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Super Tuesday Election Tomorrow

In a move that has perplexed many, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the Democratic Primaries the weekend just before Super Tuesday and Amy Klobuchar dropped out just one day before. Both candidates are attempting to pool their votes behind former Vice President Joe Biden in a bid to beat the progressive candidates. Though it may seem confusing for Buttigieg, the move is likely related to his strategy which had planned to utilize momentum in the first states to build a wave of support as the primaries progressed. That momentum died with the late entry of Michael Bloomberg. Amy Klobuchar’s campaign has been about even with Elizabeth Warren’s delegate count but polling indicated that she was unlikely to make significant gains this coming Tuesday. Still, some voters are wondering if cabinet positions were promised in exchange for the change of heart. The delegate count currently has Bernie with a slight lead against Biden, but that could change Tuesday with recent events. Super Tuesday features voting in over a dozen states including Maine. The Republican ballot in Maine will feature only Donald Trump and the choice to write-in someone different. Maine has closed primaries meaning only members of the particular parties can vote inside their respective primary.

Regardless of party, all of Maine’s eligible voters will be able to vote on the referendum tomorrow. Question 1 reads, “Do you want to reject the new law that removes religious and philosophical exemptions to requiring immunization against certain communicable diseases for students to attend schools and colleges and for employees of nursery schools and health care facilities?” A ‘yes’ vote would protect the ability of people under current Maine law to refuse vaccines. A ‘no’ vote would allow a law that will force the requirement of vaccines.

Listeners can click here to find where they can go to vote.

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First Case of COVID-19 in NH Confirmed

New Hampshire officials say a hospital system employee who recently traveled to Italy is the first person in the state to test positive for the new coronavirus. State epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said Monday the patient is experiencing mild symptoms and remains at home in Grafton County while health officials investigate. More than 80,000 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, have occurred worldwide since the virus emerged in China in late 2019. About 3,000 people have died. The illness is characterized by fever and coughing and, in serious cases, shortness of breath or pneumonia. The first reported death in the U.S. from the virus was confirmed Saturday in Seattle. (Associated Press)

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Scammers Pretend to be NHDOT

New Hampshire’s Attorney General Gordon MacDonald is cautioning residents about a new email scam falsely presenting itself as the state’s Department of Transportation. The scam email uses the state’s Department of Transportation logo and says it’s seeking payment for a speeding infraction with the threat of a criminal investigation. MacDonald says the New Hampshire Department of Transportation will never send an email asking for payment and that recipients of this email should not contact the emailer or provide information. He says that while the EZ Pass system does communicate through email, it won’t do so for criminal violations.

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Grief and Loss Support Group at Children Unlimited

Memorial Hospital has started a Grief and Loss Support Group for women experiencing grief as a result of a loss of pregnancy or birth. The program will be hosted by Children Unlimited. Memorial Hospital says the group will provide coping skills and education to help women understand their experience and story. Registered nurse Leigh Copsey of the hospital’s family birthing center says that staff had offered pamphlets, brochures, or referred patients to books on the subject in the past but it felt inadequate. The new program is designed to try and fill that void. Memorial says the Grief and Loss Support Group meets the first Monday of every month at noon at Children Unlimited, 182 West Main Street in Conway.

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Inclement Weather on the Way

Valley residents have experienced spring-like temperatures for the start of this week, but weather forecasters say not to get used to it. Temperatures are still expected to be above freezing tomorrow (2/26/20) as precipitation comes in, but that will change as temperatures drop Wednesday night bringing a predicted one to three inches of snow. Thursday is also expected to see precipitation throughout the day but what type will depend on whether the winds bring cold air from the north. It could be the difference between a fresh layer of powder or a dreaded sludge sure to freeze with the predicted cold afterwards.

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Fact Check: Medicare/Medicaid Cuts?

This past Tuesday US Senator from New Hampshire Maggie Hassan stopped by the Mt. Washington Valley Adult Day Center to meet with local healthcare leaders and discuss challenges and legislation in the industry, particularly when caring for the elderly. One of the topics raised by the Senator is the newly proposed budget by the Trump administration. Hassan says, “The Trump administration just released its proposed budget. There are cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in that proposed budget. We are pushing back hard at that […] but it’s going to be important for everybody to stay vigilante about that because what has always helped in this area is when people show up in DC and say ‘this is how this would impact me in real life’ and that is how we’ve stopped these cuts in the past.” According to the officially published budget that claim is misleading. Medicare and Medicaid spending are scheduled to continue to increase total dollars spent under the proposed budget by the administration.

Congress budgets based off percentage of GDP, a calculation of the size of the economy based on total spending in the economy- including government spending. The new budget proposal increases the total dollars spent as well as total percentage of its share of GDP over time for Medicare but it reduces spending-to-GDP for Medicaid. Total dollars spent on Medicaid will continue to rise, however. The Trump administration also proposes enabling States to include controversial work requirements that have been subject to debate here in New Hampshire and in Maine.

The United States is expected to reach $1 trillion deficits this year, a number reflective of current spending. If that trends holds the nearly $23 trillion national debt will continue to increase in size even faster. The World Bank has published a study estimating that roughly past 77% public debt-to-GDP creates drag on national economies. The current public debt-to-GDP ratio is over 100%.