RLCNH Report 5-1-11 - Granite Grok

RLCNH Report 5-1-11

The RLCNH Report
Like RLCNH Report - May 1, 2011 on Facebook | subscribe to this list
May 1, 2011
ACTION ALERTS!

We Want Constitutional Government!
HB 590 would express the position of the New Hampshire legislature that federal grants (bribes so we will do the will of the federal government) on matters not included among the defined powers of the U.S. Constitution is unconstitutional. It also would establish a committee to review state participation in federal grant-in-aid programs. This incredibly important bill is schedule for a public hearing in front of the Senate Internal Affairs Committee at 2:30PM on Wednesday, May 4 in State House Room 100. An executive session may follow, so please contact the committee and urge them to vote OTP.

Keep Control of Education Local—Defeat CACR14
CACR 14 is a proposed amendment to the NH constitution. It would give the state legislature not only the authority, but also the responsibility, to define public education standards, establish standards of accountability, mitigate "local disparities in educational opportunity and fiscal capacity," and full discretion to determine state education funding levels. This amendment represents a significant centralization of power at the state level, with corresponding loss of autonomy and self-determination by cities and towns. The Special Committee on Education Funding Reform split 7-7 on this bill on April 14, which is another indication that this bill is not the right way to reform public education in New Hampshire. Please e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to OPPOSE CACR 14.

Nullify Obamacare in New Hampshire
SB 148, which was voted 12-4 OTP by the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on April 14, does three things: first, it states that no NH citizen shall ever be forced to buy health insurance; second, it requires the NH Attorney General to join 26 other states in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"); and third, it directs the state insurance department to return $666,000 in federal grants received to plan implementation of that law to the federal government for deficit reduction purposes. Please e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to vote for SB 148.

What’s happening in Concord next week:

House Floor Votes on Wednesday, May 4
SB 3 significantly reforms the state employee retirement system to strengthen it financially for the long term. This is a major piece of legislation that changes vesting requirements, contribution amounts, and calculation methodologies. New Hampshire’s state retirement system has been facing growing unfunded liabilities, which this bill will address. The House Special Committee for Public Employee Pensions Reform voted this bill 10-3 OTP (Ought to Pass) on April 13. Please e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to support SB 3.

SB 129, which was voted 13-5 OTP by the House Election Law Committee on April 12, requires voters to show photo ID to vote. It also provides for provisional ballots and a way for voters to get photo ID free of charge. Please e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to support SB 129.

SB 82, which would extend the state board of education’s authority to approve chartered public schools, was voted 16-1 OTP. Email hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to support SB 82.

SB 154 reforms and simplifies the comprehensive shoreland protection act passed in 1991. It simplifies property owner compliance and permitting procedures, and reduces fees. The bill was voted 16-0 OTP by the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee on April 12. Please e-mailhreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to vote for SB 154.

SB 160 defines short-term installment loans and authorizes the NH banking department to regulate them. Consumers with a need for this type of loan have been getting them from sources incl. out-of-state and internet with little oversight to protect consumer interests; this bill creates a NH framework for such loans while allowing lenders and consumers extensive latitude in offering and selecting the right loan for their circumstances. The bill does not, of course, prevent consumers from making poor financial decisions, but that is neither government’s purview nor mandate. This bill was voted 16-2 OTP by the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on April 19. Please e-mailhreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to vote for SB 160.

SB 162 establishes an oversight committee consisting of elected legislators, and requires any state official or agency that seeks to enforce the insurance provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to obtain the approval of this committee. This committee would also study various options the state has for opting out of the federal law. The bill was voted 16-2 OTP by theHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on April 14. Please e-mailhreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to support SB 162.

SB 170 protects NH Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association excess funds by requiring they be returned to policyholders, prevents the state from taking such funds for any purpose (such as the short-term budget accounting gimmicks attempted by Gov. Lynch when he tried to seize these funds), and clarifies other aspects of these funds. The bill was voted 14-3 OTP by the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee on April 26. Please e-mailhreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to support SB 170.

In House Committee
Municipal and County Government
The committee will hold a continued executive session on SB 2, which allows political subdivisions including towns, cities, and school districts to adopt annual limits on municipal budget increases, on Thursday, May 5 at 10:00AM in LOB 301. Please e-mail the committee and ask them to support this important tool to manage government spending and protect taxpayers.

In Senate Committees
HB 248, which would establish a commission to study business regulations in New Hampshire, is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, May 3 at 9:30AM in LOB 102. In this economic climate, it is necessary that New Hampshire do everything it can to regain its competitive advantage and draw new business to the state. Please come speak in favor of HB 248 at the hearing, or email the committee to voice your support.

HB 341, which would allow cities and towns to adopt caps on taxes and spending, has a public hearing on Tuesday, May 3 at 910:45AM in LOB 101. An executive session may follow, so please come voice yo
ur support or email the committee and urge them to vote OTP.

HB 590 would express the position of the New Hampshire legislature that federal grants (bribes so we will do the will of the federal government) on matters not included among the defined powers of the U.S. Constitution is unconstitutional. It also would establish a committee to review state participation in federal grant-in-aid programs. This incredibly important bill is schedule for a public hearing in front of the Senate Internal Affairs Committee at 2:30PM on Wednesday, May 4 in State House Room 100. An executive session may follow, so please contact the committee and urge them to vote OTP.


What happened in Concord last week:

In the Senate

  • HB 89, requiring the attorney general to join the lawsuit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was voted OTP by the Senate Commerce Committee.
  • HB 629-FN, which repeals the authority of the state to compile and maintain an uninsured health care database, was voted OTP by the Senate Commerce Committee.
  • HB 216, which gives exlicit responsibility for the "structure, accountability, advocacy, and delivery of instruction" to local school boards, was voted OTP by the Senate Education Committee.
  • HB 411, which would give town moderators the power to adjust the amount of space in which distributing campaign materials is prohibited at the polling place, was voted ITL by the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee

For full list of items, see the Senate calendar ("Reports" section) and the House calendar ("Consent Calendar" section).

Copyright © 2011 Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, All rights reserved. 
You are receiving this email because you signed up atwww.RLCNH.org. 
Our mailing address is: 

Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire

75 South Main Street
PMB 525

Concord, New Hampshire 03301

Add us to your address book

Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp

>