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The third of three Sunday News and Union Leader staff-reported columns devoted to New Hampshire politics and government is returning to the newspapers' UnionLeader.com Web site effective today.
With the Supreme Court's decision throwing out the piece of state budget law that tapped the state Joint Underwriting Association for $110 million, there has to be a next step.
WITH A UNANIMOUS vote, the book on the 2009 budget was finally closed Friday.
RELATIONS between Republicans and Democrats took a big step backward Friday over the gun-ban issue.
Two bills that would bar deadly weapons in public buildings, including the State House, come up for a hearing in the afternoon. There will be a crowd.
THIS PAST YEAR may end up being the one that everyone wants to, but no one ever will, forget.
NOW THAT a weapons ban is in place at the State House, the question of how to enforce it comes up.
THERE WERE lots of suggestions at a public hearing last week on rules for collecting the so-called LLC tax.
THERE WILL be a crowd when the public hearing on new tax rules starts up Wednesday.
AN IMPORTANT CHANGE to the state right-to-know law will come to the House in January, and may not even get a debate.
DON'T LOOK for your local legislator to file a financial report on the free meal Millennium Gaming was handing out recently.
THERE DOESN'T seem to be any urgency to getting a new state workers' contract in place.
Republicans are making political hay out of the bitter contract talks between Gov. John Lynch and the State Employees Association.
OOPS. Speaker of the House Terie Norelli let a little secret slip last week.
AN INCREASINGLY heated legal dispute has locked up a major six-year contract for state lottery operations in the Executive Council.
EVEN WITH an attorney general's rejection of his complaint, Pan Am Systems president David Fink's allegations are not going away.
FOOTBALL COACHES like to say the best defense is a good offense. State Democratic leaders have taken up the idea, too.
THE STATE'S new 10 percent tax on gambling is not as complicated as some people think, the state's revenue commissioner said.
Mayor Frank Guinta found himself tangled up in the sort of mini-scandal that was just weird enough to earn mentions on several major political blogs, including The Huffington Post.
Balancing the budgets for the year that ends Tuesday, and for the coming fiscal year, hangs on the idea of taking $110 million in surplus from the medical malpractice insurance fund.
Republicans are being urged to vote against the plan as spending too much. Democrats are calling it a difficult compromise that spreads the pain fairly.
THIS IS the big week, one of early mornings and late nights as House and Senate members try to finish budget work.
NOW THAT gay-marriage debates, votes and re-votes are over, focus turns to what lawmakers said would be their biggest challenge this year -- the 2010-11 budget.
CONCORD - The governor is looking at a proposal that would tax refinancings the same way we now tax real-estate transfers.
State House Dome: Lynch perched on gay-marriage fence
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By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
Sunday, May. 17, 2009
WHAT SHOULD be the final legislative votes on gay marriage will be cast this week.
The House and Senate have to pass language that Gov. John Lynch demanded last week, or watch the gay-marriage bill go down the tubes.
Lynch enhanced his image as an adept hair-splitter last week, being against and for gay marriage at the same time. He reminded reporters of his past stance against gay marriage, while stating the liberty and freedoms of gay adults hang in the balance. His promise to veto the bill unless it changes gives him some cover as protecting freedom of religion. If he ends up signing it, he'll be seen as standing against discrimination.
The most likely sequence this week will be a public hearing on Tuesday for the governor's amendment, followed by votes in the Senate and House on Wednesday.
If things move quickly, and past votes hold, the three bills that now make up the gay-marriage package could be on Lynch's desk before week's end. Ask car dealers how fast a bill can become law. Lynch signed their protection package within hours of passage earlier this month.
Lynch's demand is for clear immunity from civil lawsuits for individuals who work for religious groups, societies and other organizations if they refuse to take part in gay-marriage events, whether it involves providing space, services, counseling, housing, courses, retreats and the like, let alone officiating at a wedding.
Fraternal benefit societies could refuse to insure gay partners in Lynch's amendment, which also bars new civil unions starting Jan. 1, 2010.
State GOP chair John H. Sununu called Lynch's stance his "latest charade of trying to be seen on both sides of the gay marriage issue." "He said it's a"continuance of his style of just following the liberal Democratic leadership of House and Senate."
Democratic chair Ray Buckley took Sununu to task for remarking on a Manchester radio show that Lynch's changes are "trivial."
Buckley challenged Sununu to have his party vote for the changes, which he said go "a long way" to protect religious freedom.
"Do Republican leaders really want to be on record opposing protections for churches and clergy?" he asked.
ROCKY ROAD TO PASSAGE: The gay-marriage concepts in HB 436 did not meet with instant success in the Legislature. The bill failed by a single vote, 183-182, on its first attempt in the House on March 26. It passed by seven votes on a second vote a half hour later, 186-179.
It passed the Senate by two votes, in an amended version, 13-11. While much of the wording was different from the House's, the intent was the same, and the House agreed to the changes last week by 11 votes, when 20 Republicans were absent. That's why activists on both sides of the issue are pushing lawmakers to make sure they attend this week's House session.
Changes to HB 310 that fixed oversights in the original bill passed 180-131, despite GOP complaints the public process had been short-circuited.
Pressure groups will keep up their work. Kevin Smith of Cornerstone Policy Research said he plans robo-calls to voters in three Senate districts this weekend: those of Sen. Deb Reynolds, Betsi DeVries and Lou D'Allesandro. Reynolds flipped from opposing to supporting gay marriage in a week's ' time, Smith said. D'Allesandro was the lone Democrat against gay marriage, but "we're looking to have his constituents ask him to please do the right thing again." "
Mo Baxley of N.H. Freedom to Marry said she's got more petitions for Lynch, bringing to 20,000 the total in support of gay marriage.
Smith said he can't believe this is all still going on.
"We're now on our fourth iteration, tacked onto a third bill to fix the original. If nothing else, it should tell someone this is a very poorly crafted bill to begin with and at the very least should have gone to a conference committee," he said.
GOP OPPOSES GAY MARRIAGE: Conservative Republicans insist that gay marriage will threaten the state public pension system's tax-exempt status. They say same-sex marriage will run directly against the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Lynch said he is satisfied there is no need for concern.
Richard Ingram, New Hampshire Retirement System executive director, said the state addressed the issue when the civil-unions law took effect. State law defers to federal law if a conflict arises, he said, but reviews by in-house and outside legal counsel concluded the marriage bills avoid a conflict.
DOMA creates a few problems for beneficiaries. It limits NHRS medical subsidy payments to civil-union partners and lump sum payments upon the death of a member, Ingram said.
To be safe, he said, the Legislature protected NHRS tax exempt status in two places last year. It can always amend the laws again to account for gay marriage.
Calling the two protective clauses a belt-and-suspenders approach, he said the extra step is "nice to have, but not necessary." "
AND THE WORK GOES ON: Meanwhile, work goes on to fund a budget for 2010-11.
D'Allesandro, Senate Finance chair, has only a few weeks to finish work on the Senate version of a two-year, $11 billion spending plan. Senate sentiment runs against the capital gains and estate tax ideas the House put in its budget plan.
D'Allesandro said he agrees with the House that the state should not bond its school building aid plan, meaning roughly $83 million has to come from general funds.
Pressure is building from pro-gambling groups who see their last chance at hand. Labor groups and track owners released new surveys showing support last week.
D'Allesandro said he plans to be at the State House today -- yes, Sunday -- to handle budget work. He took off yesterday to accept an honorary doctorate from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge. That's his second, after one that Daniel Webster College gave him about 10 years ago.
PESSIMISTIC ON PENSION REFORM: Rep. Ken Hawkins, who filed a number of retirement reform bills, was discouraged last week. He said he'll urge the House to kill the last surviving piece of his proposals, which requires an extra five years of work for firefighters and police officers.
Hawkins' complaint is that the Senate boosted minimum pensions at the same time it killed a minimum retirement age of 50. A full pension after 25 years would be 62.5 percent of pay, compared to 50 percent of pay after 20 years now.
"I'm not even going to ask for a committee of conference, because this isn't going to go through. Why waste the time?" he asked.
PINDELL ON POLITICS: Political reporter James Pindell will launch a new Web site, nhpoliticalreport.com, next month.
Pindell, who plans to stay on as a columnist at New Hampshire Magazine, has worked for PoliticsNH.com, the Boston Globe and launched 18 Web sites for Politicker.com.
"I am in love with the story of New Hampshire politics and once again I want to create a community for political junkies and the power elite," he said.
STEPHEN'S SHAMROCK SCHOLARSHIPS: Bobby Stephen's Jobs for New Hampshire Graduates program, funded by his annual St. Patrick's Day feast, recently awarded $36,000 in scholarships to 22 high school students.
"These are disadvantaged kids who could never afford to go college on their own," Stephen said. He noted the students also qualify for federal Pell grants, providing them an extra boost in making college affordable.
FAREWELL TROOPER LAPORTE: State Trooper Chris LaPorte, a member of the State House security team, retired from the Department of Safety last week. LaPorte heads to a job at Concord Hospital and work as a photographer.
NH STIMULUS FORUM: The Steward of Prosperity group that businessman Fred Tausch of Nashua has founded plans a federal economic stimulus forum in Concord on Thursday. The event is co-sponsored by Dennehy and Bouley and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce.
Panelists include PolEcon principal Brian Gottlob, whom Steward hired to study the stimulus's economic effect on New Hampshire. With him will be several budget hawks: Josiah Bartlett Center executive director Charles Arlinghaus; Concord Coalition executive director Robert Bixby and William Yeatman, an energy analyst with the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Gottlob found that New Hampshire won't do as well as most states under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act because it's too wealthy. New Hampshire will rank dead last in New England, he said, because "of a relatively low number of low and middle-income households." The session at the Grappone Conference Center runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.
DEATH PENALTY DEBATE LIVES: While the furor over gay marriage continues, the fight to repeal the death penalty goes on, too. The N.H. Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty holds a rally Tuesday evening at the State House to urge a court review of the case against Troy Davis, convicted and sentenced to death in the murder of a Georgia police officer.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing that day on a bill that would establish a death penalty study commission, all that remains of this year's repeal effort in the Legislature.
Tom Fahey is the State House bureau chief of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News.
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YOUR COMMENTS
@ - Gary, Stratham. You state that Jesus came to earth and ask that all men be treated with dignity? Do you have chapter and verse for that one?
Actaully Jesus said to "Follow Me". The church is called to make disciples and have them obey all that is commanded in the Word. We are to love others and speak the truth in love.
It is more loving to let people know that Christ died for their sin (all sin) than to allow people to believe their sin is acceptable in the eyes of God. All sexual sin is treated the same - its sin.
The heterosexually promiscuous, those who engage in sexual activity outside of God's plan for marriage are just as sinful as the homosexual.
The Bible is clear about what God teaches: that sexuality is to be reserved for marriage and that God's design for marriage is between a man and a woman. Most references to marriage in the Bible include the terms husband (man) and wife (woman) because a man can never be a wife and a woman can never be a husband.
It's time for people, homosexual and heterosexual, to examine God's truth and apply His principles to their lives.
We are all sinners in need of a Savior.
God sent His only begotten Son to share the message of eternal forgiveness to all.
While His love is unconditional salvation is not. The one condition to those who ask "What must I do to be saved?"
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved."
To "believe" here is to place yourself in His control for your life. That means for you to let go of what you want and allow His ways to dictate the direction of your life.
It may mean celebacy for those who cannot control the sexual desires that go against God. That's not such a bad thing when you consider the free gift of God's eternal grace, is it?
Hope this reaches many.
- Rev. Richard Rizzi, Farmington
Michael Landon of Derry wrote, "What percent of our population will it affect, protect or whatever you want to call its possible outcome? 4% thats its. " [sic]
But Jesus said "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Let us follow Jesus' teachings and treat all of our brethren with equality and respect.
- Jeff, Lisbon
Im trying to figure out why so much time and money is being wasted on this. How about tackling some important issues like requiring drivers to have insurance.
- steve, manchester
I just think it is very sad how many hateful people there are in our state. Why do people care so much about what their neighbor is doing? What happened to live and let live? I thought the purpose of religion was for people to accept each other, but it seems to me that the more "religious" someone is, the more hateful they are of those that are different and that is just sad.
- Jessica, Pembroke
@ "Deb, Derry",
This article is about gay rights as are my comments. When one cannot stay on topic, it strays the discussion from the important points that should be made.
I will gladly have both a debate with you in public about gay rights and your false impression that all gay people are of a certain political view.
I will continue to stand for rights for all people. All people.
@ "Dan Gates", not sure where you have been since 1932, but we live in a socialist democracy. The principals of social reform, those of democracy (a vote for each person), have outweighed the original provisions of our constitution by ten-fold, are law, and are enforced.
The debate is clear, the rights of each group should be respected, and we should move on.
I do not want to marry in your church as I cannot join a group so full of hate. I do, however, know that Jesus Christ walked this earth and asked that all men be treated with dignity.
Likewise, I respect your right to congregate and your religious expression.
Why? Because it IS about rights for all!
- Gary, Stratham
Though gay people may be allowed to marry if this bill becomes law, the wording allows me to have the legal protection NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE thier marriage certificate as long as I do so under the umbrella of my religious beliefs. Get that you pro-gay-marriage fanatics out there! You will not be able to sue me. Go ahead and get a marriage certificate, it won't be worth the paper it's written on.
- Brandon Davis, Salem, NH
I cannot wait for this stupid little bill to be passed or veto'd. Then, the legislature can start working on resolving real issues in NH. I agree with Gary though, Gov. Lynch has the right idea. If you expect people to tolerate your lifestyle then you must respect their moral beliefs otherwise you are the intolerrant one. Both can exist; the free market will have enough people/businesses to work with w/o forcing someone to go against their moral compass. As for the extremist on both sides; who cares-neither will ever agree. Anyone who will not support his compromise deserves to lose and I welcome the veto; good luck with an overide. If they will compromise; so be it, and Gov. Lynch can pass it (it will never affect me or the state I love, so I do not care), then move on with REAL issues.
- Brian, Manchester
I would like to thank the previous commenter, mo, for showing quite clearly why uneducated views on civil rights need to be corrected.
The current debate is about a balance of protections for both religious freedom and gay rights. I support it wholly.
- Gary, Stratham, NH
Well Gary I believe Mo has it right and we do have more important things for our (LOL) leadership to concentrate on. After all House speaker Pelosi is educated and has little problem lying to us on national television about what she knew and vise president Bidden makes the so called dumb cowboy look pretty smart.
Palin 2010. I figure if the dems are still trying to destroy her they truly fear her. Look out elitist types change and freedom again may be honestly coming. I bet Miss Palin would even have a conversation with Mo without belittling him/her.
- Deb, Derry
I would like to thank the previous commenter, Gary from Stratham, NH, for showing quite clearly why uneducated views on civil rights need to be corrected. In a Constitutional Republic the rights of the majorty should be heard through the ballot box upon. Your view that the founders had gay marriage in mind in the equal protection clause is ludicrous. Your argument about race being similar is factualy wrong. The founding fathers did write on the topic of race and thier intention to abolish slavery.
The current debate is about 'special protections & privilages' for one group over another. Your view is wrong as well as a misaplication of the US Constitution.
I support a VETO wholly.
- Dan Gates, Manchester
The entire gay marriage bill is right at the top of politcal agendas. What percent of our population will it affect, protect or whatever you want to call its possible outcome? 4% thats its. The same house that passed the gay (marriage) bill failed to even discuss HR6, which would reaffirm our rights as a state provided in the tenth amendment of the US constitution. The same house, senate and governor failed every NH citizen by overspending and growing government, yet there is little concern over it.
- Michael Layon, Derry
I work in construction where I see a lot of different workmen in all the trades. Since this paper has made such a big stink, I have continually made a point of asking them if gay marriage is something they are concerned about. They say no 95% of the time, and go back to work.
Maybe the opponents just need to be a little busier.
- Arthur Vandelle, Manchester
This is intolerable.
The horror of it!
Why does Governor John Lynch insist, on yet another issue, on working a compromise to protect the
rights of both sides?
Once again he's acting like the governor of the WHOLE state instead of just
bravely picking the right side. This is such a habit of his.
Dirty fence-sitter, indeed!
- tom, candia
There is still hope that Senator Reynolds, who many thought to be a lady, will change her mind, wake up, and see the light on this issue. Sometimes party asks too much.
Lynch's sending back of the bill provides an opportunity for her to become the decisive vote preventing it from becoming law. She originally objected on moral grounds and can rescue Lynch from a bad decision. The true test of equality and women in the legislature lies at her feet.
- Steve, Manch
Fool Lynch once (Civil Unions) shame on us. Fool Lynch twice (Define marriage once and for all) shame on him.
I'm sure in this bill is the correct wording so that next year a adult can not marry a child, a brother can not marry a sister, brother, or family pet.
After all marriage is suddenly a right protected in the constitution according to our liberal judges. Who are you to say someone can not marry a pig and force your morals on society?
Will a real leader please stand up? The world is full of nuts and nutty ideas. That does not mean everyone has to be forced to accept them all.
- Deb, Derry
I would like to thank the previous commenter, mo, for showing quite clearly why uneducated views on civil rights need to be corrected.
The current debate is about a balance of protections for both religious freedom and gay rights. I support it wholly.
- Gary, Stratham, NH
What ever to moral family valves.
Old I know if you do like something than go to ACLU most of the time they get the job done right or wrong. Gov. Lynch, beware. But let Gay Marriage go down the drain. Because the Bible say God's Marriage =man + woman.
Gays already have rights and are protected.
We better things we must work on. (Laws, Budgets,education,healthcare,jobs,and taxes,ETC.)Some one is not tell the full truth when their say the people of NH want this laws.BS. Get some guts governor and veto it.But I support the death penalty and those who do not do not have any guts.
- mo baxter, plymouth
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