New Hampshire

Small Businesses With Comparable Plans Could Save Thousands of Dollars a Year on Health Insurance Costs Beginning Tomorrow

September 30, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today spoke with company officials and workers at Logo Loc in Manchester to highlight the launch of New Hampshire HealthFirst, a new wellness-focused insurance plan for small businesses that becomes available tomorrow.

HealthFirst is comparable to the most popular, comprehensive health insurance plan for small businesses with an average 15 to 20 percent lower cost.    » read more »

Dairy is Critical Industry for NM; State Ranks 7th in Dairy Production

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today joined a half-dozen of his Senate colleagues at a press conference on Capitol Hill to express his support of the nation's struggling dairy farmers. Click here for photos of the event.

Dairy farmers in New Mexico and across the country are experiencing a financial crisis due to massive drops in the prices of dairy products. Over the last year, dairy prices have dropped as much as 40 percent from record highs – and 17 percent to 19 percent below the 10-year average. By contrast, feed prices over that same period decreased by only 8 percent.    » read more »

September 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill. The measure includes $64 million for programs being undertaken by New Hampshire companies. The bill is now ready for consideration by the full Senate. The funding is included within the Committee allocation set out for the Fiscal Year 2010 spending measures. A breakdown of the projects is listed below.    » read more »

Declaration Makes Assistance Available for Farmers in All 10 NH Counties

September 14, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today announced the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared a disaster designation for all 10 New Hampshire counties due to losses suffered by local farmers caused by heavy rains this summer. With the declaration, New Hampshire farmers will be able to access federal assistance, including emergency loans.

Gov. Lynch requested the disaster declaration in a letter he sent to Secretary Vilsack last month    » read more »

Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order

August 31, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today announced that the New Hampshire Department of Justice went to court this afternoon in an attempt to protect the rights of the 131 workers of Precision Technology in Pembroke. In response to the state’s action, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order.

This afternoon Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Bruce Mohl issued a temporary restraining order against the company, preventing the transfer of assets of Precision Technology until a formal hearing is held. A hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 10, at 10:30 a.m.    » read more »

Lynch announces small businesses will be able to access lower cost health insurance beginning Oct. 1

CONCORD - July 8, 2009 -- New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today announced that beginning October 1st New Hampshire HealthFirst will provide small businesses access to a quality, wellness-focused health insurance plan that may save them thousands of dollars a year.

Gov. Lynch worked to pass legislation creating New Hampshire HealthFirst to offer small businesses a more affordable health insurance option.

The New Hampshire HealthFirst will cost an average of 15 to 20 percent less than comparable insurance plans.    » read more »

Budget spends less from state tax revenues than current budget; protects essential services without a new major tax

June 30, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today signed the state’s two-year operating budget and capital budget into law.

“This is a responsible, balanced budget that reduces general fund spending, protects essential services, without an income tax, a sales tax or an increase in the gas tax, but by closing tax loopholes,” Gov. Lynch said.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of New Hampshire’s State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

June 22, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced more than $134.5 million is now available for New Hampshire under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. New Hampshire will be eligible to apply for another $66 million this fall.

Today’s funding is being made available per New Hampshire’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today successfully strengthened energy legislation with an amendment that would boost New Hampshire's biomass industry, increase biomass efficiency and help create jobs. Shaheen's amendment unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and will be part of the 2009 Energy Bill, scheduled to come before the full Senate later this year.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today congratulated New Hampshire Governor John Lynch on signing same-sex marriage legislation into law.

"I congratulate Governor Lynch and the state legislature on advancing a marriage equality bill that also protects religious freedom. New Hampshire has a long history of leadership on issues of civil rights and equality, and I'm proud our state continues to lead the way in ending discrimination with this bill signing today."

As Governor, Shaheen signed legislation making New Hampshire only the 10th state in the country to include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws. She also enacted legislation to repeal a ban on gays and lesbians from adopting children or serving as foster parents.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today encouraged local communities looking to construct, expand or renovate fire stations to apply for grants funded through the federal stimulus act.

The goal of this funding is to preserve and create jobs, while promoting firefighter safety and improved response capability.

“As the national recession continues to impact the state and local communities and we must work to ensure that even during these difficult economic times we continue to support critical public safety functions,” Gov. Lynch said. “These grants will help communities that are struggling in these difficult economic times and will also create and retain good-paying construction jobs.”    » read more »

Shaheen led a bipartisan group of 32 Senate colleagues in calling on President Obama to make floor plan financing available through the SBA

May 28, 2009 -- (Manchester, NH) -U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today applauded an announcement that the U.S. Small Business Administration that will offer government guaranteed loans to finance auto dealer inventory, a measure Shaheen has been fighting to change for months. In April, Shaheen led an effort in the U.S. Senate urging the SBA and the Obama Administration to increase auto dealers' access to credit. The SBA loans for Dealer Floor Plan (DFP) financing will be available beginning July 1st.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today announced that the Manchester Community Health Center (MCHC) will receive $711,365 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Community Health Centers serve patients in medically underserved areas and provide preventative care, as well as help treat those who are sick, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. These funds will help Manchester continue to make available these critical services to individuals and families without health insurance in the Manchester area.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (Friday, May 22, 2009) – The U.S. Senators from Vermont and New Hampshire have introduced the Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act of 2009, legislation that would help conserve the largest ecosystem in New England.    » read more »

May 14, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch released the following statement today regarding same-sex legislation in New Hampshire:

“The gay marriage debate in New Hampshire has been filled with passion and emotion on all sides.

“My personal views on the subject of marriage have been shaped by my own experience, tradition and upbringing. But as Governor of New Hampshire, I recognize that I have a responsibility to consider this issue through a broader lens.    » read more »