Election 2010

WE were saturated with political ads consisting of half truths and sloganeering throughout this election cycle. The problem is what was fact or fiction! We heard a lot about the NH Budget and while I don’t want to minimize the issue, the budget is balanced and a 70 million dollar surplus does exists. That fact/claim is by professional auditors – not partisan politicians.

In June, the Legislature was called back into a special session. Due to the recession, a revenue shortfall was discovered; therefore, to keep the budget balanced, certain adjustments were needed. Among those adjustments was repeal of the controversial LLC Tax –which was done by both democrats and republicans (including this writer). The adjusted budget reflects across the board cuts – there were no sacred cows. Consensus was that more cuts would have had a negative impact on services for the most needy in the state.

Also about those taxes & fees – fact: in the 2009/2010 session, there were over 35 increases to fees & several new fees – all were sponsored by republicans.

Regarding the management of the state – there are a few facts we need to know. According to the WALL STREET JOURNAL (10/4/2010), New Hampshire is among the 10 best-run states in the Nation. The article reports that well-run states “keep balanced books, investment is prudent and debt is sustainable”. Another interesting fact is that the nation’s 3 largest bond rating agencies have held NH’s rating steady reflecting a "fundamentally strong state economy." Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investor Services, and Fitch Ratings have all maintained the state’s above average ratings.

Now I know everything is not wonderful – and times are tough requiring due-diligence by all elected officials. However, I hope you will realize that the governor and legislators presently in power have remained focused and frugal.

Lastly, regarding next session’s budget – I don’t have a crystal ball – but I do know that crafting a budget will be a major challenge. It will take hard work and possible sacrifice – not sloganeering. Let's see what the other team will do - stay tuned...

Community & Government Communication Strategies – a practical discussion #1

As the title indicates – this blog will focus on community and government communications strategies. If you are expecting a partisan political blog – you will be disappointed.
However, if you are an individual, small business or community leader and have often been lost regarding how to navigate the bureaucratic maze that is sometimes government, you might find this useful. My intent is that this blog will attempt to initiate a practical, common sense discussion on what is new and evolving, as well as how government works.
The goal is to not only provide useful tactical strategies, but offer practical legislative updates that will permit you to make better, more informed decisions. In upcoming months – specific legislation that was passed on both the state and federal level will be shared with readers.
If opinion polls and news articles are to be believed – government and politicians are in the eyes of many American, at their lowest point in years. Some who voted for President Obama are discouraged because change hasn’t happened fast enough, while others interpret what is happening as the nation sliding down the slippery sloop towards socialism. Unfortunately, whether it is due to unmet expectations or perceived threats, we collectively seem to have forgotten that “government and politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions”. While I don’t want this blog to be viewed as a Civics primer - perhaps a key first step is a better understanding of the what/why and how of government. Specifically: WHAT is it supposed to do – WHY has such a policy or law been enacted and – HOW will it work and realizing the impact it has on our daily lives…
So sign up – Join in and let the discussion begin.