RLCNH Report for April 3, 2011 - Granite Grok

RLCNH Report for April 3, 2011

The RLCNH Report

ACTION ALERT!

Stand up for worker’s freedom
On Tuesday, April 5 at 9:00AM, the will hear HB 474, the Right To Work (RTW) bill, in Representatives Hall at the State House. If you can make it there for a show of support, that would be very helpful since the opposition will certainly be there. If you cannot make the hearing, please contact Senate Commerce committee members by phone or email and urge them to support HB 474. See below for more information.

Thank your representatives for a responsible House Budget, encourage Senators to pass it
Last week, our representatives passed a budget with significant spending cuts, no tax increases, and retirement system reform. As we saw in the news, many union members and activists were in Concord protesting these changes, with anti-reform messages also appearing in the media and op-ed pages. Despite intense pressure, our representatives passed this budget and the reforms and kept their campaign promises. If you would like to thank our representatives for their hard work, please e-mail them at hreps@leg.state.nh.us, or contact your local representatives with a more personal message.

The bill now goes on to the Senate. It is important that we speak with one loud, clear voice in support of this budget. Please contact your state Senator and urge them to support HB2 with the Kurk Amendment as passed by the House.

What’s happening in Concord next week:

Senate Finance Committee – Important!
Please contact committee members and ask them to support the House budget, particularly the Kurk Amendment. The committee will have a budget presentation by House finance leaders on Monday, April 4th at 1:00PM in SH room 103, and has several meetings with department heads into next week. The most effective way to show support is to contact committee members in person or by phone, or second, by e-mail. Please be concise and make your message individual; form letters reflect negatively.

Senate Commerce Committee
The committee will hear HB 474, the Right To Work bill, in Representatives Hall at the State House on Tuesday, April 5, at 9:00AM. RTW is important for three reasons:

  • A worker should not be forced to pay union dues just to get or keep a job; union membership would be voluntary.
  • States with RTW laws consistently outperform states without RTW laws in job growth.
  • RTW enables workers to vote with their wallets when they disagree with union leaders’ politics, instead of being forced to subsidize the union’s political activities.

It’s important to note that this bill does not eliminate unions, nor does it prevent anyone from choosing to be represented by a union. The bill does make it a choice on the part of the worker whether or not to be represented by a union, and also prevents unions from representing workers who are not union members.

After last week’s showing by unions and anti-reform activists, it’s likely that this hearing will also see a strong presence by defenders of the status quo, so it would be great to see supporters in attendance. Senate support may be lukewarm, so a show of support would help secure a veto-proof majority for this bill, such that Gov. Lynch might let it become law wit
hout his signature.

HB 601 is a positive and very important bill that repeals regulations passed last year pertaining to implementation of the federal health reform law. This bill will have a public hearing on Wednesday, April 6th at 9:40AM in LOB room 102.

HB 627 states that no state health insurance mandate to be paid for by the state shall offer "essential benefits" exceeding those in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009. This bill, which should be supported, will be heard on Wednesday, April 6th at 9:20AM in LOB room 102.

HB 629, which should also be supported, repeals the state uninsured health care database. This is important to protect the privacy of our citizens. It will be heard on Wednesday, April 6th at 9:00AM in LOB room 102.

Senate Judiciary Committee
HB 210 is a "stand your ground" bill which clarifies when the use of deadly force in self-defense is allowable. This bill has a public hearing on Thursday, April 7th at 1:15PM in LOB room 101.

HB 378 states that a person on his or her own property, displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense to warn away a trespasser who refuses to leave, is not committing criminal threatening, and that such use of a firearm shall not constitute "deadly force". It also repeals the mandatory minimum sentence for certain felonies involving firearms, and will probably save the state money by reducing judicial workloads. This bill will have a public hearing on Thursday, April 7th at 1:30PM in LOB room 101.

Senate Education Committee
HB 542 is an important parents’ rights bill. When a monopoly is created by government, a reduction of quality and choice is to be expected; education is no exception. HB 542 is a bill that will address some of these issues by clarifying the right of parents to withdraw their child from an education program that they conscientiously oppose. The public hearing for HB 542 is Tuesday, April 5th at 1:30pm in LOB 103.

Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
HB368-FN-L enables communities to decide whether to participate in the workforce housing program. This bill will be heard on Tuesday, April 5th in LOB room 101.

HB 457 brings the interest rate on late property tax payments down from 12% to 6%, which is more aligned with the current market, and may help people stay in their homes. There is a public hearing for this bill on Tuesday, April 5th at 10:15am in LOB 101.

Senate Ways and Means
HB 187 and HB 557 are two very business-friendly bills. HB 187 extends the period for Business Enterprise Tax (BET) credits against the Business Profits Tax (BPT), and HB 557 relates to the standards and burdens of proof with respect to the BPT deduction for reasonable compensation for owners of partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. Both are good bills that should pass. They have public hearings scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at 2:30 and 2:45pm respectively in Room 100 of the State House.

Senate Committee contact information


What happened in Concord last week:

There was quite a show at the state house last week. On Thursday, public union members and others came out to protest the new budget. Others were there to advocate for smaller government and restrained spending.

The budget that passed reduces spending by $742 Million; this is about $300 million more than the budget cuts proposed by Gov. Lynch. This cut represents around 7% of last year’s spending. There is still work to be done, but at least Concord is headed in the right direction.

Wednesday was another big day on the house floor. HCR 19 affirming New Hampshire’s rights under the tenth amendment passed 242-109. The state tax cap, CACR 6, passed the house; let’s hope the senate also votes to put this on the ballot. The house passed needed retirement reforms aimed at preserving the solvency of the retirement system.

The bill to withdraw from cap and trade passed. The clarification of the local spending cap also passed.

This is an astounding year for liberty in New Hampshire. Somehow, New Hampshire is breaking the cycle of big government leading to even bigger government. Let’s hope that this trend continues in the senate and for years to come.
 

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