Executive Council: how does it work?

[KBCraig]

I've been aware of the Executive Council, but I've never really read anything about what they do. With the discussion about the Council being able to block the $3 million Real ID money, I'm curious.

Just what does this body do, and how does it work? Are they legislative, executive, or sort of a hybrid? From what I read on the Council web site, it sounds like they function almost like a cross between a "super senate" and "co-governors".

I don't know of any other state with such a system. Is it a good thing? Is it one more barrier between bad legislation and liberty? Or is it more needless bureaucracy?

Kevin

[Dreepa]

Funny you mention that.

Tomorrow NHPR @ 9am EDT was going to have  a show on what the EC does.
But I just checked and it has been postponed due to the floods.

I will try and keep and eye out for it.

(I don't know much myself about it)

[aries]

I'm wondering as well

[Dreepa]

Ahhhh Tomorrow.

http://www.nhpr.org/node/10771

[Dreepa]

It is on NHPR right now.

They are accepting calls.. I am on hold.  I am going to try to bring up REAL ID. 

[FTL_Ian]

I spoke with one for a while yesterday.  One thing they do is approve all expenditures over $5,000, as I understand it.

[AlanM]

They also approve/disapprove appointments made by the Governor.

[d_goddard]

Direct link to the NHPR show:
http://www2.nhpr.org/audio-graphics/audio/ex-2006-05-25.mp3

[jgmaynard]

The EC is left over from our Colonial days, because the people of NH never trusted the power of a Governor.

It is a VERY good thing, IMHO, as they can kill ANY project over $5000 (was $500 until a few years ago).

I REALLY think that the EC is the "Achilles' heel" of government programs in this state. The races are large for this state (about $100k total spending), but small for most states. Even getting three lib-friendly people on that board would give us "veto power" over every single program....

JM

[Dreepa]

There is one open seat this year that an incumbent is NOT running in.

[FTL_Ian]

I REALLY think that the EC is the "Achilles' heel" of government programs in this state. The races are large for this state (about $100k total spending), but small for most states. Even getting three lib-friendly people on that board would give us "veto power" over every single program....

Wait, do you mean every program currently existing, or just new programs?  Every year do they approve expenditures on exisiting programs?  Or do they just approve a program once, then it can spend whatever it wants?

[d_goddard]

Wait, do you mean every program currently existing, or just new programs?

As I understood the MP3 (and I was not paying full attention), it sounds like any time "Program X" is going to get a new  bucket of money, and there is more than $5,000 in the bucket.

It's great to hear the beuraucrat-chick complaining about how they have to fill out so much paperwork, so far in advance. It's also fucking gorgeous to hear one of the guests say, basically, you got it, the system is intentionally inefficient, that's hou the Founders wanted it

[Dreepa]

Yeah that was great.

It is $5K per program.  You see a list of them in the paper every week.  $X to XYZ corp for a road.  $Y to massage palor, $Z for consulting fees.

[ravelkinbow]

It is my understanding that they can also approve or deny grants...for example the 3mil for real id

[jgmaynard]

Yup, anytime the state spends more than $5000, the EC has to approve it... Or not 

JM