House members are getting ready for what's expected to be a stormy two-day session next week. They'll vote on a range of plans to pay for public schools. Republicans and Democrats are each predicting success for their respective plans.
Cecilia Kane is a seven term Democrat from Portsmouth. The petite 85-year old admits with some embarrassment that she didn't come to Concord today to hear about education funding.
"Came to go to credit union lunch... decided this is very special day and I should stay and listen to everything"
There are four major education funding bills before the House: the income tax, Governor Shaheen's sales tax, Representative Andy Peterson's gross receipts tax, and a car tax and business tax plan drawn up by the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kane says she wants to hear about all the plans, but she's made up her mind.
"I'm for income tax but I think we have to look at gov's bill and vote for both of them. // that?s what my plan is."
That's music to the ears of Democratic leaders, who've been pushing their party members to vote for both major Democratic plans. House Democratic leader Peter Burling says he believes most of his party is on board, but he'll keep working for votes til the last minute.
"Can I win over the last five Dems? I hope so. Can I win over some Repubs? I hope so."
Burling will need Republicans - about sixty of them, since his party is outnumbered in the House. The Cornish Democrat says he doesn't think the Republicans have the votes to pass their main plan, the Ways and Means proposal. But Republican Dan Itse of Fremont says Burling doesn't have the votes for his plans.
"My gut feeling is sales and inc taxes will fail. I don't see a question there. I think the gross receipts plan will also fail although I'm not sure. I think the house plan will pass."
There are a few things everyone seems to agree on. One is that there's a lot of interest in Peterson's gross receipts tax, but members want to see more details and more hard numbers, and the time to get that information out is running short.
The House Ways and Means Committee gave a thumbs-down to Peterson's plan. In fact the only major tax plan the committee did recommend is its own.
Another thing people agree on is that emotions will run high, and the two days of voting will go long. Republican John Graham of Bedford:
"I anticipate going into evening both days, I think it will be very passionate with lots of speakers."
The voting on the House floor begins Wednesday. For NHPR News I'm Trish Anderton.
