NEWS & NOTES Medicaid expansion
At the first hearing on a bill that would continue Medicaid expansion past its Dec. 31 sunset date, Republican lawmakers, who sponsored the bills, presented their plan. The AP reported that some of the details of the bill discussed at the Jan. 27 hearing included work requirements and no increased taxes for residents to pay for the state’s share of the cost. That cost is estimated to be $25 million in 2018, after the federal government’s contribution decreases to 94 percent. It goes from 100 percent to 95 percent in 2017. Republican leaders want to pay for the program by relying on an insurance premium tax and voluntary contributions of $37 million over two years from insurance companies and hospitals. The New Hampshire Hospital Association supports the plan. The bill would set another expiration date at the end of 2018.
GMO bill
A hearing on a bill that would require labeling of genetically modified foods drew a packed house, the Concord Monitor reported. The label would say “Produced with Genetic Engineering or Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering.” There have been similar bills in the Statehouse in the past. More than 40 speakers gave testimony at the hearing. Most spoke in support of the regulation, but some farmers said it would hurt their business and not accomplish anything useful.
Drug deaths
The latest information about drug-related deaths from the New Hampshire Medical Examiner’s office — which has begun sending bi-weekly updates to news outlets — shows the total tally for 2015 just shy of 400 with 36 cases still pending. Of the 399 deaths that were drugrelated last year, 151 were caused by fentanyl alone. Only 31 were caused by heroin alone, lending further evidence that the drug crisis is largely a fentanyl crisis, at least when it comes to fatal nature of the substances.
Cooked books?
The members of the Manchester school board are scratching their heads over a change in test scores that many believe may have been altered to inflate performance numbers. The Union Leader reported many believe the discrepancy between initial November numbers and higher scores presented more recently has not been accounted for accurately by Superintendent Debra Livingston, who claimed that the initial numbers included “zero” scores for those students who did not take the Smarter Balanced Assessment tests and that new numbers reflect the averages without the zeros. However, state officials at the Department of Education say the initial scores did not include zeros.
campaign coffers and faces the challenge of re-establishing credibility among voters. Guinta’s longtime Democratic opponent Carol Shea-Porter is running again, Democratic newcomer Shawn O’Connor is also running, and Republican Dan Innis will face Guinta in the primary.
Zika virus prep
Gov. Maggie Hassan is working with public health and emergency management officials to prepare New Hampshire for the Zika virus. According to a press release from Hassan’s office, the species of mosquitoes that carry the virus don’t live in the Granite State, but the first reported case of an infected patient in Massachusetts was recently identified. There is no known treatment or vaccine for the virus, which is not deadly but Vet whistleblower A New Hampshire man was might be linked to birth defects instrumental in revealing what in pregnant women. he characterized as lavish spending by the Wounded Warrior New drug court? Project, a charity and veterPreparations are under way ans service organization. CBS to launch a new drug court in News reported Granite Stater Merrimack County, the ConErick Millette was hired by the cord Monitor reported. A federal group as a public speaker but training grant was approved in quit after two years, claiming December. The program, like the WWP was exploiting veteran other drug courts, would divert hardships to make money. CBS certain addicts from prison to found more than 40 other former offer community treatment, freemployees who corroborated quent drug testing and meetings Millette’s claims that the group with counselors. Six other counfunded extravagant hotel parties ties have started drug courts in and racked up huge restaurant New Hampshire, and lawmakers and bar tabs. Spending on con- are expected to take up a bill this ferences and meetings jumped session that would allocate $2.5 from $1.7 million in 2010 to million in state funds to help $26 million in 2014. Watchdog county drug courts pay for sergroup Charity Navigator put the WWP on their watch list following the initial report.
Guinta running
Incumbent 1st District Congressman Frank Guinta, embattled by a campaign finance scandal, says he’s paid back the $355,000 personal loan he received from his parents in 2010, as he was ordered to do by the Federal Election Commission last spring. The Union Leader reported Guinta says he’s planning on running for reelection this year. After paying the money back, he’s got a little more than $12,000 cash on hand in his
HIPPO | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2016 | PAGE 4
THE STATE MOTTO
Voters in Derry moved an $81.8 million school district budget forward. The Union Leader reported two amendments to cut the budget further were rejected during a recent school deliberative session.
Two articles out of 27 placed on the ballot by Candia voters at a deliberative session deal with mosquitos. The Union Leader reported both articles allocate funds for mosquito control,CONCORD but many were concerned that voters would see them as competing alternatives. All warrant articles in Hooksett Auburn sped toward the ballot during a 45-minutelong deliberative session. The Union Leader reported Goffstown there were about 50 voters in attendance and there was little discussion.
MANCHESTER
Bedford
A deliberative session in Amherst Hudson saw 230 registered voters in attendance. The Milford Union Leader reported that a teachers’ contract, which includes a raise and a tax hike, drew the most comments.
Merrimack
Derry
Londonderry
NASHUA
vices. Proponents of drug courts 77. The Concord Monitor reportsay they are cheaper than incar- ed Gross, a longtime Democratic ceration and reduces recidivism. activist and lawyer, worked at the Sulloway & Hollis firm for more than 50 years. He was a graduate Martin Gross Leaders from across New of Harvard College and Harvard Hampshire lent their condo- Law School. While most public lences to the Gross family and comments came from Democratshared remembrances of former ic leaders, Republicans such as Concord Mayor Martin Gross, Sen. Kelly Ayotte and state Senwho died of a stroke while trav- ate President Chuck Morse also eling in Antarctica at the age of shared their condolences.
A bill that would have given New Hampshire motorists an option to change their license plate from the standard “Live Free or Die” inscribed on the top was rejected by the House on Jan. 27. The AP reported the bill would have given drivers an option between the current plates and plates with the word “Scenic” inscribed, which is a retro nod to New Hampshire plates that existed decades ago. Live Free or Die became the state motto in 1945 and was stripped from a 1809 toast made by Gen. John Stark to his comrades in arms.
CONCORD COURTHOUSE
A courthouse in Concord had to be evacuated due to a water main break on Jan. 28 at about 7:30 a.m. The Concord Monitor reported the Merrimack County Superior Court was shut down for the day, along with the block around Court Street. The pavement above the 6-inch main was cracked by the bursting water. Officials speculated the fluctuating temperature of the previous several days caused the line to break. Water was shut off to 17 surrounding addresses, and crews dug up the street to begin repairs, which concluded later that evening.