Also on today’s menu:
Senate Republicans Abandon Veterans Putin’s War Effort Stalls
The controversy over the Gunstock Area Commission and the closing of the mountain has caught media attention throughout New England, with new developments coming quickly but solutions still in short supply.
After Governor Chris Sununu jumped into the dispute with declarations of support for the resigned senior management team and calls for the resignations of two commissioners, along with three state representatives, the political backlash came quickly. Rep. Mike Sylvia released a copy of a check, signed September 18, 2020, by Gunstock’s resigned president and general manager Tom Day, on a Gunstock Area Commission account, donating $500 to a Friends of Sununu campaign account. A personal contribution would have been understandable, since Day and resigned commissioner Gary Kiedaisch had worked at Waterville Valley, which the Sununu family operates. Using Gunstock money for a political donation is another matter.
Meanwhile, the Belknap County Delegation has scheduled a meeting for Monday, Aug. 8, to take up Kiedaisch’s resignation and replacement. Kiedaisch, meanwhile, has said, “never mind, I don’t want to resign, after all.”
As for the calls for the resignations of Gunstock Area commissioners Peter Ness and Dr. David Strang, the agenda for the Aug. 8 meeting makes no mention of addressing that request.
Meanwhile, the commission has a non-public session scheduled for today at 10:30 a.m. to discuss legal matters, financial matters, and employment matters.
Senate Republicans Abandon Veterans
A bill that the U.S. Senate had approved to provide benefits for veterans suffering the toxic effects of burn pits went on to the House, which made small changes before also approving the bill, 342-88. Yet when it came back to the Senate for final approval, Republican members blocked the legislation.
Democrats are saying the about-face was a retaliation for Sen. Joe Manchin’s announcement earlier that day that he would support a pared-down version of President Joe Biden Jr.’s Build Back Better plan that lowers drug prices for Medicare recipients, provides incentives for companies to invest in clean technology, and raises the taxes on Americans earning more than $400,000.
The so-called PACT Act would have expanded access to health care for veterans exposed to burn pits and now experiencing rare cancers and respiratory diseases. The Veterans Administration has denied coverage unless veterans could prove a link; the new bill would have removed that burden to make it easier for them to receive treatment.
Putin’s War Effort Stalls
The Washington Post reports that Russia’s advance into Ukraine has slowed “almost to a standstill as newly delivered Western weapons help Ukrainian forces reclaim much of the advantage they had lost in recent months.”
The story says Russian troops have made no significant territorial gains since July 2. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the troops are in an “operational pause” after the seizure of Lysychansk.
Western officials are saying the Russians are close to exhausting their capacity to make further territorial gains and may not reached their stated goal of “freeing” the Donbas region.
Cafe Chatter: On ‘The Is Of Identity’
I had never heard of this before. Sociologists are supposed to be aware of this idea. Manchin. I’ll believe it when he votes. I am not encouraged by his pronouncement.
— Candace Skurnik
***
The article of “The Is of Identity” was spot on. This is exactly what I have been trying to say in my letters to the editors. People are all different, not necessarily bad or good, but we have diffident opinions.
It is sad to see the Gunstock issue happening and I believe there is some type of mischief going on under the covers which may come out in the Audit that is being conducted. So far, I have seen written emails from the Sr. Management making fun of Soulfest, a Christian event that has rented Gunstock for years and has tens of thousands of people come to. I hear they have canceled their contract for the next year or Soulfest has not renewed, sure would like to know what happened there. I am wondering if the SR. Management is trying to shut-down anything Christian! I also seen evidence that SR Manager Tom Day signed a check to the Friends of Sununu using Belknap Citizen’s funds (this is a red flag to me and if I were a Democrat, I would be furious). Now I wonder what else will come out, is there more corruption and good old boy stuff going on!
All people should read your article posted today “The Is of Identity” and understand it is just not a chair…
I am John Sellers running for Republican State Representative, District 18 covering the towns of Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Hebron, Grafton, Groton and Orange, johnsellersnh.com.
Primary voting is September 13th.
To say nothing, is to say something, to do nothing, is to do something. Every action has a reaction even if that action is saying and doing nothing, so take a stand and get into the battle and WIN.
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