December 29, 2008
Seacoast Online
How fierce will the political fight be over the state budget crisis? House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, barely had announced her choices last week to chair the 22 House committees for the upcoming legislative session before a group of conservative Republicans asked her to remove two of those committee leaders — including Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, of the powerful Finance Committee.
The House Republican Alliance, which advocates a fiscally conservative agenda, wrote to Norelli requesting that she strip Smith and Ways and Means chairwoman Susan Almy, D-Lebanon, of their posts for reckless budgeting during the 2007-2008 legislative session.
“The state’s financial troubles are largely the result of irresponsible and expansive spending initiatives and irresponsible revenue projections promoted by” Smith and Almy, the letter said.
But Norelli and statehouse Democrats have disputed Republican charges that they increased the state budget by more than 17 percent and ignored warnings about an economic downturn. She has contended that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are doing their best to deal with the crisis.
“We’re facing the biggest financial challenge in at least 20 years. That’s a huge responsibility,” Norelli said earlier this month after she was re-elected Speaker.
In addition to Smith and Norelli, who will chair the Rules Committee, a number of other Seacoast Democratic House members were appointed or reappointed to committee leadership positions. They include:
– Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Vice chairwoman Laura Pantelakos of Portsmouth
– Education: Chairwoman Emma Rous of Durham
– Fish and Game: Chairman Dennis Abbott of Newmarket
– Judiciary: Vice Chairwoman Janet Wall of Madbury
– Resources, Recreation and Development: Chairwoman Judith Spang of Durham
– Science, Technology and Energy: Chairwoman Naida Kaen of Lee
– State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs: Chairman Mike Rollo of Rollinsford
– Transportation: Vice Chairwoman Jennifer Brown of Dover
“Some are returning chairs and some are new,” Norelli said about her committee choices. “We all have our work cut out for us as we move into the 161st session of the General Court conducting the business of the people of New Hampshire for the next two years.”
For the first time ever, Democrats retained control of the House and have a 224-176 advantage.
In the state Senate, which the Democrats control by a 14 to 10 margin, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark of Portsmouth serves as the President Pro Tem and as chairwoman of the Energy, Environment, and Economic Development Committee, and vice chairwoman of the Executive Departments and Administration Committee. Sen. Maggie Hassan of Exeter is Senate majority leader and serves as chairwoman of the Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection Committee and vice chairwoman of the Capital Budget Committee.