The 2010 Race: Gambling & Selling State Parks

nope (0.00 / 0)

People understand that this recession is an economic crisis unprecedented in most of our life times. If this is the Republican platform, it is a loser.

 

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

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 20:43:54 PM CDT

We'll see. (0.00 / 0)

That's the playing field that the Party has chosen for its state candidates, so we'll know in 17 months.

My view is different than yours. Voters can understand that the times are tough but they don't respond by cutting the incumbents slack. Ask Jimmy Carter.

And a Party that uses tough times to sell parks to powerful interests, and give casino licenses to other powerful interests, won't do very well. In my estimation.

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by: elwood @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 21:12:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think you are overstating the situation just a tad (4.00 / 1)

First, Democrats did not bring gambling to NH. It was defeated. House Democrats, including most of the leadership, were against it, which is why it was tossed out of the budget. My guess is that absent some pretty serious arm twisting and manipulation of the legislative process by one specific Senator, it wouldn't have been in the Senate's budget either.

Second, my reading of the parks situation by-and-large is they are being given to local communities, not sold to powerful interests. That being said, it is extraordinarily galling to see state assets given away for lack of money at the same time the Senate refused to reimpose the estate tax to protect a 100 or so very wealthy individuals a year. It certainly seems like Bill Loeb and Mel Thompson's ghosts are still controlling the political discussion  in the Senate.

Having said this, the GOP budget plan was much worse- simply cut 13% or so from the budget "somewhere". This is probably the most irresponsible position a party has taken on the budget in years, if we have the skill to explain it to the voters.

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by: Michael Marsh @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 06:22:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

What community do you "give" a Pisgah to? (0.00 / 0)

Winchester? Hinsdale? Chesterfield?

Or Cheshire County?

Or do you create a new governmental unit to take over this one function from New Hampshire?

You are giving the administration FAR too much credit for planning.

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by: elwood @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 17:02:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

once those parks are gone (4.00 / 3)

the state will never get them back. Look for corporations like Nestle to buy up anything that might have water underneath it.

Anything to avoid taxing our poor, frail millionaires.  

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by: susanthe @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 21:39:26 PM CDT

When I testified about why we should bring back the estate tax (0.00 / 0)

a gaggle of estate lawyers were there cautioning the legislators that the wealthy always have options.... if we impose taxes on them they can move to Florida or some other tax haven.

The House understood that the estate tax would reduce estates by about 3%, so instead of passing an estate of $40 million on to little Thurston Blaine Farsworth IV, they would only pass on $38.8 million. This was far too little a loss to cause the very wealthy to leave.

But for the Senate, the statement of a few estate lawyers was enough. After all, they make political contributions so they must know what they are talking about, and their wishes needed to be accomodated.

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by: Michael Marsh @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 06:31:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lighten up (4.00 / 1)

News flash: people can disagree with you without being EVIL or BRIBED or STUPID.

I disagree with some components of this budget, but I do not question the motives of the hard working, well intentioned people who put it together as the best they could in an economy that stinks.  


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

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 07:20:45 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I didn't say they were evil, or bribed, or stupid... (0.00 / 0)

...but I do believe they were wrong.

I understand that our legislators are all volunteers, for the most part hard working, and I also understand that it is a tough budget year. But choices get made in a budget, and legislators are responsible for these choices just as they are for their votes on issues like marriage equality.

In the House, the Democrats voted to balance the budget by taxing the wealthiest more, and to pay for needed funds for road work with a gas tax. In the Senate, they voted to give the wealthy a pass and instead rely on gambling. Instead of a gas tax they chose to increase vehicle registration fees, but only on cars and not on commercial trucks.  The House voted to postpone further cuts in the special tax on insurance companies(we do have a revenue problem, after all) but the Senate chose to allow the insurance tax cuts to increase.

These are choices. They represent a difference in philosophy about how the state should pay for the cost of government. You don't have to believe people are evil, or bribed, or stupid, to wonder why they make the decisions they do.

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by: Michael Marsh @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 08:03:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you (4.00 / 1)

For expressing your disagreement with some of the decisions made without the inferences that you had been making previoulsy.


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

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 09:49:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

premature (0.00 / 0)

i agree, if it happens it's a political disaster.  i'll vote republican myself.  but i don't think it will come to pass.

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by: kite @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 22:03:52 PM CDT

New Hampshire privatizing parks, (0.00 / 0)

just when everyone's concluded that privatization is a bad idea!

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by: hannah @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 01:07:29 AM CDT

Once upon a not too far away time, (0.00 / 0)

an AG named Souter opposed a Gov named Meldrim on gambling.

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 04:15:04 AM CDT

I'm dizzy from standing on my head. (0.00 / 0)

It is amazing that just when you think something is proven false or ludicrous, that is the time that the Republicanics choose to promote it. Now that global warming is pretty much established, they want to increase the amount of drilling or coal mining. Just when banks and stock brokers have brought the economic situation to the brink of collapse, that it the time to loosen regulation. Just when education is taking on more and more baby sitting burden as parents have to work two jobs, remove funding and encourage charter schools, and on and on. They just don't give up. I used to think that it was George being stupid but I think it really is the best defense is a good offense meme. Sad to say, it seems to work. We get to the place of withdrawing some from Iraq and that is used for an excuse to build up in Afghanistan. It is as though they are so proud of their blunders that they think everyone should pat them on the back. CEO's screw up their companies (except the dirt under the fingernails ones) and we have the government (us) pay them bonuses for doing it. Too much mercury in the air and water, have a bill called the Clean Air Act and LOWER the standards. State and federal government receipts the lowest in years - cut those receipts further and watch it trickle down your leg. Unbelievable recipe for disaster. Hate government? Elect people to run it that hate it more than you do. Wow.

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by: xteeth @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 06:07:13 AM CDT

Save Our Parks today in Peterborough.... (0.00 / 0)

Join us on the steps of the townhouse today at 3:00, protesting the possible sell-off of the Chopping Block 27!

Let's show 'em the Democrats aren't the party of Casinos Yes! Parks No!

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by: TaxiManSteve @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 10:58:14 AM CDT

Everyone Calm Down (4.00 / 1)

The proposal to sell the State parks was more than likely a scare tactic by the new commissioner. The idea of selling off some of our jewels (including beaches) draws attention to the lack of funding and the losing pay as you use mentality in this state that funds the parks. I highly doubt that anyone (including the Governor or the commissioner) seriously wants to sell off these treasures.

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by: mrollo @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 13:51:33 PM CDT

Could you explain how or (0.00 / 0)

whether this is part of the state budget? Or do the Commissioner and/or Governor already have the power to do this?

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 14:08:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's not in the budget... (4.00 / 2)

at least that I can see. It was raised in a draft report from Parks and Recreation, put out for public comment. Here is the report

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by: Michael Marsh @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 14:45:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]