Live From Concord

Candidates chatting (0.00 / 0)

Always amazed at how candidates can always be so polite and friendly.

And now we start, this is supposed to be on business and the economy as the BIA is sponsoring. Since this is NHPR, they don't want candidates attacking each other : (



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:01:47 AM CDT

Deficit question (0.00 / 0)

Gov says reduce budget and make dept. Changes. look at the record, we have cut spending and generated a surplus. Lowest taxes per capital. Centralized purchasing. Spend every dollar carefully unlike Stephen who will cut 10% across board which is reckless.

Stephen says we face an $800,000,000 deficit, making up numbers again. Fahey asked for specifics, Stephen says consolidate (I.e. Lay off more state employees). Fahey asks for more specifics and how can you cut taxes and balance budget? Aha  - now he won't cut taxes right away. Gov. Lynch says step hens  numbers will result in higher property taxes and higher tuition.  



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:11:14 AM CDT

10% from UNH's budget (0.00 / 0)

Johnny Stephen says he wants to cut UNH's budget by 10%... but the state only pays about 15% of the university system's funding.  If he means that he wants to cut the overall UNH budget by that much, there is no way to do that without almost entirely eliminating the direct state funding.  But if he does that, he would sacrifice a lot of federal and other moneys which come in the form of matching grants.

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:15:39 AM CDT

I ran into him Saturday at the Whit... (0.00 / 0)

John Stephen was working the crowd (not all that big a crowd, sadly) at the UNH hockey game at "The Whit" on Saturday.  I asked him about the UNH cuts.  He told me UNH was underfunded (which it absolutely is) and he didn't give any specific percentages, although he did say the University System office at the Lee Circle could be cut back. He implied that he didn't think that the instructional budget should be cut back.

It was not a bad answer, actually--- but it contradicted what I thought I heard him say on the radio at the debate.

Stephen,  like Lynch, is a UNH alumnus himself.

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Sun Oct 03, 2010 at 13:21:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Four years? (0.00 / 0)

Stephen once again talks about last four years. He is using same lines he used in last debate, join anti health care bill, blah blah.

Boy, he doesn't answer questions. He was asked what cuts he would make and he doesn't say. Just wants to reject health care reform.

Lynch points out Stephen wants to cut Medicaid in half, which means throwing people off rolls. Reinvent health care delivery.  



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:17:46 AM CDT

FRM question (0.00 / 0)

Who is to blame?

Gov. - we need more collaboration among departments. Buck was passed from department to department, address departmental issues. The buck stopped at my desk.

Stephen - too much fingerpointing, should have had an independent investigator.  



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:21:54 AM CDT

On This One (4.00 / 1)

There should be an independent investigator, not the legislators, not the exec council.

It's an important, but really side, issue.

For Stephen to bring up that sex offenders thing: he makes the word "Sleazy" look good in comparison.

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 09:18:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

it is interesting... (4.00 / 1)

It is interesting how we can supposedly slash healthcare funding with no effect on the quality of patient care.  

But if we raise any existing tax by even a small amount, all hell is going to break loose... and let's not even get into the apocalyptic catastrophe which would supposedly result from creating a broadbased sales or income tax.

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:22:12 AM CDT

At the end of the day!!! (0.00 / 0)

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:23:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Was Kelly responsible? (0.00 / 0)

Stephen sidesteps. Says commissioners are too much in charge.

Knoy - has there been a failure of leadership.

Lynch points out that most of Stephens leadership team left HHS. We have built a team over six years.



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:25:35 AM CDT

Live from Concord (0.00 / 0)

We had 10 times the numbers...Team Lynch, Hodes, Kuster et al.
Great turnout!!!!!

Nice to see you Kathy. Blog On!

7 Days
Have you knocked on doors today? Have you made calls ? Have you talked to your neighbors ?  

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by: JonnyBBad @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:27:21 AM CDT

Stephens Blames paper mill closing.... (0.00 / 0)

On the LLC tax.

"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:31:01 AM CDT

not an LLC.... (0.00 / 0)

Fraser was a corporation, not an LLC.  

It also (probably) had no positive cash flow and hence would have been unable to pay taxable interest & dividends anyway.

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:37:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lightning round (4.00 / 1)

Not sure why this is "lightning", the answers are long!

Minimum wage - John Stephen doesn't know states can set the minimum wage says only federal govt.? Wow.



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:38:20 AM CDT

minimum wage (4.00 / 1)

Big blunder by Johnny S: states can and do set minimum wage laws. It's not a strictly federal issue.

Johnny L says the rate doesn't need to be raised, which is not a blunder, even though I disagree with him.

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:40:04 AM CDT

That John Stephen Didn't Know About Minimum Wage... (4.00 / 4)

...matters being a state issue as well as national is stunning.  To be around Concord for years and not knowing that every term we discuss the minimum wage indicates to me that the problems of working men and women is just off your radar screen -- and for a would-be Governor that's frightening.  

John Lynch "got it" right away.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:43:28 AM CDT

We agree! :) n/t (4.00 / 3)

"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:49:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Don't Get Too Excited, Kathy... (4.00 / 1)

...we live in New Hampshire.  If you don't like the weather, wait a while -- it will change!  :)

And fact is, of course -- we agree on 90% of everything.  That you're wrong 5% of the balance, and I'm wrong the other 5% of the balance, just makes us interesting and keeps our heart beats revving.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:55:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Education (0.00 / 0)

Stephen big supporter of home schooling. Blech.

Gov. says send more aid to schools. All kids should have same opportunity. Stephen says there are too many federal mandates but can't answer which mandate is a problem.



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:48:14 AM CDT

Stephen is off track (0.00 / 0)

He couldn't defend his 10% across the board cuts. Tried to change the subject to criminal justice law. Knoy trying to take control again.

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:53:24 AM CDT

Whoa! (4.00 / 2)

Stephen backs off his 10% cut pledge, says he that is just what he will ask commissioners to look st.

Then attacks Gov. on sb 500 and Laura chastises Stephen for getting off topic.




"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:54:00 AM CDT

Here comes the pen (4.00 / 2)

And that is it!



"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 @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 08:57:43 AM CDT

never has a man (4.00 / 2)

been so proud of having a small pen.  

member of the professional left  

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by: susanthe @ Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 15:18:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

its not the size of the pen... (0.00 / 0)

...but what kind of words he writes that bothers me.

I have serious ethical concerns with John Stephen.
I am sick of his unwarranted attacks on Governor Lynch, with made up numbers, and bullshit arguments.

When he was head of HHS all he cared about was running for Governor. He unethically stretched out and slowed own the waiting list and lengthened the wait time for treatment for the developmentally disabled in our state, without a care.
To show that he was a tough manager, he hurt weak and sick people, when hey needed help the most. He is a crudball. I have serious ethical concerns with John Stephen, his little pen be damned.

7 Days
Have you knocked on doors today? Have you made calls ? Have you talked to your neighbors ?  

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sat Oct 02, 2010 at 15:50:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Heard a bit of this in the car (4.00 / 2)

I think the more John Stephen talks the better we will do. J Lynch should do every side by side debate/discussion he can do with this guy/

Hope > Fear




Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.

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by: Mike Hoefer @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 11:24:22 AM CDT

If only this could be true - (4.00 / 2)

reminds me of the Adlai Stevenson story of giving a speech at Princeton.  When he finished, a young man told him; "Great job, Senator. You have the vote of every thinking person in America."  To which Stevenson replied, "That's not enough son, we need a majority."

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 14:39:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

also watching the 8pm telecast... (0.00 / 0)

I am watching the 8pm telecast... the first such rebroadcast I have seen, even though I listened to all the live radio feeds.

The radio feeds had very poor sound: it sounded like it was being fed from a remote location over a telephone line.  The taped TV shows sound even WORSE!  And the picture is bad too: it looks like they are using netbook webcams instead of real TV cameras to capture the video.  Or, maybe they wired video sensors to the back of some old 1970s-vintage 110 point and shoot cameras.  (I am exaggerating about the video but not by much.) What's up with the crappy audio & video?

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 19:06:33 PM CDT

Johhny B's absence (4.00 / 1)

There are three Johns running for governor.  The third is Libertarian John Babiarz.  Laura Knoy took a minute to explain why Johnny B (not to be confused with JonnyB) was absent: Babiarz was excluded because he did not meet the criteria for being included.  We sure can't argue with that explanation.

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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 19:09:54 PM CDT

the criterions, of course n/t (0.00 / 0)

7 Days
Have you knocked on doors today? Have you made calls ? Have you talked to your neighbors ?  

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by: JonnyBBad @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 21:19:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Stepehen & Lynch agree on one thing (0.00 / 0)

John Stephen said he would veto a budget with a 24% increase.  Lynch would have not have signed such a budget either. (Indeed he made the legislative conference committee reduce a budget which was essentially level funded.)

Actually, Stephen was also lying about the 24% increase in the budget.  He also lied about our tax structure: he said business taxes are the highest in the country (they are too high but a few other states are higher) and he claimed that we impose a consumption tax on veterans' prosthetics.  We have no tax on prosthetic limbs and in any case sales of prosthetics by the VA to veterans wouldn't be taxable anyway.


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Thanks for all the fish

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 19:19:19 PM CDT