Live Blogging the Budget- 3pm Session

We'll start a new trend at 6:00pm.

You can catch up on earlier decisions in the early afternoon thread.

5:37- Housekeeping- I don't mean to belittle thousands of dollars in programs that effect thousands of New Hampshire residents, but the Committee is going through some smaller, less controversial items before entering the home stretch. I'd estimate that with the changes already made today, the Committee is still $50 million to $75 million out of balance, though I might have missed a few million.

5:06- New Revenue Estimates- DRA Commissioner Kevin Clougherty has arrived with the latest revenue estimates. He estimates changes in business taxes would bring in $20 million more over two years, an additional $8 million from the increase in the Rooms and Meals Tax, more money from the higher tobacco tax, and small increases in Interest and Dividends, Real Estate Transfer, and Utility Property Taxes over the estimates in the House and Senate budgets.

Remember that it was two years ago that budget writers used last minute increases in the revenue estimates to justify their 17.5% spending increase. Rep. Norm Major warned at the time that those revenues would never materialize, and they didn't.

Rep. Steve Vaillancourt has had a quick look at the estimates, and tells NH Watchdog that at first glance, "those don't look too bad." He says Leadership "may have learned their lesson" from two years ago.

4:54- Charter School Cap repealed- The Committee has restored $6.6 million that would have been cut from state aid to Charter Schools by capping enrollment at 850 students next year. As reported by the Josiah Bartlett Center, this cap would have kicked hundreds of New Hampshire students out of their schools. Repealing the cap will enable small charter schools by taking in next year's classes of students, who had already been accepted to start in the fall.

4:44- NH Press Corps is a fire hazard- Chairman Marjorie Smith has admonished us not to set up cameras in the doorways. Channel 9 has had a camera in the doorway most of the week, but it's only become a problem today. The hearing room is packed, and the Committee has put extra staff chairs where TV cameras have been placed in the past, leaving little room to document the Committee's actions.

Steve Vaillancourt also points out that veteran State House Reporter Kevin Landrigan is on furlough from the Nashua Telegraph this week, and AP legend Norma Love is home recovering from a weekend biking accident, leaving the State House press corps even thinner than usual.

We shall remain vigilant throughout the day, and try not to get in trouble with the Fire Marshall.

4:34- Building Aid- The Committee is back in session, and discussing whether to pay for Building Aid through the budget, or borrowing the money through bonding.

4:10- Berlin Senator John Gallus tells NH Watchdog that he expects to remain on the Conference Committee "as long as there's hope" for the two North Country casinos he supports.

4:05- Time to pull the trigger- A high-ranking state official tells NH Watchdog that it's "getting close to the time to pull the trigger" and remove pro-gambling Senators off the Conference Committee in order to a unanimous agreement.

The Committee remains in recess as its members caucus privately.

4:00- The Associated Press reports that a coalition of New Hampshire health care providers are seeking an injunction to prevent lawmakers from raiding the Joint Underwriting Association for $110 million.

Traditionally, courts don't intervene in legislation until it's been passed, and the aggrieved party can show harm, but if the injunction is granted, it would blow a huge hole in the budget. As it stands, House and Senate negotiators are about $190 million out of balance.

Thanks to NH Political Report for the tip.

And we're back.

And we're caucusing. Lots of rumors in the hallways, but nothing to report.