Lawmakers argue for JUA Raid

In the Concord Monitor, State Senators Deb Reynolds and Lou D'Allesandro make the case for the state's seizure of the surplus premiums in the Joint Underwriting Association. They are not convincing.

So let's look back at the role of the Legislature and its goals in creating the JUA- to preserve access to health care by providing doctors with a more affordable malpractice insurance option. This goal was accomplished, and premiums were set at a level to avoid undercutting the private market entirely.

Do we now use the excess that's accumulated in the JUA to pay a windfall dividend to lucky policyholders who already received malpractice insurance at fair market rates? Or do we reallocate the money for the very same public good - access to health care - that we originally sought to address by creating the JUA?

The only reason such a large surplus exists is because the state's insurance commissioner has refused to refund the excess premiums to JUA members, as established under the law, arguing that returning the excess premiums would disrupt the private malpractice insurance market. The state's case, which has already been eviscerated by Judge Kathleen McGuire, is that they needed the money to provide health care services. But there is nothing in the budget, other than some wishful rhetoric, to apply the JUA money towards health care programs. The Legislature took the money because it wanted it to balance the budget. Lawmakers have tried to justify the seizure of private property under the classic "We Know Better" defense.

D'Allesandro voting against budget

Charlie Arlinghaus reports that Sen. Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) will vote against the $11.6 billion state on Wednesday.

Governor John Lynch is urging lawmakers to approve the package, but with a 14-10 Senate majority, Democrats can not afford to lose more than one Democratic vote, or must convince one more more Republican Senators to support the package of spending and tax increases. The budget vote is the House is also expected to be close.

D'Allesandro voiced his opposition to the budget while a guest on WSMN's "On the Air with Jennifer Horn".

Can this budget pass the Senate?

In the Concord Monitor, Lauren Dorgan starts counting to 13 to see if the New Hampshire budget headed to the floor on Wednesday can win approvel in the State Senate:

One sign of trouble: Senate President Sylvia Larsen of Concord had to replace not just the committee's Republican, as is normal on conference committees (which must, for goofy ceremonial reasons be unanimous). She had to replace two Democrats, as well - three-fifths of the conference committee. Neither Lou D'Allesandro of Manchester, who has vowed to vote against this budget, nor Kathy Sgambati of Tilton signed the report.

Pro-Gambling Senators Speak Out

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro led a group of six pro-gambling Senators in a press conference calling for a "non-taxpayer based" revenues source for the state budget. The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and lead negotiator for the Senate in budget negotiations has been taking a hard line that gambling must be included in any budget he supports.

D'Allesandro, flanked by Senators Peggy Gilmour, Bette Lasky, Michael Downing, John Gallas, and Betsi DeVries, presented a plan to raise $205 million from casino-style slot machines at the state's race tracks and in the North Country.

D'Allesandro's says his plan would produce a $55 million surplus, which would be used to address Charter School or other cuts made to the budget. His plan also includes:

• State employe furlough
• Additional 1/4 point increase in the Rooms and Meal Tax, slated to go 8.75%
• Direction to the Governor to cut $15 million in each of the next two years

D'Allensandro said he would not accept a compromise offered by Senator Kathleen Sgambati, which would allow a single expanded gambling license to Rockingham Park. D'Allesandro said he was in favor of economic development for the entire state, and repeated his pledge to oppose any budget that does not include some form of his plan. Gallus, who has long pushed for a pair of slot parlors in the North Country, also opposed any effort to limit slot machines to Salem. However, Manchester's Lasky said she was open to compromise, but still preferred expanded gambling across the state.

D'Allesnadro said he would not take himself off the Committee of Conference. All Conference Reports must be unanimous, though Senate President Sylvia Larsen could remove any holdouts to a final budget agreement. Larsen has sat through most of today's negotiations, and at one point sat in when Sgambati is out of the room.

Governor John Lynch has been holding private discussions with key lawmakers throughout the day, but D'Allesandro says he has not been taken aside yet.

"I'm felling a little slighted. The Governor hasn't taken me into a room. What am I going to do?" D'Allasandro joked. "You know, my wife does that to me sometimes."

The clock continues to tick down as the Committee faces a Thursday deadline to pass the two-year, $11.5 billion back to the full House and Senate. However, Committee Chair Marge Smith has the power to "stop the clock" and hold off that deadline as long as necessary to get a deal done. Both Smith and D'Allesndro hope to avoid a Continuing Resolution, which would allow New Hampshire government to remain open should the Legislature fail to pass a budget by the end of the Fiscal Year on June 30th.

Concord Monitor- "Reps turn down plan for slots "

Lauren Dorgan reports on the second to last day of budget negotiating, and says that the House rejecting of gambling doesn't necessarily mean the Senate plan is dead:

House and Senate negotiators stopped work about 11 p.m. last night on the $11.5 billion, two-year budget, which they are supposed to finish by noon today. A number of issues large and small remained unresolved, including a proposed enrollment cap at the state's charter schools, the fate of union-prized seniority protection for state workers known as "bumping rights" and which of the state's district courts they would close.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, the chief sponsor of the Senate-backed gambling plan, vowed that his fight was not over and said he would not vote for a budget that didn't include gambling.

"I'll be the last man standing," said D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat who's been pushing for expanded gambling for a decade. His plan would sell licenses for 5,000 slot machines at Salem's Rockingham Park, 2,000 at each of the state's dog tracks and 2,000 at two North Country slot parlors.

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.

Mortgage Tax Gets Cold Reception

In the Concord Monitor, Lauren Dorgan covers yesterday's presentation by the Department of Revenue Administration. Commissioner Kevin Clougherty floated 11 ideas to raise revenues, but the two getting support from Governor John Lynch are extending the Interest and Dividends Tax on LLC's and taxing mortgage refinancings.

Dorgan reports opposition to the Mortgage Tax was strong:

Clougherty's refinance tax presentation, however, quickly attracted lightning bolts, with senators asking whether the tax would hurt those who are already struggling, whether it would increase the cost of home ownership and whether the revenue in the proposal could be relied upon. Gov. John Lynch's office has quietly vetted the refinance idea for a couple of weeks; the state Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Association came out against it Thursday.

"This has been floated for a couple of weeks now in the media, and I don't think I've talked to anyone anywhere" who likes the idea, said Berlin Republican Sen. John Gallus, who said he sees many people refinancing properties to keep their homes, send a child to college or pay for emergency home repairs.

Manchester Democrat Lou D'Allesandro panned the refinance tax idea after the hearing.

"That's the one I don't see. . . . I don't see it as an alternative when we have other alternatives that are better," said D'Allesandro, pointing to the plan he sponsored to allow a total of 13,000 video slot machines spread between the state's three horse and dog tracks and two North Country slot parlors. D'Allesandro estimates the plan would bring in $205 million for the state's two-year budget, which will total about $11.5 billion.

Dorgan- "Setting the stage for budget battle"

Lauren Dorgan pens a scene-setter in the Sunday Monitor for the three weeks of conference committee negotiations that will turn two very different proposals into the New Hampshire budget:

Heading into the budget negotiations, D'Allesandro, a 70-year-old, six-term senator and cheerily forceful man who sometimes shouts to underline his points - has had a clear message: The House must come around on gambling, or, as he calls it, gaming.

"I'll work till the eleventh hour to try to get it done," he said in an interview late last month.

Last week, D'Allesandro recounted to Senate colleagues his work 12 years ago on a gambling bill that passed the Senate and failed in the House. But, he told them, he doesn't see that as the story this year. "Different time, different story," he said. "Stars are beginning to line up, because we need something."

"The House has got to deal with one significant issue," D'Allesandro told the Associated Press. "The public supports expanded gambling."

The chief budget negotiator for the House, Rep. Marjorie Smith, who will chair the conference committee, has projected an air of calm and had a mantra of her own for the past several weeks: There will be a budget on time. And there will be a "third way," meaning revenue that neither involve gambling nor the House-backed estate and capital gains taxes that were nixed by Senate budget writers. (Gov. John Lynch's office has recently sent up test balloons on a couple of those: taxes on either real estate refinancing or limited liability companies.)

Gambling, to Smith's thinking, is not an option, because negotiators have to figure out a compromise that will pass the House and Senate.

"The House has never supported gambling, that has been their consistent position," Smith said in an interview last week, shortly after the Senate vote for gambling. She said she's seen no change: "I continue to hear from members everything from the dramatic 'I will not vote for a budget if it has gambling' " to the concern that "this will not be an alternative acceptable to the House."

Business profits tax hike survives Senate, but shrinks

Kevin Landrigan, who is allowed on the Senate floor, reports on the Senate's decision to approve double taxation of New Hampshire businesses, although only for one year rather than two:

At the 11th hour today, Manchester Democratic Sen. Lou D’Allesandro altered plans to take away for two years the suspension of a tax credit for the Business Enterprise Tax for companies that pay the Business Profits Tax.

"We heard loud and clear concerns about this so we would only do this in year two of the budget,’’ D’Allesandro explained.

The revised plan would take away the tax credit for only one year in 2011 rather than for both years of the two-year state budget.

The change created a $40 million hole in the two-year, $11.6 billion budget plan.

BET credit suspension plan draws fire

New Hampshire Business Review reports on the backlash from businesses facing double-taxation under the Senate budget:

The Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire has launched a “full-court press” to defeat a proposal passed by the Senate Finance Committee early Thursday morning to suspend the business enterprise tax credit against the business profits tax.

But the committee’s chair, Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, D-Manchester, said the suspension was temporary, better than alternatives and was subject to compromise.

“This is one of these difficult choices. We are in difficult economic times,” D'Allesandro told NHBR. “If everybody plays a role we might be able to get through and save some people’s services.”

D’Allesandro emphasized that the suspension in the credit, while “painful,” would be offset by the 10 years proposed to recoup any credits, as opposed to the current five. And it was preferable to a capital gains tax, the estate tax and putting off a planned decrease in the insurance tax -- all of which were contained in the House budget, but eliminated by the Senate Finance Committee.

The BIA opposes those taxes as well and argues that businesses already contribute enough. Any more could further damage a deteriorating economy.

The New Hampshire Advantage in Action

Kevin Landrigan looks at how the New Hampshire economy is fairing compared to our neighbors in the Nashua Telegraph:

The state's relatively limited revenue structure also means that while it was late going into a recession, New Hampshire is usually late coming out, too, D'Allesandro said.

New Hampshire and Alaska are the only states without either a state sales or income tax. When a recession begins to end and companies are hiring more workers, states with income taxes see a more dramatic increase in state revenues than New Hampshire does, he said.

"We are slow to go in and slower to come out,'' D'Allesandro said.

D'Allesandro's point in that state revenues are slower to recover here than other states, not our low-tax economy.

NH Senate cutting state budget

In this morning's Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan reports that Senate budget writers have pared back some of the increased spending approved by their House colleagues:

The dilemma facing Manchester Democratic Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, the chief budget writer, is twofold.

One, the worsening economy hasn't become better and that's bad for state revenues.

Two, as a result of one, for the second time this spring state officials told key legislators that their estimates for how many will need public assistance in the next two years has to go up.

Tilton Democratic Sen. Kathleen Sgambati told the Senate budget panel that those higher caseload estimates add $125 million in state spending to what the House had already figured on.

On Friday, Sgambati proposed a list of spending reductions totaling $95 million that would virtually strip away the added spending that the House had included in its plan over what Gov. John Lynch had first proposed.

Landrigan also outlines some of the specific programs that would see less state money, and handicaps the chances of casino-style gambling making it into the budget.

Weekend Roundup

Under the State House Dome, Tom Fahey leads with the state budget debate:

IT WAS ALL about taxes last week. The House's $11.5 billion spending plan for the next two years relies on existing taxes, higher taxes and new taxes.

And, Republicans were quick to charge, the good chance of higher property taxes on top of it all.

The House budget, passed by the Democratic majority, leaves a $133 million hole in local aid. That's a lot of money for local government to make up, and it has only one place to look:- property taxes.

Democrats argue the budget also increases aid to education by $123 million. That education money can't be used to plow roads or fix a town-hall roof. But it does offset some of the pressure schools used to put on property taxes.

An additional $37 million or so in local road funding also eases property tax pressures, Democrats say.

Lauren Dorgan gives State Senators a Easter present of not having to talk about controversial social issues by penning a preview of the budget debate in the Senate in her column in the Concord Monitor:

It being a holiday, I decided to give senators a little break from being cornered on social issues and instead checked in with them on the budget. Senate Finance has quite an interesting lineup: Manchester Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, the happy warrior for expanded gambling, chairs the committee, backed up by spry vice chairman Harold Janeway of Webster, a leading anti-gambling voice.

Asked if there are any absolute non-starters for him in the budget, Janeway said, "I don't think so. Because gambling isn't in the budget."

Says D'Allesandro, of all of the taxing measures: I'm not enamored with (the tax on gambling winnings), and I'm not enamored with the legacy tax, the estate tax," he said. "I'm enamored with non-tax revenue because I think that makes a lot of sense."
Where do you find that? "I find that through the expansion of gaming and the offering of the licenses to people," D'Allesandro said.

Neither man said he could predict whether the Senate Finance Committee would get behind gambling as a budget fix. "I'm not an oddsmaker," said D'Allesandro. "I'm a realist."

The one tax that won't have "any trouble," D'Allesandro said, is the 35-cent-a-pack cigarette tax, which he said is "pretty popular."

Both senators say that the first problem for the Senate is $83 million large - the school building aid money that Gov. John Lynch wanted to borrow. House lawmakers disagreed, stripping it from the capital budget - without adding it to the operating budget, saying that they hoped senators could find a way to finance the program.

In the Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan leads with the social issues, but also includes a history lesson on the 1990 budget debate when Republican Leadership pushed for higher taxes:

Here's what was in that 1990 tax package that went through when Stratham Republican Rep. Doug Scamman was House speaker, former lobbyist Bill Bartlett of Kingston was Senate president and the governor was current U.S. Sen. Gregg.

Cigarette tax: raised 4 cents per pack.

Liquor tax: a new fee of 96 cents per case charged to distillers.

Telecommunications tax: a new tax of 5 percent on telephone calls, replacing a state tax on telephone company real estate.

Beer tax: raised to 35 cents per gallon from 30 cents.

Room and meals tax: raised to 8 percent from 7 percent.

Gas tax: raised to 16 cents from 14 cents per gallon.

Real-estate transfer tax: raised to 6 percent from 4.75 percent, charged to both the seller and buyer.

Wine discount: cut the break for restaurants buying wine from state liquor stores from 20 to 15 percent.

Bingo tax: increased to 7 percent from 5 percent.

State park fees: increased 25 percent.

Corporate franchise fees: a new levy raising $2.3 million.

Lynch Calls for Spending Restraint, Green Jobs, and Federal Stimulus

By Grant Bosse
January 8, 2009

(CONCORD) In a speech filled with applause lines, but short of specifics, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch delivered his Third Inaugural Address in the New Hampshire House Chamber this afternoon. The Hopkinton Democrat warned the Legislature of a “budget challenge of unprecedented dimensions”, but did not set out his preferred solutions, either in terms of new revenues or spending cuts.

Republican lawmakers warned Lynch and Democratic budget writers two years ago that the revenue projections used to justify spending increases were unrealistic. But Lynch repeatedly pointed to the national economic climate as the reason for New Hampshire’s budget woes, rather than the 17.5% increase in state General Fund spending over the past two years.

“The national recession is having a dramatic impact on our state budget,” Lynch stated. “New Hampshire and states across the nation have seen significant shortfalls in revenue as this recession has deepened.”

Lynch called on Congress to quickly send aid to struggling states in the form of a stimulus package, drawing the first standing ovation of the afternoon from Democratic lawmakers.

“We need national solutions to this crisis. I urge the new Congress and President-elect Obama to act quickly to pass a stimulus package that will create jobs for our workers now,” Lynch said.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Lou D’Allesandro is also counting on Washington to help close New Hampshire’s budget gap.

“Clearly, the federal stimulus is an important ingredient in the package, and it’s incumbent on the Congress of the United States to work with the incoming President to get that done sooner rather than later.”

Former Republican Governor John Sununu will likely be the next Chairman of the Republican State Committee. He wanted Lynch to take more responsibility for the problems facing New Hampshire, rather than turning to Washington.

“I’m just surprised and disappointed that our principle strategy for dealing with the deficit is to wait for the federal bailout. I was hoping that we’d hear some specifics on reductions and so on, but there weren’t any,” Sununu said.

While not mentioning the size of the current budget gap, nor the structural deficit expected in next year’s budget, Lynch argued “this next budget cannot be balanced by tweaks and minor adjustments.” He promised to “examine every area of spending, look at every program, and say ‘no’ more often that we would like.”

Lynch also echoed his opposition to either a state sales or income tax, drawing his most enthusiastic response from Republican lawmakers. Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon led the only GOP-backed standing-O of the speech.

“We like the idea of no sales or income tax. We like the Governor’s idea of having to say no. We wish that we had said no to things in the last two years,” Bragdon said. “I’m disappointed though to hear that there’s no exclusion of other new taxes, and no exclusion of raiding the Rainy Day Fund to pay off the overspending of the last two years.”

While Lynch’s call for fiscal restraint meant with muted applause from the Democratically-controlled Legislature, it was his new spending initiatives that received the warmest response. Lynch unveiled a “Green Jobs Initiative” to be paid for from the proceeds of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The program would increase energy efficiency in state buildings, increases worker training programs, and create a low-interest revolving loan fund to assist New Hampshire businesses with energy efficiency or alternative energy projects.

“The Green Jobs Initiative will help create jobs for our people now, and make New Hampshire’s economy stronger for the future,” Lynch said to a chorus of applause. “Let’s help New Hampshire workers and businesses keep their competitive edge, and let’s keep good paying jobs right here in New Hampshire.”

Lynch did not say how much the Initiative would cost, though New Hampshire could receive $25 to $35 million a year based on the current cost of carbon dioxide allowances. Senate President Sylvia Larsen admitted that she hasn’t yet seen the details of the Green Jobs Initiative, but welcomes the approach.

“I think that was one of the highlights of his speech, and one which has potential both for people who might be out of work, but also for young people who are graduating who might see an opening for a career ahead of them,” Larsen commented.

House Minority Leader Sherman Packard also expressed interest in the program, providing that its cost doesn’t land on New Hampshire ratepayers.

“Anyway that we can get away from importing oil, and sending money overseas, to South America and Russia, is a great idea,” Packard argued. “But I’d have to see how he plans on paying for this, whether it’s on private people who would do this, or whether he plans on putting state money into this.”

The final third of Lynch’s address concentrated on education, congratulating New Hampshire for mandating public kindergarten in every community, and for defining an adequate education. Lynch also renewed his support for a Constitutional Amendment that would allow targeted aid to needy communities, but stopped short of lobbying the Legislature to put such an amendment on the ballot.

“I also recognize that there has not been a consensus in the Legislature on a Constitutional Amendment that would allow for that approach. I believe the discussion should continue, but we also need to meet our education responsibilities and build on the progress we have made,” Lynch added.

Lynch’s comments on education were just one area where Deputy Minority Whip Andrew Renzullo says the Governor has failed to govern.

“He was congratulating himself on the definition of an adequate education. Unfortunately, that’s a $100 million hole in the budget. What does he plan to do about it? Does he plan to come and say that we need a more reasonable definition of an adequate education?” Renzullo asked.

Republican leaders argued that Lynch’s address was another in a long line of speeches calling for bipartisan cooperation and problem solving, but lacking any clear direction. Packard says it’s time for the three-term Governor to step up.

“We still need to hear the details on how he’s going to solve the problem. This is the party in power. He’s the Governor. And we’re certainly willing to work with him, but it’s incumbent on him to bring forward his ideas on how we’re going to solve these problems,” Packard said.

Republican Representative David Hess didn’t think the speech lived up the moment.

“In these difficult times, unprecedented in the last 70 or 80 years, it’s disappointing that the Governor didn’t have any specifics about what the state can and should do to alleviate the economic conditions, to keep the unemployment rate as low as possible,” Hess argued. “These are extraordinary times, and they call for an extraordinary Inaugural Address.”

But Democratic leaders defended the speech, arguing that while it may not have contained specifics, it did set out Lynch’s priorities.

“The roadmap he presented was one which we will work to preserve the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, and to recognize the importance of maintaining public safety,” Larsen said. “In a time when we’re cutting other programs, those are critical needs that we’re going to work to protect as we look to cut back in state government.”

Larsen said Lynch struck a balanced tone between the somber economic times, and the ability of New Hampshire to rebound.

“Through green job growth, as well as job retraining, we can hopefully grow a new economy that is perhaps not exactly the same as in the past, but one which is forward thinking and moves towards new forms of energy, alternative energy, and jobs that relate to energy savings,” Larsen said. “I thought it was an upbeat message considering the economy we’re facing.”

D’Allesandro said he could easily summarize the Governor’s message.

“What he said was ‘Listen, we’ve got a problem, but we’ve got a great country. We’ve got a great state. And if we work together, we can keep these things going and we can bring success to the down economic situation,’” D’Allesandro concluded.

New Ideas, but No New Money

Dan Touhy writes in the Union Leader that state legislators are drafting 1,000 new bills for introduction this year.

Senator Lou D'Allesandro warns lawmakers not to expect new money to flow to their new ideas:

"As usual, people put in lots of legislation, but I don't think there will be any spending legislation," said Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "We're facing an economy that's down nationwide and very much in peril as we speak."

Under New Hampshire system, each bill will receive a public hearing, and at least the opportunity for an up-or-down vote on the House or Senate floor. Unlike Washington, bills can not be killed in Committee, or simply thrown in a drawer if Leadership finds it inconvenient. Such openness is commendable, but it does lead to the Legislature spending its time in interesting ways:

They deal with just about everything: Providing property tax relief, protecting the lead role of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, banning text messaging while driving, raising the state gas tax, and suspending a driver's license for the theft of gasoline.

A month after Michael K. Addison was sentenced to death for killing Manchester police officer Michael Briggs in 2006, lawmakers are pitching several ideas to reform, expand or abolish the state's death penalty law.

But scores of the proposed laws are of a decidedly lighter fare.

Make the Chinook the state dog?

Create a specific penalty for taking stones from one's stone wall?

Text of the legislative requests are forthcoming this month, but their subject titles may prompt some shrugs. A few culled from the list propose:

--Imposing a safari fee on big game hunting preserves.

--Urging the U.S. to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement.

--Examine the treatment of pregnant inmates.

--Require developers to create space for people to dry laundry without electricity.

A dozen or so call for naming buildings, roads or bridges in honor of someone.

One bill proposes renaming the Christa McAuliffe planetarium the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, after NASA astronaut and New Hampshire native Alan B. Shepard. Another would rename a bridge to honor Navy SEAL Daniel Healy, an Exeter man who died in 2005 while on a combat mission in Afghanistan.

The Most Popular Politician in New Hampshire

His popularity ratings would make John Lynch blush. His winning streak beats Ray Burton's. He was unopposed while unanimously winning a 17th term. He's Bill Gardner, and he will be New Hampshire's Secretary of State for another two years.

The House and Senate meet in Joint Convention at the beginning of each two-year session to elect two Constitutional Officers, Secretary of State and State Treasurer. State Senators Jack Barnes (R-Raymond) and Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) nominated Gardner to the post. D'Allesandro said that New Hampshire's elections are the best in the world, thanks to the work of Gardner and his staff.

Gardner was elected to the New Hampshire House in 1972, as a Democrat from Manchester. After two terms, he was elected Secretary of State by the House and Senate in 1976. As Secretary, Gardner probably oversees more elections every other year than anyone else on the planet. With 400 House Members, 24 State Senators, five Executive Councilors, a Governor, and ten full sets of County Officers, Gardner was responsible for over 1,500 candidates in the September Primary and November General election.

Gardner is also required by law to serve as defender of New Hampshire's First in the Nation Primary. The Legislature has given the Secretary of State broad power to set the date of the Primary, largely based on its confidence in Gardner. He is confident that New Hampshire will keep its First in the Nation status in 2012.

Barring a serious primary challenge to President-Elect Obama, the Democratic Party isn't likely to make waves with the nominating calendar. And the Republican National Committee amended its rules at the summer convention, cementing New Hampshire and South Carolina as the only Primaries that can be held before February 1st, 2012. Iowa, and perhaps Nevada, will hold an earlier caucus, but Gardner must only guard against elections similar to New Hampshire's, primaries that assign delegates to the national conventions.

Gardner's last act before signing nearly 500 election certificates is to administer the dozens of recounts requested each election year. This year, none of the recounts changed the results reported on election night. Years before the nation ever heard of hanging chads, Gardner moved New Hampshire away from punch card ballots. All cities and towns either count their ballots by hand, or use "Optiscan" ballots, which still require every voters to put ink on paper, and more importantly, leave a solid and traceable paper trail. Gardner says that the recounts showed a few problems at the ballot box this year, including one set of ballots that appears to have been entered into the machine twice, but that none of these errors affected the outcome of any election.

Final Fiscal

The Fiscal Committee has wrapped up what is likely their last meeting of the biennium.

Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Buckley submitted his resignation after ten years as the Legislature's top number cruncher. Fiscal Chairwoman Marjorie Smith (D-Durham) said that with Buckley, the House, Senate, and their committees were "served in the most exemplary way." The next Fiscal Committee will name Buckley's replacement after it is organized in January.

Two Fiscal members also said goodbye as Representatives Ken Weyler (R-Kingston) and Peter Franklin (D-Newport) were not re-elected. Senator Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) and Representative Neil Kurk (R-Weare) spoke on behalf of their departing colleagues.

I asked Rep. Smith about the fiscal challenges facing the next Legislature, compared to the budgets she has seen over the past 12 years.

"Anyone who knows anything about the state budget and its history expects the next biennium to be the worst we've ever seen. It continues to be my hope and certainly my intention to have everybody at the table to do the best that we can for the citizens of this state," Smith said. "This is too important to use the state budget for the purpose of gotcha politics."