Battle of the Budgets

'Tis the season in Concord when state House and Senate members test their wits (and try each other's patience) in a high stakes game of budgetary chess. And there are all the other bills that are pending passage (or rejection). 

The New Hampshire Senate meets in session Wednesday, June 12, at 11 a.m. The House is not scheduled to be in full session again until June 26.

Budget. The House Finance Committee will hear a presentation Tuesday, June 11, on the Senate changes to the $10.7 billion state budget. It is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Rooms 210-211 of the Legislative Office Building. Among the differences, the Senate rejected Medicaid expansion. The Senate budget is about $300 million less than the House position.

Bien Revenue? The House Ways and Means will meet Tuesday, in LOB Room 202, to work on revenue estimates.

Changes. The House calendar shows there are currently 78 House House bills amended by the Senate, not including the committees of conference scheduled to date.

The House and Senate will be busy naming members to sit on these committees, which are charged with reviewing changes in legislation and ironing out any differences. They are on the clock. Deadlines fast ahead include:

• June 13, deadline to form committees of conference
• June 20, deadline to sign committee reports
• June 27, the last day to act on committee reports
• June 30, last day of the fiscal year; the 2014-2015 budget begins July 1.