Tuesday, May 6, 2008

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Updated: Burling decides against re-election; Endorses Houde

CONCORD -- State Sen. Peter Burling (D-Cornish) announced this morning that he is not running for re-election and subsequently announced that he is endorsing State Rep. Matt Houde. (PolitickerNH.com, Brian Lawson)

Link:http://www.politickernh.com/brianlawson/1358/burling-decides-against-re-election-endorses-houde

Tax hike inevitable, most aldermen say

MANCHESTER – Two-thirds of Manchester's aldermen say they are willing to consider a modest tax increase to protect city jobs and maintain services that would be cut under Mayor Frank Guinta's $276 million budget proposal. (Union Leader, Scott Brooks)

Link: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=6ff1338e-b63e-4618-863...

Surplus could help ease taxes

NASHUA – The mayor has proposed applying $2.76 million in surplus to reducing the tax increase voters would pay next year.

If aldermen approve Mayor Donnalee Lozeau's proposal, the tax rate increase would be contained to 2.13 percent, a boost from the current $17.40 to $17.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. (Nashua Telegraph, Patrick Meighan)

Link: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/NEWS0...

Senate panel OKs cap on rail damages

CONCORD – A legal cap on railroad damages critical to restoring rail service from Boston through Nashua took an important step forward Monday.

The Senate Transportation Committee's support of the rail cap, means the bill could become law later this year if the Senate backs it next week. (Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan)

Link: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/NEWS0...

Gas tax holiday: OK for nation, not NH

A FEDERAL gas tax holiday might provide limited short-term relief from high gas prices. It would not work at the state level, however.

Not collecting the federal gas tax for the summer, as Sen. John McCain has proposed, would slightly lower gas prices -- if it did not stimulate enough demand to drive prices right back up. (Union Leader, Staff)

Link: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=7c88ed56-ff6e-41cb-aac...

N.H. Dems from different campaigns join to defeat McCain

CONCORD — They disagreed on which candidates to support in the New Hampshire Primary, but a group of top Democrats say they agree on one thing: John McCain should not be president. (Seacoast Online, AP)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS/8...

Poll: Shaheen leads Sununu

CONCORD — A new poll shows Democratic challenger Jeanne Shaheen maintaining a strong lead over Republican Senator John Sununu, in a rematch of their 2002 contest. (Seacoast Online, AP)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS/8...

Republicans' Housing Dilemma

CONCORD —The odds of Congress passing a big housing-rescue package depend largely on vulnerable Republican senators such as New Hampshire’s John Sununu. (Seacoast Online, Sarah Luek)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS/8...

McCain a bit ahead of Obama in NH, about even with Clinton

DURHAM - A new poll shows Republican John McCain slightly ahead of Democrat Barack Obama but about even with Hillary Clinton among New Hampshire voters. (Seacoast Online, AP)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS/8...

This time, new voters in the primary spotlight

Well, so much for the notion New Hampshire and Iowa have undue influence over the presidential nominating process.

Granted, most years, the primaries are wrapped up soon after the early voting. But if all rivals were as evenly matched in voter appeal and money as Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, many more races might have been cliffhangers, too. (Concord Monitor, Staff)

Link: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/OPINIO...

Towns eyeing a House redivided

LITCHFIELD – At least two local towns are joining other towns and individuals statewide to petition the courts to force a major redistricting of the New Hampshire House of Representatives before the November election. (Nashua Telegraph, Joseph Cote)

Link: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS0...

With the PolitickerNH.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Hampshire's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.