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Update from Congresswoman
Shea-Porter
U.S. Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter
Since being sworn in to serve a fourth term representing the good people of New Hampshire's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have been focused on the issues that matter to working families and small businesses in communities like Dover. I know we need to grow our economy and ensure that this growth helps small businesses and working families, so I'm supporting responsible tax reform that helps those who need tax relief.
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State Budget a Hot Topic
Senator David Watters
District 4, Strafford County
The budget process has been complicated by emerging and unexpected needs, so substantial appropriations have been made from the surplus to fund shortfalls at the Department of Health and Human Services. Surplus funds totaling $38 million have also been allocated to municipal roads and bridges, and the rainy day fund has seen big increases in order to preserve our strong bond rating and prepare for the future. The opioid crisis, mental health funding, the developmentally disabled waitlist, and severe problems at the Division of Children, Youth, and Families have emerged as priorities. Unfortunately, this budget process has not been conducted in the bipartisan fashion of the last two budgets, which passed the Senate nearly unanimously.
Read More...
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Distracted Driving is Deadly
Representative Debra Altschiller
District 19
Rockingham County, Stratham
Each day in the United States, on average, eight families bury a loved one killed by a distracted driver. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an additional 1,161 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.
In 2014, alarmed by growing numbers of distracted driver-involved deaths and injuries, New Hampshire passed a hands-free driver law. The law banned anyone under the age of 18, the highest risk group, from any use of a cell phone while driving. Ten percent of all drivers aged 15-19 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.
Read More...
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NH Legislative Headlines
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What the Passed Budget Means for NH
Sean O'Connell, Esquire
Past Chair, GDCC Board of Directors
Chair, GDCC Government Affairs Committee
Shaheen & Gordon is happy to bring you this quarterly newsletter focused on legislative matters important to the Greater Dover Community.
This legislative session has finally ended with the passage of a $11.7B, two-year state budget by the house and Senate, largely along party lines. This budget was a long road for Governor Sununu after the majority Republican legislature rejected his budget this April. It includes many of the Governor's priorities, including full day kindergarten to be funded by the adoption of Keno. Keno has been rejected by our legislature in the past but the cost of the addition of full day kindergarten addition required its adoption. Many legislators expressed concerns over the KENO adoption but the majority clearly felt the objections were outweighed by the revenue it will generate and the benefit of full day kindergarten. Read More...
The Shaheen & Gordon Group LLC has been creating legislative strategies for our clients for more than a decade. Located within walking distance of the State House, we are available to interact with New Hampshire decision makers on a daily basis. Our clients have included national as well as local businesses looking to introduce new legislation or make changes to existing laws. If there is a particular statute or administrative rule that is causing concern, let us know and we may be able to help. Please contact Mike McLaughlin at our legislative group, The Shaheen & Gordon Group, at 603-225-7262 or at [email protected].
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New Hampshire's Workforce Development
Steve Norton
Executive Director, NH Center for Public Policy Studies
"Northern New England's Good Jobless Numbers? They're Bad" read a recent headline in the Wall Street Journal. The author was commenting on our historically low unemployment rate as an indicator of the availability of the workforce. And looking forward, an end to the tight labor market does not look readily apparent. New Hampshire population projections for the working age population show a net decline over the next ten years. And while a tight labor market is good for workers who might experience a subsequent increase in wages, it's bad news for businesses looking to locate here or for native businesses looking to expand their activities
So what are people doing about this from a workforce development perspective? Businesses are clearly taking the initiative in training their workforce, but what about the governmental and non-profit sectors? Read More...
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Building it Better: Dover's Strategic Plan for the Future
City Manager, Michael Joyal
In the fall of 2016, the City of Dover began a comprehensive strategic planning initiative. Our goal was to evaluate all City services and operations with input and participation from the community, civic and business leaders and employees.
The foundation of this initiative is the City's mission, vision and core values. Our mission statement commits us, "To provide affordable, high quality municipal services and responsive accessible local governance ensuring all persons the opportunity to enjoy contributing to and being a part of the Dover community." Read More...
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