NH House: December 2008 Archives

The House Republican Alliance has sent a letter to House Speaker Terie Norelli arguing that she should remove two committee chairwomen that are responsible for the budget deficit.

"The state's financial troubles are largely the result of irresponsible and expansive spending initiatives and irresponsible revenue projections promoted by the two past chairs of Finance and Ways and Means, Representatives Marge Smith and Susan Almy, respectively," the [House] Republican Alliance wrote to Norelli on Thursday.

Norelli announced last week that she decided to reappoint Smith to be chair of the Finance Committee, while Almy was reappointed head of the Ways and Means Committee. An email requesting comment from Norelli's office had not be returned as of this posting.

The [House] Republican Alliance also argued that Smith and Almy ignored economic predictions that indicated a downturn in the economy and "instead Representative Smith charged ahead and developed a budget that increased spending by 17.5%, characterizing it as fiscally responsible and transparent."

The letter continued, "Representative Almy consistently promoted revenue estimates that were irresponsibly generous and proved grossly inaccurate, despite warnings from leaders from both parties."

The House Republican Alliance is a caucus of House Republicans dedicated to promoting a fiscally conservative message and includes state Rep. D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) and state Rep. Nancy Elliott (R-Merrimack).

• Children and Family Law: Chair Mary Stuart Gile (D-Concord), Vice Chair Barbara Richardson (D-Richmond)
• Commerce: Chair Tara Reardon (D-Concord), Vice Chair Ed Butler (D-Harts Location)
• Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Chair Steve Shurtleff (D-Penacook), Vice Chair Laura Pantelakos (D-Portsmouth)
• Education: Chair Emma Rous (D-Durham), Vice Chair Judy Reever (D-Laconia)
• Election Law: Chair Jane Clemons (D-Nashua), Vice Chair David Pierce (D-Etna)
• Environment and Agriculture: Chair Tara Sad (D-Walpole), Vice Chair Jane Beaulieu (D-Manchester)
• Executive Departments and Administration: Chair Anne-Marie Irwin (D-Peterborough), Vice Chair Laurie Harding (D-Lebanon)
• Finance: Chair Marjorie Smith (D-Durham), Vice Chair Sharon Nordgren (D-Hanover)
• Fish and Game: Chair Dennis Abbott (D-Newmarket), Vice Chair Margaret Porter (D-Epsom)
• Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs: Chair Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua), Vice Chair Tom Donovan (D-Claremont)
• Judiciary: Chair David Cote (D-Nashua), Vice Chair Janet Wall (D-Madbury)
• Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services: Chair Jeff Goley (D-Manchester), Vice Chair Sally Kelly (D-Chichester)
• Legislative Administration: Chair Lucy Weber (D-Walpole), Vice Chair Ricia McMahon (D-North Sutton)
• Local and Regulated Revenues: Chair Mary Beth Walz (D-Bow), Vice Chair Kathleen Taylor (D-Franconia)
• Municipal and County Government: Chair Mary Cooney (D-Plymouth), Vice Chair Ray Gagnon (D-Claremont)
• Public Works and Highways: Chair Candace Bouchard (D-Concord), Vice Chair David Campbell (D-Nashua)
• Resources, Recreation and Development: Chair Judith Spang (D-Durham), Vice Chair Frank Tupper (D-Canterbury)
• Rules: Chair Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth), Vice Chair Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord)
• Science, Technology and Energy: Chair Naida Kaen (D-Lee), Vice Chair Suzanne Harvey (D-Nashua)
• State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs: Chair Mike Rollo (D-Rollinsford), Vice Chair Patrick Garrity (D-Manchester)
• Transportation: Chair Robert Williams (D-Concord), Vice Chair Jennifer Brown (D-Dover)
• Ways and Means: Chair Susan Almy (D-Lebanon), Vice Chair Bill Hatch (D-Gorham)