InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/author/paula-tracy-indepthnh-org/)
Calling it a “slap in the face” to first responders across the state, House and Senate conferees refused to fully fund the Group II retirement plan in the state budget as part of its committee of conference negotiations Wednesday.
An impasse has come between Senate and House versions of the proposed Group II retirement plan for first responders, with the Senate telling the House to come back on Wednesday with a plan that does not allow “spiking.”
The gap is closing between the House and Senate budget versions for the next two years with more tax money projected than when the House budget was developed in February.
A controversial plan in the House budget to reduce Medicaid provider rates by 3 percent is essentially dead after budget writers in a conference committee agreed to the Senate’s budget position to restore that coverage Monday.
Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre revised his revenue estimates upwards by about $13 million over the next two years, giving budget writers more wiggle room and to help state agencies and programs now facing cuts from both House and Senate versions of the budget.
The financial news was good for fourteen members of the House and Senate who sat down together for the first time Thursday as the budget committee of conference.
The House agreed to changes made in over 30 bills by the Senate, sometimes with a bit of grumbling and others with a little begrudging praise, and those are now headed to the governor for her signature.
The Mount Washington summit and its future, considering impacts from humans and climate change, are being considered as part of an extensive master plan right now with the contactor expected to hold a stakeholder workshop or two this summer.
New Hampshire’s $3.9 billion outdoor industry, which supports over 30,000 jobs and 1,000 small businesses from the Seacoast shoreline to the Great North Woods, was celebrated by Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Manchester City Mayor Jay Ruais and others on Tuesday.