Rep. Peter Sullivan's Legislative Blog

Save the Shipyard

2005-06-21T11:02:00.000-04:00

Here's some info on the effort to save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, courtesy of my friend and legislative colleague, Jim Splaine:

Plan to attend the July 6th, 2005 BRAC Regional Hearing at the Massachusetts Convention and Exhibition Center,

415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210

Maine and New Hampshire are tentatively scheduled to present their case from 1-5pm.

- Anyone who would like to attend this hearing is welcome to ride on one of the Save Our Shipyard Buses. There is NO COST to ride a Save Our Shipyard Bus, attend, and participate.

- The buses will transport everyone from specific areas in Maine and New Hampshire to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

ORGANIZERS NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY WILL ATTEND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

TO SIGN UP NOW

1. Visit www.saveourshipyard.org and click on “Sign up here”, or create your own email to rsvp@saveourshipyard.org. Anyone without access to the Internet may send a post card or note to Seacoast Shipyard Association, PO Box 1123 Portsmouth, NH 03802-1123 to sign up.

2. Type “bus” in web site box, or on your post card indicate how many will be traveling on a Save Our Shipyard Bus and if you plan to catch bus at ME or NH location.

3. The BRAC Commission has not yet provided specific details for the hearing schedule, however tentative specifics are as follows:

- Plan to be gone the entire day – Buses will load at 9:00 am for a 10:00 am departure to Boston and arrive back at their original departure site at approximately 6:30 pm.

- Busses will have two primary boarding locations; the corner of Walker Street & US Route 1 (old Sparkle Spot lot) in Kittery Maine, and Airport Terminal, Exeter Street, Pease International Trade Port in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

- Wear your Save Our Shipyard T-shirt if you have one. (If you don’t, we will provide one). DO NOT bring signs or banners, our T-shirts will provide all of our visibility.

- Bring a lunch; there are no food services available at the convention center.

But it's all about the children, right?

2005-06-07T15:09:00.000-04:00

The Franklin School Board strikes again.

In their infinite wisdom, they have decided to exclude a group of kids from the annual Class Day Parade, an annual tradition where Franklin's public school students parade through the center of town.

What foul act of malfeasance did these young hooligans committ? Were they truants? Had they tagged the school grounds with grafitti? Pour sugar into the gym teacher's gas tank? Display pictures of the principal in a compromising position with livestock?

No. Far worse.

They attend Franklin Career Academy, the beleagured public charter school.

So there you have it. The local school board punishing students from a PUBLIC school in order to make a political statement. The next time an opponent of public charter schools tries to cast me as some sort of ogre who hates children, this story will be sure to come up...

Creativity in Chicago; Foolishness in Franklin

2005-06-06T14:03:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit the Namaste Charter School in Chicago. Namaste is a new venture, an independently-run public school serving kindergarteners and first graders in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. The students are a mix of Mexican-Americans and Eastern European -Americans.

What makes Namaste interesting is its innovative approach to the curriculum. The Namaste approach includes a strong emphasis on total wellness, including extensive physical education time as well as basic nutrition education. In addition, the school has a bilingual track that has the potential to break down many of the cultural barriers that have bedevilled the south side community.

Chicago gets it. By encouraging innovative ventures such as the Namaste School, Chicago officials are encouraging creativity, accountability, and parental participation in public education. When this happens, the community as a whole is strengthened.

Meanwhile, here in New Hampshire, we have to endure the idiocy of the Franklin School Board and its sleazy attempts to financially strangle the one public charter school in our state. It's increasingly clear that the Franklin officials are less concerned about supporting the aspirations of the children of their community than they are with perpetuationg a failed, stagnant educational-industrial complex. Sorry, guys, but whats good for the teacher's union and the school board isn't always what's best for the kids. Knock off the nonsense, do the right thing, and let the Franklin Career Academy stand or fall on its own merits.

The Sorry Spectacle

2005-06-06T10:18:00.000-04:00

When small-town Republican drones start invoking Adam Clayton Powell as their defense, it's time to wonder which side of the looking glass we're on...

Because of a previous committment (and a non-refundable airline ticket), I was unable to make the Chandler expulsion vote last Wednesday. Let me go on record as saying that I supported the effort to remove Chandler from office.

Gene Chandler clearly and unequivocally violated the public trust. The unreported "corn roast" funds he accepted from lobbyists and trade associations are tantamount to bribes, nothing more and nothing less. When a public official puts the welfare of connected interests ahead of the public good, it's bad enough; when he does so in an effort to enrich himself financially, it's even worse.

Frankly, I don't care how nice a guy Chandler is; I don't care how long he has "served" the people of Carroll County; I do care about the integrity of our legislative process. Allowing Chandler to remain in office shows that the NH House is a fundamenally silly and unserious body that lacks an appropriate respect for public integrity and the rule of law.

Oh, and that standing ovation? Pathetic. That's the sort of out-of-touch idiocy that should cost the apologists for corruption at the ballot box next year.

Disturbing Google Search of the Week

2005-05-20T11:40:00.000-04:00

Apparently, someone was referred to this humble blog by a Google search for "photo of Rep. Bob Clegg".

To which the question beckons:

DEAR GOD, WHY???

Justice for Crime Victims

2005-05-19T11:43:00.000-04:00

This morning, the New Hampshire state senate passed HB 329, establishing the Crime Victim Employment Leave Act.

This legislation will allow victims of crime to take unpaid leave from their job in order to attend court proceedings and meet with police and prosecutors. Under current law, there is nothing to prevent an unscrupulous employer from firing an employee because he or she missed work to attend to the after-effects of crime.

When crime victims are unable to attend court proceedings, it becomes impossible to punish the criminals. When this happens, they are free to commit new crimes against new victims. By protecting victims and their families, we can make sure that justice is done. That's an important step for both the individuals involved and the community as a whole.

Video Piracy

2005-04-12T13:55:00.000-04:00

This morning, those of us on the Criminal Justice Committee heard testimony on legislation tightening existing laws against video piracy. The new law would allow police to arrest individuals who bring a recording device into a theater for the purpose of recording a movie, presumably to make copies for resale on DVD or via internet download.

If anyone has had any experience with this sort of activity, please let me know your thoughts. I'd especially welcome input from members of the arts community.

Slots strike out!

2005-04-11T22:36:00.000-04:00

The state senate has killed a bill that would have brought slot machines to New Hampshire's race tracks, transforming them from tracks to casinos.

The senate is to be commended. This was a bad idea from the start.

The last thing NH needs is casino-style gambling. It's a nasty business. Communities that have legalized slot machines have seen dramatic increases in personal bankruptcies, divorces, business failures and crime. Any potential incease in state revenue is more than offset by the social costs.

And corruption? Let's just say that when the gambling industry moved into New Orleans a decade ago, the corruption was so rampant that it shocked even the usually unflappable New Orleanians. Enough said.

He's Baaack!

2005-04-08T23:45:00.000-04:00

I had planned on posting an extensive recap of the legislative death march of the last week and a half, but the unfortunate after effects of some funky egg salad took my out of commission for a while.

Stay tuned for this weekend's posts on all of the fun that has transpired since we last left our intrepid heroes...

Crime Victim Leave Moves Forward

2005-03-23T08:55:00.000-05:00

The Crime Victim Employment Leave Act is one step closer to becoming law. Yesterday, the House Labor Committee voted to reccomend passage of the bill by a resounding 15-1 margin.

Thank you to the members of the Committee, to the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the NH Police Association, the Department of Labor, and the Attorney General's Office of Victim-Witness Assistance for their help and input in crafting the legislation.

Martel's voting roadblock

2005-03-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

There's a nice op/ed piece by NH Young Democrats president Amanda Grady over at NH Insider. Amanda takes Sen. Andy Martel to task for his bill requiring photo identification before being allowed to cast a vote on election day. This is one of those ideas that sounds good at first, but falls to pieces on closer examination.

Click above for a link to the article...

Of Cockroaches and Orange Badges

2005-03-21T18:26:00.000-05:00

Antone who has spent time in the subtropical latitudes of Louisiana or Florida has at some point experienced the joys of flicking on a light and seeing our friend the cockroach scurry out of harm's way. It isn't pleasant, but at some level you are glad you at least know the nasty suckers are there.

Not to compare Concord's orange-badged lobbyist corps to cockroaches, but the same dynamic applies in the legislative process. It's probably impossible to completely eradicate the problem of special interest influence, but to the degree that we can shine some light on the process, there is at least some hope of managing the situation.

The House Election Law Committee is still pondering HB 621. HB 621 would require lobbyists to dosclose any gifts or campaign contributions they make to political candidates, while simultaneously requiring the candidates to provide an itemized listing of these donations. As you might have figured out, the double-disclosure requirement forces lobbyists and candidates to hold each other accountable.

If you'd like to move this bill along towards passage, shoot an e-mail to these folks:

Rep. Mike Whalley, Chairman, House Election Law Committee:
michael.whalley@leg.state.nh.us

Rep. Richard Drisko, Committee vice chairman:
driskorb@aol.com

Rep. Jim Splaine, Ranking Democrat:
jimsplaine@aol.com

"Education on the Q.T."

2005-03-21T18:16:00.000-05:00

The Concord Monitor has a very thoughtful editorial on the state of charter schools in New Hampshire (link above). Since the ConMon has not heretofore been a big charter advocate, this just might get some of my Democratic friends to provide charter schools with the resources they need to thrive. If anti-charter education officials decide that making an ideological statement is more important than helping kids already in alternative schools, then something is dramatically amiss.

Money quote:

"Clearly there is room for any lawmakers and state education officials inclined to give charter schools a real try to step up and provide leadership. It's too soon to cast judgment on the fledgling enterprises under way. But it's safe to say their chances of success will increase if the state embraces the experiment wholeheartedly".

Amen...

George Kennan

2005-03-18T11:55:00.000-05:00

George Kennan, one of the prime architects of the containment policy, has died at the age of 101.

Kennan understood the need to be tough yet smart, to be strong yet willing to talk. In a day when foreign policy debates too often generate into "yee-hah" versus "not our problem", we would be wise to remember the legacy of Kennan and his colleagues.

Attaboy, Governor!

2005-03-18T11:29:00.000-05:00

Congratulations are in order for Governor Lynch. The Governor has been named "New Democrat of the Week" by the Democratic Leadership Council.

The DLC cites Gov. Lynch's efforts to enhance workforce development and to strengthen New Hampshire's manufacturing sector.

Combine this with a creative approach to the school funding situation, and it is becoming apparent that we have a governor who "gets it", who understands the need to develop new ways of conducting business in a thoughtful manner. After two years of non-stop scandals and political grandstanding, this is a refreshing change.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!

2005-03-17T10:09:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day, or as my cousins in Roscommon would say, Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh.

As someone who is 100% second generation Irish-American, I really don't have a lot of patience for the whole green beer and plastic leprechaun hat routine. Too often, it obscures much of the real beauty and dignity of Irish culture, and warps it into a marketing gimmick for a few stateside breweries.

Nonetheless, I want to welcome everyone who chooses to be Irish, if only for a day...cead mille failte! I have just one request. Please, for the love of god, don't play "Danny Boy" or "The Unicorn Song". Remember, there is a reason God created the Dropkick Murphys and The Pogues.

Ethics, Post-Chandler

2005-03-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

If any good came out of the fall of former House Speaker Gene Chandler, it is a renewed focus on ethical standards of conduct in the legislature. For too long, the relationship between legislators and lobbyists has been distressingle informal, and standards of conduct disturbingly lax.

The Election Law Committee held hearings on a number of proposals yesterday, including my bill, HB 621. This bill would require candidates to itemize contributions from registered lobbyists on their campaign finance reports, and would require lobbyists to file an itemized statements of all gifts and contributions with the Secretary of State's office.

The purpose of this measure is to bring some transparency and accountability to the process. The average citizen does not know the names of the lobbyists who patrol the halls of the State House. The campaign finance reports are currently of little help; it is easy to disguise a lobbyist's donation by listing their occupation as "lawyer" or "consultant", thus raising no red flags. If a candidate is willing to accept money from someone with a vested interest in the outcome of specific legislation, then they should be willing to let their constituents know the facts. By providing this information, we can make it possible for people to learn if their elected officials are representing the public interest or some special interest.

Happy St. Patty's Day to you, too, damn it!

2005-03-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

From the "Nice timing, guys" department:

The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee has voted to kill my bill to establish March as Irish-American Heritage Month. Apparently, the Yankees and French-Canadians aren't too keen on we sons of the ould sod staking such a claim.

I hereby order that all members of the ED&A Committee be barred from every watering hole in the western hemisphere tomorrow...

Let the frivolity commence

2005-03-16T14:58:00.000-05:00

It appears that Andrew Cline, the editorial page editor at the Union-Leader, either suffers from a severe case of cranial-rectal inversion or was born without a sense of fun.

In this morning's UL, I was taken to task for my sponsorship of a resolution honoring Manchester's minor league baseball team, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The Fisher Cats, a class AA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, won the 2004 Eastern League championship.

Mr. Cline believes that those of us who support a resolution recognizing the team's accomplishments are not taking our legislative duties setiously. This is rather interesting, since I am usually accused of taking these responibilities too seriously and too wonkishly. Accusations of frivolity are something new. I suppose I must be lightening up in my old age.

At any rate, for Mr. Cline's edification, I have sponsored legislation to:

Revise the charter school approval process
Provide employment leave for crime victims
Establish a research and development tax credit
Study the feasibility of a non-emergency 311 system
Reduce mercury in landfills
Establish a commission on economic independence
Provide free admission to state parks for members of the National Guard
Provide economic incentives for businesses to utilize alternative fuel vehicles
Modify the scope of injuries admissible in a victim impact statement

Frivolous, huh?

More Mush From The Wimps

2005-03-03T10:45:00.000-05:00

There are only about a dozen school districts in the United States that do not provide public kindergarten. All of them are in New Hampshire. Curiously, several of the districts are not impoverished mill towns, but leafy, middle-class suburbs.

For years, fitful efforts have been made to expand kindergarten statewide; former Gov. Shaheen managed to greatly increase the number of districts providing kindergarten, an achievement for which she deserves considerable praise. Unfortunately, the political culture of New Hampshire is such that the final hurdles may be the highest.

The Concord Monitor reports that the state Board of Education is backing away fom its policy of support for universal kindergarten. Now, doing the wrong thing is nothing new in the halls of NH government, but what is disturbing about this development is the Board's rationale.

Board member David Ruedig didn't mention substantive problems with universal kindergarten; he didn't cite a study analyzing the cost-effectiveness of such programs; he didn't even mention the usual problem, funding. No, he had a new excuse.

JLCAR.

JLCAR (pronounced "JELL-car") is the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules. JLCAR is the quintessential inside-baseball panel. The committee's function is to serve provide oversight over administrative rulemaking by state agencies, covering areas ranging from education to the sale of Jack Daniels at the state-owned liquor stores.

Evidently, the old-line conservatives on JLCAR are fussing about the Board's policy, claiming that it amounts to a backdoor attempt to circumvent the legislative process. The fingerprints of Sen. Bob Clegg, the senate majority leader and determined foe of all that is in the state's best interest, are all over this mess.

It should be noted that it is the refusal of characters like Clegg to support a workable school funding system that creates the lion's share of the problem for local districts that are attempting to get kindergarten off the ground. Perhaps this is inadvertent; more likely, it is a state level version of Grover Norquist's cryptolibertarian "drown the baby" campaign to eliminate any useful role for government.

With a few exceptions, the Board members are rolling over and backing off from support for universal kindergarten. Score this one a victory for the "don't just do something, stand there" crowd that still holds too much influence in Concord.

Standards? We neeed stinkin' standards!

2005-03-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

One encouraging development from this past weekend's meeting of the nation's governors is a multi-state initiative to raise high school academic standards.

Gov. Lynch states in this morning's Union Leader that New Hampshire will not participate in the existing 13 state project, citing his desire to seek local input first. While I am glad that the governor seems to be moving in the right direction, I hope that his approach does not lead to "paralysis by analysis". As the seven year effort to get a charter school off the ground demonstrates, NH's educational establishment views change about as enthusiastically as it views a head cold.

Still, the issue of tough standards is back on the table, and that is a critical development.

Let the debate commence.

The Return of Crime Victim Leave

2005-02-25T14:15:00.000-05:00

For the last several years, I have been working to pass legislation to grant victims of crime guaranteed unpaid leave from work. This would allow victims to meet with law enforcement officials and attend court proceedings without fear of losing their job because they have missed too many days. Under current law, a crime victim has no such legal protection, and should they be fired, their only alternative is to file a civil suit. Obviously, this is not a sensible state of affairs.

House Bill 329 is modeled after a similar law in Arizona. Gov. Janet Napolitano was a champion of this sort of legislation when she served as her state's attorney general. Providing leave for crime victims is both tough and compassionate. It is tough, because it allows prosecutors to do their job, without fear of losing a critical witness due to workplace pressures. It is compassionate, since it allows a victim to pursue justice and achieve some sense of closure, without the shadow of potential unemployment hanging over his or her head.

HB 329 is currently in a Labor subcommittee, where we are making some changes to certain portions of the bill. Thanks to some smart work by legislators of both parties, it appears that we might be able to build bipartisan support for the measure. NH has a solid record of supporting victim rights, and passage of this bill would be a solid addition to that legacy.

Grandstanding vs. Principles

2005-02-23T12:18:00.000-05:00

Perhaps no issue is more fraught with peril than that of abortion. It is an issue that touches upon concerns of a religious, philosophical, political, constitutional and ethical nature. In an ideal world, all issues relating to the unborn would be handled with the utmost degree of sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world.

A bill was brought before the Criminal Justice Committee recently that addressed the matter of unborn children killed during the commission of a crime. new Hampshire law already considers such offenses to be crimes, covering them under the Assault statute. The bill under consideration would have dramatically changed the situation. It would have had the effect of converting any offense that resulted in the death of a fetus into a homicide. Obviously, this raises major questions of due process and other constitutional concerns.

Sadly, the sponsors of this bill, Reps. Packy Campbell and Fran Wendelboe, were thoroughly uninterested in working with the committee to devise an alternative approach to their concerns. Rather than crafting a constitutional compromise built around the existing law, they chose instead to take their own severely flawed (and politically dead-in-the-water) bill to the full House.

Why? Wouldn't it have made more sense to give a little to achieve most of your policy aims? Well, that's common sense, and we are now in the realm of political grandstanding.

It appears that Rep. Wendelboe is more concerned with having a provocative, hot-button issue on which to call a roll call. This way, she can put moderate Republicans and Democrats on the hot seat, forcing them to cast a vote which is inevitably going to leave everyone a little queasy.

It's time to grow up. As a Democrat who has on several occasions parted with the party line on abortion-related issues, I find this sort of stunt appaling. I try and take a measured and thoughtful approach to issues of this magnitude. When matters of deep moral import are reduced to a checkmark on someone's silly scorecard, we as a society are the poorer for it.

The Continuing Adventures of Techno Jim!!!

2005-02-16T19:44:00.000-05:00

Wherein we find our brave hero Jim Splaine-state rep, former state senator, former city councilor, and veteran Democratic activist-waging a valiant battle to figure out how to use the HaloScan comments feature...

Keep trying, Jim, we want to hear from you!

(oh, and if anyone can help Jim figure the Comments out, please lend him a hand!)

"But I'm not dead..."

2005-02-16T19:36:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the light posting these last few days. Between a heavy committee schedule, moving my law practice to a new home, and fighting off a midwinter cold, time has been scarce.

I'll be back with some thoughts on the state budget, crime victim rights, and abortion politics. That ought to make sure I will offend just about everyone.

Susan McLane, 1927-2005

2005-02-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

Former state senator Susan McLane of Concord died at a Concord hospice center.

Sen. McLane was a tough and tenacious fighter for the causes she believed in, yet always handled herself with civility and dignity. The NH political community will be a lesser place without her presence.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Sen. McLane's family. Last year, I had the pleasure of getting to know Susan's daughter, Ann McLane Kuster, through the Kerry campaign and as a result of tapping her knowledge of NH adoption law. Ann's dedication and good heart are a testament to the mother who raised her.

Hack Attack

2005-02-10T10:09:00.000-05:00

No, not the computer sort, though the state government server was hit with one this week.

Rather, I am talking about political hacks, the party-first, substance-optional apparatchiks of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. These folks have decided to make life difficult for independent voters, a group that outnumbers both Democrats and Republicans herein the Granite State.

Yesterday, the NH House passed legislation that imposes new roadblocks for independents who wish to participate in a primary election. Under the current system, an independent voter can enter the polling place, request a Democratic or Republican ballot, and, after a few minutes of life as a member of that party, return to Independent status on the way out the door. It's simple and uncomplicated, and it helps avoid scenarios where a voter finds themself "trapped" in a party.

The bill passed by the House yesterday would require independent voters to wait 90 days before they could change their affiliation. It's a silly, pointless bit of bureaucratic buffoonery that can only make independents feel even more detached from the process than they already do today.

The bill's backers would have us believe that this would foster party loyalty and cohesiveness. This is an excercise in wishful thinking. Demographic and political trends have been chipping away at the old party system for decades, and a goofy attempt to lock voters out via bureaucratic boondoggles isn't going to change that.

Personally, I welcome the role of independents in the primary system. Independents play a key role in tempering the angry, polarizing tendencies of some partisans, and force the parties to address the needs of the larger electorate, not merely those of favored special interest groups.

The real motivation here is an attempt by hyperpartisans from both sides of the aisle to remove an unpredictable x-factor from the political arena. Too many party ultraloyalists resent the role of independent voters because these voters refuse to adhere to the agenda of the regulars. It is no surprise that the folks who backed this measure were by and large people who backed Bush over McCain and Gore over Bradley. If Watergate was about following the money, this is about following the election returns...

Education Funding, Chapter XXXVIII

2005-02-08T20:25:00.000-05:00

Gov. John Lynch has entered the school funding fray, and based upon what I have seen so far, he seems to have come up with a sensible and creative approach to New Hampshire's perennial policy headache.

In the decade since the state Supreme Court's Claremont decision, the ed funding debate has degenerated into a theater of the surreal. Towns such as Amherst and Bedford, which have among the highest incomes in the country, have been designated "property poor" receiver towns, Manchester has seen its fortunes rise and fall with every change of the political winds, and efforts at addressing other education policy concerns have been tossed into cold storage while everyone bickers about the dollars.

Fortunately, the Lynch plan is an attempt to move the debate in a new direction. Whereas previous funding plans have focused on either the "donor town" vs. "receiver town" discrepancies or on blatant right-wing efforts to return to a pre-Claremont mythical utopia, the Lynch plan introduces what is being called the Education Equity Index.

The equity index uses a range of factors to direct aid towards communities that show the greatest needs for resources. The factors take into account a city or town's fiscal capacity, based upon median income and equalized property value; "classroom challenge" factors, which refers to socio-economic considerations such as the number of English as a Second Language students and the number of students receiving free or reduced school lunches; and performance factors, which is the use of test scores, graduation rates and post-secondary matriculation to track a school or district's real-world status.

The details still need to be placed on the table, and no plan ever survives the process intact. However, by making performance and student needs part of the equation, Gov. Lynch has moved the debate in a positive and refreshingly new direction.

From the Sunday Papers

2005-02-06T13:54:00.000-05:00

PoliticsNH's James Pindell reports on John Edwards' speech to a NH Democratic Party fundraising dinner in Manchester last night. Money quote:

By the end of the night State Rep. Bette Lasky, (D-Nashua) was recalling a similar speech Edwards gave in front of the same group in October 2002.

“He is much more polished now and I think he’d have a lot more support from the establishment if he were to run again,” Lasky said.

And just how is this is a positive?

Tom Fahey's "Under the State House Dome" column reports that Gov. Lynch will unveil his education funding proposal. Thus far, details about the Lynch plan have been hard to come by, but Fahey indicates that the plan will use a targeted aid formula based upon property values and median income. This probably bodes well for Manchester, but as is always the case with ed funding issues, the devil is in the details.

Not Even Close

2005-02-06T13:03:00.000-05:00

With or without T.O., it won't matter. The Patriots are going to win this evening, and it isn't going to be close.

Patriots 37
Eagles 10

We're # 48! We're # 48!

2005-02-01T10:58:00.000-05:00

The Government Performance Project has released the results of its state-by-state report cards, and the results aren't pretty.

New Hampshire received a grade of C, whcih places it at number 48, beating out the two states that drew a C- grade.

One of the ironies of this ranking is the fact that NH received poor marks for its information management processes. NH is perhaps the most techno-savvy state in the country, with an ungodly percentage of our residents employed in IT, softweare and related fields, and yet we seem to have enormous trouble when it comes to using technology to spur better governmental management practices.

I am glad that this survey was made public. There is a myth that NH is a utopia of frugality and efficiency, when we actually careen back and forth between being cheap and being foolish. The near absence of performance-based criteria is a long standing source of irritation for me and many of my colleagues. The end result is a system where the debate degenerates into "you hate children" versus "your a big spender", with little or no discussion of the actual substance of the underlying policy issues. It's insular, small-bore silliness. We can do better, and it is high time to demand as much from our elected leaders.

(Tip of the hat to Greg Wythe for the link!)

Meanwhile, back in Concord...

2005-02-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

It's a relatively quiet week at the State House. There is no House session, and many of the committees are concentrating on subcommittee work or briefings by policy experts. The Election Law Committee is the exception, as it continues to hold hearings on a number of new bills, with all of the grace and dignity of a Tijuana cockfight.

Homecoming Update

2005-02-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

The 172nd Field Artillery homecoming will take place on Wednesday, February 2nd at 2 PM at the NH Army National Guard Armory on Canal St. in Manchester.

Today's Union Leader features a few short interviews with members of the 172nd, including one with SSG Larry Dube. SSG Dube is tat rarest of characters, someone who served in both the Vietnam and Iraq conflicts. I had the honor of serving in a battery fire direction center with SSG Dube, and I can say with confidence that he is a good man and a damn good NCO, someone who was always willing to assist not only the privates and Spec-4s who served under him, but the Lieutenants and Captains who (theoretically) served over him.

Welcome home, and have fun in Florida...

"Profiles in Courage" this isn't...

2005-01-29T13:26:00.000-05:00

From Kevin Landrigan's column in the Nashua Telegraph:

Quote of the week

“I’m the Darth Vader who spoke to the mayor of Manchester.’’
- Verizon lobbyist Erle Pierce playfully confesses he’s the one who last year helped convince Mayor Robert Baines to back off support of legislation to let cities and towns apply the local property tax to telephone poles and wires.

This is pathetic. The mayor never contacted the members of the Manchester legislative delegation to discuss this issue, yet he rolls over like a puppy for a lobbyist looking to preserve special-interest goodies for his client. For this sort of nonsense, Manchester taxpayers are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to a politically-connected law firm to monitor legislation? Where is the disgust?

UPDATE:

From Riley Yate's "City Hall" column in this morning's Union Leader:

"Aldermen are considering a quirky formula for increasing the mayor's pay beyond its current $68,000 a year".

Nice timing, guys.

From the "I'm Not Making This Up" File

2005-01-28T01:17:00.000-05:00

It sometimes seems that the Bush Administration's most amazing characteristic is its ability to transform the merely banal into the sublimely riddiculous. Take this little tidbit, courtesy of Salon.com:

"One day after President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries to stop hiring commentators to help promote administration initiatives, and one day after the second high-profile conservative pundit was found to be on the federal payroll, a third embarrassing hire has emerged. Salon has confirmed that Michael McManus, a marriage advocate whose syndicated column, "Ethics & Religion," appears in 50 newspapers, was hired as a subcontractor by the Department of Health and Human Services to foster a Bush-approved marriage initiative. McManus championed the plan in his columns without disclosing to readers he was being paid to help it succeed".

Ethics & Religion?

Welcome Home, 172nd!

2005-01-28T01:13:00.000-05:00

For ten years, I served as a member of the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. My final year of service was with the NH National Guard's 172nd Field Artillery. Thus, you can understand why I am breathing a deep sigh of relief now that the 172nd is back on American soil.

Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq, I hope that you will recognize that the men and women serving overseas have performed their duties with courage and professionalism.

Many of us in NH have had many a nervous moment over the last year. We have friends, neighbors and family members (in my case, all of the above) serving in a dangerous place. We have prayed for their safe return; now, it appears that we have cause to be relieved and grateful.

I don't know if they will have a chance to read this, but let me offer a salute to SFC David Beecher, PFC Corey Finnigan, and my former partners in crime at the Milford Armory. Well done, and welcome home.

A formal homecoming is being planned for next week; the initial word is that it will occur on Wednesday at the State Armory in Manchester. As soon as I receive concrete info, I will be sure to pass word along.

NH Says No To Hate

2005-01-27T15:17:00.000-05:00

At today's hearing on the far right's effort to repeal NH's hate crimes law, public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the initiative.

Citizens from various walks of life, black, white, gay, straight, Republican, Democrat, Sox fans and Yankees fans, all stood together to say that New Hampshire is a place that does not and will not condone hate and violence.

Of course, a few people didn't agree. For the mosrt part, testimony in support of the repeal came from a handful of ultraconservative legislators who are clearly out of tune even with their own party. The only lobbyist to back the repeal was from Gun Owners of New Hampshire, and frankly, he did his organization no favors by associating law-abiding sportsmen with this sort of right-wing nonsense.

On the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the people had a chance to state loudly that hate can never again trump the rule of law. You did just that, and this legislator says thank you.

Punk Donkey?

2005-01-27T15:15:00.000-05:00

Ed Kilgore is quoting the Sex Pistols. My reputation as America's most eccentric New Democrat is now in jeopardy.

If Andy Rotherham starts quoting lyrics from X's "Under the Big, Black Sun", then I will really start to worry...

Evan Bayh Hits The Bullseye

2005-01-26T09:59:00.000-05:00

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh's assessment of Condi Rice is dead-on accurate. From today's Indianapolis Star:

Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana said Tuesday that he would vote against elevating national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to secretary of state because the Bush administration has to be held accountable for mistakes in Iraq.

"I believe that she has been a principal architect of policy errors that have tragically undermined our prospects for success," said Bayh, one of the earliest Democratic supporters for Bush's decision to invade Iraq...

Bayh said the mistakes in Iraq couldn't be ignored. In his view, they include not planning for the aftermath of the war, not having enough U.S. troops, disbanding the Iraqi army and disqualifying members of Saddam Hussein's political party from serving in the new government.

"This is no ordinary incompetence," Bayh said Tuesday on the Senate floor. "Men and women are dying as a result of these mistakes."

Hate Crimes

2005-01-25T20:50:00.000-05:00

If you want to take a stand against those who seek to divide rather than unite, and if you want to send a message that New Hampshire is no place for bigotry, intolerance and hate, then come to Concord on Thursday morning.

The House Criminal Justice Committee will be holding a public hearing on House Bill 136, which would repeal NH's existing sentencing enhancements for crimes committed out of hostility to a victim's race, creed, or sexual orientation.

Let's be perfectly frank. This effort has everything to do with gay and lesbian Granite Staters. Too often, people seek scapegoats, and with the often emotional fallout from the Gene Robinson and Mass. gay marriage controversies, many of our gay and lesbian neighbors find themselves being targeted by individuals with a different agenda.

If we repeal our state's hate crimes provision, we are sending a message that we are not serious about standing up to the forces of hate and ignorance. I know that the people of NH are better than that, and I hope that people will let their representatives and senators know that they will not stand for rolling back the clock on matters of tolerance and justice.

The challenges we face in this day and age are tremendous. We will only rise to the challenge when we include everyone as a full and equal member of the American (and New Hampshire) family.

The Absolute Worst "Best Albums" List...Ever.

2005-01-25T20:37:00.000-05:00

Apparently, a web site called AskMen.com (which seems to be sort of a vaguely male version of Cosmo) has decided to compile a list of the Top 200 albums of all time. They really should have spared us the effort. Click the topic to see the carnage for yourself.

There are the usual no-brainers on the list. "Exile on Main Street", "Nevermind", "Sgt. Pepper", "Achtung Baby", and "The Wall" show up on these sorts of lists all the time, as do the requisite works by Dylan, Marley and Van Morrisson. After the usual suspects, the list quickly heads off into the realm of the surreal.

Consider this simple fact: the list includes Tesla and Skid Row.

That's right, "The Joshua Tree" didn't pass muster, but Tesla's "The Great Radio Controversy" is deemed a classic.

Other strokes of genius include Foreigner, Temple of the Dog, and Billy Joel's "Piano Man". Meanwhile, there is no sign of REM's enormously influential "Chronic Town", Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road", the Waterboys "Fisherman's Blues" or anything by the Ramones or X.

And don't even ask how they ended up calling Cheap Trick's "Live at Buddokan" a "soft rock" album.

If this is greatness, I will choose to dwell proudly in mediocrity!

Pigskin Pick

2005-01-22T19:04:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know this is way off-topic, but it's my blog, damn it...

Patriots 20
Steelers 6

Eagles 24
Falcons 10

I predicted Pats-Iggles back in August, and I'm not changing my tune at this point!

Coming Soon to a Legislature Near You

2005-01-22T18:49:00.000-05:00

Friday was "Sign-Off Day" at the State House. This is the day when legislators must officially sign the paperwork approving blls for introduction to the House or Senate.

The legislative web site doesn't have the text for most of my bills up yet, but full information shoudld be available within the next few days.

In the meantime, here are the bills I am sponsoring or co-sponsoring, with a quick description of what the legislation seeks to accomplish:

2005-H-0024-R relative to mercury reduction.
Sponsors: (Prime) James G Phinizy
David L Babson
Howard C Dickinson
Peter M Sullivan
Jim Ryan
Sylvia B Larsen
Peter H Burling
Margaret W Hassan

2005-H-0101-R
HB103 making an appropriation to the department of education for charter schools.
Sponsors: (Prime) John B Hunt
John R M Alger
Clair A Snyder
Peter M Sullivan

(This bill had a hearing before the House Finance Committee this past week)

HB76 revising the process of charter school approval by the state board of education.
Sponsors: (Prime) John B Hunt
John R M Alger
Clair A Snyder
Peter M Sullivan

(This bill was heard by the House Education Committee this past week)

2005-H-0149-R establishing a research and development tax credit against the business profits tax.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan

(Reps. Pete Hinkle and Steve Michon are working on something similar, so the bills might end up being consolidated; stay tuned)

2005-H-0150-R establishing the crime victim employment leave act.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan

2005-H-0151-R establishing a commission to study the feasibility of establishing a statewide non-emergency 311 telephone system.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan

2005-H-0152-R establishing a commission on economic independence.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan

2005-H-0153-R requiring disclosure of gifts and campaign contributions by lobbyists.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan

2005-H-0154-R commending the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on their championship.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan
Timothy E Easson
(Tim and I disagree on damn near everything, but we are both F-Cats fans)

2005-H-0155-R proclaiming March as New Hampshire Irish American Month.
Sponsors: (Prime) Peter M Sullivan
Martha Fuller Clark

2005-H-0566-R relative to provisions for permissible contact between the agent of a defendant subject to a protective order and a plaintiff.
Sponsors: (Prime) William V Knowles
David A Bickford
Tony F Soltani
Peter M Sullivan
Margaret W Hassan
Peter H Burling
Sheila Roberge

(This has to be the weirdest set of co-sponsors I have ever seen)

A bit of good news for Manchester

2005-01-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

Manchester Airport officials announced that the airport enjoyed its tenth consecutive year of growth in passenger boardings. The facility experienced an 11% increase in traffic during 2004.

MHT's continued growth is almost unheard of in the current climate, so kudos are in order. The Manchester airport has succeeded in large part because it has rejected the negative and insular mindset that permeates many of Manchester's municipal institutions. Kevin Dillon and his crew have shown business savvy, marketing smarts, and a committment to keeping their eyes on long-term goals.

Well done, ladies and gentlemen!

People Unclear On The Concept

2005-01-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

From Wednesday's Concord Monitor:

"A possible link between the Lakes Region Greyhound Park and a five-state, $200 million illegal gambling ring has done little to blunt some lawmakers'enthusiasm for legalizing slot machines in New Hampshire".

"Two of the Belmont track's executives were indicted last week on federal money laundering charges that they transferred illegal wagers through a Concord-based business on behalf of a mob operation".

Yes, folks, we now have the Gambino Family mucking around Belmont, yet a handful of legislators still think that gambling is a splendid idea.

Brilliant.

The Return of the Smoke Filled Room

2005-01-19T21:10:00.000-05:00

Earlier this evening, a group of self-appointed Democratic movers and shakers held a secret meeting at the Manchester law office of attorney John Kacavas. This meeting was supposed to be kept from the public, but sometimes, people have more friends than others suspect.

The convener of the meeting is Rob Werner, a lobbyist for the Lung Association, and an individual who clearly wants to be viewed as a major player in Democratic Party affairs. Evidently, Rob believes that the way to do this is to hold closed-door mettings to annoint chosen candidates without those pesky voters getting involved in the process.

If the last election taught us anything, it is that cronyism and cliqueishness makes for bad politics and bad policy. The Benson Administration's proclivity for engaging in governance-by-golfing partner wreaked havoc on our state. If we Democrats are willing to simply swap one group of backroom politicos for another, we will have ceded the moral high ground.

It is time for NH Democrats to become a party of reform, a party that is open to new faces, new ideas and new approaches to politics. Ours must be a party that embraces Deaniacs and DLCers, Teamsters and software developers. Not everyone will agree on every issue, and believe it or not, that's a good thing. Let's have a spirited debate on the issues.

The days of backroom bullying have passed. I challenge my colleagues in the Democratic Party to wake up to this reality and change their ways.

Charters and Chump Change

2005-01-18T14:20:00.000-05:00

The House Finance Committee today heard testimony on legislation to appropriate $1,000,000 towards charter schools. I am a co-sponsor of the measure.

For reasons I have never quite fathomed, the NH political establishment has never quite figured out the whole idea of public charter schools. Too many Democrats base their opinion on questionable data provided by the NEA, while too many Republicans are simply resistant to innovation and change of any sort. Combine paleoliberalism wth paleoconservatism and you have the perfect formula for bad policy.

Fortunately, things are slowly moving in the right direction. Last year's legislation to allow the NH Department of Education to directly authorize charters was a critical step towards breaking the obstructionism of some local school boards. This year, the debate turns to that hardy perennial of NH politics, funding.

Rep. John Hunt has introduced a bill to appropriate funds towards charter schools. Currently, charters are dependent on a combination of federal and state grants, a per-pupil share of state adequacy aid, and whatever private funds a given school can secure. With the high costs associated with the start-up of a school, the per pupil funds aren't really able to cover actual costs. Hopefully, Rep. Hunt's bill (of which I am a co-sponsor) will help alleviate the problem to a certain degree.

MLK

2005-01-17T13:52:00.000-05:00

Letter from a Birmingham Jail
http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/letter.html

RFK Indianapolis Speech:
http://members.iquest.net/~reboomer/kensp.htm

Sleep, sleep tonight
And may your dreams be realised.
If the thunder cloud passes rain
So let it rain, rain down on he.
So let it be.
So let it be.

Sleep, sleep tonight
And may your dreams be realised.
If the thunder cloud passes rain
So let it rain, let it rain
Rain down on he.

U2, "MLK" (from the 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire)

Dirty Money Talks

2005-01-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

The Union Leader reports that executives of Lakes Region Greyhound Park have been indicted for running a $200 million illegal gambling operation in cahoots with the Gambino organized crime family.

This is bad enough, but it gets worse. The owners of the track have been sharing the wealth with members of the New Hampshire political community.

According the published reports, the track donated to Tom Colantuono's 1996 congressional campaign. Colantuono is now the US Attorney for New Hampshire. Amazingly, Colantuano will not commit to recusing himself from the case.

In addition, the track bosses have made numerous contributions to the NH Democratic Party over the past decade, and they have "invested" heavily in state senators from both parties.

Some of the recipients of Lakes Region's generosity are the usual suspects (Lou D'Allesandro, Tom Eaton), but others, such as Sen. Iris Estabrook and Sen. Dick Green, generally know better.

So, here is my challenge to the politicos who have taken money from these jokers. Don't give the money back. Give an equivalent amount to a social service agency that treats gambling addiction. Lakes Region's money is dirty money, and it is time to make a statement that we neither want nor need their influence in state government.

More on Noise

2005-01-14T08:29:00.000-05:00

HB 68 had its public hearing yesterday. This legislation has two components.

The first part expands the definition of the types of noise for which an individual could be cited for disturbing the peace.

The second section does away with the existing requirement that a third person, i.e., someone other than the police officer and the alleged noisemaker, lodge a complaint. Under the revisions contained in HB 68, a police officer would be considered a reasonable person for purposes of determining whether the noise was problematic.

As someone who has had to endure the "Elm Street Serenade" of throbbing car stereos and Harleys with modified pipes, I welcome anything that helps law enforcement get a better handle on the problem.

My only real misgiving was with language that defined offending noise not only as loud and unreasonable, but "unusual". This is dangerously vague. I own a few albums by Black 47. Black 47 is a band from New York that plays a mix of funk, hip-hop, alt rock and traditional Irish folk. By any fair definition, this is unusual. However, I don't think that playing "Funky Ceili" or "Forty Shades of Blue" should, in and of itself, saddle me with a violation.

I was named to a subcommittee that will work on the bill next week, and it is probably safe to say that this overly vague provision will be removed. There are a few other relatively minor wording changes that the Attorney General's office suggested as well. In all probability, we should have this bill cleaned up and out of committee before the end of January.

Let me extend a word of thanks to Assistant Attorney General Anne Rice, Goffstown Police Chief Mike French and Manchester Police Captain David Mara for their advice and suggestions.

Cum On Feel the Noize

2005-01-13T08:41:00.000-05:00

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hear testimony today on a bill addressing the ongoing problem with loud car stereos and straight-pipe motorcycles in residential neighborhoods. As a resident of downtown Manchester, this issue hits close to home, for the obvious reasons.

I'll post a quick summary of the hearing this evening.

Woman of the Week: Deb Pignatelli

2005-01-13T08:33:00.000-05:00

Competitive bidding...what a concept!

After two years of frenzied rubber-stamping, it appears that the Executive Council is finally taking its job seriously. The council, whose duties include reviewing and approving all state contracts over $5,000, spent the Benson years largely rolling over and playing dead. By shirking their duties, the councilors contributed to the overall atmosphere of cronyism and corruption that has pervaded the State House.

Thankfully, Councilor Deb Pignatelli is holding everyone accountable. Pignatelli is opposing any sole-source contract and any retroactive contract. Good for her. Someone is finally forcing the council to actually review the cost and competence factors inherent in the contracting process, and that is a development that is long overdue.

Something new to worry about

2005-01-12T20:14:00.000-05:00

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A father and his teenage son were charged Monday with attacking a man with a sword and threatening him with a gun.

Carlos Santiago, 38, and his son, Carlos Santiago Jr., 19, were accused of attacking a 20-year-old man in October. The victim was cut on both arms.

The DNC Chair's Race

2005-01-12T15:00:00.000-05:00

I am going to step away from legislative matters for a moment to offer my take on the ongoing race for chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

The conventional wisdom is that the race is between former Vermont governor Howard Dean, New Democratic Network president Simon Rosenberg, former Indiana congressman/9-11 Commission member Tim Roemer, and Democratic operative Donny Fowler. Others in the running include former Michigan governor Jim Blanchard, former Denver mayor Wellington Webb, and former Texas congressman Martin Frost.

Dean strikes me as an unsuitable choice for party chair. The job of the DNC chair is to unify the assorted factions within the party, to fund areas of common ground and to craft a message that Democrats can unite behind. While Dean does a good job of firing up the liberal wing of the party, he has been remarkably antagonistic and patronizing towards Democrats who disagree with his ideology. He continues to paint members of the Democratic Leadership Council as "Republican Lite" or "the Republican wing of the Democratic Party". Such characterizations are not only inaccurate, they are childish. The last thing the party needs is a self-righteous, ideologically-driven boss who wants to marginalize Democrats whose views are actually closer to those of the rank and file.

I admire Tim Roemer. He is smart and principled, and has demonstrated an ability to win in a "red state". My only concern is that Roemer would have enormous difficulties dealing with party activists. The qualities that I find appealing (a realistic approach to national security, a moderate approach to abortion issues) could be toxic for many in the party. He could end up antagonizing Deaniacs just as Dean annoys centrist Dems such as myself.

Simon Rosenberg is probably the best option. Rosenberg served as a staffer at the DLC during Joe Lieberman's chairmanship of the group, and later worked with Lieberman to found the New Democrat Network. His New Democrat Network has performed valuable work for the Democratic Party by helping candidates craft an appealing, mainstream message and by launching a smart Hispanic outreach program. He has "street cred" with much of the liberal blogosphere, despite his New Democrat pedigree. He might be the only man in America who can both oe Lieberman and Howard Dean to return his calls. Rosenberg couples a solid New Dem approach to policy with a willingness to utilize creative new approaches to grassroots organizing and fundraising. His skill set is the best match for the job of leading a 21st century political party.

Thanks, Andy!

2005-01-10T11:43:00.000-05:00

Let me extend a special welcome to folks who came here via Andrew Rotherham's Eduwonk blog. Eduwonk is a smart, independent-minded and often irreverent source of information about education policy, and is well worth a visit!

http://www.eduwonk.com

A Good Start

2005-01-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

It's official. John Lynch is governor.

If you are looking for soaring rhetoric and grand vision, then Lynch probably isn't your guy. But his inaugural address did touch on the crucial issues of public ethics and fiscal responsibility, two things that were in short supply during the Benson administration.

Gov. Lynch's initial steps, such as requiring greater disclosure by executive-level staffers, are worthy and long overdue. Hopefully, they will begin the process of doing away with the insulated "Planet Concord" mindset that too frequently pervades New Hampshire's political culture.

I have filed legislation that would require lobbyists to report not only there direct lobbying expenses, but also any campaign contributions they make to candidates and committees. In addition, candidates would be required to clearly show any donations from lobbyists. Under the current system, it's easy to conceal such special interest goodies as contributions from "attorneys" or "consultants". It's deceptive, and it needs to change.

Gambling in NH?

2005-01-07T17:28:00.000-05:00

It seems that every legislative session brings with it a new attempt to bring casino gambling to New Hampshire. This year is no exception, as Sen. Lou D'Allesandro is once again leading the charge for slot machines at the racetracks and North Country hotels.

Casino gambling in NH is a bad idea whose time will hopefully never come. In state after state, the presence of casinos has sparked an increase in crime, in personal bankruptcy filings, and in political corruption. The casino industry is a nasty, Mob-influenced creature, and we don't need it mucking up our state.

Now, I know some folks think that casino revenue is a quick and easy way to fill the state's coffers. I don't buy that argument. If someone honestly believes that gambling meccas like New Jersey and Louisiana are the epitome of responsible budgeting, then they are in for a rude awakening. Casino gambling has never lived up to its hype as a revenue source, and the increased social costs that are inherent in its expansion largely offset any short-term financial gains.

Lynch Inaugurated

2005-01-07T17:26:00.000-05:00

Prior work committments kept me from attending Gov. Lynch's swearing-in at the State House yesterday, but once I have had a chance to read his remarks, I'll be back with my take on his address and his agenda.

Welcome!

2005-01-05T20:20:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my legislative blog!

Over the coming months, I will use this forum to keep you up to date on the latest news, commentary and occasional pointless gossip from the New Hampshire State House.

I am new to blogging, so please be patient while I learn the ropes...