New Hampshire Political News
Cancer centers drive hard bargains
Business pushed for big tax breaks As lawmakers decide whether to bend licensing and Medicaid tax rules for a new, private cancer treatment hospital, they may want to look to Georgia and Arizona, the center`s two newest locations.In both states, Cancer Treatment Centers of America negotiated deep local and state tax breaks before building and, in Georgia, succeeded in rewriti ...
Sunday February 5, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Officials back plan to move tolls south
Merrimack Proposal would cut 2 exit ramp booths State transportation officials endorsed a plan this week that would move the F.E. Everett Turnpike tollbooth five miles south to Merrimack, but would eliminate two exit ramp tolls in that town.The proposal, HB 1369, is the only way to prevent the loss of millions of toll recei ...
Sunday February 5, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Online courses for teen drivers debated
Traffic safety weighed against cost concerns Driver education has come a long way since Uncle Billy taught Don Gorman of Deerfield to drive. Gorman, who testified this week in favor of a bill to allow New Hampshire teens to take driver education classes online, said he learned all he needed to know before taking his road test from Uncle Billy, and besides a smack on the head when ...
Saturday February 4, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Cilley to announce gubernatorial bid
Ex-state senator will seek Democratic spot Jackie Cilley is running for governor, ending months of speculation and introducing competition to the race for the Democratic nomination.Cilley, a former state senator from Barrington, hopes to beat out former Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan of Exeter, who announced her candidacy in October, in order to replace Gov. John Lynch, the ...
Saturday February 4, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Sewalls Falls Bridge repair a state priority
ConcordThe replacement of Concord`s Sewalls Falls Bridge is moving up the state`s list of major transportation projects.The 1915-era bridge over the Merrimack River is slated to be replaced, and design work is under way now for a new structure that rehabilitates the existing bridge and adds a second one-lane span.But when the state Department of Transportation drafted its new 10-year capit ...
Saturday February 4, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Bill would mandate Bible study
All public schools would offer elective George Washington has a Biblical phrase etched on his tomb. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that all rights come not from a government or king but from a "Creator."These men and the other founding fathers of America were profoundly influenced by the Christian Bible, and in order to understand United Stat ...
Friday February 3, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Committee votes for sobriety
House panel backs police checkpoints A House committee voted overwhelmingly yesterday to kill a bill eliminating sobriety checkpoints in New Hampshire after members of law enforcement and the House`s Republican leadership spoke against the legislation.The 12-1 vote by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee recommends that the full House reject the bill when it comes ...
Friday February 3, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
GOP: Jobs are No. 1 priority
Bettencourt touts tough decisions House Republicans want you to make no mistake about it: Jobs are their No. 1 priority.For the second time this year, House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt held a press conference inside the Legislative Office Building to make that point, this time as he officially laid out his caucus`s 2012 agenda.Bettencourt said the Republican-controlled H ...
Friday February 3, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
PSNH opposes divestiture
Bill would force utility to sell plants Public Service of New Hampshire led an all-out assault yesterday against legislation that would force the state`s largest utility to sell off its power plants.When the Legislature restructured the industry a decade ago, originally PSNH had advocated for divesting from their plants.But now they oppose the move and warn it would lead to h ...
Friday February 3, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Proposal: Cut Department of Education
If New Hampshire truly ascribes to local control of schools, then what does the state need a Department of Education for?Nothing really, according to a bill proposed by a Grafton County Republican representative."Education takes place in local schools, not in offices," Rep. Charles Sova told the House Education Committee yesterday. Sova proposes eliminating the department and moving all its duties ...
Friday February 3, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
House votes to stand with Arizona law
Anti-illegal alien tuition bill passes The House took a stand against illegal immigration yesterday, voting to back Arizona in its immigration fight and demanding that New Hampshire college officials ensure no illegal aliens get in-state tuition.The latter measure passed 250-88 even though opponents said lawmakers have been given no evidence that the state`s colleges are gran ...
Thursday February 2, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Revised redistricting proposal moves ahead
The Senate passed an amended redistricting plan yesterday after lawmakers heard complaints about splitting Holderness and Plymouth into separate districts.Putting the neighboring Grafton County towns in the same district had a small domino effect on the 10-year plan crafted in recent months by the Republican majority. In order to keep populations about the same for each of the state`s 24 Senat ...
Thursday February 2, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Senate floats amendment
Wording for school funds revised anew Senate leaders weighed in yesterday on a sought-after constitutional amendment to the state`s education funding system by tweaking the proposal to the governor`s liking against the wishes of fellow Republicans in the House.An amendment authored by Senate President Peter Bragdon, a Republican from Milford, changes the House`s versi ...
Thursday February 2, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
House votes to save $26 million
Money would go to rainy day fund The New Hampshire House voted yesterday to sock away $26 million for a rainy day, while the governor argued the money should instead be used to balance the state`s current budget.In a 260-81 vote, the Republican-controlled House showed support for putting the surplus from the 2011 fiscal year into the state`s rainy day fund. The fund has d ...
Thursday February 2, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
House of Representatives deliberative session
Photo: From left, D.J. Bettencourt, William O`Brien and Shawn Jasper confer during Wednesday`s House of Representatives deliberative session at the State House; Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II ...
Thursday February 2, 2012 4:32AM | concordmonitor.com
Lynch pans Republican agenda
In last address, governor criticizes budget, political climate Embed multimedia (photos, galleries, audio, map): Lynch delivers State of the State Lynch delivers State of the State Lynch delivers State of the State In his final sta ...
Wednesday February 1, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
House bill mandates allegiance
Students would have to stand during Pledge Legislators seemed torn yesterday between their belief in America`s guarantee of individual liberties and their pride in the flag representing that guarantee.At issue, a bill proposed by Laconia Rep. Harry Accornero that would require all students in public schools to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. Accornero has been approach ...
Wednesday February 1, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Death penalty expansion D.O.A.
Committee suggests House kill the bill It`s unlikely the state`s death penalty law will be expanded to include murder during a robbery or murders that are "especially heinous, cruel or depraved." The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously yesterday to recommend the bill be killed. The recommendation still must go before the full House.Rep. St ...
Wednesday February 1, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
Lynch delivers State of the State
Photo: The Dartmouth Aires perform a medley of songs after singing the national anthem at Gov. John Lynch`s state of the state address to the combined legislature at the State House; Tuesday, January 31, 2012. The Dartmouth College a cappella group recently performed on NBC`s "The Sing-Off." C ...
Tuesday January 31, 2012 8:51PM | concordmonitor.com
Bill seeks to end sobriety checkpoints
Sponsors say stops violate rights Embed multimedia (photos, galleries, audio, map): New Faces of Merrimack County Representatives For different reasons, a bill doing away with sobriety checkpoints in New Hampshire has the backing of both constitutionally minded lawmakers and a D.C. trade group representing alcohol-s ...
Tuesday January 31, 2012 5:00AM | concordmonitor.com
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