Josh Rogers

N.H. Primary Turns 100

Josh Rogers — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:24:50 +0000

The Executive Council chambers were packed as N.H.'s political class came together to honor what has become one of the best known things about the state, the presidential primary. Bill Gardner.

"This is a special day in N.H., in the old days they’d call this a red letter day."

Bill Gardner is N.H.’s Secretary of State. He came equipped with plenty of historical detail, including the biography of Democratic Rep, Stephen Bullock, who authored law that took effect May 21^st 1913.

On The Political Front For May 20

Josh Rogers — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:31:52 +0000

House Supercommittee Narrowly Rejects Senate-Passed Casino Bill

Josh Rogers — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:23:39 +0000

Members of the so-called casino supercommittee spent its morning getting familiar with 17 separate amendments. The proposals ranged from beefing up regulatory oversight, to changing the way casino proceeds would be distributed among towns and counties, to allowing slot machines at any establishment that holds a liquor license.

But when the committee reconvened after lunch, the first motion came quickly, and it was to kill the bill.

“We may be 45 very bright people, but not one of us has a background in gaming.”

On The Political Front For May 13

Josh Rogers — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:09:21 +0000

The New Hampshire House makes its first key vote as the casino bill is voted on by a supercommittee comprised of the House Finance and Ways & Means Committees; various amendments will be considered on Tuesday, with a committee vote and recommendation coming Wednesday. The New Hampshire Senate, meanwhile, continues to work on its budget, and the Senate Finance Committee prepares to hear from some of the larger state agencies - Health & Human Services, Transportation, and Environmental Services - on their budget needs.

Senate Committee Reworks Voter ID BIll

Josh Rogers — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:33:10 +0000

The new bill limits a plan that aims to freeze implementation of the next phase of NH’s voter ID law.

Under the provisions of NH’s voter ID law set to kick in in September , only government issued ID would work at the polls -- and local election officials would snap pictures of voters who cast ballots without ID.

Neither provision would take effect under a bill backed by the democratically-controlled house, but the GOP led senate appears to have other plans.

Senate Panel Rewrites Medical Marijuana Bill To Hassan's Liking

Josh Rogers — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:46:06 +0000

While serving as a state senator 4 years ago, Governor Maggie Hassan supported a medical marijuana bill with a home-cultivation option.

But no longer.

Prior to voting a redrafted medical marijuana bill out of committee, Senate health chair Nancy Stiles said the bill was to maximize its chances for survival when it gets to the Governor's desk.

"We did try to include everything that I though we had agreed on -- and again with my meeting yesterday with the Governor’s Counsel – and what would work and not work."

Morse Says Senate Budget Will Be "A Whole Lot Different"

Josh Rogers — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:27:51 +0000

The top budget writer in the NH senate is signaling that the spending plan the senate will craft will be vastly different than the one adopted by the NH house. Republican Chuck Morse of Salem says the house and Governor both inflated revenues for number of state taxes. Morse sees the state’s tax on hospitals, knows as the MET, as a prime example.

State Investigating Former Manchester Diocese Official For Misuse Of Funds

Josh Rogers — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:45:46 +0000

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office is investigating a former top official in the Manchester diocese.

Monsignor Edward Arsenault is under investigation for improper transactions involving diocesan funds.

On The Political Front For May 6

Josh Rogers — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:17:34 +0000

With April being a big month for state revenue, New Hampshire could end the biennium in the black; things are looking tougher for the casino proposal, as the legislature continues to work on the budget; Senator Ayotte held a handful of town halls meetings last week, getting questions and a bit of backlash on her gun control positions.

On The Political Front For April 29

Josh Rogers — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:58:23 +0000

Senator Kelly Ayotte has been in the news for her opposition to expanded background checks for gun sales; the NH Senate set to vote on a number of bills this week, with a number of them expected not to pass; one bill that may find bipartisan support is the proposed freeze of the Voter ID law, which would mean that more stringent requirements set to go into effect in September would be put on hold.

'Stand Your Ground' Repeal Gets Senate Hearing

Josh Rogers — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:26:33 +0000

GOP Senate leaders in have said they see no reason to again require people attempt to retreat if they can do so safely before they use deadly-force in self-defense. But Ryan Health, Chief of Police in Alton, law told the Senate judiciary committee that current law puts citizens at risk.

"What I am talking about is innocent bystanders, other individuals in public places."

On The Political Front For April 22

Josh Rogers — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:16:52 +0000

In the wake of the bombings in Boston, NH Senator Kelly Ayotte and other lawmakers are arguing for treating the remaining suspect as an enemy combatant, which would break new legal ground; the national gun bill fails to pass, with Senator Ayotte being the lone New England Senator to oppose the bill; the casino bill backed by Governor Hassan and the NH Senate is now being examined by the NH House Finance and Ways & Means committees; both branches of the NH Legislature continue to work on their budgets.

Governor Pushes For Casino At House Hearing

Josh Rogers — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:05:48 +0000

The casino legislation endorsed by the New Hampshire Senate and strongly backed by governor Maggie Hassan got its first hearing in the New Hampshire House Tuesday.

On The Political Front For April 15

Josh Rogers — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:44:21 +0000

Key Law Enforcement Critics Don't Ask Senate to Kill House-Backed Medical Marijuana Bill

Josh Rogers — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:31:49 +0000

Go to any medical marijuana hearing and you will hear people suffering from severe illness or injury extolling the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. But in NH you have never heard things like this. Elizabeth Woodcock is with the NH Department of Justice:

The NH attorney general’s office is willing to work with the committee and with the medical community to see if we can resolve the concerns that we have about the bill, and that’s the only thing I came to say.