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	Tom Fahey's State House Dome: Welcome Break from Bishop Barbs By Tom Fahey New Hampshire Union Leader April 10, 2011 http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Tom+Fahey's+State+House+Dome%3A+Welcome+break+from+bishop+barbs&articleId=f02020df-041f-4a12-ad3c-2c5588f72a92 For two entire days last week, nary a blog was posted, an email dispatched or a press conference held about the Catholic Church or its bishop. In ordinary times, this would not be news. These are not ordinary times. Thank GOP Chairman Jack Kimball and a plea from Speaker of the House William O'Brien for the blessed silence on religion. House Republicans should have been reveling in their victories on the budget, pension reform and other legislative gains. They tried, calling their second news conference in six weeks to highlight what they'd accomplished. No one paid much attention, really. Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt had stolen the spotlight with his Facebook attack on Bishop John McCormack for speaking up on behalf of the poor and disabled. His "pedophile pimp" remark dredged up a painful chapter in church history and launched a week of debate and controversial statements that earned Republicans a rebuke from their own party chair. One had to note that a state Tea Party activist such as Kimball had become the new voice of moderation. Democrats had a great time with it all, pointing a finger of shame and laughing into their hands at the same time. State Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley issued a statement on the "NH GOP and Its Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week." His takeoff on the children's book about a boy named Alexander went through a list of missteps. They included Bettencourt's Facebook page; Rep. Andrew Manuse's idea of stripping tax exempt status from the Catholic Church; the anti-budget rally that drew more 2,500; former Rep. Gary Wheaton's claim that police conspired to arrest him for speeding and driving under suspension because he voted for the budget; and O'Brien's decision to clear the House gallery and then bar the doors during budget debate. There was more, and it all really did happen within the span of a week. Now, there was a bit of silver lining. For one, Bettencourt, unlike little Alexander, did not wake up with gum in his hair. For another, Rep. Fred Leonard of Rochester, who quit the GOP in January to become an independent, went back to being a Republican -- at least for now. That gives the GOP 294 House seats, to 102 for the Democrats. And also in the plus column, it seemed like House members late last week were getting back into the flow of legislative work. Some of that heavy lifting began in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. The House and Senate have competing bills on expanding a person's right to use deadly force in self-defense and on changing the way violent and sexual offenders are handled under Senate Bill 500 early release programs. Rep. Jennifer Coffey, who wants to restrict the releases until treatment and supervision programs are certified, said the Senate bill that would change parole board powers could work, with her assistance. "If we combine our efforts, we can have a better product," she said. "I think the House and the Senate bills can actually mesh quite nicely." If you're looking for a state senator today, good luck. Only six of them list their home phones in the new roster of the House of Representatives and Senate. The Senate website is pretty sparse on useful contact information, too. In many cases, if you have a problem, just call the Senate office, leave a message and take two aspirin. The House-Senate roster typically lists home addresses and phones for all but a few legislators. Most House members list their private work numbers, too. Increasingly, senators have shied from giving out their home phones. This year's roster book leaves plenty of white space next to 18 senators' names, with only a Senate office phone listed beside them. Nine actually list the State House as their address. The Senate Web page isn't much better for after-hours and weekend contacts. Fifteen senators don't include their home phones on the web, and 10 say they live at State House offices. Senate spokesman Carol Alfano had no comment. Senate President Peter Bragdon did not return a phone call. House Clerk Karen Wadsworth oversees production of the printed roster. She said she has her hands full with information on 400 House members. "The Senate compiles their information and sends it to us, and we print what they send. We don't print Senate information unless we've received it from them," she said. Tax haters will gather at the State House Plaza on Friday for a noontime rally of their own. It's the third such event in three years. Organized by the state's Americans for Prosperity organization (AFP), it will feature likely Republican presidential candidates; U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte; and several state and local politicians, including Ovide Lamontagne, Speaker O'Brien and past gubernatorial candidate John Stephen. Presidential hopefuls will lead off the event, which could run more than 90 minutes. Present will be Rick Santorum, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, businessman Herman Cain and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Romer. Americans for Prosperity's Corey Lewandowski said he expects a big crowd, but says it will be hard to match turnout for the recent budget protest. "I hope we get 2,500, of course, but it is a workday, and people have jobs," he said, suggesting that social service advocates and union members fighting the budget collected paychecks while they protested. "None of the people showing up at these events is going to be paid," he said. Helping organize the event with AFP are Cornerstone Action, the Upper Valley Tea Party and the N.H. Advantage Coalition. Rep. Laura Pantelakos, a Portsmouth Democrat and the longest serving active member of the House, let loose in a published letter last week that criticized O'Brien and his administration. She mentioned the GOP habit lately of tying the words "union" and "thugs." "I will tell you the thugs were in the General Court" during budget debate, Pantelakos wrote. Pantelakos said she thinks O'Brien is dictatorial in controlling individual members. She referred to treatment given Rep. Susan Emerson, who got a private double-barrel going over from O'Brien and Deputy Speaker Pam Tucker. When it was over, Emerson, a Republican, had to go to the governor's office for tissues and time to compose herself. Her offense was trying to add money back in for social services, but she later withdrew her amendment. Carol Holahan, director of the Office of Legislative Services, is leaving her post on Friday after 12 years as head of the office. Holahan, a former assistant commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, is taking a job with the McLane Graf law firm. No replacement has been named yet, but with the flood of amendments on hundreds of bills about to start flowing, legislative leaders better get cracking. The family of Manchester murder victim Melissa Charbonneau will be honored Tuesday in Concord as part of National Crime Victim Rights Week. John and Claire Cantin will be recognized for their work on behalf of victims and for their work in creating and passing the New Hampshire law on strangulation. Charbonneau was shot to death in 2009 by her estranged husband after he was released on $30 bail for having tried to strangle her. Attempted strangulation is now a felony. Contact: tfahey@unionleader.com
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