Gov. John Lynch (D) • Jan. 23
Gov. Lynch, seeking an end to long-running court disputes over school funding, used his State of the State speech to renew his call for a constitutional amendment that would let the state target more money to poorer districts. He also called for strengthening laws protecting children from online predators. With an eye to the slowing economy, in New Hampshire and across the nation, he vowed not to sign any legislation this year that would require additional state spending. The state is in the middle of its two-year budget plan, and the governor said he intends to end the biennium with a balanced budget.