Capitol Insight 2011

            With the beginning of the 2011 legislative session in Concord, another year of Capitol Insight, presented by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, also begins.  As in the past, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green and Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group are proud to sponsor this service of the Chamber, and to provide weekly commentary.  The commentary is meant to explain, analyze and provide comments on actions in Concord.  Sometimes, readers may disagree with what the analyst of the week says, but part of the reason for the analysis is to make readers think about what lawmakers are doing.

            The November elections significantly changed the make-up of the legislature, eliminating Democratic majorities in both houses, and replacing them with lop-sided Republican majorities, with nearly 75% of the House of Representatives and 19 of 24 members of the Senate from the GOP.  Senator Peter Bragdon is the new Senate President, and Rep. William O'Brien is the Speaker of the House.  Each has named a leadership team, the House one especially conservative, but with many experienced legislators involved.

            Governor John Lynch was sworn in on Thursday, to a record fourth 2-year term.  Democrat Lynch will face new challenges working with the legislative leadership.  He did well in his first term when he worked with Republican majorities, but the present ones are much more conservative and larger than those earlier ones.

            Lynch presented his inaugural address after being installed.  It was a vintage Lynch presentation, seeking to find what unites both parties, paying tribute to firefighters, soldiers, New Hampshire's first "Madame Chief Justice" and his family.  He also wove caution into the speech, reminding legislators of the danger of too much change in a system that seems to be working.  Among the points and proposals made in the speech were:

• Many of the issues facing us are non-partisan and all should remember that.
• Facing challenges now should always keep in mind the ramifications of present solutions on the New Hampshire and citizens of the future.
• New Hampshire has a present strategy that is working and that has resulted in the fastest growing economy in the nation, with one of the lowest unemployment rates.
• New Hampshire has the lowest state taxes in the nation, is the safest state, and is rated as the best state in the nation in which to raise children. We must not abandon the policies that have made these things possible.
• We must keep New Hampshire taxes low and not have a sales or income tax.
• The research and development tax credits instituted last session should be doubled this year.
• The accomplishments in job training must continue to provide a strong and capable workforce available to new businesses.
• Roads and bridges must continue to be improved and repaired, but there is insufficient money available to complete the present 10-year Plan to complete I-93 and other projects.  The Governor welcomed new ideas on how to provide such funding.
• A new revolving loan fund for local road and other infrastructure projects will be proposed, to allow localities to complete needed projects and provide jobs.
• Broadband connectivity should be extended throughout the state.
• New Hampshire must be made the #1 Business Friendly state-the accessibility of officials is noteworthy-a one-stop service center for businesses to deal with state government will be proposed.
•  50% of the state budget is state aid to local government and 20% is direct payment for healthcare for the most vulnerable so "reductions should not come at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens."
•  Government reforms must be instituted to improve efficiency and that should include online services and energy efficiency as has been accomplished already.
• A balanced budget will be presented when he presents his budget message later in the session.
• The budget will contain needed investment in technology so the state can be more efficient.
• Environmental regulations should be examined to see which are out-dated and what new ones may be needed to protect the environment for future generations and to keep New Hampshire a desirable place to visit and live.
• Consumer laws need to be strengthened to restore the authority of the Attorney General to protect all consumers from business fraud.
• Education gains must be preserved including universal kindergarten, the improved drop-out rate (which should be reduced to zero), and online classes in public schools, alternate methods and credit for non-classroom activities instituted.
• The formula for education funding should be adjusted to prevent the return of "donor towns" and a constitutional amendment is required to do so and one will be submitted.
• The prisoner release and probation law passed next year should have needed amendments for increased supervision and flexibility for the Parole Board.
• The rising cost of healthcare requires us to change how services are delivered and what is rewarded-we need to reward providers for keeping people healthy and assure preventative care.
• In order to protect our water supply, he will issue an executive order establishing a clean water commission.

            Immediately following the speech, and predictably, Democrats found much to like in it.  Republicans found areas of common ground, but lamented the failure to propose solutions to the looming state budget shortfall, recognized by all as a major issue.  Republican leaders face a dilemma, since they ran for office on fiscal issues and hope to focus on them. However, already they are faced with a number of social issue bills and proposals, have taken action on the somewhat peripheral issue of the right to carry concealed weapons in the State House, and have raised the issue of a Democratic state representative who also is executive director of the Democratic Party somehow violating the constitution because he has spoken out on issues and thus, allegedly, violated the prohibition of legislators "advocating causes."  Likewise, the Governor's prowess will be tested when dealing with "veto-proof" Republican majorities. Each New Hampshire citizen has a stake in making sure all our representatives in Concord work together to find solutions and do not spend their time seeing how divisive they can be.