Shira Schoenberg reports in the Concord Monitor that Gary Smith, President of the State Employees Association, won’t seek another term.

Shira Schoenberg leads off her Capital Beat column in Sunday’s Concord Monitor with news that State Representative Suzanne Smith (D-Hebron) wants to decide when you can and can’t control bugs and weeds on your own property.

Shira Schoenberg reports in the Concord Monitor that Governor John Lynch is taking heat for suggesting a single casino in southern New Hampshire.

Shira Schoenberg reports in her Sunday Capital Beat column on the $48 million hole in the New Hampshire budget from federal Medicaid money that doesn’t yet exist.

Shira Schoenberg reports in the Concord Monitor that even though it was political pressure from Rep. Dan Eaton that may force Liquor Commissioner Mark Bodi from office, the House of Representatives isn’t interested in investigating Eaton’s role in the scandal.

Over the weekend, the Concord Monitor ran an excellent piece by Shira Schoenberg on the state’s efforts to sell off assets in order to balance the state budget.

In the Concord Monitor, Shira Schoenberg reports on the failed efforts to amend yesterday’s budget bill in the House.

The State House press corps wraps up a week of failed budget negotiations in the Sunday columns. In the Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan says that Senators stuck to their promise of gambling or bust.
Landrigan also speculates on whether State House Republicans should just stay out of the way while the Democratic Legislature “is at open warfare with itself” and notes that despite support for repeal in both chambers, the LLC Tax is still on the books.
In the Concord Monitor, Shria Schoenberg reports on the latest proposal to pay for state spending; selling state land.
And in the Union Leader, Tom Fahey writes that moving to a special session will put tremendous political pressure on Governor John Lynch.

The House-Senate Conference Committee on the budget stopped the clock at the State House yesterday after failing to meet its noon deadline. Tom Fahey reports in the Union Leader that they’ll get back together again this morning to try to close New Hampshire’s $295 million budget gap.

In the Concord Monitor, Shira Schoenberg writes that Senate negotiators aren’t giving up on gambling.

Kevin Landrigan adds in the Nashua Telegraph that several House tax increases have been dropped.

In the Concord Monitor, Shira Schoenberg reports on Senate negotiators calling an abrupt end to yesterday’s budget talks, with a noon deadline coming up today.