NH INSIDER

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

7:00 p.m. – Regular meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen; Aldermanic Chambers; One City Hall Plaza; Manchester

Please note that the Manchester Independence Day fireworks have been moved from Friday, July 3, to Sunday, July 5.

Please contact Mark Laliberte at (603) 624-6500 or mlaliberte@manchesternh.gov for more information about any of these events.

With 467,000 Jobs Lost in June, Shea-Porter Appears to be Exacerbating the Current Economic Recession

Washington- With June unemployment numbers painting a grim picture for another consecutive month, Carol Shea-Porter's support for her party leaders’ destructive economic agenda becomes more and more toxic. Shea-Porter supported the $787 billion ‘stimulus’ plan, which passed a mountain of new debt onto New Hampshire families and promised to create new jobs, but is yet to create any hint of economic recovery.

“Carol Shea-Porter needs to answer the simple question: Where are the jobs?” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “From the day she supported Nancy Pelosi for Speaker to her support of a trillion dollar ‘stimulus,’ Carol Shea-Porter continues to offer up failed policies that have accomplished little or even exacerbated the current economic recession. So far, Shea-Porter's only prescription for an ailing economy has consisted of deficit-spending and government growth, not job growth.”

Today, the Department of Labor announced that an additional 467,000 Americans lost their jobs in June. With New Hampshire unemployment already projected at 6.5 percent (May 2009), the national unemployment rate rose yet again in June and reached a 26-year high of 9.5 percent. How much worse can it get in New Hampshire?

According to the Associated Press, the nationwide unemployment increase is expected to continue for the foreseeable future:

“Even if companies slow the pace of layoffs, they will be reluctant to hire until they feel certain the economy is back on its feet. That's why economists are forecasting a continued rise in the unemployment rate over the next year. It's expected to hit 10 percent this year.

“Many think it could rise as high as 10.7 percent by the second quarter of next year before it starts to make a slow descent. Some think the rate will top out at 11 percent.” (Jeannine Aversa, “June Jobless Rate Seen Rising to 9.6 Percent,” Associated Press, 7/2/09)

As Carol Shea-Porter and Democrat leaders scramble to defend their job killing agenda, New Hampshire families are left to wonder: where are the jobs? And how much higher will unemployment rise before Carol Shea-Porter finally makes her constituents’ values a higher priority than Nancy Pelosi’s political agenda?

Thought you might all be interested (if you haven't already seen this report) in this budget info...thanks to Charlie Arlinghaus of the Josiah Barlett Center for Public Policy, a NH think tank. This report outlines at least 38 new taxes and fees.

Summary: So far this year, the legislature has passed 38 new or increased taxes and fees that are budgeted to raise $318.6 million over two years. For historical comparisons, there were 29 new taxes and fees passed in the previous two years. In previous legislative sessions, the low has been 9 in 2003-4 with 20 in both 2001-2 and 2005-6. The majority of tax and fee increases have been passed separately from the budget itself.

New Hampshire State Budget as of July 2009

Last week we had an unbelievably tight, down-to-the-wire fight in the U.S. House of Representatives over the massive Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade energy tax bill, the largest tax hike in American history and an unprecedented intrusion of the federal government into our economy and our lives.

Thank you so much for everything you did to give the side of economic sanity a fighting chance. Your calls and emails made a huge difference, and AFP members like you were clearly one of the driving forces last week.

We weren’t quiet able to win in the House (see how they voted here), but we’re confident that if we can keep educating and mobilizing regular common-sense Americans, we can beat this disastrous bill in the Senate.

Here are few reasons to be hopeful:

* Just two states, California (32) and New York (25) provided more than a quarter of the 219 total yes votes
* Democrats inseveral key targeted Senate states voted majority no, including Indiana (3 of 5), Arkansas (2 of 3), and West Virginia (2 of 2)
* Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, both statewide elected Democrats, vote no

Unfortunately, we also learned that the White House is willing to do anything to get this bill passed, including misleading and intimidating members. That means the Senate fight will be right down to the wire, and pressure from back home will be the only way to stop this from passing.

We also know the stakes, in the President’s own words:
"Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket."

There is no time to waste, so I’m asking you to please click here to send a strong message to your Senators to oppose this outrageous cap-and-trade bill.

Thanks for everything you do to make AFP great.

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) today announced the beginning of the statewide eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance season. The mosquito testing season runs from July 1 to September 30. In 2008, there were no identified human cases, one mosquito pool, and no animals identified with WNV, and there were no human cases, eight mosquito pools, and 1 animal identified with EEE.

“While no human cases of EEE and WNV were identified last year, these viruses were identified in the State in mosquitos and animals,” said DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas. “We need to remind residents that these diseases are preventable. It is essential that people follow the prevention steps, such as using an insect repellent, to avoid becoming infected by one of these viruses.”

Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. EEE is a serious disease that carries a high mortality rate for those who contract the serious encephalitis form of the illness. Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, and sore throat. A stiff neck is also a symptom of the severe form of the disease, which can lead to seizures and coma. Symptoms usually occur 4 to 10 days after being bitten.

For individuals who are bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus, the risk of contracting the infection is low and in the overwhelming majority of cases, there are no symptoms or just mild, flu-like symptoms. At times, West Nile virus can causes meningitis and can be a serious threat to seniors, young children and those with compromised immune systems. If illness does occur, it typically happens within 3 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

“The Division of Public Health Services at DHHS will be conducting surveillance for these diseases again thing year, which includes testing mammals, people, and mosquitoes specially trapped for this purpose,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health. “As in past years, the State is requesting that clinicians report any neurologically compatible illness so those cases can be tested and investigated as appropriate.”

Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 are approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as safe and effective in reducing mosquito bites. Fact sheets about these diseases, handling of dead birds, and more information about communities under declared public health threat can be found on the Department’s website (www.dhhs.nh.gov). Questions about WNV, EEE, or bird surveillance can also be answered by calling the toll-free West Nile virus/EEE information line at 866-273-NILE (6453).

Map of NH Risk Areas