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John Lynch: We Need All He Has To Offer

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 22:02:04 PM EST


Inaugural Day at the State House was interesting for me in several special ways.  First, it's always a nice fresh start to a Legislative Session.  It's sort of the kickoff event of state politics and government.

Second, it's great to see so many new people getting involved in our government, and you see them with bright eyes enjoying everything new, looking at what they now can contribute.  I noticed from time to time what a couple of under-20 new Legislators were applauding for, or not.  One, a Democrat who happened to be sitting some distance to my left, seemed to applaud at different lines with a higher or lower level of enthusiasm than another to my right a few seats away, a Republican.  Interesting.  Already taking sides.  Already being critical and independent thinkers in their own rights. Good for them.  

It was also interesting for me because my first Inaugural was 40 years ago just about to the day, in early January of 1969.  I was a much younger and somewhat lighter guy elected to my first term -- the youngest House member that year.  Now I'm about the "average age."  But on this day, one still feels young.  Even Walter Peterson, who was sworn in as Governor on that day long ago, looked young and vibrant today.  

To get to some substance, I thought John Lynch did well in his speech, but I did expect a bit more.  He gave words of optimism, and painted the picture of the difficulties we're going to face in the months to come.  That's important for a leader to do.

I was a bit concerned about his warnings that state government would have to say "no" to a lot of important things, and that we wouldn't be doing some of those things that as a government we should do.  

Rep. Jim Splaine :: John Lynch: We Need All He Has To Offer
From my view, we must do those things government has to do.  Many of our citizens are hurting badly.  Our towns and cities and counties cannot have more burdens put on them by the state abrogating its responsibilities on nursing homes or aid to communities.  We're already seeing communities and counties cutting back on their welfare programs, Wheels on Meals and programs for troubled youth.  They only have property taxes or user fees to rely on, and those sources are drying up as people lose jobs and lose homes.  We can't let our residents be cold or go hungry, but they are.  And there will be more.

The State of New Hampshire cannot put up a "Going Out Of Business" sign.  President-Elect Barack Obama has the courage to say that now is the time to INVEST in our people, put ourselves to work, find ways to create real jobs, and spend what needs to be spent on our nation to make it economically and structurally strong again.

I was heartened to hear John Lynch talk about weatherization programs and conservation of energy for homes and state buildings.  That's where we can use some of our state's bonding capacity to put people to work leading up to next winter, when indeed our economy is likely to remain downturned.  Spring is coming in just a few weeks and hopefully we'll survive through this winter.  IF we get serious now about conservation and weatherization programs statewide and spend heavily in that area during the next few months -- and I'm talking tens of millions of dollars -- come October of 2009 we begin getting some good payback.  The cold will come again after a summer of warmth, and we need to be better prepared.  Putting people to work now doing that for then is a wise investment in ourselves.

I was sad to hear from the Governor no new efforts to fund education.  Rhetoric is good, and it was nice to hear him say that all our young people should have quality schools and should graduate.  We were all happy to applaud to that.

But how do we get "there" from "here?"  We can't just lay all school funding at the feet of cities and towns again.  We have to do something.  Saying to millionaires that they don't have to worry about paying a fairer share might be another loud applause line for some, but it doesn't help solve our financial commitments.  I think he should hold a series of Statewide Education Summits, bringing together people of all levels from all backgrounds together to examine how to better provide educational excellence to meet the needs of the 21st Century and beyond -- and how to pay for it fairly. Investing in our kids is our very best investment for our future -- and theirs.

So, I expected a bit more of John Lynch.  He's an intelligent problem-solver.  He has great business expertise.  He has a strong compassionate streak.

He IS our Governor.  Solving our problems in an agressive and positive way is his job.  It's our job too -- all of us in an out of government -- but we need leadership and direction.  

About John Lynch:  let's use his talents more.  We need him.  We need all he has to offer.  And we'll all try to help him.  

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Best Idea-"GreenJobs" Program Announced (0.00 / 0)
The governor announced a Green Jobs initiative to be funded through monies raised by selling R.G.G.I. credits. This is a good way for the State to both cut pollution and create jobs. We have already realized millions through the auctioning of the credits.


http://des.nh.gov/media/pr/doc...
News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302-0095
For information online, visit

www.des.nh.gov

James P. Martin, Public Information Officer
603 271 3710
jmartin@des.state.nh.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2008
Kathleen Brockett, 603 2716284
Joe Fontaine, 603 2716794

New Hampshire CO2 Allowance Auction Goes Smoothly
Auction Nets Over $4 million for NH Energy Efficiency Programs
Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services announced today the results of the first auction New Hampshire has participated in of carbon dioxide (CO2)
emission allowances as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). All of the
31,505,898 allowances offered for sale on December 17, 2008, were sold at a clearing price of
$3.38 per allowance. New Hampshire sold approximately 1.2 million allowances for over $4
million.


more at link
http://des.nh.gov

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

I worry about school aid for poorer communities. (4.00 / 1)
Last year, the legislature passed SB539, defining and funding the cost of an adequate education. Since the total cost of adequacy was roughly what the state was already paying, and richer towns got a lot more money under the adequacy formula, the poorer towns lost roughly $50 million in state aid per year. Realizing this was not reasonable, the legislature added $50 million in targeted aid in the bill for these poorer communties so they wouldn't lose money, but this money is not required under adequacy.

Given our budget problems, and given the fact the Governor proposed no new revenue sources, I am very concerned that the legislature will have to eliminate this $50 million in its efforts to balance the budget. If, or rather when, it does so, school districts like Claremount, Franklin, Berlin, Gorham are going to be in deep trouble.

Steve Norton of the NH Center for Public Policy has already pointed out that this represents the biggest "savings" (if such a word is appropriate when it comes to reducing education opportunity) available to balance the budget.


Green jobs are great, (4.00 / 1)
but this policy costs money. Last year, the state of Washington put a green jobs initiative in as part of their cap and trade bill.

But this initiative costs money--at least in the high millions, I would think.

I can't find the exact numbers, but in the Washington law, state grants are being given for research and development at the state level for job training and other things.

Wonks can go here and peruse the policy. Maybe some of the funding can come from selling carbon credits, but our state has a much, much lower budget than Washington's. And there are so many basic needs that are chronically underfunded.



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