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Volume 16, Issue 3
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Spring 2004 |
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| published quarterly by: The New Hampshire Challenge, Inc. P.O. Box 579, Dover, NH 03821-0579 |
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In This Issue
Opinion |
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Commissioner Stephen recently authorized a slide presentation concerning his plans to restructure the DHHS. In large fonts on one of the slides was the following quote: "If you want to make enemies, try to change something." Woodrow Wilson
The people are now defined as the enemy.
Perhaps it would have been more accurate to say: "If you want to make enemies, try to pull the wool over a Granite State citizen's eyes."
That appears to be what Commissioner Stephen is actively trying to do. His tenure will be rich in headlines, controversy, and high stakes poker. It never had to be that way, but the train has left the station.
Newly appointed Commissioner Stephen was quick to seize upon the Katie Beckett waiver and seek "Legislative guidance" concerning his perception that the "rules" had been expanded without legislative oversight. That was news to parents of children with disabilities. And to add insult to injury, Stephen then portrayed these parents as "millionaires" who he accused of abusing the waiver (a statement Stephen retracted but for which he never offered an apology).
The Legislature responded, by creating legislation to leave Katie Beckett kids alone for two years, to study the impact of the rule changes, and to return to the Legislature with hard facts rather than topical observations. That bill was voted "ought to pass" unanimously in committee and easily passed the House. It is now in the Senate, awaiting a vote there. In short, the Commissioner asked for legislative intent about Katie Beckett rules and got it.
Now change gears...
Stephen now wants to contract out the administration of "Healthy Kids," a health insurance program for NH's most needy children. That met with opposition by many, among them Kristi Kistler of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center who asked "Why do you want to dismantle success?" Peter Burling, (D-Cornish) added "In New Hampshire, policy is set by the Legislature, not the executive branch." In an astounding 180 change of course, Stephen disagreed, saying his department had the authority to change the rules governing how Healthy Kids operates.
Add to this the background work done out of sight - to change Medicaid services into block grants. Only bits and pieces of Governor Benson's and Commissioner Stephen's hidden agreement to implement block grants with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson have leaked out. But, "the enemy" - CITIZENS - have not been consulted nor has the Legislature.
In short, if the Commissioner wants a stormy tenure, he is well on the way to creating one. The people of the Granite State react well - when governed. However, we drink the hard water of our founding fathers, and react quite differently, when RULED.
Letters to the Editor:
Read this issue's Letters to the Editor
The Challenge invites our readers to send in letters to the editor.
You may e-mail us at info@nhchallenge.org, use our contact form, or send a letter through the US Postal Service to:
The New Hampshire Challenge
P.O. Box 579
Dover, NH 03821-0579
Please include a telephone number with your letter. |
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