Child advocates have submitted their annual list of legislative initiatives.
Like in previous years, the advocates talk about education, healthcare and poverty.
But New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports, what's different this year is that some of these proposals may actually pass.
The first clue that the New Hampshire Advocacy Network's annual Priorities for Children press conference would be different was the crowd.
It wasn't the number of people who had come out to support the latest list.
It was who had come out.
House Speaker Democrat Terri Norelli and Senate President Pro Tem Democrat Maggie Hassan in particular.
Never before in the Advocacy Network's 8 year history had legislative leadership both attended the meeting, and spoken out.
Senator Hassan.
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7:47....the future of our children is a bi-partisan issue, and we have the collective will here to make positive change that is not only good for them, but smart public policy investment...I urge all of my colleagues to remember, in the height of the legislative session, when things can get a little tense, and a little tough, our kids are counting on us. (applause)
This year's priority list includes initiatives to raise the minimum wage, expand children's healthcare coverage, address the shortage of special education teachers, help families with childcare costs and monitor changes to the state's welfare program.
Speaker Norelli described the list as a compelling map for the state.
The Speaker, herself, has sponsored legislation to increase the minimum wage in the past, and supported other initiatives on the list as well.
Child Advocacy Network Steering Committee member Ellen Shemitz says her group's priorities are a choice.
Plenty of people lobby lawmakers.
But Shemitz says this time around, key legislators are listening.
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2:38 by having leadership stand with us, it gives the sense that we won't always be standing in the background 'don't forget to think about the children.' But rather, leadership will be standing there on their own behalf, 'how does this impact the children.'
Shemitz says this is a critical time for politicians to pay attention to children's issues.
Last week, a new report found that the rate of kids living in poverty jumped 50% between 2000 and 2005.
The report also showed a growing disparity between wealthy and poor families.
Senator Hassan says the lawmakers must take that data into account when writing the state's next budget.
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7:20 we make small investments now that have huge payoffs that help kids make them happy, productive adults is common sense....penny pinching is not common sense, if you know down the road, if kids who drop out of school, or get addicted to drugs, or who's mental health issues don't get treated, wind up in prison. And that's a $30,000 a year price tag in this state. Very small price tag on early education and drug and alcohol treatment can prevent that....that's the kind of common sense people are willing to invest.
Hassan's argument- spend money now to save money long-term- is hardly unique to children's issues.
It's an argument most any lobbyist of commissioner will make.
But Hassan and Norelli's presence at the press conference suggests they are more inclined to push those issues in front of some other area.
But Republican Fran Wendlebo, who sits on the House Finance Committee, says she doesn't think a couple of lawmakers pushing minimum wage or healthcare means any kind of sea change.
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2:17 I don't think there will be a shift in the policy and finance committee. I sat in the finance committee last week and the chairwoman say this year is not going to be any different than the year before. There is not going to be a spending spree, there is not going to be a lot of new revenue, we are going to have to make tough choices, just as we have had to do for the last half dozen years.
For her part, House Finance Chair Marjorie Smith recognizes the state just may not have enough money this year.
But she says she does love the list.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
