(Part put below the fold. - promoted by Dean Barker)
John Lynch stood his ground, with Democrats in the Senate and the House, when the Republicans tried their mischief on Wednesday night. This is not the time to let petty political concerns masquerading as principled policy, not the time to let them raid the rainy day fund, now $89,000,000.00 and growing.
http://www.politickernh.com/br...
House, Senate finish year with special session
By Brian Lawson
CONCORD- Late last night the House and Senate finished their legislative year with a special session.
The session was called by Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton) to attempt to close the looming budget deficit.
During the session, lawmakers approved the bonding of school aid, allow the community college system to sell the Stratham system and require the Pease Development Authority to repay the state $10.5 million.
"We've acted to ensure the state remains on solid ground financially as we weather the national economic downturn. This will help us preserve our ability to provide essential state services," said Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord) in a statement. |
The added drama of locked doors, plots, and counter plots, well , where can you have more fun for $100.00 per annum ?
http://www.unionleader.com/art...
Late-night Legislature drama unfolds
By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
12 hours, 8 minutes ago
CONCORD - The business of making laws can be pretty mundane, but every once in a while it leads to some exciting moments.
Take Wednesday night, for instance. It featured a charge to the State House exits, sergeants at arms blocking and locking doors, House members hiding in side rooms and bathrooms or running across the street to the nearest bar.
Republicans staged what the GOP says was a spontaneous walkout, frustrated over the way Democrats were running a special session on a bonding bill Gov. John Lynch wanted.
They rushed up the aisle, out doors, up stairs and across the visitors' gallery trying to leave before they were locked in.
Speaker of the House Terie Norelli spotted the move quickly and ordered the Sergeant at Arms to act.
Snip
In the end, the House passed it, 178-125. The Senate voted 14-9 for the plan.
In a very tough environment for consumers, with energy costs, food costs, and war costs straining their pocketbooks, we must also be prepared for harder times ahead. The rainy day fund will be there as will be the proper authority for the Governor to have the State of New Hampshire sell it's Bonds to fund "bricks and mortar".
School building construction funds will be made available, and in the manner best suited to a firm financial footing in the out years. This is where having real CEO experience showed strongly for Lynch. He sealed the deal with the cooperation of the Democratic leadership in Concord. Said Majority Floor Leader Rep. Daniel Eaton, D-Stoddard, in the UL article, "It congealed and solidified our caucus more than any other event of the last 18 months. ... We had to come together and hold together as a group,..".
The State is obligated, IIRC, to pay roughly 50% of the construction costs,with the proceeds of the Bonds used to pay principal,not interest. Elwood, if you are not yet in the WWPP*, could you chime in here ?
Thank you to our leaders in Concord for being Conservative, where conservative is used properly.There is no idealogical intent, just the attempt to make best use of our assets in a declining economy.
Thank you for keeping a firm hand on the tiller Governor. These people would just spend the fund to create a bigger, false surplus, in an election year, while talking out of the side of their mouths when larger deficits appear in the next two years. I am glad you did not bend.
Thank you Governor Lynch. |
