New Hampshire has about five months to get its books in the black before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2009. Last fall, the state was an estimated $250 million over budget, mainly because it just didn’t bring in as much dough as it expected. Then, just before Thanksgiving, the Fiscal Committee approved several executive orders from Gov. John Lynch that saved about $175 million.
Last week, the House Finance Committee took on a chunk of the remaining $75 million deficit, and the full House will weigh in on their proposed cuts next week. Here’s a rundown of what’s in store.
January 24th, 2009 | Posted in agencies & departments,By the Issues,Commerce,Government,Health,health insurance,insurance,Medicaid,roads & highways,state budget,state employees,tolls & taxes,Transportation | Read More »
A pack of smokes with that bottle of booze? One NH bill up for public hearing next week proposes selling tobacco at certain state liquor stores. Meanwhile, a cluster of insurance laws are lined up together: If you can be charged more for bad credit, can a good education earn you a discount? Also, reinstating the stack, who pays for medical bills, and a would-be change in a law on public hearings gets changed in its own public hearing.
January 17th, 2009 | Posted in agencies & departments,bonds,By the Issues,Commerce,credit & credit ratings,Food & Drink,Government,Health,health insurance,insurance,liquor,liquor,Money,tobacco & cigarettes,tobacco & cigarettes | Read More »
The committees are made, bills introduced and seats assigned. The NH House and Senate took their formal start for 2009 on Wednesday, Jan. 7, one day before Gov. Lynch’s inauguration.
And there’s no time to waste, as public hearings start next week on the nearly 1000 bills up for debate this session.
House committees are scheduled to hear a total of 55 bills next week, while the Senate is looking at 12. Following is a short selection of bill titles with their prime sponsors, hearing dates, assigned committees and brief analyses.
January 10th, 2009 | Posted in abortion,bonds,By the Issues,courts,Government,Health,housing,Justice,Medicaid,mental health,Property,retirement,state budget,state employees,Work | Read More »
New Hampshire’s 161st General Court officially convenes on Wednesday, Jan. 7. It’s bound to be a fast-paced tumble of activity as items such as a North Country casino, a broad-based income tax, and even a new state dog come up for debate.
Starting next week, Front Door Politics will bring you weekly updates on topics like these and what Concord is doing about them. But, since the action hasn’t really started yet, we’ll take this opportunity to give a pre-session primer on the New Hampshire legislative process … in particular, how someone like you can make a bill become a law.
January 2nd, 2009 | Posted in By the Issues,Government,public hearings & public records | Read More »
