NH GOP - UL: The State Budget: Political Achievement of the Year

Don't miss today's editorial in the New Hampshire Union Leader, "The State Budget: Political Achievement of the Year."  The UL writes: "Over the protests of Democrats, labor unions and some recipients of state funding, House and Senate budget writers stuck to their plans.  They wound up with a budget that cut state spending in real terms by more than ten percent and also cut taxes."

Included below is comment from New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Wayne MacDonald, followed by the full text of today's editorial.

"This achievement is remarkable not only because of the fiscal urgency facing our state, but also because it is a promise made and a promise kept by Republican elected officials.  Voters who sent a message last year that 'enough is enough' should know that their efforts and voice made a positive difference." -- NH GOP Chairman Wayne MacDonald

The State Budget: Political Achievement of the Year
New Hampshire Union Leader
Editorial
January 1, 2012
www.unionleader.com/article/20120101/opinion01/701019956

Americans frustrated by the series of impressive political failures that came to define Washington politics in 2011 could have drawn inspiration from this little state tucked up north and surrounded by activist, big-spending governments on all sides.  Last year, New Hampshire legislators achieved something truly impressive: the 2011 state budget.

Taking advantage of a genuine mandate for change (Republicans won 19 of 24 Senate seats and three-fourths of the House), Republican leaders in the Legislature set out to do something unusual for politicians: keep their promises.  They campaigned on a pledge to cut taxes, cut spending and balance the budget. They did all three, with no help from the governor.

Led by House Speaker Bill O'Brien, Republicans set to work on bringing the budget in line with the realities of state revenues.  Over the protests of Democrats, labor unions and some recipients of state funding, House and Senate budget writers stuck to their plans.  They wound up with a budget that cut state spending in real terms by more than ten percent and also cut taxes.

The budget was by no means perfect, but it was realistic.  Opponents say Republicans will pay a big price this fall for not spending more. Maybe.  Or maybe the voters who had to cut their own budgets just to get by will understand why such frugality was needed.  Whatever the political costs, House and Senate Republicans can be proud that they brought fiscal discipline back to Concord.

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Tory Mazzola

Executive Director

N.H. Republican State Committee

NHDP - ICYMI: Republican lawmakers bungled N.H. budget

Key Point: House and Senate Republicans "bungled" the budget with their "new tax on hospitals, many of which slashed jobs in response to losing revenue" and "the ill-conceived 10-cent per pack tax cut on cigarettes that was questionably enacted, led by Speaker O'Brien."

Portsmouth Herald: Republican lawmakers bungled N.H. budget

[Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20111220/OPINION/112200375&template=printart]

The Republican-controlled New Hampshire Legislature hailed its $10.3 billion budget as lean, balanced and responsible. But after only six months, it can be said that the devil is in the details.

The worst devil is the crushing impact of the GOP's doomed decision to end the policy that returned the 5.5 percent tax on net patient service revenue on hospitals via the Medicaid Enhancement Tax to the hospitals through the Disproportionate Share program. The short story is that the affected hospitals switched guidelines for determining the tax, which resulted in New Hampshire getting $50 million less than expected in November revenues.

Reports indicate the shortfall will double by the end of the two-year budget.

GOP leaders are challenging the switch and acted shocked by the shortfall. Hospital executives, however, said they warned legislative budget writers that federal tax guidelines on such Medicaid taxes didn't encompass as large a revenue base as the state had been using. "Reports of a potential shortfall in the New Hampshire Medicaid Enhancement Tax should come as no surprise to anyone," said Steven Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association.

Ironically, the state GOP regularly criticized Democrats for increasing taxes and fees, and Republicans touted that their budget plan did not do so. Gutting the Disproportionate Share program resulted in a new tax on hospitals, many of which slashed jobs in response to losing revenue. And now the impact to the state budget is even worse, as the GOP's lean spending plan offers little opportunity for spending reductions.

GOP leaders indicated they will try anyway. Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Morse suggested that if the hospitals' decision to follow federal guidelines instead of state guidelines stands, Gov. John Lynch might need to make cuts to keep the budget in balance. It's irresponsible to push the GOP's mismanagement to the governor, who spoke against the Republicans' MET decision.

Some Republican leaders seem gleeful in their calls to further cut spending. It could be interesting next month, when the Legislature reconvenes based on House Speaker William O'Brien's reaction to an earlier ruling that New Hampshire will have to pay back $35 million in federal Medicaid funds. Following that ruling, which put the budget out of balance, O'Brien broke out the standard, tired rhetoric: "We are going to need to do what the working families across New Hampshire are doing right now: tightening their belts to live within their means."

Given that it was the GOP's decision on the MET that created the $50 million, and growing, shortfall, it makes sense for their leadership to find a reasonable solution. Cutting from a lean and "responsible" budget doesn't seem a viable option. But one option that should be considered first next month is to repeal the ill-conceived 10-cent per pack tax cut on cigarettes that was questionably enacted, led by Speaker O'Brien.

This was the worst devil in the details of the GOP budget until the MET disaster. The theory that dropping cigarette the tax would increase revenues has proven a failure. In November alone, tobacco receipts were $3.5 million below the projected level and $4.3 million below November 2010.

Shock and finger-pointing are not going to absolve Republican leaders from their responsibility for creating their own budget mess.

Hemingway Takes Leave As RLCNH Chairman: Carolyn McKinney Will Serve As Acting Chairman of RLCNH

State Caucus Will Not Endorse Presidential Candidate to Ensure Focus on State Political Action

CONCORD, N.H.—Carolyn McKinney will serve as acting chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire and strengthen the organization's focus on a common sense State House agenda as RLCNH Chairman Andrew Hemingway leaves his post to work on a presidential political campaign.



“While we wish Andrew Hemingway the best in his new job opportunity, it is important to note that the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire will not endorse a candidate for president,” said Carolyn McKinney, acting chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. "His decision to join a particular presidential campaign was his own and does not reflect the opinion of the organization. We at the RLCNH will remain highly focused on the issues affecting the citizens of New Hampshire as well as the important goal of advancing Common Sense within New Hampshire state government.



“The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire will continue to support the positive changes the Republican majority has made in the State Legislature to reduce spending, reduce taxes, reduce business regulations and foster a job-creating environment by restoring individual liberty, personal responsibility and the state constitution,” McKinney added. “Right now, our main focus is on making sure the Legislature overrides the governor's several vetoes and then continues to advance a responsible, liberty agenda in Concord. Next, we will turn to candidate recruitment and preparation for the 2012 state primary elections.”



McKinney, a resident of Amherst, has been intricately involved with the behind-the-scenes work of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire for several years as the organization's executive secretary. Her promotion to acting chairman will be second nature to her. For instance, McKinney was instrumental in the organization's success in getting 107 endorsed candidates elected to state offices in November 2010; that's 70 percent of the candidates originally endorsed by the organization.

"The courage of these liberty-minded elected officials under the leadership of House Speaker Bill O'Brien advanced a 10 percent state budget reduction, a fiscally responsible move during hard economic times,” McKinney said. “And now we are seeing the fruits of principled Republican leadership as Moody's Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's recently decided to maintain the state's high AA+ bond rating. Surely, the jobs will follow, particularly if these Republicans continue to push for strong regulatory reform and tax cuts.”

Before joining the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, McKinney worked for the Heritage Foundation as an outreach coordinator motivating groups of activists nationwide. She also served as a Witherspoon Fellow at the Family Research Council working in government affairs.

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About The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire
RLCNH, a state chapter of the national Republican Liberty Caucus, was launched in December 2004 to promote and advance traditional Republican Party values, such as low taxes and spending, limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free enterprise and loyalty to the U.S. and N.H. constitutions.

NH Religious News September 28, 2011

NHCC/NHBS On the Move In 1959 two boards worked together to build a partnership between the Bible Society and the Council of Churches of New Hampshire.  In 1996 this partnership decided that it was better stewardship for the organization to rent space rather than own and maintain a building.  Now we are excited to announce that we will be moving to an office near downtown Concord.  We have attained a centrally located space that is easily accessible to all New Hampshire religious organizations, non-profits and most importantly the State Capital where we do much of our work. Starting October 1, 2011 our location will be: 125 Airport Road Concord, NH  03301 Our phone number, mailing address, and email addresses will remain the same.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ who has provided us with a good home for many years   NHCC and NHBS offices will be closed from October 3 -7 while we transition into our new offices.  The offices will be open on October 10. We need your input - Join the Faithful Budget Accountability Project  Are churches really equipped to take up the slack of extreme cuts to government programs and services for the poor and vulnerable? Help us understand, quantify, and communicate the human impact of budget cuts by tracking requests for assistance by number and dollar cost monthly in 2011. What's Involved?  The Faithful Budget Accountability Project is a simple, monthly electronic data collection of religious human service information and stories. To sign up or find out more information about this project and to join click here and fill out the online form or email us at budget@nhchurches.org and send us your contact information.    in 2011. Stories Make A Difference  How did people you know lose their benefits and what are the consequences? How do these things affect your people?  We are assembling stories of families and individuals in crisis to help others see the real stories behind the budget issues in New Hampshire.  Please send your stories, contacts and other information to the NHCC at info@nhchurches.org. This is part of the Faithful Budget Accountability Project  of the NH Council of Churches Worshiping Together Crafting Creative Community Liturgies  People of faith from different traditions often gather together for common worship events, Good Friday, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day as well as in response to crises and disasters. Join us for a day-long workshop in which we'll look at ecumenical and interfaith worship both theologically and practically, guided by the Rev. Dr. Christopher Duraisingh, a noted theologian on mission and the church as well as a charismatic teacher and creative liturgist. How do we create community worship services drawing from the deep wells of our diverse heritages? How can we use symbols, gesture, and movement combine to enrich our communal lives and open participants and wider world to transformation? How do we best work together? What resources are available?  When:  Friday, Nov. 4th, 2011               10 AM - 3 PM  Where:  Wesley United Methodist, 79 Clinton St. Concord, NH Cost: Registration of $30 includes lunch. Limited space is available. Register online at here , email at: info@nhchurches.org or by calling (603) 224-1352. Mail registration fee to "Worshiping Together" NHCC, PO Box 1087, Concord, NH 03302-1087.  Make checks payable to: New Hampshire Council of Churches. For more information click here.

Lifespan Respite Care Consumer Needs Survey    The NH Department of Health and Human Services is reaching out to caregivers across New Hampshire to determine the statewide need of respite services. Respite literally means a time of rest or relief.  If you know a family caregiver to someone with special health care needs (young to old), please have them state their needs in a survey. Responses will be confidential.  If you would like additional information or a paper copy of the survey, please contact Maggie Bernard at 603-271-3783 or mbernard@dhhs.state.nh.us. Family caregiver feedback is very important to help direct future resources into NH's respite care services. Click this link to begin the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MMSJRZ7 Thank you for your time! When Helping Hurts The relationship between ministry self care, growth and boundaries Presented by the Pastoral Counseling Services, this workshop will explore why those in ministry have the highest rate of burnout.  When:       Friday, September 30, 2011, 1:00-4:00PM Where:     The Highlander Inn & Conference Center at the Manchester Boston Regional  Airport This is the2nd Annual Conference on Spirituality and Psychotherapy.  The keynote speaker will be Dr. David Olsen, LICSW, LMFT Executive Director The Samaritan Center of the Capital Region Scotia, NY    For more information contact:  Dr. David Reynolds at dbr@pcs-nh.org or call him at 603-627-2702, Ext. 113. Congregations and Mental Health Workshop - November 2, 2011   On Wednesday, November 2 from 9:00am-3pm, the Pastoral Services Department at the New Hampshire State Hospital will be hosting a free workshop for all clergy on Congregations and Mental Illness.  For more information contact either: Patience Stoddard - Patience.Stoddard@dhhs.state.nh.us Rachael Keefe - Rachael.keefe@dhhs.state.nh.us 8th Annual NH State Suicide Prevention Conference Friday November 4th, 2011 8:00AM - 4:30PM  at SERESC Conference Center in Bedford, NH. Presented by NAMI NH, the State Suicide Prevention Council, and the Youth Suicide Prevention Assembly. Featuring keynote speakers:  Thomas Joiner, PhD, Robert Bryant and a performance by TIGER (Theatre Integrating Guidance, Education and Responsibility).  Workshops, plenaries and lunch included.  Click here to download a registration brochure. National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding   The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding will be observed on Tuesday, October 4, 2011. Mental illness networks and faith leaders are urged to work together so that they recognize and prepare for this day in a way that works best for each faith community. The prayers and actions of both faith communities and secular organizations are needed to restore mental wellness in America. By seeking God's guidance we can recommit ourselves to replacing misinformation, blame, fear and prejudice with truth and love in order to offer hope to all who are touched by mental illness. If you would like to learn more about how your faith community can observe this day,  visit NAMI's website:  http://www.naminh.org/national-day-of-prayer. NHCC in the News  Letter to the Editor: They Are a Blessing By David Lamarre-Vincent / For the Monitor Created 09/22/11 My heart grieves for Manessee Ngendahayo his family and the other families targeted by these outrageous acts ("Refugee homes targeted," Monitor front page, Sept. 20). Ngendahayo and the other victims of this vandalism know only too well what can happen to a nation when hatred seizes control of hearts and minds. They have come to the United States to find safety and build new lives. Their presence has been blessing for all of Concord and New Hampshire. Read more here. Diversity Conference Call for Presenters   Casey Family Services is pleased to present our seventh Diversity Conference, "Beyond the Comfort Zone: The 2012 Diversity Experience". This event will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire on Wednesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 10, 2012. You are invited to submit a response to the Call for Presentation to be considered as a conference speaker. Submissions are accepted through September 30, 2011. Speakers will be notified by November 1, 2011. We encourage you to share this information with others. All presenters are welcome to attend other workshops and conference activities at no additional fee.  For more information and application please click here. Will You Do it?  Take the Food Stamp Challenge  Will you do it? From Thursday, October 27th through Thursday, November 3rd, people of faith across the U.S. are taking on a challenge: Live for one week on the average food stamp allotment. People of faith are taking the Food Stamp Challenge to better understand how the program works on a personal level, and to highlight the continued need for and importance of feeding programs to alleviate hunger in the United States. $31.50 a week. $4.50 a day. $1.50 a meal. Will you do it? Click here to register to take the Food Stamp Challenge, and share this challenge with your faith community, family, and friends. Grace and Peace, Michael Livingston Director, National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative *** Join the NCC Network and Speak Out for a Faithful Budget The NCC Poverty Initiative's role in raising the awareness and will of Christians to act to reduce poverty is more crucial than ever. Please consider how God might be calling you and your church to join together with the NCC in the work to end poverty.  May our voices grow louder and stronger as we amplify God's call for justice and righteousness. Read the September NCC Poverty Initiative newsletter here.  White Mountain Winter Adventure Camps for Military Teens   The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (UNHCE) 4-H Youth Development program is preparing for its 2012 White Mountain Winter Adventure Camps for teens living in military families.  These four camps will take teens, ages 14 to 18, to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Highland Center in beautiful Bretton Woods, where they will enjoy classic winter sports and activities as they build friendships with other military teens. Activities will include Nordic skiing, alpine skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, sled hockey, tubing, and snowshoeing. The camps are designed for military youth with and without disabilities, giving everyone a chance to join in the fun! The camp session dates are as follows: Session 1 (only for teens with physical disabilities) -- January 6-9, 2012 Session 2 (only for teens with cognitive or developmental disabilities) -- January 20-23, 2012 Session 3 (for teens without disabilities) -- February 19-22, 2012 Session 4 (for teens without disabilities) -- February 26-29, 2012 UNHCE 4-H Youth Development is very excited to bring these one-of-a-kind experiences to military youth!  Visit www.nhomk.com or http://extension.unh.edu/4H/4H_OMK/4H_OMK.htm for more information and to register. Film Matters    Film Matters, a wildly popular film series is presenting Conviction on Thursday October 20 at 7:00pm at the Music Hall at 28 Chestnut St. Portsmouth, NH.  The Film:  Working mother, Betty Anne Waters (portrayed by two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank), puts herself through law school in order to represent her brother (Sam Rockwell), who has been wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Post Film Panel Discussion:  Betty Anne Waters; former NH Attorney General Phillip McLaughlin; Richard Miles, a man exonerated after serving 15-year incarceration for a Dallas murder. Presented in Affiliation with:  the NH Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; special thanks to the NH Civil Liberties Union, The NH Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Northeast Regional Office of Amnesty International USA. New Catholic Bishop Named     On September 19, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Peter A. Libasci as the tenth Bishop of Manchester. He will succeed Bishop John B. McCormack. Bishop McCormack, who has served as Manchester's bishop since September 1998. Bishop-designate Libasci is currently an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He will be installed at St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester on December 8, 2011. More information about the installation NH Catholic diocesan website, www.catholicnh.org, in the coming weeks. Visit the diocesan website for a full biography, photos, and video of Bishop Libasci.   Advocacy in Action - Be Heard  We are pleased to announce the return of the Nonprofit Capitol Exchange Program on October 18 with US Congressman Frank Guinta from New Hampshire's 1st District.   This leadership series brings together nonprofit leaders, advocates and business partners to learn about current challenges and updates from our elected and professional government officials. A lively Q&A session is always part of the program.  They will welcome Representative Guinta to hear of his 'state of the state' perspective from DC and New Hampshire's 1st District alike.  Click here to register online. Please note: This is a date change from the original October 4 date. Tuesday, October 18 7:45 - 9:00A.M. Sulloway & Hollis Law Firm, Concord  Birddogging and More The presidential primary season in NH provides an unparalleled opportunity for nonprofit leaders to educate the candidates (and, perhaps more importantly,  their audiences) about the vital importance of the nonprofit sector   The NH Nonprofit Primary Project is all about putting the spotlight on the nonprofit sector throughout this important primary season. There are easy ways for you, your volunteers and other staff  to engage. You are invited to participate in the upcoming free orientations sessions with Ann McLane Kuster of Newfound Strategies and our Advocacy team. During the session we will talk about the questions to ask, how to  "birddog" and ways you can replicate this effort on the local level. TWO DATES AND LOCATIONS  Wednesday, October  5 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Community Campus Portsmouth Friday, October 14 9:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M YWCA Manchester Click here to register online. Legislative off-session  The New Hampshire Legislature isn't in regular session, but there's still news that's coming out of Concord this week. Legalized gambling is back on the table, to no one's surprise. Perhaps feeling the pressure of neighboring states Maine and Massachusetts moving closer to establishing casino gambling, state legislators say they want to start hearings on legalizing video slots at various locations. Rep. Steve Stepenak. R-Milford, told WMUR his proposal would be to use gambling revenues to lower taxes on New Hampshire businesses. "Which is important, especially for the business enterprise tax, because that impacts every small business in the state, which is our lifeblood," he said. News from NHCADP   Barbara Keshen, the chairperson of the New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, is pleased to announce the formation of the Coalition's Faith Initiative standing committee. The Faith Initiative brings together Coalition members whose faith shapes their position on repeal of the death penalty. Faith Initiative members educate the public about the ways their faith supports ending the death penalty in New Hampshire and the United States. Actions of the Faith Initiative are consistent with the Coalition's overarching mission of providing public education about the death penalty. The Faith Initiative's educational actions include a speaker's list of people from various religious beliefs and different personal and professional backgrounds who are available to lead local discussions on the death penalty. The speakers can address the impact the death penalty has on murder victim family members, the moral choices implicated when government spends millions of dollars on the death penalty while cutting basic services to the most vulnerable in our society, and the government's role in killing its citizens, rather than allowing them to further develop their humanity. Barbara also announced the creation of a Faith Initiative page on the Coalition's website. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website www.nodeathpenaltynh.org. To set up a presentation in your community or if you would like more information about the Faith Initiative Commitee please contact Ray Bilodeau, community organizer, at Rbilodeau@nodeathpenaltynh.org Speakers on the Holocaust in NH  The Holocaust by Bullets:  An Evening with  Father Patrick Desbois Father Desbois, a French Roman Catholic priest and the president of   Yahad-In Unum, has devoted his life to confronting anti-semitism and furthering Catholic-Jewish understanding. Since 2001, he has led the truly historic undertaking of identifying and locating undiscovered mass graves of well over 1.5 million Jews killed during the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. Monday, October 10, 2011 7 p.m., Mabel Brown Room Lloyd P. Young Student Center Keene State College Free and open to the public 603-358-2490 Holocaust History and Survivor Testimony:  The Case for the Starachowice Factory Slave Labor Camps.  Author and Scholar Christopher Browning. Mr. Browning will be accompanied by Yechiel Eisenberg, a survivor of Starachowice, the subject of Mr. Browning's latest book Remembering Survival: Inside a Nazi Slave Labor Camp. Sunday October 16, 2011 1:30 pm Temple Beth Abraham 4 Raymond St. Nashua, NH Free and open to the public Please RSVP by calling 603-883-8184 Political Organizing Jobs in NH Click the links below for more information 2011 Campaign Organizer NRCAT 2011 Religious Primaries Organizer NRCAT Faith and Labor Come Together Oct. 18 New Hampshire faith leaders are invited to join a discussion linking our values and traditions to the rights of workers to unite in support of justice.   Over lunch and through invigorating dialogue, we will share ideas and visions for how we can discover commonality and build solidarity in forming a more perfect union of communities of workers and communities of faith. Please join us as we come together at Temple Beth Jacob, 67 Broadway in Concord on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 12 noon - 3:00 p.m. Our desire is to ensure the rights of all God's people to live with dignity and hope in the mainstream of our society.  To ensure that we have an adequate lunch and set-up for all attendees, please confirm your attendance by contacting Judy Stadtman at (603) 479-7217 or jstadtman@nhaflcio.org.

Check Out Our Website    www.nhchurches.org If you have ideas or events to share, send your information to info@nhchurches.org or call Jean at 603-224-1352.  Thanks! NH Council of Churches Needs You! The New Hampshire Council of Churches as the state's ecumenical vehicle for unity and inter-religious actions needs your support: Prayers Sharing our concerns and your concerns with each other. Funds to continue incarnating God's annunciation of the Good News. Donate now by clicking the donation button below or you can mail your tax exempt donation to: New Hampshire Council of Churches PO Box 1087 Concord, NH  03302-1087

NH Sen Odell: "Overall, revenues are holding their own against the very conservative estimates..."

In his Sep. 4, 2011 column on Sunacom.com, NH Senator Bob Odell writes:

"Overall, revenues are holding their own against the very conservative estimates in the current budget."

"The restaurant business particularly, and the overall tourism industry generally, are important economic sectors in our state's economy." "Overall revenue from this tax was $50.2 million for July and August or $1.7 million (3.5 percent) over last year."

"Real estate transactions are an important indicator of the vitality of the economy." "...[we are] $1 million ahead of last year when we were getting real estate tax income during the phase-out period of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit.

"...advocates believe that to prevent fraud, voters should have a government issued photo ID with them to lessen chances of someone impersonating another person..." "...a real issue, in my opinion, [is] protecting the secrecy of a person's vote. If a voter forgets to bring his or her ID with them on election day, they can cast a provisional ballot, and that is stored separately from the other ballots cast."

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Sunacom.com.
http://sunacom.com/columnists/odell/odell_09-04-11.html