the state and doctors had no coverage. It was an insurer of more ...

Lynch's budget signals end to business as usual
02/16/2009

February 15, 2009 - 12:00 am Long before he announced his plan to balance a state budget that is more than $600 million in the red, Gov. John Lynch warned the state's cities, towns, taxpayers and employees that "we're all in this together." On Thursday, in a 45-minute address to lawmakers, some found that they were in up to their ankles and others in over their heads. Some budget areas, aid to education for example, were untouched or nearly so. But Lynch called for closing several ins more ...

NH gov's budget calls for layoffs, closing courts
02/13/2009

CONCORD, N.H.—Gov. John Lynch unveiled his stark budget plan on Thursday, proposing the state close a prison, courts and liquor stores and lay off about 300 workers to shepherd New Hampshire through the deepening recession. "These extraordinary times demand that all of us come to the table together to serve our families," Lynch told a somber House and Senate. "If you disagree with something in this proposal, I respect that. But it is not enough to simply say no or to criticize. We all have a more ...

Highlights of NH gov's proposed budget
02/13/2009

Highlights of Gov. John Lynch's proposed budget for the two years beginning July 1, including funds used to balance this year's budget. All comparisons are for spending from general tax revenues over the two years, except where noted: --- TAXES & FEES: - 35 cents per pack cigarette tax hike, up from $1.33 cents. Raises $70 million. - Tolls would rise 50 cents at Hooksett and Bedford, 25 cents at Dover and Rochester and 25 cents at the Hooksett and Hampton ramps. Fifty-cent increase i more ...

Budget plan to confront hard choices
02/12/2009

Even in an era when federal lawmakers toss around zeroes like Nerf balls - a trillion-dollar deficit, a $700 billion bailout - $500 million is still a lot of money in New Hampshire. That's why everyone expects Gov. John Lynch's budget proposal for 2010 and 2011, which he will unveil today, to be full of difficult choices. Lynch, a Democrat, has already told reporters that layoffs are "unavoidable," that whole programs will be cut and that he's looking at every dollar the state spends except more ...

Budget plan to confront hard choices
02/12/2009

Even in an era when federal lawmakers toss around zeroes like Nerf balls - a trillion-dollar deficit, a $700 billion bailout - $500 million is still a lot of money in New Hampshire. That's why everyone expects Gov. John Lynch's budget proposal for 2010 and 2011, which he will unveil today, to be full of difficult choices. Lynch, a Democrat, has already told reporters that layoffs are "unavoidable," that whole programs will be cut and that he's looking at every dollar the state spends except more ...

Lynch to name new liquor commissioner
02/10/2009

The Associated Press- Gov. John Lynch plans to nominate the owner of a Sunapee restaurant to serve on New Hampshire's Liquor Commission. Lynch announced yesterday he will nominate Joseph Mollica, owner of One Mile Restaurant, at today's Executive Council meeting. If confirmed, Mollica would finish Pat Russell's term, which expires July 1, 2011. Russell retired earlier this year. Lynch said Mollica has more than 20 years experience in the restaurant industry as an operator and owner in more ...

Lynch: State layoffs loom
01/30/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief CONCORD – Layoffs among state workers will be unavoidable in the next two years if the state's two-year budget is going to be balanced, Gov. John Lynch said yesterday. Lynch said he has been meeting six days a week with department heads across state government to find programs that are no longer necessary or can be combined with others. As those programs are cut or consolidated, some workers will lose their jobs, he said. He warned that he is looki more ...

Lynch expects layoffs
01/30/2009

By LAUREN R. DORGAN Monitor staff State employee layoffs are "unavoidable," Gov. John Lynch said for the first time yesterday, saying he'll need to curb or cut whole programs as he readies the next two-year budget amid a souring economy. "Some layoffs are unavoidable, particularly as we look to eliminate programs," Lynch told reporters yesterday, according to the Associated Press. How many jobs or where Lynch sees cuts remains unclear, even to department heads, they said yesterday. Lynch more ...

Gambling bill debated over lunch
01/28/2009

Legalizing casino-style gambling in New Hampshire would spur the creation of thousands of jobs, bring millions into state coffers and even aid in the protection of the state's open space. Or, maybe, expanding gambling would cause a spike in crime, suck money away from other businesses and bring the state bupkes to help it through the current budget crisis. So went the arguments that 60 or more businesspeople heard yesterday at Concord's Holiday Inn during a debate between legislators and lob more ...

Foes, backers of slot machine proposal do spin control
01/28/2009

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Staff Writer klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com CONCORD – Supporters and opponents of slot machine gambling across the state crossed swords over whether it's the solution for the state's fiscal woes or a can't-turn-back mistake that would ruin New Hampshire's quality of life. Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, confirmed for the first time his proposal would locate up to seven video slot machine parlors across the state. Millenium Gaming, the gambling casino operator wi more ...

NH has quietly built a mountain of debt
01/28/2009

New Hampshire's budget deficit may be the worst in the modern history of the state, but it may not be the worst financial crisis we currently face. As the current budget eats away our financial reserves and puts enormous pressure on our budget structure, the state's long-term debt and obligations are rising to dangerous levels that make the budget deficit pale in comparison. Like almost every government entity in the country, New Hampshire finances many of its capital projects with long-term more ...

Both sides weigh in on expanded gambling in NH
01/28/2009

By Jarret Bencks jbencks@eagletribune.com CONCORD — A longtime proponent of expanded gambling yesterday revealed some of the details of a bill that would allow slots to be installed at Rockingham Park. During a panel discussion on the pros and cons of expanded gaming, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, discussed his proposal, currently a legislative service request. It would allow the state to distribute six licenses for slot machines. Two of the licenses would be available to the s more ...

Lynch's plan to save $16m gets House panel support
01/23/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 13 hours, 42 minutes ago CONCORD – The House Finance Committee voted unanimously yesterday to recommend passage of Gov. John Lynch's package of $16 million in budget savings. Lynch proposed the plan in House Bill 30 two weeks ago as a way to address a budget deficit projected to be $90 million by June 30, when the fiscal year ends. The full House will take up the bill on Jan. 28. State revenues in the current budget are expected to total about $ more ...

Lynch urges $16 million in cuts to N.H. budget
01/14/2009

By Norma Love Associated Press Writer January 13, 2009 5:05 PM CONCORD — New Hampshire drivers could be riding over more miles of bumpy roads this spring if proposed budget cuts are approved. Transportation Commissioner George Campbell told the House Finance Committee Tuesday that he won't be able to pave as many miles because money he had planned to use won't be available. Campbell said he had dipped into the account used for state roads and bridges for repairs caused by December's ice st more ...

Governor Lynch tackling state budget crisis head on
01/13/2009

By Michael Mccord newsletter@seacoastonline.com January 13, 2009 6:00 AM CONCORD — Here's an example of what Gov. John Lynch means when he says the state budget crisis and the economic downturn will be his "single-minded focus" for the foreseeable future. A day after his third inauguration Thursday, Jan. 8 Lynch spent the entire day in budget meetings — and then, like the movie "Groundhog Day," he did the same thing on Saturday. "We are going line by line, dollar by dollar and person by pe more ...

State House Dome: Lynch says NH still $75m in the red after cuts
01/12/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 THE NEXT big step in cutting this year's deficit comes Tuesday, when House hearings open on Gov. John Lynch's move to trim $15 million as quickly as possible. Even at legislative light speed, this could take awhile. The bill is scheduled to go before the full House on Jan. 28, then start in the Senate. The big money it would produce comes from $5 million in the highway fund as repayment for an infusion of general-fund dolla more ...

Departments put to budget test
01/12/2009

By Adam Leech aleech@seacoastonline.com January 11, 2009 6:00 AM PORTSMOUTH — With marching orders in hand, city budget makers are about to embark on what might be the most challenging number crunching they have ever faced. The current economy and its impact on local residents has prompted the City Council to set a budget goal to keep the tax rate at $16.98 per $1,000 of valuation. But with a 5 percent uptick in various fixed costs, the effect will be a 5 percent cut in the fiscal year 201 more ...

Female lawmakers lead more committees in NH
01/12/2009

Sunday, January 11, 2009 CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — It's not just in the state Senate that women hold an edge in New Hampshire. With 13 female members, the 24-member Senate is the first in the nation to have a female majority. In the House, women make up 36 percent of the 400 members, but they hold a majority of the important committee leadership positions. Sixteen women have been chosen to lead House committees, compared to six men. In the Senate, nine women are running committees, compared to more ...

Economy looms over Lynch inauguration
01/08/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 10 hours, 53 minutes ago Gov. John Lynch will take the oath of office for a third term today, as he faces the challenge of closing a predicted $500 million budget hole in the next two years. Legislative leaders said they think economic concerns will dominate his inaugural speech. They expect a warning against new spending during the fiscal crisis facing the state, a call for bipartisan effort, as well as a summary of accomplishments over the past f more ...

NH Legislature to convene snow, or no snow
01/07/2009

Associated Press - January 7, 2009 7:05 AM ET CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - It would be downright unconstitutional for New Hampshire's Legislature to stay home because of today's snowstorm. The Constitution requires the new Legislature to convene the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. That's today, snow or no snow. The first session day generally is to introduce bills and take care of housekeeping issues.

N.H. revenues continue to lag
01/06/2009

CONCORD — New Hampshire revenues continue to lag behind estimates. Tax receipts were $21 million below estimates in December, bringing the total shortfall for the year to $121.5 million. The two biggest hits to the treasury were from taxes on business, off $20 million, and real estate sales, $5 million below estimates. The state got an extra $5 million from a combination hike in the tobacco tax and cut in a wine discount given to retailers. The state received almost $182 million for the more ...

State: Revenues well short of estimates
01/06/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 12 hours, 24 minutes ago CONCORD – New Hampshire revenues finished the first six months of the fiscal year $121 million short of budget goals. A report yesterday from the Department of Administrative Services showed that business taxes were off by $78 million from July through December. Last month alone saw them come in $20 million below expectations. The business profits and business enterprise taxes produced $220 million through six months, $5 more ...

For lawmakers: So many bills; so little money
01/05/2009

By DAN TUOHY New Hampshire Union Leader 11 hours ago CONCORD – To those who say, "There ought to be a law," well, New Hampshire legislators are apparently all ears. Bills filed for 2009 range from the most serious issues of our time to some curious novelties. D'Allesandro But economic trouble means potential trouble for every legislative wish list this year. "As usual, people put in lots of legislation, but I don't think there will be any spending legislation," said Sen. Lou D more ...

Betting on New Hampshire's future
01/04/2009

By Adam Leech aleech@seacoastonline.com January 04, 2009 6:00 AM PORTSMOUTH — At least two bills aimed at expanding gambling in the state will come before the House and Senate in the upcoming legislative session. And while past efforts have come up short on support, the significant budget shortfall facing the state could cause a change of heart in some lawmakers. There is agreement among local legislators that building a casino in the North Country — which will be the focus of at least one more ...

$25m shortfall means tough budget choices
01/01/2009

By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 CONCORD – The people in charge of figuring out how the state will make ends meet for the next two years meet agree on two things: We're in a historic economic downturn, and crafting a budget is going to be backbreaking, frustrating work. During interviews last week, key lawmakers referred to the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover and the early 1990s, when the state's five largest banks failed in a single weekend and its largest more ...

Other NH laws taking effect Jan. 1
01/01/2009

Some other new laws taking effect Jan. 1: - State transportation officials must minimize hazards to bicycles from rumble strips, drain grates and road surface treatments by establishing placement standards that keep cyclists in mind. The law also allows cyclists to pass stopped vehicles on the right without penalty. - Insurers and pharmacy benefits managers must require pharmacies they contract with to charge enrollees the pharmacy's usual and customary price for a prescription or the insu more ...

Norelli reappoints House leadership
12/22/2008

By Brian Lawson, PolitickerNH.com Reporter House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth) has reappointed two prominent Democratic state representatives to leadership positions. Norelli's office announced on Monday that state Rep. Linda Foster (D-Mount Vernon) will continue on as deputy speaker and state Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) will once again serve as Democratic majority leader. Foster and Wallner have served in the House for eight and 15 terms, respectively. Brian Lawson is a more ...

The state budget deficit is unlikely to be closed this year
12/17/2008

With only six months left in the state's fiscal year, the current budget deficit is so large that it probably cannot be fixed. Instead, it will be rolled over until next year, making a difficult budget task even worse. Even as all public eyes are focused on finishing out the current budget year with as small as a deficit as possible, both the governor and the Legislature are trying to figure out what to do about the budget nightmare approaching after the new year. A brief status report is more ...

Speaker Norelli Appoints Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs
12/17/2008

December 17, 2008 For Immediate Release Contact House Information Officer Cissy Taylor (603) 271-3664 Cissy.taylor@leg.state.nh.us SPEAKER NORELLI APPOINTS COMMITTEE CHAIRS, VICE CHAIRS CONCORD – Speaker Terie Norelli today announced the names of members of the House of Representatives she has appointed chair and vice chair of the House’s 22 standing committees. “Some are returning chairs and some are new,” Speaker Norelli said. “We all have our work cut out fo more ...

Coalition forms for ‘limited gaming’ at Rock
12/11/2008

CONCORD--A coalition titled "Fix it Now" has formed to bring "limited gaming" to Rockingham Park. The group said that they want to bring video slot machines to the Salem track. Ed Callahan, president of Rockingham Park, said that adding video machines to the track would bring in about $200 million in annual state revenue and that Millennium Gaming would invest $450 million in improving the track. Millennium has said it would buy the track if the state allows video gaming at the site. more ...

Proponents say slot machines would put millions into state coffers
12/11/2008

CONCORD – A team of gambling interests, business owners and labor called for video slot machines at Rockingham Park race track yesterday, saying they will bring the state treasury $200 million a year. The "Fix It Now New Hampshire" group said that if the Legislature acts before June to allow what it called "limited gaming," machines would be up and running within seven months at a temporary facility on track property in Salem. Millennium Gaming, which holds the option to buy the track on t more ...

State pay raise freeze on ice for now
12/11/2008

CONCORD – Lawmakers have decided not to act on Gov. John Lynch's proposal to save up to $2 million by deferring pay raises for state workers not represented by unions. To kill the raises, the Legislature has to act before the end of the year. Last week House and Senate leaders reserved next Wednesday as a day when legislators could return for the money-saving move. But yesterday, Speaker of the House Terie Norelli and Senate President Sylvia Larsen said they will not call lawmakers to Conc more ...

Legislation targets thumbprints by banks
12/11/2008

Should banks be able to require a thumbprint when you want to cash a check? How about your blood? Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry, thinks not, and plans to file a bill that would ban the practice, as well as other “flagrant violations of a person’s privacy,” such as asking for DNA samples or their blood samples. But the New Hampshire Bankers Association counters that while banks don’t want anybody’s blood, a thumbprint is often necessary to insure that the checks they cash for non-bank custom more ...

N.H. workers balking at giving up raises
12/11/2008

CONCORD — New Hampshire state workers are balking at giving up promised raises scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. Gov. John Lynch wants state workers to defer a 5.5 percent pay increase to help close a $75 million to $90 million shortfall in this year's budget. He estimates the raise will save about $7 million. Lynch and lawmakers have taken a series of steps to deal with a decline in revenues, but need the permission of about 15,000 rank-and-file workers covered by collective bargaining agr more ...

Rock to make new push for slots
12/10/2008

Rockingham Park officials are ready to begin a concerted effort to bring video lottery machines to the Salem racetrack. Track officials and officials of a Nevada firm with an option to buy the track say they plan today to announce a "coalition formed with the aim of bringing limited gaming" to the track. The New Hampshire Union Leader confirmed that the plan for "limited gaming" is for video gaming machines only and not other forms of expanded gambling. Track officials are expected to m more ...

Larsen names Senate committee chairs
12/09/2008

CONCORD – Senate President Sylvia Larsen, elected unanimously to a second term as Senate leader last week, has named her full slate of Senate committee chairmen. The majority of key posts went to women, who make up a majority of the Senate and the Democratic caucus. Larsen also allowed three Republicans to retain chairmanships of committees they headed last year. New Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, will chair the Commerce Committee and will sit on Capital Budget, chaired by more ...

New Hampshire: Liquor Chief Mulls Putting Booze In Grocery Stores
12/04/2008

By Josh Rogers on Wednesday, December 3, 2008. Liquor commission says selling hard alcohol where people shop everyday would boost state revenues, and make life easier for consumers. The suggestion comes amid repeated calls from Governor Lynch for liquor officials to find new ways to make money. About 5 minutes into his testimony to state budget writers Monday, Commissioner Mark Bodi made a glancing mention to what could prove the most conspicuous shift in state alcohol marketing policy si more ...

Norelli elected House speaker, urges bi-partisanship
12/04/2008

CONCORD--State Rep. Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth) has been officially elected for a second term as House speaker and told House members that they would need to work across party lines to deal with the state budget. Norelli defeated state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) and state Rep. Robert Rowe (R-Amherst). Norelli received 230 votes, Packard received 104 votes and Rowe got 53 votes. State Rep. Chris Roberts received 3 votes and one ballot was left blank. "I extend a hand of friendsh more ...

Norelli picks party caucus leaders
12/04/2008

The New Hampshire House speaker picks the leaders for the political party caucuses and Speaker Norelli exercised that right earlier today. Norelli selected state Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) to be House Democratic leader and state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) will be the House Republican leader. Both Wallner and Packard were voted to those positions by their respective caucuses in November and Norelli decided not to override those votes. BRIAN LAWSON is a PolitickerNH.com Rep more ...

Lynch says stimulus money will go to I-93
12/03/2008

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Gov. John Lynch says federal money designed to speed up the national economy will help speed up some major highway projects in New Hampshire. Lynch joined many governors Tuesday in Philadelphia with President-elect Barack Obama, who is proposing a national economic stimulus program to create jobs and boost the sagging economy. Lynch said state Transportation Commissioner George Campbell has identified about $200 million in projects that would benefit from the plan. more ...

Lynch says state not relying upon federal govt. for budget help
12/03/2008

Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton) spoke to reporters after attending a meeting with President-elect Obama and said that he is not depending on money from the federal government to help New Hampshire close its current budget deficit. "I'm certainly not counting on money from the federal government to deal with our remaining $75 million shortfall, so I'm not counting on that," Lynch said on a conference call with reporters. Lynch was attending a meeting of the National Governors Association whic more ...

Action urged on NH highway plans
12/02/2008

CONCORD – Transportation Commissioner George Campbell said yesterday that a federal economic stimulus package will not spare the state the job of fixing its own highway fund deficit. "A lot of people think if we get a 100 percent fully-funded stimulus package, that it's going to solve all our problems, but it's not," Campbell said. He said federal officials will expect states to continue with existing plans, like the 10-year highway plan New Hampshire uses to schedule construction projects more ...

State revenue slump continues
12/02/2008

CONCORD – State revenues continued their slide in November, coming in $28 million below projections and trailing last year's performance by 20 percent. Through the first five months of this fiscal year, the state is $100 million behind its budget plan on revenues from taxes and other sources such as liquor, lottery and tobacco sales. The state expected to have $773 million in revenues at this point in the fiscal year, which began July 1. It has taken in $672 million, 13 percent below its p more ...

Lynch says state not relying upon federal govt. for budget help
12/02/2008

By Brian Lawson, PolitickerNH.com Reporter Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton) spoke to reporters after attending a meeting with President-elect Obama and said that he is not depending on money from the federal government to help New Hampshire close its current budget deficit. "I'm certainly not counting on money from the federal government to deal with our remaining $75 million shortfall, so I'm not counting on that," Lynch said on a conference call with reporters. Lynch was attending a mee more ...

More are asking state for help
12/01/2008

CONCORD – Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said his department needs to take bold steps to address what he called "a permanent fiscal crisis." Even before the economy took a sudden turn for the worse this fall, demands on his sprawling agency were climbing, Toumpas said during the final day of hearings on budget proposals for 2010-11. In the year since September 2007, the number of people applying for food stamps, aid to the disabled, Healthy Kids Silver and Gold health more ...

State House Dome: Concord talk turns to taxes, lots of them
11/30/2008

By TOM FAHEY Union Leader State House Bureau Chief November 30, 2008 WHILE ALL the talk in Concord is about budget cuts, no one's talking about taxes. That will change -- soon. When the Legislature starts work in January, it will tackle bills to add or increase all sorts of taxes. Lawmakers have filed a dozen tax bills so far on gasoline, tobacco, bottles, beer, income (three of those), even fireworks. One resurrects the Legacy and Succession tax (better known as the death tax) that more ...

NH lawmakers propose range of tax, fee hikes
11/30/2008

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire lawmakers will be deciding whether to create or increase all sorts of taxes when they start work in January. Lawmakers have filed a dozen tax bills so far targeting gasoline, tobacco, bottles, beer, income and even fireworks. One would resurrect the so-called death tax that produced $25 million a year before it was repealed in 2002. Safety officials want to bump up several fees, including boat registration fees that pay for enforcement of boating speed l more ...

Lawmakers push for gas tax increase
11/25/2008

Prominent lawmakers are gearing up to push for an increase in the gas tax, the main source of revenue for the state's near-broke road budget. Supporters include two lawmakers who have led studies of the highway fund, who say they see no other way to keep road repairs on track. It's clear that construction costs are surging while revenue is shrinking. New Hampshire's highway department spends $100,000 more every day than it takes in, Department of Transportation Commissioner George Campbell to more ...

Packard narrowly wins NH GOP post
11/25/2008

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- A veteran state legislator from Londonderry has won a close election to lead Republicans in the New Hampshire House. Rep. Sherman Packard beat former Speaker Gene Chandler by 3 votes at a Republican caucus Monday night. Packard says the vote was 82 to 79. Tuesday morning, Packard attributed his win to Republicans saying they want to go in a new, unified, direction, which he said he intends to do. Packard was elected this month to his 10th two-year term in the House more ...

Ruderman to lead state's energy initiatives
11/21/2008

CONCORD – Jack Ruderman has been named director of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission's new Sustainable Energy Division. Ruderman, 45, who had been deputy director at the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning for five years, will oversee about $20 million in energy efficiency funds. "What we really want to see is that average New Hampshire residents, businesses and institutions have the opportunity to take advantage of new cutting-edge energy efficiency and renewable techn more ...

State workers face budgetary unknowns
11/20/2008

Gov. John Lynch said yesterday that no pink slips will be proposed tomorrow when he unveils his latest plan to cut $50 million to $60 million from the budget. "As of right now, we are not considering layoffs," Lynch said. But as the national economy sinks and the state budget shrinks, many state workers remain wary. State employees interviewed yesterday described an atmosphere of unease within their offices, as employees try to work under already strict spending guidelines. And with slum more ...

Lynch budget cuts to avoid any layoffs
11/20/2008

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch said Wednesday that he would soon propose spending cuts – without any state layoffs – that will close about 40 percent of the $150 million deficit in the current budget year. The cuts totaling $50 million to $60 million will be presented Friday to the Legislative Fiscal Committee, Lynch told reporters after an Executive Council meeting. The cuts will not be across the board reductions to all state agencies, rather targeted reductions, Lynch said. "This is a tim more ...

Lynch proposing limited cuts to budget
11/20/2008

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch said he will propose up to $60 million in cuts to the state budget tomorrow, and spend the next seven months looking for ways to close the remaining budget gap estimated at $90 million. Lynch would not specify where $50 million to $60 million in cuts will be made, but said layoffs are not part of the plan he will offer the Legislative Fiscal Committee. He said the state will save an estimated $100 million by June through a series of five executive orders he issued si more ...

With Budget Shortfall Looming, Will Gambling Expand?
11/20/2008

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire lawmakers have routinely rejected allowing video slot machines in the state, agreeing with critics who say it will ruin the state's quality of life. But with a budget shortfall looming, state leaders could be more willing to roll the dice on expanded gambling. The state budget is at least $150 million short this fiscal year, leading lawmakers to consider budget cuts and new sources of revenue. The idea of bringing in video slot machines has been raised many time more ...

Lynch proposing limited cuts, no layoffs
11/19/2008

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch will ask lawmakers to cut only $50 million to $60 million from the state budget now, leaving about $90 million to do early next year. “This is the next step we will take, but not the last step,” Lynch told The Associated Press. Lynch said some cuts — to the legislative and judicial branches — will require changes in state laws. “At this point, we’re not proposing any layoffs,” he said. He said he is still working on a final list of proposed cuts. He will more ...

Little movement in state's 16 recounts
11/19/2008

CONCORD – Recounts of election results continue this week, but the first dozen showed no change in outcome. The Secretary of State's Office is overseeing 16 recounts, mostly in races for the state House of Representatives. Members of each major party keep an eye on ballots as they go through the recount process. "This is so boring compared to when we had a straight ticket," said majority floor leader Rep. Dan Eaton, D-Stoddard. "It's all very cut and dried." In the past, recounts would more ...

Lynch ponders casino to south
11/30/-0001

At a recent reception thanking the state's Gaming Study Commission, Gov. John Lynch floated an idea: What would commission members think of licensing one casino in the southern part of the state? How seriously Lynch is considering the idea is anyone's guess. The Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling jumped on the comments, sending out an e-mail with the subject "Governor Lynch Floats One Casino Plan." Coalition Chairman Jim Rubens said he doesn't know the implications of the more ...

Governor said to have 'floated idea' of casino
11/30/-0001

CONCORD — A leading, anti-gambling activist claimed Gov. John Lynch "floated the idea" of legalizing a single casino at Salem's Rockingham Park during a private meeting with his hand-picked gaming commission last week. Jim Rubens, chairman of the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling, said someone he refused to identify who was present for that session shared this opinion about Lynch's state of mind. "I'm not suggesting the governor has changed his position; I don't know what h more ...

Anti-gambling group alarmed by Lynch comments
11/30/-0001

CONCORD – The state's leading anti-gambling group raised the alarm yesterday over a discussion Gov. John Lynch had last week regarding a casino in southern New Hampshire. Lynch met with members of the Gaming Study Commission at an informal reception put on by chairman Andrew Lietz, to celebrate an end to their nine months of work. The conversation included commission findings that the most lucrative spot for a New Hampshire casino would be in southern New Hampshire, nearest population cent more ...

Tom Fahey's State House Dome: Parole Board cuts its losses
11/30/-0001

The state Parole Board voiced its concerns about prison reform, lost the battle and now moves on. Gov. John Lynch signed the Justice Reinvestment Act into law last week, cheered by a crowd of those who helped shape the bill. They included Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick and Attorney General Michael Delaney, state officials and national consultants. The law is meant to cut prison populations and increase success for inmates when they return to society. The parole board worried th more ...