“This seminar introduced me to new policy options, national and statewide programs, and new partnerships that can help our state ensure that low income women, including TANF recipients, can move from poverty to economic success through access to postsecondary education,” stated Sen. Kelly regarding the seminar which was held in Washington, DCon November 3-6^th.

The seminar participants were state legislators from around the USA who are part of the Center for Women Policy Studies’ Contract with Women of the USA® State Legislators Initiative.  These women leaders – representing Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Utah, and Vermont — share the Center’s mission to promote women’s human rights through public policy and public education.   The seminar agenda covered federal anti-poverty and welfare policy, TANF implementation in the states, the role of community colleges, and effective strategies to support low income women enrolled in postsecondary education.

“Since the late 1980s, the Center has promoted access to postsecondary education for low income women as an effective welfare reform and poverty alleviation strategy. The leadership of women state legislators is essential to all efforts to alleviate poverty in our Nation,” said Center president Leslie R. Wolfe.  “We are proud to serve as the national staff to legislators on this and other critical women’s issues.”

The Center for Women Policy Studies was founded in 1972 as the first national policy institute to consider the impact of public policy on women.  The Center’s programs promote women’s human rights through enlightened public policy.  To learn more about the Center’s programs, visit the website at www.centerwomenpolicy.org.

New Hampshire and Massachusetts entered the Merrimack River Valley Flood Control Compact in 1957.  Under the compact, Massachusetts agreed to reimburse New Hampshire 70 percent of the amount of property taxes lost because of the acquisition and ownership of the dams and reservoirs in the project.

Despite the annual obligation of the compact, five years have passed sinceNew Hampshire last received payment under the agreement.  Due to nonpayment by Massachusetts and the decision by NH budget writers not to offset Massachusetts’ portion for the year, eighteen NH towns and their property taxpayers have lost a total of $520, 277 in revenue.  The most significant losses affect the towns of Hopkinton ($144,000), Henniker, Salisbury ($64,000 each), Franklin ($26,000) and similar losses accrued to other small towns along the flood control pathway.

Writing on behalf of several Senators and Representatives along the floodway, Larsen noted that previous NH budget writers had included funds to make up the Massachusetts’ shortfall.  Without such payments “local property taxpayers along the flood control byway will be burdened by Massachusetts’ failure to pay its obligations.”

“Several recent storm events have dramatically proven the value of this flood control project agreed upon by both our stated,” stated Larsen in the letter.  “Please consider this a formal request to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for compliance with the express terms of the compact.”

In the event of failure to comply, Larsen added “we intend to seek assistance from the Attorney General of New Hampshire to enforce the compact”.

The full text of the letter to Governor Patrick is attached.

“It is my hope that in light of the findings of the report – that rather than expend additional taxpayer dollars fighting the report findings – that the LGC will now immediately undertake the task of cooperating with the Securities Bureau in order to reach an expedited resolution,” said Larsen.  “In these difficult times our citizens and local communities are struggling.  They are contending with job losses and reduction or elimination of essential public services.  If there are excess monies through overcharges available they should be returned to the taxpayers in an expedient manner.”

Larsen and D’Allesandro were flanked by many of their former colleagues in the Senate including Senators Maggie Hassan, Deb Reynolds, Jackie Cilley and Betsi DeVries.  The four were all members of the Senate Commerce Committee in 2010 which took on the task of examining the practices of the LGC through a series of public hearings and review of documents.  The hearings eventually resulted in an amendment to House Bill 1393 of 2010 which included a directive to have the Bureau of Securities Regulation further investigate the LGC.

“What we felt was important then and continue to feel is important now is a maximum level of transparency and accountability whenever taxpayer dollars are being utilized,” stated former Senator Maggie Hassan who chaired the Commerce Committee panel that reviewed the LGC’s organizational structure and financial practices.  “These are monies held in the public trust and to the extent that they are being misused or misallocated there should be clear recourse for the taxpayers and our communities.”

The Local Government Center is authorized by statute as a non profit entity under RSA 5-B for the purpose of addressing the need for low cost risk pools by municipalities.

“There are potentially hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars at stake with no legal structure in place to oversee them and no assurance to the public that they are adequately protected,” added former Senator Jackie Cilley.  “The public has a right to know that their money is being used exclusively in a manner for which it was intended and I strongly encourage the LGC to move forward with steps to ensure such measures occur.

The Bureau of Securities Regulation plans to proceed next month with further hearings and inquiries regarding the findings outlined in the Bureau’s report.

“No one will believe that this budget does not increase taxes or fees.  Just look at this new budget’s health care tax on hospitals which will cause dramatic increases for those with health insurance and lengthy ER waits for those without.  This budget will cause local property taxes to increase through downshifting, and offers a prohibitive tuition increase to thousands of New Hampshire students attending our state community colleges and universities through the largest cut to state higher education in the country (an almost 50% general fund reduction).” added Larsen. “It is particularly irresponsible that this Republican leadership chose to lower our existing lowest-in-the-Northeast tobacco tax, losing more than $14million that could have been used to avoid cuts to families struggling with mental illness, disabilities or seniors in need .”

Larsen did support Senate conferees agreement to strip SB 3 of harmful anti-union provisions including a House-passed measure to eliminate the collective bargaining process and inclusion of a punitive proposal to further increase employee contribution rates if employee-groups asserted their right to contest unconstitutional sections of the bill.  However, in a statement today she further explained her objections.

“I have maintained throughout this session as we have worked to address this issue that efforts to reform the New Hampshire Retirement System should be done with input from all parties.  The burden for retirement reforms should be a shared responsibility and not solely balanced on the backs and contributions of New Hampshireworkers and their families,” stated Senator Sylvia Larsen.  “Today I informed the Senate President that those measures had not been met and, as a conferee, I remain in firm disagreement with the course that SB 3 has taken.”

Larsen vehemently opposed SB 3 when it was passed by the Republican-led Senate in late March.  On the Senate floor she outlined her reservations to numerous provisions in the bill including those that would significantly raise employee contribution rates, reduce the criteria for employee pension calculations, raid the “special account” resulting in no opportunity for cost-of-living adjustment for retirees, and impose changes to those employees that have contributed for years into the retirement system and even reached “vested” status.

“Everyone acknowledges that the NHRS requires further examination and reform.  We passed laws to stabilize the system when the Legislature was under Democratic leadership in 2007.  However, employees did not cause the insufficiencies in the system and the burden to correct them should not be theirs alone,” suggested Larsen.

“SB 3 forces NH workers to work longer for less pay while simultaneously being required to pay more into the system and making it more difficult to build for a livable retirement.  These workers – who are our first responders, public safety officers, educators and civil servants – have kept their side of the promise,  paid their fair share and been promised benefits as part of their pay  package.  They should not now be made to suffer for the failure of employers to keep their promises and meet the same standard.”

“The Senate Republicans on the Finance Committee applauded themselves today for passage of the Senate budget, yet the reality is that thousands of New Hampshire residents will feel the dire effects of underfunding critical state programs that foster job growth and support our elderly, children at risk, and disabled citizens,” Senator Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen remarked.  “This budget does nothing for job creation, rather it causes layoffs and reduces our investments in public education, safe highways, access to health care and programs for our most vulnerable, and causes a downshift onto our local communities and property taxpayers.  I cannot support this irresponsible shirking of state responsibilities.”

Deputy Democratic Leader Lou D’Allesandro, the committee’s only Democratic member, was the sole vote in opposition of the passage of both HB 1 and HB 2.

The budget passed today by the Senate Finance committee is an example of what can happen when state government passes the buck,” said Senator Lou D’Allesandro.  “State government should be there to assist our disabled and elderly, educate our children, and strengthen our workers and the small businesses that employ them.  This budget relinquishes too much of that responsibility and in doing so passes the financial burdens onto our communities, who are already financially stressed.  I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to improve this budget going forward following the ideals and values that we maintain and that we believe are in the best interest of the people.”

“It is my belief that the New Hampshire State House is the people’s house and business conducted inside these walls should be done in an open and public manner, added Deputy Democratic Leader Lou D’Allesandro.  “You cannot shut the people out of their own house.  Doing so violates the public trust and does a tremendous disservice to the very people that sent us here to consider and debate the issues important to New Hampshire.”