Condom Kelly emerges at UNH
As longtime listeners of this radio show know, from time to time we’ve referred to Senator Kelly Ayotte as Comprehensive Kelly because she not only backed the Gang of Eight comprehensive immigration reform bill, she tried to convince us she’d supported the changes it contained as a candidate in 2 0 1 0. Ayotte’s crew will be glad to know we will no longer use that nickname. Instead, we will call her Condom Kelly. The inspiration for our new name comes from what her campaign’s called a “tactic” developed to draw attention to her legislative efforts to make commonly prescribed birth control pills over the counter drugs. The campaign has set up a condom booth at the University of New Hampshire’s main campus in Durham with a sign that has her campaign logo at the top, just above the words FREE CONDOMS, which are in big block letters. The sign reads quote:
As part of Kelly’s commitment to making birth control available over the counter, please take a free condom.
Then, in big cursive style print, are the words “Use Condom Sense!” Exclamation point.
The fine print includes the bill she’s backing, called the Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act. Of course, the sign’s in her blue and green campaign colors.
Gile: Other rules could apply
While we’re on the general topic of sex, let’s move on to gender, shall we? The city of Manchester’s Human Resources Director Jane Gile has an item on the agenda for tonight’s meeting of the Committee on Human Resources and Insurance suggesting the Board of Mayor and Aldermen
remove all exclusions or limitations of coverage for health services related to gender transition from the templates of the city’s medical benefit plan.
What that basically means is that the taxpayers in the city of Manchester would pay for any and all medical treatments designed to turn a person of one sex into a person of the other, including, but not limited to, hormone therapy and sex change surgery. In the letter, Gile says that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, the administrator of the city’s self insured plan, is removing that prohibition from its own plans to comply with the so called Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Gile sites section 1 5 5 7 of the law which bars such coverage exclusions, but says that the city can opt out of the provision as a self insured entity, though she warns quote “other federal rules may apply” end quote, if it does. Providing for the services would add about a buck per member per month to the cost of the plan.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
Bradley: Hassan telling 1/2 the story to campaign
New Hampshire Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, Republican from Wolfeboro, issued a statement yesterday calling on Governor Margaret Wood Hassan to release departmental spending reports and reveal the state’s overall financial position. In the statement, Bradley, who has repeatedly called on Hassan to release the information required by a law she actually signed but hasn’t complied with, said she’s only revealing the half of the budget picture that’s making the state’s financial situation look good as she campaigns for the U. S. Senate. The first report was due in March, the next in June and the following in September. She’s released none of them. Quote:
Hassan: Refuses to release spending reports
The Governor continues to claim credit for the budget she vetoed and the tax cuts she fought vociferously…We know she has overspent her budget by not meeting required lapses…Governor Hassan is not complying with the law she signed, and we have yet to see detailed spending reports since the close of the FY ’16 budget at the end of June. This lack of transparency on the part of the Governor must be resolved before future budget preparations can begin for the next biennium.
Dupras: Apprehended by good Samaritans
On Friday, a man allegedly walked out of the Hannaford’s Supermarket on John Devine Dr. while concealing over one-hundred dollars worth of food. The loss prevention officer confronted him as he exited the store. The suspect, thirty seven year old Nicolas Dupras of Manchester, allegedly threatened to “spray” her, so she backed away. Two who witnessed the incident intervened when Dupras reached for an unknown item inside his waistband. Twenty Seven year old Devin Sullivan of Merrimack placed Dupras in a bear hug while his friend, twenty six year old Nick Fiorentino, of Litchfield, helped bring him to the ground. Dupras managed to empty a can of pepper spray during the incident, but sprayed himself instead of the two men. An off duty police officer entering the store placed Dupras in cuffs until the on duty guys were on the scene. Dupras, who was found to have two outstanding warrants for his arrest, was charged with Robbery. Looks like the so called “first responders” in this case were the good Samaritans who didn’t wait for the police to show up.
Community Policing Week events
As part of National Community Policing Week, officers of the Manchester Police Department will visit with the public tomorrow afternoon at the McDonald’s restaurants on Second, South Willow and Hanover streets and Brown Ave. between 4:00 and 6:00. They’ll also host Coffee with Cop at the Second St. McDonalds on Friday from 9 to 11.
Merrimack announces Trick or Treat
The Merrimack Police Department has announced that “Trick or Treat” will be held on Monday, October 31st from six to eight PM.
Kane
We close this morning with a bit of sad news. Former long time Manchester Fire Chief Joe Kane passed away yesterday. Kane started with the department in 1 9 7 1 and became chief in 1 9 9 4. He wore the big hat until his retirement in 2 0 0 7. I had the pleasure of working with Kane as an assistant to Mayor Ray Wieczorek. Despite the tremendous budget burdens the department was called to adjust to, Kane was always gracious and forthright. A gentleman always, he was an advocate for the department, but also made the changes needed to function within budget constraints without compromising fire safety. Kane, who often told me stories of having worked with my dad at the old Grand Union supermarket on the D W Highway, was just sixty seven years old.
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