The RLCNH Report: Hot off the presses! - Granite Grok

The RLCNH Report: Hot off the presses!

May 30, 2011

ACTION ALERT!
Jury Nullification: Let Justice Truly Be Done
The full Senate will vote on HB 146 on June 1. This bill would require juries in all criminal proceedings that they have the power not only to judge the case, but also the law. This is an incredibly important pro-liberty bill, and it is a clearNHGOP platform issue. The Senate committee recommended this bill "Inexpedient to Legislate," so please contact your Senator and ask that they vote against the committee’s recommendation.

Do Not Centralize Education: Kill CACR 14
On Wednesday, the House will vote on CACR 14, which relates to the funding of public education. This bill is intended to "fix" Claremont and take the power over education funding back from the judiciary, but the language in this bill would centralize power away from local school boards by making it the "responsibility" of the legislature to define standards and distribute funding. This is a threat to local control, and it must be voted down. Please call your state representatives or e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to kill CACR 14.

Keep up the pressure on Right to Work!
The House postponed its vote to override Gov. Lynch’s veto of HB 474, the NH Right to Work bill, to June 1. Please call your state representatives or e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to vote to override Gov. Lynch’s veto. HB 474 passed the Senate by a veto-proof margin, does not eliminate unions, and does not prevent employers and workers from entering collective bargaining agreements; it merely says no worker can be forced into a union as a condition of employment. As such, it’s a pro-freedom bill. Over the last ten years, RTW states have posted better economic and job growth numbers, so it’s also a pro-NH economic growth bill.

What’s happening in Concord this week:

State House – Floor Votes on Wednesday, June 1

The House will vote to override Gov. Lynch’s veto of HB 474; see the Action Alert above.

The House will vote on SB 2, which enables municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions to adopt spending caps to limit annual budget increases; it includes measures allowing for overrides when necessary. This bill, which was voted 12-4 OTP by the Municipal and Country Government Committee, would significantly protect taxpayers, so please e-mail our representatives and ask them to vote for this bill.

The House will vote on SB 88, which defines conditions under which a person may use deadly force in self-defense, removes the obligation to retreat, and eliminates the requirement to obtain a permit to carry concealed weapons. While the minority had some reasonable concerns, this bill is net pro-freedom and was voted 9-3 OTP/A by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. We have been told there will be a floor amendment offered to improve the bill even m
ore – so pleasee-mail our representatives and ask them to vote for SB 88.

The House will vote on SB 129, which requires voters to present an acceptable form of photo identification to vote, and includes measures for provisional ballots and obtaining zero-cost identification. This bill was voted 18-8 OTP by the House Finance Committee, and will improve the integrity of the electoral process so please e-mail our representatives and ask them to vote for this bill.

The House will vote on SB 154, which reforms the comprehensive shoreland protection act and has been amended to add repeal of New Hampshire’s membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This bill would benefit New Hampshire both due to the streamlining of bureaucracy and increased property owner protections in the shoreland reform, as well as the financial benefit to every utility customer from repealing RGGI membership and fees; it would also stop taxpayers paying RGGI subsidies to profitable businesses. Please call your state representatives or e-mail hreps@leg.state.nh.us and ask them to vote for SB 154.

State Senate – Floor Votes
The full Senate will vote on HB 146 on June 1; see the Action Alert above.

HB 542, which is currently on the table, would give parents the power to remove their children from any school or program from which they are conscienciously opposed. It is important that this be explicit in law so parents will not be hassled or forced into drawn out battles with school districts. Sen. Jim Forsythe is leading the charge on this bill, but needs our support. Please contact  your Senator and ask them to support HB 542 and parent’s rights.

HB 429, which would allow students 16 years of age or older to withdraw from school with parents’ permission, was voted "Inexpedient to Legislate" out of committee. Parents should have the right to determine what is best for their children, and up until a couple years ago, compulsory education in New Hampshire only went to age 16. Let’s give parents the power to decide the best place for their children. Please contact  your Senator and ask them to overturn the committee’s recommendation and support HB 429.


 
What happened in Concord last week:

State House

  • The House postponed its vote to override Gov. Lynch’s veto of HB 474 until Wednesday, June 1.
  • The Ways and Means Committee voted SB 170 unanimously (20-0) OTP/A. This bill will prevent the state from seizing NH Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association funds, as was previously attempted by Gov. Lynch for a one-time budget fix.

State Senate

  • Many good bills passed by the House have been Laid on the Table in the Senate. Review the list in this week’s Senate calendar.
  • HB 164, which would require legislative approval before adoption of common core standards in New Hampshire, was voted "ought to pass" out of committee. 
  • HB 623, which would prohibit preferences in recruiting, hiring, promotion or admission by state agencies and various education systems in the state, was voted "ought to pass" out of committee. 
  • HB 145, which would allow the audio and video taping of on-duty law enforcement officers, was re-refered to committee. Please contact your Senator and ask them to support this bill.
  • CACR 6, a constitutional amendment which would require a 3/5 majority to raise taxes or fees, was re-refered to committee. Please contact your Senator and ask them to support this bill.
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