Also on today’s menu:
Unwillingness To Compromise
Diversion Of Food Waste Vs. More Landfills
Trump Faces Arraignment Today
Plans were announced to build a $1.3 billion state-of-the art bridge across the Broads of Lake Winnipesaukee, to be known as “The Golden Gate of the Northeast.” Chuck Geyswell, a project manager with New England No. 1 Engineering and Construction, told reporter Jon Depp, “This bridge is going to directly connect the thriving communities of Tuftonboro and Gilford, as well as provide thousands of jobs over the next 10 years.”
The article, which came out on April 1, said the structure, officially known as the Broads Bridge of Winnipesaukee, or BBW, will tower 80 feet above the water’s surface, stretching more than five miles, from Belknap Point to Tuftonboro Neck. The bridge will begin with an overpass off Route 11, but Geyswell said homeowners along Belknap Point Road will not be too negatively affected: “That’s actually where the overpass starts. Sure, it’ll cast some shadows in the area, but that way we won’t have to bulldoze any of the properties already there.”
Governor Chris Sununu is said to have committed $250,000 in state funds to the project, but said the rest of the cost will be on the towns of the Lakes Region.
Some residents were distressed to read the story, having overlooked the publication date and other hints that something might be up — such as the bridge illustration being created by Jon Decker of the Laconia Nightly Moon. Yes, it was an April Fool’s story, and it may have even surpassed my own April 1 fabrication, many years ago, when I published my “Interview With A Fool” featuring a picture of my British friend, Dave Ashton.
Unwillingness To Compromise
New Hampshire’s Republican politicians in recent years have taken the stance that they will not support any legislation, no matter how good, if it is proposed by or supported by Democrats. This year, with a close balance between parties in the Concord Statehouse, Republican representatives have been more willing to work with Democrats on proposed legislation, and it is the Democrats who have become intransigent. The majority of Democrats are objecting to the proposed state budget because it does not include everything they want.
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne expressed his frustration in a letter to Matthew Wilhelm (D-Manchester):
Leader Wilhelm,
I have made a genuine effort this term to be on record as often as possible emphasizing the importance of bipartisanship and working for the common good of New Hampshire. The election results in November were very clear: Granite Staters did not elect a decisive majority in the House, and they wanted the two parties to work together and find practical solutions to everyday problems.
It was in that spirit of compromise that the Speaker brought our two leadership teams together this week to work through our differences on the state budget in order to come up with something that everyone could support.
From my viewpoint, the Finance committee produced a truly bipartisan work product that incorporated several key policies both parties could support. It also included several Republican concessions in key policy areas including spending and taxes.
Yesterday, Republicans offered you several additional concessions, based on areas of concern that you supplied us, working toward even more bipartisan compromise. I gave up significant Republican priorities to meet you and your caucus on your demands.
I am disheartened to hear that not only did you not accept any of our concessions, but your leadership members have gone on to make statements in public and amongst your caucus alleging that we did not come close.
I am happy to review our proposal with you again and ask where we fell short on meeting you.
You proposed restoring housing support funding cut from the governor's budget: $15 million to InvestNH and $10 million to the Affordable Housing Fund. We met you on that request by reallocating $10 million from InvestNH towards Affordable Housing for $25 million total towards Affordable Housing.
You proposed establishing guardrails on Education Freedom Accounts, retaining the 300% income eligibility cap, adding in the language of HB430, HB626, and capping the annual budget at $20 million. We offered to lower EFA spending by $20 million, remove all House passed EFA bills from HB2, including raising the income cap, and agreed to additional oversight of the FA program by the department.
You proposed including an amendment by Rep. Rick Ladd and Rep. David Luneau to increase public education funding to property-poor communities. We met you on that request.
You proposed increasing Medicaid provider rates $40 million above the Finance committee proposal. We met you on that request.
You proposed removing language on Medicaid Expansion. We proposed negotiating the sunset date to longer than 2 years, which you refused to do.
I understand that we could not come to a consensus on items such as eliminating the accelerated phase-out of the Interest and Dividends tax, or restoring $75 million in school building aid, however in the case of school building aid, we had no money left to spend after conceding to your other spending requests.
In order to fund Democratic priorities, we spent the little money that was allocated to the Rainy Day Fund. Keeping our Rainy Day Fund at a healthy level is a significant priority for Republicans, but again, in the spirit of compromise, we were willing to suck it up and spend it.
The Democratic priorities listed above were not our first attempt at reaching a bipartisan agreement. In HB2, we had already sacrificed the repeal of the Communications Service Tax in order to fund changes to group II retirement from HB436. This was an unpopular bill with the Republican caucus, but we were willing to meet you on that priority, as well.
As evidenced above, it appears as if you never had any intention to work towards compromise and would rather play political games with the future of our state and its people. Manufacturing outrage to produce headlines and fundraising letters is no way to govern.
Granite Staters sent us here to do a job. If you are not willing to do that job, then it is only the people of this state who will suffer.
Rather than demonstrate leadership and continue to work in good faith, you have chosen to walk away. After the votes on the 6th, I look forward to knowing who on the Democratic side of the aisle we will be able to work with going forward.
Sincerely,
Jason Osborne
House Majority Leader
NH House of Representatives
Diversion Of Food Waste Vs. More Landfills
Representative Karen Ebel (D-New London) has proposed two bills, approved by the House Finance Committee as amendments to the House budget bill, that aim to divert food waste from landfills to help extend their lives and avoid the need for additional landfill sites in the state. House Bill 300 would require any entity producing more than one ton of food waste per week (such as hospitals, schools, and grocery stores) to keep that waste out of the landfill if there are facilities within 20 miles capable of handling food waste (composting or otherwise processing it). Ebel originally intended the bill to apply to a 50-mile radius but reduced the travel distance to gain support for her bill.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that food waste makes up about a quarter of municipal solid waste going to landfills nationwide. Ebel’s other bill, House Bill 462, would provide $2 million to support programs to help keep food waste out of landfills. Michael Nork of the Department of Environmental Services said the DES currently lacks the time and resources necessary to collect data on waste generation, but the passage of those bills would allow the department to pay more attention to waste generators and hire extra personnel focused on the issue.
Both Massachusetts in 2014 and in Vermont in 2015 have implemented one-ton limits similar to HB 300. Massachusetts experienced an annual decrease in food waste of 210,000 tons in the five years following passage of its policy, but a Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation report found no major change in residential food waste entering landfills between 2012 to 2017 as the bill was implemented, and that institutional, commercial, and industrial food waste increased during that period.
Reagan Bissonnette, executive director of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, who serves on the Solid Waste Working Group with Ebel, supports food waste diversion efforts, but she said HB 300’s small scope is unlikely to make much of an immediate impact.
Trump Faces Arraignment Today
Prior to his arrival in New York City to face charges relating to his alleged role in covering up hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 presidential election, former President Donald Trump has been calling out witnesses, prosecutors, family members, and judges by name, using language his followers can interpret as a call to action. He has warned that “death and destruction” will follow.
The charges have remained under seal prior to Trump’s arraignment today, but speculation has led to reports that he will face 34 felony counts of falsification of business records. A 23-person grand jury considered evidence that included testimony from Daniels and Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and more than half of them were convinced that there was reasonable cause to believe that Trump committed a crime, resulting in his indictment Thursday.
The indictment marked the first time in U.S. history that a former president has faced criminal charges. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Due to the importance of the hearing, and Trump’s complaints that it is only a “witch hunt”, news organizations sought permission to have cameras in the courtroom to report on the day’s proceedings, but the judge denied that request. He will permit five pool photographers to take photos for a few minutes before the arraignment starts, but no video or still photography will be permitted during the arraignment itself. That blackout is sure to play to Trump supporters who do not trust the justice system.
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