Op-Ed

By Len Turcotte (Adapted from a letter to the chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on HB628)

I met with Richard Lavers (Department of Employment Security) briefly on Wednesday of this week to discuss the spreadsheets he handed out at the Commerce Committee hearing on January 16th (I am currently awaiting further updates). My questions were focused on the assumptions/estimates he utilized in creating the spreadsheets. As you will recall from Lavers’ testimony, my testimony, and multiple statements contained in the two handouts by the Carsey Institute’s Smith, and Institute for Women’s Policy Research Jeffery Hayes, there exists ZERO data regarding “opt-out, opt-in” FMLI programs since no State has ever attempted them.

My questions for Mr. Lavers:

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New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus Comments
on House Commerce Committee Recommending
Defeat of Paid Medical Leave Bill HB 628

Concord – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) today commended the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee for recommending HB 628 as Inexpedient to Legislate. The bill would have created a 0.5% tax on income, paid by the employer, to fund paid family and medical leave, unless the employee opted out of the program and tax upon being hired.

“President Reagan sagely pointed out that ‘If you can find it in the yellow pages, government shouldn’t be doing it.” While the Internet is making phone books obsolete, the wisdom remains – government should not be interfering where the private sector has a competitive, robust market. The House Commerce Committee acted prudently regarding HB 628.” stated Rep. Jeanine Notter, R-Merrimack

“The Insurance Department made clear that HB 628 would destroy the insurance market,

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By Tom Murray – Windham School Board Member

On Tuesday, January 30th the Windham School Members (WSB) Rob Breton, Keleigh McAllister, Dennis Senibaldi, and Daniel Popovici-Muller all voted to impose Obama’s radical Transgender “Bathroom and Locker Room” policies on our students and district employees in Windham.

Now mandated by Policy JBAB, boys who “identify as girls” must be treated as girls, and girls who “identify as boys” must be treated as boys – or else there will be consequences!

There are multiple reasons for my concern with this unconstitutional overreach by the WSB. I’ll cover just a few.

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By Len Turcotte

There is a bill currently making its way through the legislative process in our state that should be of great concern to NH’s fiscally responsible and liberty-minded citizens.

HB628 (Family Medical Leave Insurance) would implement a bureaucratic social scheme above and beyond the federal program that already exists. There are four main points to consider as we discuss:

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By Chip Spangler

Currently, HB 628 sits in the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs committee. This bill claims to be a government-run Family and Medical Leave insurance bill, but it is actually an income tax bill.

The bill places a 0.5% tax on income for those who do not opt-out. The opt-out provision is deceptive at best, and fraudulent at worst. Those who want to opt-in do absolutely nothing; those who want to avoid the tax must obtain the services of a notary in order to do so.

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By Harry Doutt.

This is a Tale of Two Mosques. The Islamic Society of New Hampshire (ISoNH) located in Manchester, NH. and Dar al Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church, VA.

The attached eight-minute video is courtesy of former FBI Agent John Guandolo. In it, he paints a picture of the Dar al Hijrah Mosque in Fall Church, VA.

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By Jim Johnson

From the Associated Press: “Ratings Crash for Vikings-Eagles NFC Championship Game, Jags-Pats Earn Lowest Early Game Rating Since 2013”

Television ratings for the National Football League continue to plummet, stadium attendance diminishes week after week, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell seems oblivious to the leagues deteriorating appeal among football enthusiasts.

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By Rep. Dave Testerman

In my opinion, one of the more important hearings last week was for HB 1739, addressing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The mountain of testimony was not pleasant, but it was necessary for the committee to hear about this barbarous practice. Some cultures moving into New Hampshire want to continue practices from their home country that are not acceptable in America. It is important for each state to establish laws to reflect this.

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News Release
For Immediate Release:

Birdsell pleased by Senate support of common sense voting laws

Concord, NH – Today, the Senate passed HB 372, a bill which would clarify the definitions of residency and domicile as it pertains to voting. Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead) issued the following statement:

“I am pleased to see HB 372 passed the New Hampshire Senate today. With the support of Secretary of State Bill Gardner, this legislation clarifies where one may vote, without changing the requirements for voting eligibility in the state of New Hampshire.”
“Free and open elections are essential to supporting democracy and in a state where elections are separated by very few votes, each one is critically important. By clarifying the definitions of residency and domicile we are making our elections more accessible by offering individuals’ greater ease in understanding the requirements surrounding New Hampshire elections as well as aligning our state with the voting laws in our neighboring New England states.”

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By Sam Costanzo

The labor shortage in general construction and such skilled trades as plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work has been well-documented throughout the country, with older generations of skilled tradesmen entering retirement much faster than they can be replaced.

According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, some 70 percent of U.S. construction firms report difficulty finding qualified workers. And the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the nation’s need for workers in the skilled trades is increasing much faster than the growth of employment overall.  This can be surprising to the average American that may consistently require the efforts of skilled laborers for their home or car. Common sense would tell you there’d be a lot of demand to become a welder or painter or even offer residential estimating services.

Among those sounding the alarm is television personality Mike Rowe, former host of “Dirty Jobs,” who has appeared before a Congressional panel to call attention to the “skills gap.”

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Isn’t it long past time that New Hampshire ended blatant discrimination against Catholics in our state?

After the great Irish potato famine in the mid-1800’s, America experienced a large wave of Irish immigrants, many of whom were Catholics.   Some politicians wanted to prevent any public support of Catholic institutions and thus attempted, unsuccessfully, to amend the US Constitution to prohibit any public money being sent to Catholic institutions, even though they were not specifically named.  But everyone knew which group was being targeted for discrimination.

Although not all Catholics are Irish, most Irish are Catholics.  And I am old enough to remember my father telling me that John Kennedy could never be elected president of the US because he was Catholic.  He was also astute enough to opine that Nelson Rockefeller could never be president since he had been divorced.  I also remember seeing in antique shops old help wanted signs reading “Help Wanted – No Irish Need Apply” that appeared to be in common use many years ago.

Well, times have certainly changed, or have they?

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By Sen. Kevin Avard

The New Hampshire Senate
Republican Majority Office
Senators oppose turnpike toll hike

Concord, NH – The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT) held a public hearing on Monday regarding the Department of Transportation plan for a statewide toll hike.

Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem), Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead), Senator Kevin Avard (R-Nashua) and Senator Andy Sanborn (R-Bedford) issued the following statements after attending the hearing and speaking in opposition.

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by Rep. Mike Sylvia

The shell game continues on County Drive. It’s understandable that this sleight of hand would lead to errors in the Laconia Daily Sun’s article covering the Belknap County budget.

Commissioner DeVoy, according to the Sun, said: “…it was poor budget management on the part of the delegation that helped create the current bleak fiscal situation for the county.”

While I’ll agree that ‘poor budget management’ is involved, the fact is the delegation appropriates funds, and the county administration is tasked with budget management. It would be helpful if the administration would keep their spending to monies that had actually been appropriated as opposed to finding ways to spend money which had not been appropriated.

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By Jim Kofalt

There is a very funny scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail in which a crowd of villagers drags a hapless woman before the local knight (Sir Bedemir) proclaiming that she is a witch and demanding permission to burn her at the stake. When the woman proclaims her innocence, Bedemir points out that she is in fact “dressed like a witch.”

“They dressed me up like this,” she says, pointing at the angry mob. “And this isn’t my nose; it’s a false one.” “Well we did do the nose,” says one villager… “and the hat. But she is a witch.” Sir Bedemir asks them point blank: “Did you dress her up like this?” The crowd answers: “No, no… no … well… yes.  Yes, yes, a bit, a bit.” It’s obvious after all that the mob has no interest in facts. They are determined to burn a witch.

Fast forward to 2017. Steve Bannon comes to Manchester, New Hampshire to give a speech at a fundraising dinner for the 603 Alliance – a local group that aims to restore Constitutional values in government. As soon as the event is announced, the village mob swings into action on social media.

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By Rep. Dave Testerman

In New Hampshire, most public school funding originates in the pocketbook of local taxpayers and most of us hope we elect a local school board that watches out not only for the students but also the taxpayer. It doesn’t always work out, but we have had some very good board members in Franklin.

A much larger problem has occurred at the State Board of Education level. Unfortunately, our state has appointed State School Board members for 18 of the last 20 years that loved regulations and micromanaging our public schools.

With backing by the NH School Boards Association and the School Administrators Association, the pressure on local schools and Superintendents has been to simply comply with whatever the DoE and the State Board said…or else. Frankly, it hasn’t been working. So what has been the effect on school funding?

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By Peter Leminska

The refugees and immigrants who come to America to escape poverty and oppression need safe haven.  The vast majority of them are good, hardworking people, and how they get here is unimportant.  Compassion for immigrants overrides federal immigration laws.

That represents a basic tenet of the liberal mindset, the force behind sanctuary cities.

The number of sanctuary cities expanded rapidly during Barack Obama’s administration.  The Washington Times reported in 2015 that there were more than 340 sanctuary cities in America.  This year, it reported that the number had grown to nearly 500.  According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 279 municipalities refused to cooperate in at least one case during 2016.  That resulted in the release of more than 2,000 illegal immigrants that ICE had been trying to deport.

Those who support the notion of sanctuary cities should consider these points:

1.      Sanctuary cities violate federal law.

Cities and towns that harbor illegal aliens often cite the 10th Amendment,

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The Executive Council in NH is often the red-headed step child that is ignored by the rest of the political world.  Outside of NH, people interested in the First the Nation Primary politics go “Executive Huh?” – and even most NH residents have little clue as to what it does and why it is important.  And make no mistake – it is important as it is supposed to be the last “brake” on the NH Governor’s decisions when it comes to official appointments and signing of contracts.  However, like most, it is subject to mere politics, like when this Democrat dominated EC decided to pass a 300 plus page contract for Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion only gave the Republican Councilors 15 minutes to read all that – and then just passed it into effect.  This will have a real effect on the taxpayers of NH in the coming months and years.

We, the writers and authors at GraniteGrok are making only two Endorsements for Executive Council at this time…

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