NH Representatives Respond to Phantom Congressional Districts

Adam Krauss at Foster's Daily Democrat has gotten reaction to this week's news of massive errors in the Recovery.org database from New Hampshire's two Representatives in Congress.

Matt Robison, chief of staff for Rep. Paul Hodes, D-Concord, said "there's no question that this was a serious mistake and an example of sloppy record-keeping by the administration and Paul Hodes believes we need real answers and an accurate picture of the situation that working families are facing."

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-Rochester, said the typos were discovered because of the "unprecedented level of transparency and disclosure" at Recovery.gov. "While it is unacceptable for Recovery.gov to have any typos, I am pleased that the administration is working to immediately correct them," she said.

No reaction yet from the Congressman from the mythical 4th, 6th, 27th, and 00th Districts.

Welcome to the NH Blogosphere

Adam Krauss has done a fine job covering New Hampshire politics for Foster's Daily Democrat. He wrote some outstanding stories on the revenue sharing debate in this year's budget. Now, he's started his posting political tidbits on a new blog called Soundings.

'Cash for Clunkers' a federal headache for local dealers

Adam Krauss reports in Foster's Daily Democrat that local car dealers are not enjoying their encounter with federal bureaucracy:

he trade-in rebate program — which promises $3,500 or $4,500 rebates on new vehicles in hopes of getting fuel-efficient cars on the road — requires that motorists show proof of insurance and that they have owned the vehicle for at least one year. The problem, lawmakers say, is that New Hamsphire doesn't have a mandatory insurance law.

But that issue only scratches the surface of the program's "chaotic" rollout, as put by Peter McNamara, president of the state's Automobile Dealers Association.

"I don't know of a single dealership who has successfully submitted a claim," he said. "One dealership has 50 deals stacked up" in the office waiting to be processed. (more)

Fosters- "N.H vehicle registrations could soar"

Adam KRauss writes in Foster's Daily Democrat about the increased fees New Hampshire drivers would face to pay for this year's spending increases in the budget.

It will cost $30 more to register vehicles weighing up to 5,000 pounds, said Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, vice chair of the House Public Works and Highways Committee. Today it costs $31 to register a car up to 3,000 pounds and $43 for a car between 3,001 and 5,000 pounds.

Registration fees would increase by $45, $55 and $75 depending on the weight of other vehicles, he said. Lawmakers were eyeing a $15 registration hike.

Motorcycle drivers would not escape the increases, as their registrations would rise by $10 and trailer registrations would go up between $5 and $10, Campbell said.

School Building Aid Back in Budget

Before yesterday debate on the state budget, Adam Krauss of Foster's Daily Democrat took a look at the Senate Finance Committee's decision to restore more than $80 million in school building aid cut by the House:

The House's budget proposal didn't include the aid after the chamber's Public Works Committee cut it from the capital budget over disagreements with Gov. John Lynch's plan to fund it with bonds.

The Senate version pays for the aid through the operating budget and increases the proposal that was before the House by $4 million.

"We did it because we have affection for the local taxpayers," committee chairman Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, said of the increased amount.

Without the funds, local property taxpayers would have to pay more to ensure districts pay off construction and building bonds that were already taken out, which the aid supports, he said.

The Senate budget still cuts municipal revenue sharing under Chapter 31-A, but does not suspend Rooms and Meals revenue sharing as originally proposed by Governor John Lynch.

Area school districts stand to lose more than $4.3m in state building aid

Adam Krauss of Foster's Daily Democrat explores how much seacoast school districts stand to lose should the Senate adopt the New Hampshire budget, and the cut in Building Aid, as approved by the House:

Twelve local school districts stand to lose more than $4.3 million combined if the state Senate doesn't restore school building aid after the House passed on it, a new study shows.

The impact has superintendents upset at the possibility, to the point one raised the potential for a lawsuit.

"I'm deeply troubled by what appears to be another reneging on a promise that the state has undertaken with local school districts that goes back many, many years now," said Dover Superintendent John O'Connor. "School districts across the state will be lining up to take the state to court" if the promise isn't fulfilled.

You can also read our full report on Building Aid by school district online.