Sunday shows: Education funding discussion dominates agenda

The proposed state education funding amendment dominated the conversation on the local Sunday shows.

New Hampshire Public Television ran back to back "Outlook" episodes, one of them focused entirely on education funding with four members of the special commission looking into the issue, State Sens. Iris Estabrook (D-Durham) and Bob Odell (R-Lempster) and State Reps. Emma Rous (D-Durham) and Ken Weyler (R-Kingston).

An interesting comment came from Rous. Asked whether her fellow House Democrats will forestall the education amendment like they did last year, she said, "I have doubts". 

WMUR-TV's "Close-Up" also featured an entire legislative panel including State Sens. Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester) and Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord) and State Reps. Bette Lasky (D-Nashua) and David Hess (R-Hooksett). 

Much of the conversation was about how to build consensus around the education funding amendment. There were partisan disagreements as to whether Democrat Gov. John Lynch's budget estimates are accurate in an environment of declining revenues.

NHPTV's first episode of "Outlook" looked at the presidential race in the aftermath of Super Tuesday. Guests included UNH pollster Andy Smith, UNH political science professor Dante Scala, and Politicker.com's James Pindell.

MyTV's "Political Chowder with Arnie Arnesen" featured state ecomonic director Michael Vlacich, Commissioner of Employment Security Richard Brothers, New Hampshire Business Review Editor Jeff Feingold and Nashua Telegraph reporter Kevin Landrigan.