The state budget has come and partially gone. We’re left with the victory claims and some of the unfinished business that promises to drag through the rest of the year. Don’t believe everything you read: the budget is something no one loves or hates and includes two time bombs that will emerge in six months like a plague of locusts to consume all political vegetation.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-07-11 15:39:302018-08-28 06:18:42A Compromise Budget That No One Hates
The New Hampshire House and Senate may have adjourned for the summer, but a handful of lawmakers have some serious studying to do before their colleagues come back this fall.
The June unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.6%. While the ranks of the unemployed grew by 17,000, the increase was not large enough to change the rate. The number of those not in the workforce grew by 12,000, but those classified as wanting a job fell by 132,000.
The Fiscal Year 2014-15 Budget passed both the House and Senate by wide margins on June 26th, and is currently awaiting Governor Hassan’s signature, who has said that she will sign it. So how does this year’s final budget look like over all? In General Funds, it spends roughly $213.9 million more than in the previous biennium.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-06-27 15:16:372013-06-27 15:16:37Bottom Line: A Look at the Final Budget
Every two years, state employee pay and benefits is a big part of the budget battle yet most policymakers have only vague concepts of whether state workers are the largest cost in the budget and whether employees are over or under compensated.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-06-27 13:13:442018-08-28 06:18:42State Employee Pay is a Complicated Question
The Committee of Conference is over and a final budget has been produced for approval by both chambers; so what became of all of the controversial items? For the most part, the House acceded to the Senate position on most issues, although for the two largest stumbling blocks in the budget, Medicaid Expansion and Personnel Reductions, there was some compromise.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-06-20 14:31:402013-06-20 14:31:40UPDATED: Battle lines: A Guide to the Budget Committee of Conference
The intelligent and hard-working members and staff at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission are working hard to lower your electric rate. They’re from the government, and they’re here to help.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Grant Bossehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngGrant Bosse2013-06-20 11:21:342018-08-28 18:54:55Public Utilities Commission is power mad
The current debate over Medicaid expansion is misleading simply because the expansion doesn’t do what supporters think it does. Experience shows that it does almost the opposite of what they intend: it doesn’t affect the uninsured and doesn’t reduce uncompensated care costs that are passed on to those with private insurance. The experience of two neighboring states, Maine and New Hampshire, should be studied.
“The final decision in this case was always going to come from the Supreme Court which I’m sure will uphold the law. No education tax credit has ever been struck down by a Supreme Court in any state. This ruling is particularly odd. The entire program is fine unless a parent by their own choice chooses a religious school. By this logic a program is illegal if neutral and only legal if actively hostile to religion. That’s absurd and I trust the Supreme Court will find it so. I hope the Supreme Court will act quickly so parents have some certainty for the coming school year.”
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-06-17 16:43:322018-08-28 18:55:05Statement on School Choice Ruling
A Compromise Budget That No One Hates
BUDGETThe state budget has come and partially gone. We’re left with the victory claims and some of the unfinished business that promises to drag through the rest of the year. Don’t believe everything you read: the budget is something no one loves or hates and includes two time bombs that will emerge in six months like a plague of locusts to consume all political vegetation.
Medicaid Questions: Summer School begins for Legislators
HEALTH CAREThe New Hampshire House and Senate may have adjourned for the summer, but a handful of lawmakers have some serious studying to do before their colleagues come back this fall.
June Unemployment Report: Rate Unchanged at 7.6%
BETTER GOVERNMENTThe June unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.6%. While the ranks of the unemployed grew by 17,000, the increase was not large enough to change the rate. The number of those not in the workforce grew by 12,000, but those classified as wanting a job fell by 132,000.
Bottom Line: A Look at the Final Budget
BUDGETThe Fiscal Year 2014-15 Budget passed both the House and Senate by wide margins on June 26th, and is currently awaiting Governor Hassan’s signature, who has said that she will sign it. So how does this year’s final budget look like over all? In General Funds, it spends roughly $213.9 million more than in the previous biennium.
State Employee Pay is a Complicated Question
BUDGETEvery two years, state employee pay and benefits is a big part of the budget battle yet most policymakers have only vague concepts of whether state workers are the largest cost in the budget and whether employees are over or under compensated.
NH Unemployment Drops to 5.3%
BETTER GOVERNMENTAccording to New Hampshire Employment Security, the unemployment rate for the state in the month of May fell to 5.3%, a drop from 5.5% in April.
UPDATED: Battle lines: A Guide to the Budget Committee of Conference
BUDGETThe Committee of Conference is over and a final budget has been produced for approval by both chambers; so what became of all of the controversial items? For the most part, the House acceded to the Senate position on most issues, although for the two largest stumbling blocks in the budget, Medicaid Expansion and Personnel Reductions, there was some compromise.
Public Utilities Commission is power mad
ENERGYThe intelligent and hard-working members and staff at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission are working hard to lower your electric rate. They’re from the government, and they’re here to help.
On Medicaid Expansion, Rhetoric isn’t Reality
BUDGETThe current debate over Medicaid expansion is misleading simply because the expansion doesn’t do what supporters think it does. Experience shows that it does almost the opposite of what they intend: it doesn’t affect the uninsured and doesn’t reduce uncompensated care costs that are passed on to those with private insurance. The experience of two neighboring states, Maine and New Hampshire, should be studied.
Statement on School Choice Ruling
EDUCATION“The final decision in this case was always going to come from the Supreme Court which I’m sure will uphold the law. No education tax credit has ever been struck down by a Supreme Court in any state. This ruling is particularly odd. The entire program is fine unless a parent by their own choice chooses a religious school. By this logic a program is illegal if neutral and only legal if actively hostile to religion. That’s absurd and I trust the Supreme Court will find it so. I hope the Supreme Court will act quickly so parents have some certainty for the coming school year.”