Legislative Report - January 2010
The 2010 session of the NH General Court got off to a rousing start tackling issues like the implementation of the new LLC tax which small business owners feel will adversely affect the economic climate in the state, implementing a weapons ban in the legislative buildings, and same sex marriage. A packed room heard Steve Norton (NH Center for Public Policy) and Charlie Arlinghaus (Josiah Bartlett Center) explained how more than $200 million was "saved" in the last biennium in "lapses", money saved by executive orders or because the money budgeted was just not spent. These two fiscal experts estimate that the state over-budgeted by 5-10%, an amount that would never be acceptable in the private sector. Three percent is normal for lapses but this $200 million represents a whopping 12%. The money not spent came from all departments and these savings were achieved without any cuts or reductions in service. Interesting..............
The state league has reviewed the bills that will be introduced in this session - 850+ and have selected those that relate to our current priorities. Issues selected by the state league are: transportation, election law reform, government operations, fiscal issues, environment and those relating to incarceration. A full listing of those bills will be posted on the website or you can contact The League through this website to get the information e-mailed to you. Each week the hearings on those bills will be posted under Hot Legislation so that any member can follow the bills.
This session we will support, monitor, or oppose at least 30 bills. We are always looking for members who would be willing to take one bill and follow it through the initial hearing, the discussion by the committee, the floor vote and then on to the other house for much the same process. It would take about 6 visits to the state house during the entire term (January - June) and only an hour or so each visit. Committee hearings occur mostly on Tuesday or Thursday so there is some continuity for your time planning.
Although we do not yet have a position on the impact of incarceration on women in NH, we will monitor bills that:
- would provide for testimony by video teleconference,
- notification of parole hearings to be changed from newspaper announcements to the internet
- mental illness and the correction system
- establishment of a committee to study the parole board and procedures of opperation,
- compilation of data on criminal substance abuse,
- special education services to county correction inmates and to Granite State High School,
- and the establishment of a committee to study educational and vocational programs for 17-21 year olds who are incarcerated. The LWV supported this bill under our equal access to education position.
January 5, 2010
EXPANDED LEGAL GAMBLING: OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
On February 13th, 2010, NH citizens from across the state will have the opportunity to participate in community-based deliberations to address the question: What's At Stake: Community Conversations to Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Expanded Legal Gambling in NH. These facilitated, small-group dialogues will engage citizens in discussion of the issues currently under consideration by Governor Lynch's Study Commission on Expanded Gaming in New Hampshire.
The results of the community conversations will be presented to the Commission later this spring.
Goals:
1. Engage several hundred citizens of NH in informed, thoughtful, and productive discussions about the benefits and risks of expanded gambling in New Hampshire;
2. Achieve an open, fair process that considers all points of view.
3. Balance discussion groups to achieve the widest diversity possible by demographics, walks of life and lifestyles, as well as by attitudes toward gambling, to ensure that the conversations represent the diverse experiences and views of NH citizens;
4. Produce a summary report of citizen views for the Study Commission that is impartial, useful, valid, and reliable.
The Process:
Recruiting Participants. To assure a representative sample of NH citizens by age, gender, occupation, education, income and by cultural diversity, we will:
a. Actively recruit as many participants as possible, with a minimum goal of 200, and a maximum goal which will be limited by the number of available locations and facilitators;
b. Seek advice and work with regional, county and locally-based organizations throughout the state;
c. Access participants from random-sample polling (conducted by the UNH Survey Center) who identified themselves as willing to discuss the matter further;
d. Ask NH media outlets for help with our outreach program.
Facilitators
With the assistance of NH Cooperative Extension, we plan to identify and train impartial facilitators to work with each discussion group.
How It Works:
a. On Saturday February 13th, 2010, participants will meet in small groups (approximately 6-15 people) in 11 different communities throughout the state for a full day (9 am + 3:30 pm) of facilitated discussion. February 20th, 2010, is scheduled as a backup "snow date;"
b. The media and the public will be invited to attend and participate when each group reports its conclusions at 3:30 pm on the day of the community conversations.
c. The discussion sessions themselves, once they begin, will be open only to registered participants and their facilitators. This policy is essential so that participants will have no distractions and interruptions, providing them the opportunity to listen and ask questions of each other in an open, safe environment;
d. This public engagement session is not intended to reach a single conclusion or group consensus;
e. This public engagement session is intended to capture the essence of the participants' diversity of views--and why those views are important to this issue--as well as their hopes, concerns, and new ideas for the Study Commission to consider.
f. Each group will submit a report of its deliberations and outcomes. These reports will be summarized and submitted to the Governor's Study Commission in March.
Sites:
Community conversations will take place in the following locations:
Berlin
Littleton
Concord
Manchester
Conway
Portsmouth
Keene
Rochester
Laconia
Salem
Lebanon
Assessment of results:
Participants will be asked to fill out pre and post questionnaires to track changes in their thinking, if any. Additional assessment measures of the process itself will be developed.
Staff:
Bruce Mallory, Professor of Education, Carsey Institute Fellow, UNH
Martha Parker. Doctoral Student, Department of Education, UNH
Michele Holt-Shannon, Associate Director, Discovery Program, UNH
Mica Stark, Director of Outreach and Engagement, Carsey Institute, UNH
Charlie French, Community and Economic Development Specialist, Cooperative Extension, UNH
Jim Noucas, Noucas Law Office, co-founder, Portsmouth Listens, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Funding:
Because this project is addressing a critical public policy question in a way that engages citizens directly through a community-based deliberative process, it is expected to serve as a national model for similar efforts in other states. Thus, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and W.K. Kellogg Foundation have generously provided core funding to the UNH Carsey Institute for What's At Stake.
Additional in-kind support: UNH Cooperative Extension will assist with community outreach and facilitator training, and the Carsey Institute at UNH will provide logistical support.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit our website: http://whatsatstake.unh.edu
Telephone number: 877-338-5322
Email address: whats.at.stake@unh.edu or maparker@unh.edu
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