Concord Monitor Politics feed

Education funding amendment panel: We're not done yet

Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Committee aims to strike balance

House and Senate lawmakers working on a compromise over a constitutional amendment on education funding find themselves trying to balance the legalese desired by each side without creating a text that looks like gobbledygook to voters on the ballot in November.

The committee of conference tasked with negotiating the amendment reconvened for less than five minutes yesterday to tell those in attendance they haven't quite figured it out and need to spend more time talking with attorneys. On Tuesday, the committee met for about a half hour to make brief opening statements. They have until next Thursday to sign a deal to take back to their respective chambers.

Virus shuts down DES website

Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Officials question if server targeted

The state Department of Environmental Services' interactive OneStop server has been down for the last 10 days due to a virus, but officials say it should be back up and running today.

"We do not know if it was a deliberate attempt to impact our server," DES spokesman Jim Martin said yesterday. Around noon on Monday, May 14, information technology workers began noticing "some abnormal activity," Martin said.

According to the department website, the information contains DES data such as "sources of environmental interest; GIS data; environmental monitoring data; ordering sampling equipment for environmental testing; permit statuses; and information on local businesses that provide various environmental services, ranging from hazardous waste transportation to water well contractors."

Senate kills issues House resurrected

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Abortion, refugee plans go down

The state Senate took a final ax yesterday to the House's last-ditch attempts to establish a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, allow towns and cities to close off their communities to refugees and eliminate the chancellor of the state university system.

Senators also passed a school voucher program that concerns Gov. John Lynch and agreed to seek a compromise with House leaders on medical marijuana, malpractice reform and the state's involvement in a regional cap-and-trade system.

As the 2011-2012 legislative session nears its end, the Senate revisited about 60 of its own bills yesterday morning to decide whether to agree to changes added by the House. Most decisions were made with little discussion over the rehashed issues, and the senators finished their work in time for lunch.

Survey seeks PTSD info from veterans

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A state commission is asking New Hampshire veterans to complete a survey about post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

The confidential survey asks veterans questions about their years of service, whether they've experienced post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries and where they received help or treatment.

The New Hampshire Legislative Commission to Study the Side Effects of Service-Connected PTSD and TBI said in a press release that it will use the results to improve its aid to veterans.

"Our commission realized early on that we needed to get the facts about the needs of our veterans in New Hampshire with PTSD and TBI," commission member and veteran Art Devine said in a press release. "This survey will help us in determining not only our strengths but also where we need to improve our services to veterans."

Bassett appointed to high court

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Executive Council okays Lynch's pick

New Hampshire's Executive Council yesterday approved the governor's nomination of a veteran appellate lawyer with a deep grounding in legal ethics to the state Supreme Court.

The council voted 4-1 to appoint Jim Bassett to the court.

Bassett, 55, has argued many appeals to the Supreme Court in his 27 years with the law firm of Orr & Reno. He specializes in complex litigation, legal ethics and First Amendment law. It was Bassett who secured the ruling permitting cameras at most state court proceedings.

Councilors yesterday praised his intellect, temperament and longtime involvement in his Canterbury community, where he has served on the planning board, the board of selectmen and is currently on the conservation commission.

Councilor Ray Burton said Bassett promised him that "insofar as possible, he would remain connected to his local community."

Councilor Chris Sununu said he believes it's an asset that Bassett has no prior judicial experience.

State fires National Guard site contractor

Tricia Nadolny — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Pembroke

Overseers cite substandard work

Embed multimedia (photos, galleries, audio, map):

Concrete at new National Guard complex

The state has fired the contractor tasked with building a new National Guard facility in Pembroke, alleging TLT Construction Corp. was stiffing one of its suppliers. But the move, which led to workers being escorted from the site Friday by the state police, comes only after the state voiced larger concerns that the company was doing substandard work.

The Massachusetts-based contractor began constructing the $25 million facility off Route 106 in November, after its low bid of about $3 million less than the project's projected cost was accepted by the Executive Council. Some councilors have said the group had reservations about hiring the company, which had been recently accused of poor construction on a building at Nashua Community College.

High court declines filing delay

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Redistricting case won't slow process

The state Supreme Court has rejected a request to push back the filing period for candidates in New Hampshire's House races in case the recently enacted redistricting plan is found unconstitutional.

In an order issued yesterday, the state's high court said the five lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the 10-year redistricting plan drawn up by House Republicans have not yet shown that they are likely to succeed, which is one factor that would have allowed the court to issue an injunction to postpone the filing period.

"Moreover, although we recognize that if this court were to find (the House redistricting plan) unconstitutional, the filing period might have to be rescheduled and that this eventuality could be costly and inconvenient, we are not persuaded that this constitutes irreparable harm," which is another factor that forms the basis for an injunction, according to the court order.

Bradley says ed funding amendment 'very close'

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Senate majority leader optimistic

Republican leaders from the House and Senate hoping to hammer out a compromise over a long-sought state constitutional amendment on education funding ended their first committee of conference within a half-hour yesterday after laying out some of their goals and concerns.

"We're very close," said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley of Wolfeboro.

Gov. John Lynch and Republican lawmakers have long desired a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to target state money to needy school districts and undo a Supreme Court ruling requiring the state to fund an adequate public education for all children in the state. Many Democrats have been cool to the idea out of fear that the amendment would allow lawmakers to reduce funding for education, or not fund it at all.

Biden slams Romney's resume

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Keene

Veep says Bain not step to presidency

The presidential campaign debate over Republican Mitt Romney's tenure at a private equity firm is going down the drain.

Vice President Joe Biden argued yesterday that Romney's experience doesn't make him any more qualified to be president than it does to make him a plumber.

"That doesn't mean that private equity guys are bad guys - they're not," Biden said at Keene State College. "But that no more qualifies you to be president than being a plumber. And, by the way, there're an awful lot of smart plumbers. All kidding aside, it's not the same job requirement."

Romney argues that his business experience with the Boston-based firm Bain Capital makes him best suited to fix the economy and create jobs.

Biden's fourth trip to New Hampshire this year was an acknowledgment of the state's battleground status in the upcoming election.

'Pole dancer' rant spurs dressing down

Matthew_Spolar — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Goffstown

Candidate goes after GOP activist

The leader of the Manchester GOP is calling on state Senate candidate John Hikel to end his campaign after Hikel accused former New Hampshire Republican Party vice chairwoman Pam Manney of being an ex-stripper.

"I said something that was stupid and inappropriate," Hikel, a state representative from Goffstown, said yesterday.

Hikel is running against Rep. Phil Greazzo of Manchester in the Republican primary for the District 20 Senate seat, currently held by Manchester Democrat Lou D'Allesandro. Both candidates spoke at a meeting of the Goffstown-Weare Republican Committee on Saturday morning, after which Greazzo held a cookout for his supporters.

Hikel attended the cookout - he "basically invited himself," Greazzo said - where he loudly addressed Manney, a Greazzo campaign volunteer and former Goffstown representative who recently served as the state GOP's vice chairwoman.