Hinch: Praises committee vote
The Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee of the New Hampshire General Court has approved asking the federal government for a waiver that will allow the state to impose a work requirement on able bodied recipients of taxpayer provided health insurance through the Expanded Medicaid program. H B 5 1 7, which was passed in 2 0 1 7, included a work requirement for any person covered by Expanded Medicaid and gave authority to the governor and the committee to approve the application. If the waiver is not approved, the program will not been reauthorized beyond December 3 1st of next year. Fat chance.
Anyway, in addition to having a job for at least twenty hours per week, the work requirement could also be satisfied by on the job training, job search and job readiness assistance, vocational education training, job skills training, education directly related to employment and satisfactory attendance at a secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence.
In a statement issued after the committee approved the waiver application, on a voice vote, House Majority Leader Dick Hinch, Republican from Merrimack, released a statement saying, quote:
“This provision protects taxpayers and provides an incentive for childless, able-bodied citizens to participate in the workforce if they are to be enrolled in the program. Our state needs workers, and this creates a pathway between program participants and our business community looking to fill jobs in this growing economy…It is the position of this legislature and the law of the state that we submit this waiver application, and we believe this is a reasonable personal responsibility measure.”
Sununu: Vote “good for NH”
Governor Christopher Sununu commended the committee for the vote, saying quote:
“Implementing work requirements for able bodied adults on Medicaid will help us manage costs, promote employment, lift people out of poverty and put them on a pathway to achieving the American dream. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration as the process moves forward to ensure this important waiver is granted.”
Oh boy…
The Amherst Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on a slew of traffic regulations at its regular meeting tonight. Seems the town has installed nearly fifty stop signs without passing the ordinances required by state law. Basically, what that means is that none of the stop signs are legal. So, to fix the problem and come into compliance with state law, a public hearing, actually two public hearings will be held tonight at six thirty. Following that hearing, the board will go about the business of ordaining the signs. We’ve linked to the agenda with all the locations and R S A citations for your convenience.
Also on its agenda tonight are items relating to the town budget and the setting of the town’s tax rate.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
Vargas: Multiple presentations
The Manchester Board of School Committee will meet tonight in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall. The board will attempt to adopt a set of goals to govern its business over the next two years. It will also receive a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas regarding the new assessment system that has been chosen for grades one through eight in every city elementary and middle school. Vargas will provide updates on the facilities study commissioned to assist with the redistricting effort, as well.
Desrochers: Investigate Girard!
In other business, the board will take up an item from Ward Eleven School Committeewoman Kate Desrochers demanding that at-Large Committeeman Rich Girard be investigated to determine whether he violated wire tapping and other laws when recording a non-public session of the board on September eleventh. Girard has said he recorded the meeting because he was asked to take its minutes in the absence of the clerk, to whom he has given both the audio and written records.
The board will also, hopefully, put the ongoing cupcake controversy to rest tonight. Policy changes that incorporate less restrictive state guidelines on bake sales featuring “non-compliant foods” are on the agenda.
Bannon: Coming to NH
The 603 ALLIANCE invites you to join them for a special evening with Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to President Donald J. Trump. Bannon will share his insights on Washington and his perspectives on the 2 0 1 8 elections. The event will be held at the Executive Court in Manchester on the evening of Thursday November 9th. The V I P reception starts at six, the general reception starts at six thirty and dinner starts at seven.
Seating is limited so reserve your tickets today. We’ve got the link to all the event details, including ticket prices, which aren’t for the feint of heart, with this news read at Girard at Large dot com. Pre-registration is required.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the 603 Alliance Initiative 18 project, which will provide training, fund-raising, and support services to candidates running for state representative throughout New Hampshire.
BPD: Stop for school buses!
The Bedford Police Department wants to remind motorists of the law regarding stopping for a school bus.
“When a bus stops, EVERYONE, – ALL 4 Lanes, -BOTH directions, NEEDS TO STOP. Pay attention and stop! Children’s lives are at stake!”
(All emphasis in the original.)
“Remember, if the bus stops, the students could potentially be crossing all four lanes to get to their destination. This also goes for any school bus that is in the process of discharging or picking up students on any Bedford road. It’s the law and Bedford Police will be out enforcing this in the morning and afternoons.”
The law in question, by the way is R S A 2 6 5: 5 4.
That’s NEWS from our own backyard! Girard at Large hour ___ is next!
