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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Medicaid Expansion Deal in Play?

NH lawmakers working on the state budget are discussing a compromise that could include Medicaid expansion.

Some of the most powerful people in the legislative and executive branches were milling about in the hallway of the Legislative Office Building. There was Terie Norelli, the House Speaker. Gene Chandler, the House Republican Leader. Sylvia Larsen, the Senate Minority Leader. Pamela Walsh, Chief of Staff to Gov. Maggie Hassan. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley. Among other key players. Was something big in the works? Welcome to the committee of conference process on House Bill 1 – the $10.7 billion state budget. There's stop-and-go. There are long recesses. There are sidebar conversations. As this biennial dance ensued Tuesday, there was talk about a possible compromise including Medicaid expansion. The House and the governor want it. The …

Mehy

10:45 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Proposal Expansion of Medicaid to Maximize Federal Dollars. How disgusting is this, they all should be ashamed of themselves to sell out like this and steal from all the hard working citizens. What a disgrace to mislead and sell the people garbage like this.   more ›

Ed Tax Credit Sponsor: Ruling 'Ideologically Biased'

Sponsor of the law sees silver lining in court ruling, which he calls a 'poorly reasoned and ideologically biased decision.'

A trial court ruled Monday that the state's education tax credit program was unconstitutional in that it violates the prohibition of tax dollars for use by religious schools. The sponsor of the legislation says he sees a silver lining in the ruling – that the program itself was not struck down in whole – and expresses optimism the New Hampshire Supreme Court will overturn the lower court. Former state Rep. D.J. Bettencourt, a Republican from Salem who sponsored the education tax credit program legislation, said this of the court ruling: "I authored and sponsored the New Hampshire School Choice Scholarship Act to empower needy families to find the best school for their child. I also hoped to spur innovation in education in a manner that …

Resilience Against Climate Change: Heat is On?

NH to map climate effects. Executive Councilor Chris Sununu cites 'severe concerns' over contract.

The Executive Council recently approved a $50,000 contract with the University of New Hampshire to provide data and tools to map specific climate change impact across the state. The data will support the Climate Change and Public Health Program of the Bureau of Public Health Protection, which is part of the state Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services. It's federal money targeted at "Building Resilience Against Climate Effects." But before it was authorized, Councilor Chris Sununu questioned whether the results would actually be on target. "I will be voting vehemently against item 91," said Sununu. This group "keeps screwing it up." Sununu was referring to a 2012 climate change study from UNH …

Tuscan Kitchen Expanding to Massachusetts

The Italian restaurant's second location would also have a market component.

Less than three years after opening Tuscan Kitchen on Main Street in Salem, owner Joe Faro is working on an expansion into Massachusetts. If approved, Faro's second location will take over the first floor of an existing plaza park in Burlington, Mass. To house the Tuscan experience, a 4,800 square foot addition to the New England Executive Park building is included in the plan. According to Burlington Planning Director Kristin Kassner, the building is directly adjacent to the Burlington Mall. "The restaurant itself is actually probably similar in size (to Salem)," she said. The second location would also have a Tuscan Market component. Unlike Salem, the market being proposed is much smaller, and is packaged in with the restaurant rather …

Riley Reid

10:04 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2013

PS: Joe should be sure not to get too far away from Salem. We had a bar tender the other night that was complaining about how slow it was to us and how he wasn't making enough in tips to cover a recent trip with his girlfriend. Not to mention the guy had food in his mouth every time he came out of the kitchen to wait on us.   more ›

Monday, June 17, 2013

Salem Chamber to Co-Host Health Care Reform Event

The event will take place in Windham on Tuesday.

The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce will co-sponsor a health care reform informational event and breakfast in Windham on Tuesday. The event, which will take place at Castleton from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., will explain to those in attendancewhat they should expect for 2014. Key topics of discussion will include how health care reform will be implemented, what it will mean for business owners, employees and consumers what options businesses have moving forward and what the tax impact will look like. The event is being organized by Kelly Bryant of Santo Insurance Agency. Presentations are expected from Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Edward C. David & Company CPAs PLLC, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Olbricht Storniolo Group. Business …

Mica Johansen

6:47 am on Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Could the chamber do a 2nd event in the evening? You know, for the people that have to work more to pay for all the benefits of health care reform.   more ›

CAP Report

Horse Trading Time in Concord?

NH legislators try to resolve differences in voter ID, medical marijuana, and state budget bills over the next four days.

New Hampshire House and Senate members are hustling over the next four days to resolve their differences in more than 42 bills, including the $10.7 billion state budget, proposed medical marijuana legalization, and possible changes in the voter identification law. June 20, at 4 p.m., is the deadline to sign committee of conference reports. The blueprint: House, Senate aim to wrap up all unfinished business by June 26-27. This week: Gov. Maggie Hassan and the Executive Council meet on Wednesday, 10 a.m., in council chambers at the Statehouse. Unfinished business: House Bill 1 and 2, the state budget bill and its trailer bill, are the big mountains legislators must climb. The Senate-passed budget is roughly $300 million less than the House …

Big Decisions Await for Town to Reach Level Tax Rate Goal

The Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee discussed the issue last week.

Without any changes to the upcoming 2014 budget, Salem residents will see an 8.4 percent increase in the tax rate, or 59 cents per thousand. That increase will mostly come from three major upticks in personnel costs – health care, pension and raises. The total amounts to a $7,500 average increase per employee. The issue was first discussed at the Board of Selectmen meeting last week and then later brought to the town's Budget Committee. According to Selectman Stephen Campbell, the items are contractually obligated due to union contracts approved by voters. He told members of the Budget Committee last week that in order to produce a level budget for 2014, which he said is the consensus goal of the Board of Selectmen, tough decisions need to…

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Patriot

8:43 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Time will tell, and the traffic flow will be determined by the drivers. Unless the town closes another road we all can travel any open road.   more ›

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Political Fundraiser Draws Dozens of Gun Control Protesters

The event took place Friday afternoon.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Protesters Picket GOP Fundraiser Six Months After Newtown

The Ohio senator joined Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) in Salem Friday.

A gaggle of protesters were stationed across the street from Tuscan Kitchen this morning to greet Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) as they arrived at a private GOP fundraiser. Both politicians, who have been mentioned as candidates for either president or vice president, came in through the back to avoid the picketers, many of whom were from Organizing for Action – New Hampshire. Both Ayotte and Portman voted against the Manchin-Toomey amendment to expand background checks for gun purchases. "That was a horrific day in Newtown – all of us met with the families as I have," said Portman of the Sandy Hook shooting in an interview after the fundraiser. "Our hearts go out to them. We want to do things that are actually going …

Bob Elliott

6:20 pm on Monday, June 17, 2013

Mr. Editor: " dozens of protesters?" When I drove by ( 3:30 )there were 12 people there. Where were the other " dozens"??? A complete flop in my book. And Rep. Kolodziej, a former marine, is a strong gun supporter. He was just breakin' em with Jane Lang when he wished her a "happy Flag Day." Good job, Walt. ( The group leader was not from Salem, was he?) Every rabble rouser has it's leader. At …   more ›

Ayotte Hosts Fundraiser in Salem Today, Protests Expected

Ohio Senator Rob Portman (R) will also be in attendance.

A GOP fundraiser is scheduled to take place today featuring Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and activists from the Democratic party are expected to be in attendance to protest. The private fundraiser will be hosted at Tuscan Kitchen, coinciding with Portman's attendance in New Hampshire for an American Politics panel at Dartmouth College. The event will take place at 12 p.m. Organizing for Action – New Hampshire has announced a gun violence prevention event at 11 a.m. at Tuscan Kitchen. According to a release, OFA-NH has teamed up with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to recognize the six-month anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, CT. OFA-NH issued a statement on the event: It’s been half a …

Scott Downer

9:31 am on Friday, June 14, 2013

NH has back ground checks they want to add medical records to it and as well as the IRS and HHS and DHS with this information every time some one purses"s a gun with the Affordable health care act. Think about it who this will punish.. it will cause maybe other weapons you can not see. Let me ask you this.. If you was at the Sandy hook School at that time and had a gun would you had stop that kid…   more ›

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