NH INSIDER

Reading today's edition of the Concord Monitor and the statements of Governor Lynch about the budget and the casino gaming proposals.

"Yesterday, Lynch, a Democrat, told reporters that "gambling is off the table for this year" and said he had told lawmakers he would create a commission to study the pros, cons and possibilities of expanded gambling for the future."- Concord Monitor.

Creating a commission to study the pros, cons and possibilities of expanded gambling for the future. Now there's a novel idea. New Hampshire needs another commission. Or does it? Is it politically advantageous for Governor Lynch to make this move? If his office doesn't support the ideas of casinos in New Hampshire shouldn't he have just killed the whole idea and be done with it?

As I reread the article I couldn't help but think about places like Berlin and just today Colebrook and North Stratford as employer Ethan Allen announces a 260 person restructuring.

Who would be on this Commission? State officials like DRED who already have the responsibility to create jobs and economic development? Lobbyists who have expended a great deal of time and resources this legislative session to advance what I think are reasonable plans. What kind of work would this commission do towards this whole idea. Is this work the Legislature hasn't already done?

Questions to be answered.

The race for the NH Second Congressional district has begun. I think the first candidate to step forward is Atty. Ann Mclane Kuster. I don't know the candidate but I do know the Second Congressional District. I looked at the campaign website

"Creating and preserving good paying jobs, making quality health care affordable for all, and taking bold steps to develop clean energy are all positive changes we must make now for a better future for New Hampshire families."

This statement covers alot but is this what the Second Congressional District needs for representation? Then I started thinking about the possibility of Katrena Swett for Congress. Several years back Ms. Swett ran unsuccessfully for Congress she did a campaign swing through northern New Hampshire. I remember her being asked substantive questions about regional economic development and jobs, and all Swett seemed to be able to come up with is that she would support the creation of a national "volunteer job corps." This was while Americorps was still in its fledgling state.

Its early in this race but on this basis I think if it were a primary battle between Kuster and Swett that Kuster appears to be the stronger candidate. Again I don't know Atty. Kuster and what her responses would be to the issues that face New Hampshire.

But even if she would win the primary it will be a race against a strong Republican candidate a candidate I hope isn't Jennifer Horn.

Source: Kuster campaign website.

  This is an editorial from a recent edition of the Caledonian Record newspaper. I really liked both the content and the ideas. Somehow there is and continues to be a void between the hard working business people and the lofty ideas of the policymakers, consultants and state agencies that supposedly are in the business of economic development and jobs.

UNH is apparently starting a curriculum about franchising. It should be interesting to see what kind of leadership and experience the state run college recruits to run this program. Notice I said experience running a business and making money.

Guess that is why I found Gov. Benson to be at least new air in the stodgy lobbyist dominated NH Statehouse.

"Don't forget to bring your brains to work."- Gov. Benson.

Sometimes I wonder if New Hampshire would be in the same set of circumstances that it is today, if, the one term Governor had been re-elected even for just one term. My guess is no but that ain't the way politics works.!

"Three cheers for Duncan Kilmartin and Dena Gray. Kilpatrick, Republican representative to the Vermont Legislature from Newport, and Gray, owner of Newport's Eastside Restaurant, were the only private sector business people out of 50 who attended an economic development forum in Barton. All of the rest were from alphabet agencies that live directly on taxpayer money or grants that ultimately come from taxpayer money, i.e. they are on the dole.

Both Kilpatrick and Gray pointed that out, though a bit less brutally than we do. Both wanted to know, "Where are the people who make the money?" And we ask the same thing. Do academics and public agency people know how to start, run, and succeed at a business? Do those whose salaries don't depend upon their brains and energy, but are guaranteed by a distant public entity, know anything about entrepreneurship other than what they have read in a book? Do those who haven't ever had to meet a payroll know the intense pressure of that necessity in hard times?

Academics and alphabet agency people remind us of a poem by Alistair Reid "Curiosity." It is an allegorical treatment of the differences between those who are involved and those who are not. If the cats are the entrepreneurs who weren't there, all but two of the people at this forum are like the dogs, in this excerpt:

"Nevertheless, to be curious

is dangerous enough. To distrust

what is always said, what seems

to ask odd questions, interfere in dreams,

leave home, smell rats, have hunches

do not endear cats to those doggy circles

where well-smelt baskets, suitable wives, good lunches are the order of things, and where prevails

much wagging of incurious heads and tails."

We agree with Rep. Kilpatrick and Ms. Gray. Next time, whoever sponsors such a forum ought to make sure that some of the people upon whom the economy of Vermont depends are there."
""

  The Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson has been sold. This is the resort property that was once owned by former Representative Bill Zelliff. While he was in politics every July he would have a really neat party called Christmas in July. I used to go to it.

  They had a great band, good food and politicos from everywhere would be there. The greatest experience I ever had at this event was the year Senator Bob Dole was the Republican candidate for President. Its a beautiful mountain day, the music is playing the conversation is cordial and upbeat and I looked up in the sky and a most impressive, white and elegant looking helicopter approaches from the south. It was the candidate himself.

  Day is turning into night as the helicopter lands, the music is still playing and the party is still going on, I saw what I thought to be the next President of the United States exit and head towards the mass of people I'd guess around 250-300. The helicopter quickly lifts off and heads south again.

  I guess with a perception and a scene like this I expected some powerful if not life altering event (likely a speech) would happen; I'm a strong supporter of Senator Dole so I was hoping the words would be a strategic, decisive and powerful as the aircraft that just took off.  

  That didn't happen. Instead Senator Dole just came to the party and said hi to everyone that happened to be around him. No speeches and no policy. And interestingly, as I would later learn there wasn't any press there either.

  Just a great Christmas in July party at the Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson.

  I've never seen a party like this in New Hampshire.  Times have changed.

  Unfortunately.

The State Senate has passed the gaming legislation. Now it moves to the house. Notice on WMUR the only people who were interviewed about this legislation were Sen. Dellasandro and former Senator Rubens who suggested the Senate is controlled by the gaming interests. Or his remarks were at least to this effect.

Is this objective reporting?  A 16-8 vote on a multi million dollar piece of legislation and this is who WMUR chooses to interview about this legislation.

I'm a supporter of casino gaming in New Hampshire. I believe that gaming would add revenue, taxbase, investment and jobs to the state's largest industry and that this investment would lead towards greater economic prosperity statewide. It's being done in other areas. At the end of May the Sands Bethworks Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania opened. A former historic and derelict steel mill transformed into jobs and economic development. Niagara Falls, New York a heavy tourist area with casinos on both sides of the falls. Again an argument of what could be done when tourism and gaming are zoned together.

Please contact your State Representative and ask them to support this legislation.

Something like this could be done in New Hampshire. And it would be successful!

Source: Steve Wynn interview about casino development (Encore).