House rejects gambling

Tom Fahey reports in the Union Leader that the House rejection of the Senate's gambling proposal sets up a tense final day for budget negotiators:

The House move set up a stalemate on finding new revenues. After the House vote, the Senate responded by blocking both a House effort to bring forward an estate tax, sometimes called a death tax, and a capital gains tax. The capital gains plan exempted gains from sale of a house worth up to $500,000, and up to $10,000 on other investments for a couple.

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, prime sponsor of gambling bills over the past decade, stood firm saying, "I will not raise taxes in a recession."

He said later he'll stick to that stance when talks resume today.