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Shira Schoenberg's Capital Beat has some interesting items. In 2005 newly appointed House Chief of Staff Bob Mead was vice president of a company started by Speaker O'Brien: Outlex Legal Services, LLC, dedicated to outsourcing legal services to India. According to O'Brien, it never took off and the company was dissolved in 2008.
Closer to home, the Committee on Constitutional Review and Statutory Recodification, chaired by Rep Dan Itse (R-Fremont) has been formed to examine states' rights issues in the light of federal legislation.
Itse said the committee will look at states' rights issues to determine whether federal laws that affect New Hampshire are constitutional - such as health care reform or implementation of the interstate commerce clause. It will also look at state legislation. For example, Itse said he believes government can't establish monopolies used to enrich one group of people - like government control of casino gambling. Itse said the committee could consider whether New Hampshire needs a state defense force other than the National Guard; whether the state levies unconstitutional taxes; and whether licensing requirements or continuing education requirements are constitutional. "Is it constitutionally correct to have to ask the government to practice your profession?" Itse asked.
My question is what qualifies Rep. Itse as a constitutional scholar? The information I have says he is an engineer, with a degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I wouldn't want a lawyer designing a power plant.
A bit of good news: Senate President Peter Bragdon named Senator Matthew Houde (D-Plainfield) as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He voted for marriage equality when the bill first came to the committee in 2009.
Kids in Keene are off to school today. My youngest is starts to Kindergarten, joining his sisters who are entering 3rd and 5th grade at Symonds School.
I've been thinking a lot about our Democratic Majority and why it matters. With back-to-school on my mind, let's try to run down some of the things we have accomplished over the past 4 years with our Democratic Majority:
House Bill 1523 will help protect kids from bullying on social networks and the like.
SB180 The final piece of a three-year legislative effort to define, determine the cost and ensure accountability for delivering an adequate education
SB 18 which ensures that all students either graduate from high school or otherwise continue their education until they are 18. This legislation has resulted in a 30% decline in the drop out rate in just one year!
Bolstered by Senate Concurrent Resolution 4, sponsored by Democrat Molly Kelly, Paul Hodes co-sponsored H.R 526 to fully fund the federal portion of Special Education costs a major driver of the cost of education. (Unfortunately it looks like this has died in committee, perhaps Congresswoman Kuster or Swett will take up this cause for us in DC.)
Remember when we were the only state in the nation to not have public kindergarten available for all? How embarrassing was that! Kindergarten is now available to every 5 year old in the state!
These are the things I could remember and find online.
What other improvements to Education are our kids enjoying because of our Democratic Majority?
(Senate President Larsen sent a fundraising email out today looking for help in supporting the Democratic Majority in the Senate Chamber. You can donate via their Act Blue Page.)
I have consolidated the voter ward data from my initial New Hampshire Partisan Voting Index study to take a look at the partisan makeup of New Hampshire's 24 state Senate districts. (For an introduction to the Cook PVI and my methodology, refer to the original diary.)
(Ha! Kathy got there first. I agree emphatically. This is exactly the kind of release - and attitude - I was hoping to see from Jeff Goley. - promoted by Dean Barker)
Dean already diaried about the NH state senate Republicans roadblocking vital legislation to help NH's least fortunate get assistance with their electric bills. Demcoratic senate candidate Jeff Goley has issued a statement, and it explains why the Republicans are wrong to do this, and why, if he is elected, that kind of obstructionism won't continue. This roadblock isn't partisan; it is heartless.
Concord - Yesterday, Republicans in the New Hampshire State Senate voted to block efforts by Democrats to expedite electric assistance (SB-300) to struggling New Hampshire families. While a bi-partisan vote had been expected, in a surprising turn of events, only the Democratic majority voted to fast-track the process. Every Republican voted no.
The field for the upcoming special election of State Senate District #16 has been set. The district includes Wards #1, #2 and #12 in Manchester (which is Hillsborough County), as well as the Towns of Bow, Dunbarton & Hooksett in Merrimack County and the Town of Candia in Rockingham County.
Since more than one Republican filed, we have a primary on January 12th, 2010, followed by the main event on February 16th. The two Republicans are Terry Pfaff and State Rep. David Boutin. The one Democrat is State Rep. Jeff Goley, the chair of the Labor Committee. Bob Backus is not running.
Foster's ran an un-bylined story (apparently a press release from the Republican Party) to the effect that John H. Sununu is coming to Dover to recruit Republican candidates, this coming Monday evening (September 28). The very glamorous location will be a closed furniture store, Hoyt's on 2nd Street. This may be because Dover is now bereft of restaurants and coffee shops, thanks to the fact that the rooms and meals tax went up to 9%. (Oops: it turns out that Dover has just as many watering holes as it did before the tax went a little. In fact, a few new places have opened up.)
Just read this report by Tom Fahey at the UL. It seems the House side of the committee of conference voted down expanded gambling. The votes aren't there, for one thing, and Finance Committee Chair Marjorie Smith (D-Durham) does not believe it is a long term solution.
"I have no problems with gambling. What I do have a problem with is that I do not believe that gambling is a reliable funding source," Smith said, adding that her preference is an income tax.
Representative Dan Eaton (D-Stoddard) confirmed the votes in the House are not there.
I cannot count to 201," he said, praising D'Allesandro's dedication.
For their part, the Senate refused to allow the estate tax and the capital gains tax to move forward.
According to Fahey, the state will tap into the "Rainy Day Fund" and then still have to close a $30 million hole in the present budget.
Plans waiting in the wings when talks resume today would close a key business tax loophole, set a new tax on mortgage refinancing, boost the Rooms and Meals tax rate and possibly create a tax on entertainment.
If you feel strongly about the refinancing tax, call the Governor and your State Senator and Reps and register your opinion. Once it's put in, it will be very difficult to change down the road.
The subject of the week is the state budget, which has to be approved by the end of the month. The House and Senate Conference Committee is set to meet this week to come up with a final plan. The shortfall is $150 million and there are a few ideas on the table to bridge that gap.
Republicans are yelling cut! cut! cut! To Lynch's credit, this quote from the article about the refinancing tax, shows his thinking on that:
Lynch said he does not support an across-the-board spending cut as a solution. He called that option "simplistic and poor financial management." He said he will consider specific cuts but said he and lawmakers have already made deep cuts, which will result in about 200 layoffs.
Reducing state services, particularly to the needy, would simply redirect them to communities and their welfare offices, Lynch said.
MANCHESTER - Ted Gatsas, the State Senator and Manchester Alderman, will run for Manchester Mayor, NHPoliticalReport.com has learned. He is expected to formally announce Monday.
Of course the civic, dignified thing for Senator Gatsas to do would be not to be a Senator Gatsas. But this is Senator Gatsas we're talking about. He's got a permission slip from the lawyers:
State Sen. Ted Gatsas would like to fill out the rest of his term in the Legislature, even if he's elected mayor in November, a local GOP official told us.
No problemo. Lawyers for both the city and the state Senate say they know of no reason a person couldn't occupy both seats at the same time.
I held off doing this previously, because I was told through backchannels that my senators were - well, how to put it? - basically too dainty to have their policy positions put online.
But that's all over now. Deb Reyonolds just put this bill in dire jeopardy. The vote is on Wednesday, and I'm getting flooded with email asking, "who specifically should we be contacting?"
So, here it is, based on media mentions and constituent contact and the HB436 testimony. We hope to have something a little more graphically pleasing for you soon:
As has been mentioned in previous BH postings, the NH Senate will be holding a public hearing on HB436 (marriage equality) on Wednesday April 15, at 9 A.M. in Representatives Hall in the State House.
I would like to thank many contributors of BH for supporting and leading the charge, in particular former State Chair Kathy Sullivan for her many supportive postings. I would also like to congratulate State Senate candidate Bud Martin for his comments in Foster's in favor of this bill. http://www.fosters.com/apps/pb...
Kevin Landrigan in today's Nashua Telegraph writes that "Same-sex marriage remains a toss-up, with all 10 Senate Republicans against it, half a dozen Senate Democrats for it and the other six or seven Democrats withholding even private judgment." http://www.nashuatelegraph.com...
NHDP Chair Raymond Buckley could tip the scales toward House Bill 436 by coming out strongly in favor of the bill now -- now is the time to fight for marriage equality. It's important for so many people, and we're almost there. As Party Chair Raymond has a strong voice that people will listen to. There are many things Raymond can do to support the bill: he could call John Lynch and tell him this is the thing to do now, talk with the State Senators -- we may have 15 Democrats in the Senate soon, and he can testify in favor of the bill at the Senate hearings. Kathy Sullivan made a difference in the House, and Raymond could make a difference in the Senate.
With the legislative passage of marriage equality right next door in Vermont, right on the heels of Iowa's court decision, the national momentum and media attention on this issue just increased dramatically.
Long story short: I'm not sure the senate will be able to blue-ribbon-impanel or otherwise duck HB436 anymore without attracting a lot of negative attention. And I continue to maintain that the governor, whose opposition to marriage equality has not been nearly as outspoken as, for example, his promised veto against a death penalty repeal, lacks the political space to veto it if it reaches his desk.
That makes the senate vote on this all the more critical, and it's maybe not a bad thing to start up a running count of where it's at.
I'll start off: per the constituent email I sent to my own senator and copied to the rest of the senate (the first installment of the Face of Marriage Equality), I can now say that Matt Houde supports the bill.
And, btw, how about a hearty round of applause for a freshman Senate Dem taking a firm stand? Thank you, Senator Houde; how proud I am to be represented by you!
Many hands make light work, so let's start figuring out where we are on this. Let us know in the comments if you have direct, public word find media mentions on HB436 from your senator. Rumors and "I know the guy and he's against it" don't count, and are, imo, unfair, especially as feelings on this might very well be fluid. Only those who have gone on the record through constituent contact or mentions in the media, please.
I will collect the positions and put up an updated chart here media mentions and point them out here so we can better target our (polite!) feedback to our public servants.
UPDATE: Based on a good conversation I had with a friend, I'm changing this slightly to looking out for media mentions only. The idea here is not to pressure - it's purely fact finding to see if we actually have a chance on this. Also, a reader tells me Senator Houde's position was revealed earlier in the Valley News on 3/22.
Just a quick congratulations to freshman state senator Amanda Merrill. She succeeds Iris Estabrook in District 21 (Dover/Durham area). Iris will be sorely missed, but Amanda becomes a new member of a trio of excellent women who represent the seacoast. Together with Maggie Hassan and Martha Clark, we couldn't get much better.
Amanda served 5 terms in the House some years ago, and did some great work, so hopefully she can hit the ground running in the senate.
Merrimack is part of State Senate District 9, which consists of Merrimack, Bedford, New Boston, Lyndeborough, Mont Vernon, Lyndeborough and Greenfield.
I can understand Bedford, but the only thing Merrimack has in common with any of the other towns is that we're in the same county and we share a State Senator. I don't think i've actually been to Greenfield before, but I came close the other day when going to Representative Mike Kaelin's house in Lyndeborough.
Mike lives way out in the middle of nowhere. If you don't believe me, ask him for an invitation to his house sometime, but before you go, make sure you have really good shock absorbers.
I had heard alot about him, that he was an accomplished polka accordionist, that he lived in a solar powered house, that he had a black belt in Aikido, but one fact that came up in conversation really floored me.
His site for his house was originally too mountainous to build anything, so he had to clear several tons of rock.
Ignoring all the great legislation he's sponsored as a state rep, whether it's trying to make the state legislature paperless, trying to get incentive payments to people who produce renewable energy, or fighting predatory lenders, just think about what he had to do to build his house for a second.
He literally moved a mountain.
Isn't that someone who we deserve in the State Senate?
You can do your part by contributing to him through Act Blue.
(Wonderful. As always, thanks Jim. - promoted by Dean Barker)
As an update on the discussion of allowing 17 year olds to vote in future Presidential Primaries if they are to be 18 by the date of the General Election -- it's already underway.
I didn't notice in my original bill searches that a decent bill is already drafted, Senate Bill 436, introduced by Senator Joe Foster and several others, which would apply not only to Presidential Primaries, but to ALL primaries.
I had an amendment drafted this past week to add to another bill, but since this one is being discussed in the Senate shortly, and I assume it will be viewed favorably, that won't be necessary.
So the chances are good that soon there will be even more ways for young people being able to get involved in government. Another result of a Democrat Senate and House in 2008!
Here is a cut-and-paste of Senate Bill 436. Those supporting it can contact their Senate and House members. It has a public hearing on January 30th. It could take effect for the September Primary this year.
With the recent endorsement by State Senator Lou D'Allesandro, eight Democratic members of the NH State Senate - a majority of our senate Democrats - have now endorsed Hillary Clinton for president! In endorsing Senator Clinton, Lou said that it is time to move beyond negative politcs, and that she is the only candidate with a strong, positive message.
As a lot of you know, I think different endorsements have different meanings. There are the big ones that make a lot of news, and then there are the ones that are important because the person will actually work for the candidate. I don't think endorsements in and of themselves bring votes - what brings votes is the work done by the people doing the endorsing.
The endorsement by eight of our 14 state senators is great news for the campaign because none of our state senators are ever content to be just names on a press release - they really work and contribute to campaigns.
Up for vote this week is yet another State Senate bill that, like Senate Bill 91, removes "up front" disclosure of contributions. This one affects disclosure of donations by lobbyists to political campaigns, candidates, and political parties. Lobbyists are often on the invitation lists of virtually all fundraising "testimonials" and other events. As campaign finance reports for higher offices will show, lobbyists are often the first to be shaken down for political donations, often during the Legislative Session as votes are being taken on the bills they are lobbying about.
Senate Bill 106 will be coming up in the House this week, and State Representative Paul McEachern and I plan to speak against it.
Among other things, SB 106 (which more properly could be called "The Lobbyist Relief Act Of 2007") will:
1. Remove the current monthly requirements for lobbyist reports of their activities, changing the requirement to quarterly reports. Currently lobbyists make monthly reports to the Office of Secretary of State of their receipts and expenditures and who has retained their services.
2. Allow lobbyists to give politicians "honorariums," without the current required disclosure by them on their lobbyist filings to the Office of Secretary of State.
3. Remove the current requirement that lobbyists have to disclose their lobbying activities with state agencies -- where much of their work on behalf of their clients is actually done.
4. Allow lobbyists to make donations to political campaigns, candidates, and political parties without disclosing it on their lobbying disclosure forms, as long as they are not making the donation in their "professional capacity." They would be able to claim they are making those donations in their personal capacity rather than on behalf of their business or clients. There is no clear definition of how either word "professional" or "personal" is supposed to be interpreted. (Currently, lobbyists may donate but all those donations, whether "personal" or "professional," must be disclosed on their forms filed monthly with the Office of Secretary of State.)
The State Senate approved House Bill 437, creating Civil Unions for New Hampshire, this past Thursday by a vote of 14-10. That follows the 243-129 bipartisan vote two weeks ago in the House.
For those who helped, thank you. We are taking an important step toward equality in New Hampshire, and that is a good thing to do. It's been hard work for the past several months - - in fact, for the past several years. The work contiues...
The bill next goes to Governor John Lynch for his approval. He may get it by next Monday or Tuesday, although that timeline may be delayed slightly as final "enrollment" of the bill is completed.
This isn't law yet -- and I urge people who support House Bill 437 to write an E-Mail, make a telephone call, or write a hard-copy letter (that's the paper version of an E-Mail) to Governor John Lynch thanking him for his indication that he will sign the bill, and mentioning to him why it is important that he do so. We need to do that within the next five days or so.
If you can, make your letter personal - - tell him YOUR story, or the story of your friends or neighbors or family. Let him be able to learn more about why Civil Unions will benefit people, so that he can tell the people of the state he heard from us.
You can mail them to Governor John Lynch, The State House, 25 Capitol Street, Concord, NH 03301. Or feel free to call and leave your message at 603-271-2121. His FAX is 603-271-7680. His office receives E-Mails through the State of New Hampshire WEBSITE, nh.gov, clicking on "Governor John Lynch," then "Contact Governor Lynch."
Please pass this message onto those who you know are supportive of Civil Unions and are for equality for all of our New Hampshire residents. I copy the legislation below for your information as you prepare your letter to Governor Lynch.
ERROR of my previous Blog post: The State Senate will not hold a vote on the Civil Unions bill next week. As way of explanation, when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on the Civil Unions bill Thursday morning, I was of the understanding that the bill would be reported for next week to the Senate floor.
However, the decision for setting calendar action is based on a variety of factors based on workload and Senators' availability, and whatever. The same happens in the House. And since the calendar for next week's Senate meeting wasn't prepared until later in the day Thursday and Friday morning, well - - Civil Unions isn't scheduled. If I contributed to any confusion, I'm sorry. Nevertheless, here's my updated message! - -
Civil Unions: Next Stop - State Senate Floor
The State Senate Judiciary Committee voted this past Thursday morning to approve House Bill 437, which passed the House last week by a bipartisan vote of 243 to 129. The Committee vote was 3-2, and followed a 5 1/2 hour public hearing this past Tuesday in Representatives' Hall. The bill will be reported to the Senate floor soon.
Please, if you can attend that Senate meeting, whenever scheduled, do so. It would be very supportive for us to be in the gallery. Also, please contact the State Senators -- sending E-Mails or letters to each of them is important at this point, at least to those in your part of the state. They will be hearing from many others, for and against.
It is especially very useful if you could send a letter to Governor John Lynch. You can bring it to his office if you're at the State House during the next few days, or mail it to Governor John Lynch, The State House, 25 Capitol Street, Concord, NH 03301. Or feel free to call and leave your message at 603-271-2121. His FAX is 603-271-7680. His office receives E-Mails through the State of New Hampshire WEBSITE, nh.gov, clicking on "Governor John Lynch," then "Contact Governor Lynch."
Please pass this message onto those who you know are supportive of Civil Unions and equality for all of our New Hampshire residents.
The State Senate Judiciary Committee voted this past Thursday morning to approve House Bill 437, which passed the House last week by a bipartisan vote of 243 to 129. The Committee vote was 3-2, and followed a 5 1/2 hour public hearing this past Tuesday in Representatives' Hall. The bill, sponsored by Somersworth State Representative Dana Hilliard and myself, will be reported to the Senate floor next Wednesday.
If you support the Civil Unions bill, which is printed in full in an earlier Blog post under my name, please contact the State Senators -- sending E-Mails or letters to each of them is important at this point, at least to those in your part of the state. They will be hearing from many others, for and against. You can visit the New Hampshire WEBSITE, nh.gov, for a listing of all Senators.
It is also very useful if you could send a letter to Governor John Lynch. You can mail it to Governor John Lynch, The State House, 25 Capitol Street, Concord, NH 03301. Or feel free to call and leave your message at 603-271-2121. His FAX is 603-271-7680. His office receives E-Mails through the State of New Hampshire WEBSITE, nh.gov, clicking on "Governor John Lynch," then "Contact Governor Lynch."
