Credit Dan Tuohy / NHPR
Republicans in the state legislature will nominate Londonderry Rep. Sherman Packard to be the next Speaker of the House. Packard has been acting speaker in the wake of the COVID-19 death of the newly-elected speaker Dick Hinch.
Sherman Packard has represented Londonderry for 16 terms in Concord. He s been House majority leader and House minority leader.
Speaker Dick Hinch tapped Packard to be his deputy. From the moment he declared his own bid for Speaker, Packard stressed his intent to do all he could to adopt Hinch s goals.
Packard won the GOP caucus nomination by beating out Al Baldasaro, who also represents Londonderry, and Tim Lang of Sanbornton.
“Yucky,” said New Hampshire Administrative Services Commissioner Charlie Arlinghaus in describing prospects for the 2021-22 state budget.
Speaking to the virtual New Hampshire Leadership Summit, hosted by the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, Arlinghaus said the state budget was “in a hole and it’s probably going to get worse,” referring to the $106 million deficit expected to carry over from the current biennium to the next,
In particular, he described the outlook for receipts in December and March from the two business taxes the Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax as “very dicey.”
“The biggest name of the game is uncertainty,” Arlinghaus continued, pointing to the economic impact of the second wave of the coronavirus now underway, which he suggested could add another $50 million to the projected deficit.
NH state representative from Hudson tests positive for COVID-19
Legislators and State House staff line up for COVID-19 tests at a dedicated testing site Saturday. DAN BARRICK / NHPR
Published: 12/13/2020 11:02:35 AM
The coronavirus pandemic continues to rattle the state’s political circles, as one of the top-ranking Republicans in the New Hampshire House announced she had tested positive, and lawmakers and State House staff lined up to be tested for the virus in the wake of House Speaker Dick Hinch’s death from COVID-19.
Rep. Kimberly Rice, of Hudson, disclosed her condition Saturday in a Facebook post in which she described feeling horrible and said she was struggling to breathe. She said she welcomed prayers but also expressed confidence she would “beat COVID.”
Credit Dan Barrick/NHPR
The coronavirus pandemic continues to rattle the state s political circles, as one of the top-ranking Republicans in the New Hampshire House announced she had tested positive, and lawmakers and State House staff lined up to be tested for the virus in the wake of House Speaker Dick Hinch’s death from COVID-19.
Rep Kimberly Rice, of Hudson, disclosed her condition on Saturday in a Facebook post in which she described feeling horrible and said she was struggling to breathe. She said she welcomed prayers but also expressed confidence she would “beat COVID.”
“This has been one of the toughest weeks I think I’ve ever had,” Rice wrote.
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House Minority Leader Dick Hinch, R-Merrimack is pictured in this file Twitter photo
CONCORD – The state’s new House Speaker Richard W. Hinch, R-Merrimack, has died.
The 71-year-old was sworn in last week to a job he called the honor of his life.
“My heart goes out to his wife Pat and his family and we are saddened by his passing,” said House Democratic Leader Renny Cushing of Hampton.
Cushing learned of Hinch’s death late Wednesday afternoon from Deputy House Speaker Sherm Packard.
Gov. Chris Sununu said he was profoundly saddened to learn of Hinch’s death.