The Exchange

Next week on the Exchange, we begin with a look at the issue of class in this country and why some say that “American dream” of rags to riches is more elusive than ever.  Then, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as a national conversation begins over base closures; we’ll discuss the possibility of Portsmouth being on that list.  We'll look at the mortgage market and then end week with the debate over the latest iteration of a constitutional amendment on Education Funding.  Join us all next week for the Exchange each morning at 9/and again at 8 pm, here on NHPR!

Once again, lawmakers are looking at bills to increase gambling options in New Hampshire.  With more gaming sites opening up in  Maine and Massachusetts some say that’s a reason to expand here, while opponents say just the opposite.  Meanwhile, Governor Lynch says he’s not willing to “make a bet” on gambling, making the reality of casinos in the Granite State tougher, but not impossible for this cause.

Guests

• David Hess - Republican Representative from Hooksett and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
• Lou D'Allesandro - Democratic Senator from Manchester and a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

We'll also hear from

With neighboring Vermont and Maine now allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their sick patients, we'll see if that may change the debate of passing a law here in NH.

We talk with author David Owen on his new book "The Conundrum" and how he says, "scientific innovation, increased efficiency and good intentions can make our energy and climate problems worse"

Today we sit down with the new chancellor of the New Hampshire Community College System, Ross Gittell.

Recently we’ve seen dueling definitions of what it means to be poor. The U.S. Census Bureau came up with two figures, depending on whether factors like food stamps are included.  And another study defined poverty as having scant resources. But some have long said that poverty figures are exaggerated and used for political purposes.

Guests:

Beth Mattingly: Director of Research on Vulnerable Families at the Carsey Institute and Professor of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire.

Robert Rector: Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He has been studying poverty issues for more than twenty years.

For centuries, that transition between teen-hood and adulthood has been accompanied with a newfound independence, where young men and women leave the roost, go to college, buy a house and raise a family.  But according to author Katherine Newman, high unemployment rates, the rise of short-term employment, longer life expectancies and the high cost of living have forced many a young adult back home to live with mom and dad.  They are called 'Accordion Families' and depending on the culture, they're met with a variety of acceptance.  Today we look closer into this new phenomenon called Accordion families.

Guests

We look at the influence of super PACs since a Supreme Court decision last year allowed for the unlimited financing of political campaigns by organizations and businesses.

Today we listen back to Governor Lynch's State of the State speech and see what it says about how New Hampshire is doing as well as the current political climate

We'll look at the Voter I.D. bill currently being debated in the State House and what that may mean for the next time Granite Staters head to the ballot box.

In recent years, New Hampshire's Health and Human Services department has seen deep budget cuts and layoffs,  and is now battling with the state’s hospitals and the U.S. Department of Justice over issues of taxation and patient care.  Leading the way, its commissioner, Nick Toumpas, who was just reappointed for another term last month.  We’ll hear Toumpas’ take on these issues, as well as how the state is handling aspects of the new federal health care law. 

Guest

• Nick Toumpas, Commissioner for New Hampshire's Health and Human Services Department

A look at what's on the Exchange from January 30 - February 3.

We talk to the authors of a book who uncover the little known story of those who in the political world work in the business of 'opposition research'

Today we sit down with New Hampshire's new Transportation Commissioner, Chris Clement.

We listen back to parts of President Obama's State of the Union address and get your thoughts from it as well.