A friendly reminder that Wednesday is Brown Hat Day

by: TaxiManSteveSigh

Sun Apr 18, 2010 at 19:06:58 PM EDT

Not since the days when the Boston & Maine Railroad ruled New Hampshire from Boston's North Station have we been faced with the wholesale selling of our political souls.  If we vote for "extended gaming," we will be inviting huge moneyed interests that will dictate the nature of state politics for years to come.

Just say no.  Bar the door.  Keep the wolf from entry.

Taking an idea from certain women Republican legislators who wear their fur coats whenever the legislator from Manchester offers up his anti-trapping bill on the floor, I propose we anti-gamers do something similar.

Wear a brown hat for this Wednesday's vote on slot machines.  

The brown hat is derived from the metaphor offered from a gentleman from Nelson concerning hats(See story below.)

Steven W Lindsey
state rep
Keene, NH

The Chips Fall as "Send It Back" Fills the LOB

by: Zandra Rice Hawkins

Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 18:48:04 PM EDT

NH gov takes gaming off table in budget debate (Norma Love, AP)

CONCORD, N.H.-Gov. John Lynch is taking video slots off the table in hopes of wooing support from New Hampshire lawmakers disappointed gaming wasn't in the budget package they will vote on Wednesday. Lynch told reporters Tuesday he will appoint a commission to study gaming, but he won't support expanding gambling in New Hampshire this year.

The vote tomorrow is expected to be very close. Everyone knows Governor Lynch has been doing the rain dance the last few days to get the needed votes to pass the bill. On the other side of the issue is the State Employees Association/SEIU Local 1984, which held a press conference today calling for the budget to be sent back to the conference of committee.

SEA President Gary Smith:

"We are gathered here today to ask our State Legislators to reconsider the proposed State Budget.  This budget doesn't work.  It doesn't solve the real problem of providing adequate funding for public services.  It fails because it adds taxes and fees onto residents who can least afford them.  It fails because it adds to the burden of property taxpayers by downloading state obligations.  It fails because it hurts people who need help during this tough time."

Will 2009 be about Gambling in NH?

by: elwood

Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 17:55:42 PM EST

This has been a simmering back-burner issue for decades, and it has not been a partisan issue. Strong proponents and strong opponents of expanded gaming - for example, video poker at the race tracks, or a casino up north - come from both parties. Democratic Senator Lou d'Allesandro has been a long-time proponent of expanded gaming. Governor Lynch has opposed expanded gambling in the past.

We may be heading into a perfect storm on the issue this biennium:

• The state budget is already in deficit with the shortfall estimated in the hundreds of millions
• The school funding plan will firm up and demand either a statewide property tax or some other funding source
• Deval Patrick's earlier casino plan in Massachusetts seems to be going nowhere, leaving a larger market for a New Hampshire effort
• The Governor has pledged to veto a states sales or income tax - but not a gambling bill.

There has been a bi-partisan coalition against expanded gambling in New Hampshire for generations. Is it about to lose?