News and Views

MEMORIAL DAY: We pause today to remember those who wore the uniform in the past, and to thank those who make us proud of their service today.

SEN. LARSON’S TAX INCREASE: Last Friday, the day before the holiday weekend when it would escape much notice, NH Senate President Larson introduced a new 6.5% current use tax. This tax would be paid to the state, on top of the 10% already paid to the town, when a landowner transfers land out of current use. Current use is one of those little policies that makes New Hampshire great: It provides an incentive (really, a thank you) for landowners who maintain their land undeveloped, usually while also allowing others to use it for recreation or just to enhance scenic vistas, without having the land taxed at its market value. Just over half of all land in NH is estimated to be in “current use,” and even if you do not directly benefit from the tax break, you do benefit in terms of maintaining the rural character of our state. I hope all Republicans will contact your legislators and urge them to say no to Sen. Larson’s current use tax increase.

FIRST DEBATE IN THE FIRST IN THE NATION STATE: On June 5, all the Republican candidates will be in NH on June 5 for the Union Leader / CNN / WMUR debate. If your local committee isn’t planning a debate watching party, why don’t you organize one? Either way, tune it!

JUNE 6 PRESIDENTIAL GALA DINNER: The next night is our annual dinner at the Center of NH Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Five candidates are confirmed (Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Tommy Thompson) and we may pick up one or two more, and CSPAN will be covering it live. Tickets at $125 each. Call us at 225-9341 for more info or register online: https://webp2.i4servers.net/nhgop.org/donate.html

THE WHALLEY AMENDMENT: House Republicans, led by Mike Whalley of Alton, have come up with a positive ed funding amendment that significantly improves on the Governor’s proposal. The Whalley/Republican amendment establishes the legislature, not the courts, as the superior policy-making branch on the issue; acknowledges that ed funding can be a shared responsibility between the state and local communities; allows targeting; and lowers the threshold of court scrutiny. This amendment deserves widespread support.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK: Sen. Maggie Hassan of Exeter gets herself nominated for Head Nanny of the Democrat’s Nanny State with this quote defending mandatory seatbelt laws: “I am not doing this because I think I know what’s best for anybody else,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan, an Exeter Democrat who co-sponsored the seat-belt bill. “But I do know what’s best for…my constituents.” (Concord Monitor, May 22). Far better is GOP Rep. Andy Peterson’s reply: “This is a bill that people are going to feel impacts their lives before they even get out of their own driveways.” Meanwhile, Gov. John Lynch, as usual, can’t make up his mind on the seatbelt law: “The governor is continuing to talk with lawmakers about the issue,” said Lynch spokesman Colin Manning. Does the Gov. have a gut reaction – suggesting a core value – about anything?

WELCOME: To our new Executive Director, Steve DeMaura, who started with us two weeks ago. Steve is a product of Peterborough’s Con-Val High School and George Washington University. Among Steve’s responsibilities, look for a totally revamped website soon. You can reach Steve at steve@nhgop.org or 225-9341.

JOB OPENING OF THE WEEK: A friend of the party noticed this posting online recently (this is not made up!): “PRESS SECRETARY – Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) seeks a press secretary for her DC office. Must have experience dealing with the press,
knowledge of issues and excellent writing skills. Will be responsible for dealing with press inquiries, pitching stories, writing press releases and writing material for online communications. The ideal candidate will have experience in a Congressional press office or on a political campaign. Specific knowledge of New Hampshire politics is a big plus. Please send an email with a resume and three writing samples to —.This position will be filled quickly.”
A wag from Sullivan County suggested the job description also should have mentioned “you must wear a flower in your hair, know how to picket, organize sit ins and refuse to support our national interest” while another wag from Manchester suggested experience removing feet from other people’s mouths might come in handy. For more on CSP, check out http://www.therealdemocratstory.com/carol.shea-porter/filecabinet.cfm

GOOD LUCK: To Mike McGrath, our state rep candidate in a special election in Manchester’s Ward 2 tomorrow, Tuesday. Last minute help is welcome; contact our Political Director, Allison Ryan, at Allison@nhgop or 225-9341.

IN THE NEWS: “The Democratic excesses in the Legislature absolutely are energizing Republicans who may have been passive in the last election,” said Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party. “I hate to see these things being passed for policy reasons. But politically, these are opportunities for us to rebound in 2008. Democrats are putting us back in the game.” http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070506/NEWS02/205060381/-1/news

“The Democrats were given the majority last year, but they were not voting to change New Hampshire from a Live Free or Die state to an East Vermont,” Cullen said. “Our leadership has always trusted adults to be adults, and we don’t need laws for everything.” http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_133093834?keyword=secondarystory
Despite Senate Democrats’ efforts to put the brakes on some House measures, GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen warned that “from a political perspective it’s too late; the damage is done.” These bills are reminiscent of the proposal to ban smoking in restaurants and bars, which passed the Senate, he said. “Democrats have treated adults like children.” The election, Cullen added, “was not a mandate to turn New Hampshire into Vermont.” http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070512/REPOSITORY/705120401/1037/NEWS04

HUMOR: “Did anybody see the debate? It was really weird. After the rebuttal, John Edwards demanded two minutes for conditioner.” – Dave Letterman

“The Queen was welcomed with a 21-gun salute. Well, 22 if you count Cheney’s gun, which went off accidentally” –Jay Leno

Fergus Cullen
Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party
10 Water Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-225-9341
fergus@nhgop.org

The Parker Group LLC - Government Relations Consultants,
In affiliation with Douglas, Leonard and Garvey, P.C.

THE PARKER REPORT

RETIRING FEELING…Just when you think the battle over how to save the $5 Billion New Hampshire Retirement System is over, a last minute proposed amendment in the Senate puts needed retirement reform on hold. The dispute is over how the Legislature should handle restoring solvency to the state’s pension system. HB 653, as passed by the House and as recommended by the Senate ED&A Committee, contains various reform proposals to stabilize the pension. In addition to approving a new funding methodology, which increases the employer contribution rate, the legislation also requires employers to pay all the costs of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability amounting to $3 Billion over the next 30 years. Besides changing the funding methodology, the pension system’s actuary has also recommended implementing a new funding gain sharing mechanism to help shore up the fund. The actuary proposes that all investment earnings go into the pension fund until the system is 85% funded. The system’’s investment earnings have fallen over the past several years from 125% to a dangerously low 67%. The actuary also proposes setting a trigger rate of 10.5% before monies can go into the Special Account. Some opponents believe the gain sharing should be delayed and studied by a special Study Commission. Supporters, which included a working group of labor unions and employers, say delay is putting thousands of retirees and employees of the system at further risk by jeopardizing current and future benefits now provided to employees of the system. The State Treasurer Catherine Provencher, who also serves on the NH Retirement System Board of Trustees, has indicated that Wall Street bond rating firms are looking at the pension situation very carefully. The system serves 20,000 retirees and 50,000 active employees.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE…The House Republican Leadership has now weighed in on the constitutional debate on school funding. The House Republican Leader, Representative Michael Whalley, has told the House Finance Committee that a simple word change would lower the standard now used by the State Supreme Court. He told the committee the use of the word “reasonably” in the proposed constitutional amendment would neutralize the High Courts ability to overrule the legislature. Rep. Whalley believes that the word change would allow the State to distribute school aid based on need as long as every town got a “reasonable share” of state aid. The proposal would not guarantee towns a minimum amount. The Legislature would determine education standards, determine the state aid amount, and establish accountability standards reflecting a partnership with communities.

SINKING LEAD LIMITS…The NH House gave approval this past week to legislation that would cut in half the level of lead in a child’s blood that triggers a state investigation. The bill would reduce the lead limits from 20 micrograms to 10 micrograms that both trigger a doctor’s report to the state and an investigation into the possible source. The bill also expands where investigators could look. Now investigators can only check the apartment where the child lives. Under the proposed bill, they could also check other apartments in the building for possible lead contamination. Property owners are opposing the bill because they say that it will increase costs to them to correct the problem. The bill also creates a commission to study ways to prevent lead poisoning. The bill now moves to the House Finance Committee for action.

NOT SO EASY…Over 23,000 people have received a letter indicating that it was their “Last Chance” to pay for an alleged violation(s) or risk having their license suspended. Department of Transportation officials found themselves responding to hundreds of angry and frustrated motor vehicle operators believing that they were being unjustly fined for illegally driving through E-ZPass lanes. Drivers complained that they were unabled to get through to the call centers or had to wait in long lines at the three E-ZPass locations. DOT officials said the company should have staggered the mailing, and added more personnel to handle the situation. In response to the number of complaints, DOT officials said that they were extending the deadline to respond to May 25.

STRUNG OUT…The State Senate decided that it was not such a good idea to let New Hampshire farmers grow hemp. Opponents of the bill argued that passing the bill could result in a showdown between State and Federal Law that considers hemp a controlled substance. The House voted 190-76 to send the bill to the Senate. Unlike marijuana, supporters say that hemp has a very low content of THC, the psychotropic ingredient found in marijuana. Hemp can be grown only with permission from the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The state would be the regulator and would issue licenses to grow hemp and be the sole supplier of the seed.

LETTING THE AIR OUT…The State Senate showed an unwillingness to pass legislation that would prohibit intentionally releasing balloons in the air. Some Senators saw the legislation as an unwarranted distraction from their legislative agenda. Other states have passed laws prohibiting the massive release of latex and other balloons filled with helium or other lighter-than-air gases. However, New Hampshire would have been the first state to endorse a total ban on balloon releases. Had the bill passed, anyone who intentionally released a balloon into the air would be subject to a fine of $250 on the first offense and $500 fine for every subsequent release. Opponents had argued that balloons were biodegradable and not really an environmental problem.

THEY SAID IT…

“Things move around constantly with big bills like this. We’re talking about the potential for a huge economic impact on a lot of folks.”
Senator Peter Burling, Chair of the Senate ED&A Committee commenting on the passage of pension reform legislation. (AP)

“It raises an eyebrow among the rating agencies that look at our state.”
Catherine Provencher, State Treasurer and a member of the NH Retirement System Board of Trustees, expressing the concerns of Wall Street bond rating firms over the status of the State’s pension system. (Union Leader)

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For more information please contact:
Denis Parker at 603-860-7197 or email at TheParkerGroupLLC@comcast.net

The Parker Group LLC - Government Relations Consultants,
In affiliation with Douglas, Leonard and Garvey, P.C.

THE PARKER REPORT

FOR YOUR NEXT LESSON…

Governor John Lynch’s proposed constitutional amendment was hit with various spit balls during its first day of class before the House Finance Committee. CACR 18 would require the state to provide at least half of whatever the Legislature determines to be the cost of an adequate education. The State Supreme Court would still have the authority to judge whether lawmakers were fulfilling their responsibility, but leave the Legislature with the authority to distribute the money as it saw fit. Criticism came from both sides of the aisle, including some of the governor’s closest allies. More than 30 speakers took over 6 hours to express their positions on the controversial amendment. Governor Lynch said that he would agree to some minor changes in the wording of the amendment. The High Court has given the Legislature until June to come up with an education definition. While the House Speaker has yet to take a position on the Lynch amendment, House Republican Leadership indicated that it would offer a proposal this week to its members. The amendment needs 60% or 239 of the membership of the NH House of Representatives in order to place the amendment on the ballot in November 2008 for the voters to decide.

LIGHTS, ACTION, CAMERA…

Should criminals be allowed to profit from their crimes? Legislation that would address this very issue will be getting a closer look when it goes to study. It appears that some states forbid lawbreakers from the practice, while others allow such profiting. Criminals had been barred from making money off their crimes until 1991, when the US Supreme Court overturned a New York law after finding that it was so broad it would discourage people from telling stories of public interest, such as the Watergate scandal. Critics argued that the law violated the Constitutional right of free speech by denying criminals the opportunity to sell their stories. Supporters of the legislation believe that any money made should go either to the victims or back to the state to cover room and care. State prison officials indicate that inmates currently are forbidden from using any notoriety related to their crimes to make money.

NOT SO EASY…

State Department of Transportation officials are giving nearly 24,000 E-ZPass users who have failed to pay their overdue bills one last chance or risk losing their driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations. According to DOT, there is as much as $2.5 million in outstanding tolls and fees due from E-ZPass users. Those who receive letters have 30 days to pay up or 15 days to dispute the charges. If they ignore the letters, they risk being penalized. The state is seeking $58,000 in unpaid tolls that increases to $2.5 million when the violations are added.

SWEET 18…

The House Education Committee is backing Governor Lynch’s efforts to increase the age from 16 to 18 before students may drop out of public school. The bill, which has already passed the State Senate, has the backing of the House Leadership and should pass the full House.

The state’s mandatory attendance age was set in 1903 at a time when students could leave after two years of high school and get a job in the factory or on the family farm. A similar bill was rejected last year by the Legislature because it failed to offer alternatives learning options beyond two trial experiments in Nashua and Manchester. Supporters note that the mandatory attendance age would not change until July 1, 2009, giving the state time to work with communities to set up alternative learning options.

SMOKED TURKEY SANDWICH…

The House Commerce Committee will be considering whether to permit smoking rooms in restaurants and bars as part of a statewide ban on smoking. The proposed amendment would let restaurants keep smoking rooms under two conditions. The rooms must have separate ventilation systems, and employees must be able to choose whether to enter them. While supporters see the amendment as a reasonable accommodation to smokers and businesses, opponents believe that it would become difficult for workers to say no to their employers. A University of New Hampshire poll last year found that 79% of the state’s residents support the ban on smoking. In the last session, the House passed the smoking ban, but it failed by one vote in the Senate. This year, the Senate easily passed the smoking ban. Present law requires smoking sections in restaurants to be separated by a 4-foot “buffer zone” that is just over 4.5 feet high. At past hearings on the measure, restaurant officials have testified that many restaurants and bars are already moving toward a smoke free environment.

CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER…

Legislation that would ban burning demolition debris in the state may soon become permanent. Last year, Governor Lynch signed legislation extending a moratorium on burning debris until December 31, but he has called for a permanent ban. The Senate agreed with the House passed measure and Governor Lynch is expected to sign the legislation into law. Supporters argued that the burning of toxic construction and demolition debris posed an unacceptable health risk to New Hampshire citizens.

THEY SAID IT…

“Half a high school education is no longer enough.” — Governor John Lynch defending the need for raising the school dropout age from 16 to 18 years of age. (Nashua Telegraph)

“I think it’s a last resort kind of thing first of all, and secondly, in my experience it is possible, usually without resorting to a constitutional amendment, to solve the problems that face us.” — Former Governor Walter Peterson testifying in opposition to CACR 18 before the House Finance Committee. (Nashua Telegraph)

“We stand ready to receive as many ideas that are out there.”
– Representative Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, Chairperson of the House Finance Committee opening comments on CACR 18. (Nashua Telegraph)

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For more information please contact:
Denis Parker at 603-860-7197 or email at TheParkerGroupLLC@comcast.net