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Live From LOB

by: Kathy Sullivan 2

Thu Mar 24, 2011 at 14:16:00 PM EDT
( - promoted by William Tucker)


Photo from Granite State Progress's Facebook Album"

There are a lot of people here, we are probably violating fire code, but despite the request of committee leadership, Speaker Bill "Nully" O'Brien has refused to move the finance committee to reps hall.

This is called putting his thumb in the eye of all the people taking time from their day to exercise their rights of Assembly and Petition.

Don't know if I will be able to stay since I can't stand for long periods, but will give it a shot.

 
Kathy Sullivan 2 :: Live From LOB
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Live From LOB | 56 comments
Attack on arts (0.00 / 0)
This budget does some bad things to the arts, and inexplicably moves what little remains.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
Lou for decorum (0.00 / 0)
 Lou d asks everyone to show decorum.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
Still not started (0.00 / 0)
How rude! 24 minutes late.  Perhaps Weyler still getting orders from O'Brien.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
Emerging from backroom (0.00 / 0)
The committee is emerging from back room. So all decisions have probably been made.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
Weyler speaking (0.00 / 0)
We just have a few amendments to hear and then will vote. This has not been an easy process. There only is much money, no one wants tax increases.
(neglects to say they are cutting revenue sources and understating revenues).
Amendments being passed around (as usual last minute), no copies for the audience.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
Made up numbers (4.00 / 1)
Revenue estimates - house estimates lower than Governor's. governors budget shows small surplus, house says governors numbers create a $50,000,000 deficit.

If it is between believing this gang and John Lynch, I will believe John Lynch.

They also have made adjustments to reduce fees and taxes.

So incompetent.

A bunch of money, such as highway fees, fish and game fees, vital statistic fees, being moved over to general fund from departments.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

Bagpipes? (4.00 / 4)
There is bagpipe music outside, because it is so  crowded the windows have to be open. The staff is droning on about numbers with this very pleasant bagpipe music.

And now chants of "what's disgusting, union busting" outside.

Just a few months ago people were pulling together to get through the recession. Now due to the Republican leadership people are angry, packing the state house, asking why is the Republican leadership  trying to destroy the New Hampshire we love?

At the beginning Weyler said having this in reps hall would make it more difficult for audience. I guess he doesn't know a couple of his majority members told us in the back that O'Brien said no.

 



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

Blech (4.00 / 2)
Committee adopts the made up numbers in the surplus deficit report.

Now on to hb 1. Weyler only one speaking into mike so I can't hear very well.

Rep. Benn says it will have a bad impact on people of NH. Rep. Baroody points out that some positions paid with federal money being eliminated. Rep. rRosenwald very disturbed, cuts in money for people with disabilities I can't look at myself in the mirror and vote for this.
Weyler says there still will be millions for those programs.
Someone I can't identify says this will hurt jobs and infrastructure. Will cost us down the road, budget has severe weaknesses, does not have to be like this, it understates revenues, everyone knows that, you are going after cuts you don't have to.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

Rep. Nordgren, "jobs will be lost" (4.00 / 1)
This budget will cut jobs.

Oh, it was Rep. Foose who spoke earlier.

Some Republican rep complaining about the Governor, says this is not final, only 50% through - must be worried because she is trying to make people feel better. Oberon from Litchfield? Omg she says this process has been hard on us for 3 days we want to see our families? Lady, this room is full of people whose families you are hurting.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

Hb 1 passes (0.00 / 0)
Now HB 2, this is this one.

Weyler orders hall closed because of chanting. Lou D calls for decorum, we want to hear the vote

Okay, everyone happy now. Weyler thanks Lou. The chanting was in corridor, they are now quiet.

That was interesting.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

Lou (0.00 / 0)
Is that all he's allowed to say or do, call for decorum?

"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." Albert Einstein
[ Parent ]
Correct. He is senator, not rep (4.00 / 1)
This is rep committee, in exec session, no public input.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
[ Parent ]
Hb 2 passes (4.00 / 1)
Rep. Quandt, Republican, votes no. Plus the Democrats.

This is the one that makes all the legislative changes required because of the stupid budget they adopted. There are some  amendments, the first one is Wisconsin on steroids. Weyler says well when I was a pilot and this happened nothing changed, I still got paid, it really isn't dire, the employer still had to provide services. Rep. Baroody says no, it is up to the employer, the employees are at will. Conditions of employment can be changed.  Weyler threatens to clear room because people are mumbling.

Baroody says this has nothing to do with the budget. People clap, Weyler threatens to clear the room again.

Kurk raises the layoff threat - if we can't generate savings with this then we will need layoffs. Asserting as fact something that is his opinion.

 



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

As if massive layoffs (0.00 / 0)
AREN'T part of this budget?  Lots of currently filled positions are being eliminated.  Not to mention the ripple effect on those people employed by contract agencies whose funding has been cut severely.
[ Parent ]
Manchester pride (4.00 / 2)
I'm so proud to have Ben Baroody as my friend and my state representative! And I am so happy and honored to have stood with dozens of Manchester firefighters, with my fellow Alderman Betsi DeVries and with so many working men & women who never asked for this fight. Those bagpipes were amazing.

Great photos here courtesy of NEA-NH & GSP.

[ Parent ]
Thanks (0.00 / 0)
to all of you who took the time to do this.

Was Quandt against the cuts or did he think they didn't go far enough?

Sure, I voted for less government and less government spending...just NOT the parts that I benefit from!

[ Parent ]
Lee Quant has repeatedly stood up for the rights of workers in the past couple of weeks. (4.00 / 5)

And he has shown a lot of guts and integrity in doing so. I imagine Boss O'Brien will be getting some sort of petty revenge soon, but Rep. Quant deserves our thanks.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  
[ Parent ]
Lee is an old school (4.00 / 1)
Main St. Republican. Conservative, but never an ideologue.  
[ Parent ]
Lee Quant (4.00 / 3)

I was there and so happy to see Lee Quant being his old self.
If he's all that's left of Republican integrity I'm sure leadership will try to put him in his place.

Good luck to them. He's a tough guy!

[ Parent ]
Thank You (0.00 / 0)
for posting that.  I meant that as a serious question rather than snark.  And thanks to Lee for standing for real principles.

Sure, I voted for less government and less government spending...just NOT the parts that I benefit from!
[ Parent ]
Rep. Benn: this is strongarming (4.00 / 5)
Kurk says in real world contracts will be negotiated with unions, and this will take care of lack of balance in negotiating positions. Someone says loudly "poppycock," and Weylet again threatens to clear room.

Democrats are doing a good job pointing out how wrong this is.

Kurk says the employer will keep paying employees, A D rep points out that there is no requirement to keep the same salaries and benefits. Kurk says this puts the employers and employees on level playing field. That is crazy. Ober says school districts sign annual contracts, if a contract not renewed they still will have an annual non-union contract. Ober would have us believe that because once her school board did not lower salaries it will be like that for everyone forever. No.

Rep. Foose: no debate, no warning. This is a mess. How does this compare to Wisconsin, where there has been Chaos, this is far more onerous. This is not ready for prime time. Weyler says this is not anyone near Wisconsin.

Weyler now arguing with the crowd. People want a bigger room, want to be heard. Weylet says " get out, whoever said that", which draws laughs. Foose asks for respect and quiet.

Whew, it got a little raucous there for a while. Baroody says people will have a chance to be heard later, we will live to fight another day.

Roll call on amendment, which passes. 16 to nine. Many people leave. Foose moves to repeal the provision (prior was to make a correction) which passed Tuesday. It fails on roll call, 9 to 16.

And that is not the end, but one union fellow who is an R yells on way out, Republicans did NOT vote for this. I have never seen scales fall from someone's eyes before. It must be hard to know your party has betrayed you.    



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

I heard him (0.00 / 0)
got there late...it was hard to be in public

"Freedom ain't nothing if it ain't free" -Kris Kristofferson
[ Parent ]
Photos (4.00 / 4)
Photos from the hearing. Thanks, Zandra!

"Politics ain't beanbag" - Finley Peter Dunne
Welcome! (4.00 / 1)


little camera girl

Zandra Rice Hawkins (Granite State Progress)

[ Parent ]
Still going but I am done (0.00 / 0)
What an afternoon! What a tremendous turnout!
Call your reps!

I hear there was some yelling with Vaillancourt, but based on his mumbling about thugs before it even started I guess he had a bad attitude.

A lot of anger outside the LOB, the last minute nature of this, without a hearing, not moving the meeting to reps hall.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

Hope we woke the sleepers n/t (4.00 / 2)

[ Parent ]
And thanks for the live-blog (4.00 / 5)
for those of us who couldn't be there.
[ Parent ]
Seconded n/t (0.00 / 0)


...the Doo Dah Man once told me you've got to play your hand. Sometimes the cards ain't worth a dime if you don't lay 'em down.
[ Parent ]
Grassroots organizing and information (4.00 / 2)
is what enabled these folks to to lend their voice to this.  Well done to all involved!  My mother is there and I'm leaving in 10 minutes to get there.
[ Parent ]
more pix (4.00 / 2)
from NEA http://www.flickr.com/photos/n...
Loves Me. Loves Me Not. (4.00 / 2)
I realize you folks are in a bind, but I'd like to point out

YOU NEED GOV. LYNCH!!!!!!

headshake,snort

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

If he would occasionally show some sign he realizes (4.00 / 1)
HE NEEDS US! things would go smoother.

[ Parent ]
Have Some Chowder (4.00 / 1)
You'll feel better.

But with the NH Lege the way it is, the most you'll get away with is Manhattan Chowder.



"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

[ Parent ]
Retrospective (4.00 / 4)
I am really glad I went up to Concord for this finance committee session.  Remeber the old saying, the whole world is watching? This feels like the whole state is watching.

One of my colleagues who is an Independent voter with mixed emotions over public sector unions  asked me why I think this is important. I said to him, do you want an elected official to have the power to fire someone and replace that worker with the official's nephew?  The potential for patronage abuse and corruption is enormous with at will employment.  Put aside all the issues over the right to organize, collective  bargaining, workers rights and all the rest, it is just a bad idea with the potential for way too much abuse.

There are many arguments to be made, we just need to keep spreading the word and making those arguments.

One other comment - how amazing that so many people were able to pull together on basically 24 hour notice! I don't believe that Weyler, Kurk et al saw that coming. Weyler said a couple of times that this is nothing like the Wisconsin situation, which is absolutely baffling. If you have the ability to fire entire groups of state employees, because they are at will, and replace them with your friends and families, there will be no unions.

   



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

its the internets n/t (0.00 / 0)


"Freedom ain't nothing if it ain't free" -Kris Kristofferson
[ Parent ]
So...Bill O'Brien demanded a state trooper escort him (4.00 / 6)
when he went to the Legislative Office Building today!!  Remember the hysterical Republican antics over Congresswoman Shea-Porter (who actually received real death threats)when she had security at those Town Hall meetings that were jammed with extremists?

"If you are going to be in politics, you have to be a soldier in the battlefield."

                    Hubert H. Humphrey


wasn't Brave Sir Robin (0.00 / 0)
packing concealed weaponry? I thought that was mandatory for all Teanuts.  
[ Parent ]
If I was Bill O'Brien the LAST bodyguard I would want (4.00 / 4)
would be a state worker.

(Okay, I couldn't resist. I know troopers act more professionally than that.)

[ Parent ]
Given The Number (0.00 / 0)
of layoffs happening or proposed, he'd BETTER keep that bodyguard.

Sure, I voted for less government and less government spending...just NOT the parts that I benefit from!
[ Parent ]
Let Me Clarify That Last Remark (0.00 / 0)
I am not threatening Mr. O'Brien nor would I advocate violence.  This is just an observation that a lot of people are going to be really hurt by all this cutting of revenues and jobs.  The more angry people there are...

Sure, I voted for less government and less government spending...just NOT the parts that I benefit from!
[ Parent ]
(insert chicken noises here) n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
One other thing! (4.00 / 8)
Bill O'Brien is a disgrace.  Not allowing that meeting to be moved to Reps Hall was mean spirited, and contributed greatly to the couple of times that anger bubbled tothe surface. People had to sit on the floor, stand around the room, it got too warm, the audience was basically on top of the committee members, all of which makes for a volatile situation. And why did he say no? Just because he could?  

He is incompetent, absolutely incompetent. Shame on him for having so little respect for the several hundred people of New Hampshire who were at the LOB today, most of whom were unable to get into the committee room.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

But, But (0.00 / 0)
If you're opposing him, what with his mandate and all, you can't be a REAL citizen!

Sure, I voted for less government and less government spending...just NOT the parts that I benefit from!
[ Parent ]
Soo demeaning (0.00 / 0)
I saw the scene on MUR and requiring participants to sit on the floor was criminal. Diminished the rights of the public to be heard, diminished the crowd to unruly children. The 'optics' were awful. They made it look like the "children" were the ones showing disrespect, rather than the other way around.

I hope other viewers saw it differently.  I'm not sure MUR even mentioned that the hearing was called only 24 hours ago and that the leadership refused to change the venue once the hearing began.

Did other see the made-for-TV version?

"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." Albert Einstein

[ Parent ]
Just watched it online. (4.00 / 1)
If that's the first time people got a real look at Weyler, I'd say he better start fundraising - yesterday - for his re-elex.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
[ Parent ]
another Weyler video (4.00 / 1)
Another glimpse of Weyler in action:

I will hasten to add that he is not always as bad as he is in this clip.  And he brings a lifetime of experience in governmental and nonprofit finance to his chairmanship, being a recently retired airline pilot.  (This is in contrast to his predecessor, whose budgeting experience was limited to a decade or so as a Congressional legislative assistant and a few more decades working for various nonprofit groups.)

[ Parent ]
Non Sequitor (4.00 / 3)
How does being an airline pilot translate int a "lifetime of experience in governmental and norofit finance"?  Doesn't it translate into knowing - how to fly planes?



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
[ Parent ]
I read the comment on experience (0.00 / 0)
as being a comparison, using irony, of the relevance of previous life experience brought to the budgeting process by the current and former Finance Committee Chairs.

To which I might add the experience of the currant ranking Democrat on the Committee.  Rep. Foose has been the Chief Financial Officer at a number of  institutions of higher learning.  As such, he is no stranger to the development and administration of multi-faceted budgets.

[ Parent ]
Excellent! (4.00 / 5)
Rep. Horrigan has a history of defending Republican legislators; if he has smelled the coffee, and is now engaging in ironic criticism, that is an excellent development!!! I hear there is a Free French garrrison over in Brazzaville.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
[ Parent ]
irony (0.00 / 0)
Being an airline pilot is a noble calling and an important job, and pilots tend to be smarter than the average person--- but this job doesn't necessarily make you an expert on everything.  It is a human trait to be proud of whatever profession(s) you belong to, but people who hold certain jobs tend to have way too much certainty that they are experts on everything else in the universe.  Computer geeks like me tend to fall into that category.  Ditto for airline pilots.  (Lawyers actually ARE experts on everything because the legal system touches every other aspect of life.)

In all fairness to Weyler, his budget does balance and it does achieve the goal he set out to achieve: i.e., to cut down the social safety net and to protect the wealthy.

[ Parent ]
Is that enough notice? (0.00 / 0)
I was wondering if there is a legal requirement for some minimum amount of time so that the public has a chance to attend?
[ Parent ]
thanks all (4.00 / 1)
for participating this and all the other stuff you've been doing!

Disclaimer - Don't know if I technically still need one since no longer work in NH, but am paid staffer at AFL-CIO :)
Private sectors can strike, public workers cannot. (4.00 / 1)
That law (RSA 273-A:15) limiting state worker rights was passed in a 1975 deal that established collective bargaining.

Now the Tea Party Tribunal is canceling just the state's side of the bargain.

Another note: (4.00 / 2)
 I was there , but didn't get into the room. Many of us didn't even get out of the stairwell, it was so crowded. Weyler came up the stairs with a State Trooper escort before the hearing. About an hour and a half later, I was told the Speaker's office requested the state fire marshal empty the stairwells. By then there were very few people and the stairwells were very passable. The fire marshal came and kicked us out of the stairwell.
hopefully... (4.00 / 4)
you'll be duly seated in the chamber soon!

Feeling hopeful since 2004...
[ Parent ]
O'Brien keeps chanting the Mantra...you knew this is what you voted for. This is the Republican Agenda. (4.00 / 2)
AHHH did the Voters know what they were voting for?

Once again you see the problem with having one state wide elected official vrs 424 folks paid $100/year with no real campaigns that could or would drive home the texture of the real public policy choices in all those tiny districts. The voters did speak!!! They voted in a statewide referendum for the Governor who won with the  message "stay the course" (of course we are now finding out that by not letting voters know he could not stay the course on his own!!! has now meant that the Insane Lilliputians are running the instutions we used to value)The only state wide message did not suggest that we must shred the budget, shred the safety net, shaft communities by slashing state funds and and shifting state responsibilities, break the unions, dismantle RGGI and environmental protections, throw consumer protection out the window and eviscerate the Attorney General's office, flip the bird at the poor and tell them justice is only for the rich (see the Legal Aid Budget), etc. O'Brien got elected with 3259 votes in a district that includes 5 communities with a total population of 14,456 in a state of 1,316,470. So the O'Brien mandate equals 1/4 of 1 percent of the population assuming those voters actually knew what the Hell O'Brien wanted to do and he only won the speakers race by 11 votes. He must feel really secure.

Live From LOB | 56 comments

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