Do you REALLY need Govt, Cecile Richards?

Politico: Online gifts to Planned Parenthood have surged by 500 percent since Republicans passed a budget amendment stripping the group of its federal funding… …Planned Parenthood’s Facebook fans surged 992 percent after the House approved the budget amendment to defund the group in mid-February. More than 810,000 supporters signed its petition denouncing the amendment — … Read more

The NH Constitution with Dan Itse – Introduction

GraniteGrok is privileged to present the first of a series of expositions by Dan Itse, New Hampshire State Representative and acknowledged to be one of the most knowledgeable elected legislators concerning the NH Constitution (as well as the US Constitution).    This first installment is a brief history of the NH Constitution and sets the … Read more

The (other) Picture of The Day

New Hampshire may have a chart just like this one, so with any luck someone will be kind enough to provide it. Until then this shows us what Ohio Education Association Union Employees make compared to the other suckers who “also pay taxes.” A theme repeated in every state most likley. Data is supposed to be from the US Dept of Labor.

Meet Terie “Billion Dollar Deficit” Vu.

NH Journal is reporting more fear-mongering from the left, and from the usual suspects. Teri “Billion Dollar Deficit” Norelli (D- scaring women and children), is promising us that the Republican Budget will ‘put peoples lives at risk.

Notable Quote – Rand Paul

“Only in Washington can a budget that spends more than it did the year before, with a larger deficit, be portrayed as ‘cutting.’” – Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)

TEA Party Events – 4/15 Concord, 4/16 Rochester

AFP/NH is helping to sponsor a TEA Party event on Friday, April 15, at the State Capital in Concord.  Am hoping that a lot of folks will be going and attending.  Speakers for that event, I understand, include Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum.  Unfortunately, for many off us, it is a day of work (AHgain). … Read more

The Right To Your Money: Nothing ‘Fair’ About It.

Tax Dollar Black HoleThe Granite State Fair Tax Coalition, discovering that it’s "percentage of income model" argument against property taxes really applies to all things, and that lower income people pay a higher percentage of their income on everything, (a problem resolved through hard work and perseverance to which we apparently do not have a right) has announced that it is looking for a way to make "Rich BastardsTM" pay more for everything.

One example?

How about Marriage.  Now that we’ve determined that Marriage is a civil right, (unless you are too young, too closely related, are already married, to uncivil to be or stay married, or want to remain single) why does a decent wedding (or any wedding) have to cost low income workers as much as 100% of their annual income while "Rich BastardsTM" only have to pay 25% to as little as 2% of theirs?  The answer is of course a Statewide wedding tax on higher income wage earners to subsidize the constitutionally protected right of marriage–because you can’t help who you fall in love with.

The plan could create a State Bureau of Weddings and Funerals, staffed by at least a dozen bureaucrats, (with taxpayer supported wages, benefits, pensions, office space, paid vacations, supplies, and protest signs that actually come with sick notes attached; for days when they need to go the State House and make demands of the taxpayers elected-officials on matters of workers rights etc,).  These fine individuals would be charged with handling questions and processing the paperwork and fees related to the weddings and funerals tax placed upon job creators, and the Rich Bastard population in general, (“Rich” to be defined by the collectors of the tax based on their perception of revenue needed) for the distribution of said revenues to those less fortunate seeking lavish weddings that have nothing to do with love, everything to do with impressing people whom you never see, and who are really just there for the free meal, and with any luck, an open bar.

One potential issue to the new Bureau’s mandate, however, is the rights of single people who would not benefit from the tax, or maybe this is just a rhetorical device on my part to segue into my next sarcastic rant.

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Guest post on Public Sector Unions

Bob Southard lives in the southern part of NH and is a small business owner: I was listening to a local talk show while driving in my car the other day and the conversation was about public employees, unions and “collective bargaining”.  One misinformed caller to talk about Republicans attacking the practice of Collective Bargaining. … Read more

A contrast in size…

Little man: Big Man: Stature, like character, matters. RightWing News

Political Incivility is Not the New Hampshire Way

“Political Incivility is Not the New Hampshire Way” is the title of Jeanne Shaheen’s Op-Ed in the Morning Sunday News. I can only assume she is not familiar with her own State Democrat Party leadership, some of the people who have helped her get elected like Kathy Sullivan, and others; people who are on the record saying any number of uncivil things.

GrokTALK! – Podcast page for 04/09/11

Podcast – week of 03/12/11 GrokTALK! Streaming Live! from GraniteGrok To play (or "stream") a clip now, just click on it.  To download it to your PC, right click on it and tell the process where to save the file for you. When we are live – join in at either GrokTALK@GraniteGrok.com or call us … Read more

Blogger to Fear? Really??

First I was speechless (not a great thing at the beginning of a talk show) and then I nearly fell out of my chair when fellow Grokster Tim shared the news: according to the New York Times Magazine, I am a Blogger to be Feared! Yeah, sure.  I really thought he was just pulling my … Read more

Democrats, Frat Boys, And Pimps, Oh My!

So the democrats were prepared to shut it all down to defend one big, international rent seeker. To pigeonhole women’s health issues to sex parts and intercourse. And to defend a major campaign contributor (the abortion industry) at all costs? Using women’s vagina’s for cash? Doesn’t that make them a bunch of pimps?

Speed limits on Lake Winni – how ‘bought someone whose been on the water for 30 years?

It’s no secret that I’m not in favor of speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, here in NH. No one has ever presented me with statistical evidence to me that high speed alone on the Big Lake have resulted in the accident rates that the "It’s just a liquid road" crowd would have you believe.  Trust me, it’s not a small lake by ANY means, like Squam Lake, where the "shhh, quiet!" crowd won the fight of "Your noisy boats offend me; I will get Government to outlaw anything bigger than a putt-putt". 

Jet Skis Personal Watercraft were set up as being the spawn of Satan – ranking right up there with Twinkies, sugary soda, and Happy Meals as dangers to our Republic.  In that case, I’m not sure which loons were which…

Sorry to inform you folks but I think the "slower is better" crowd have to keep making the emotional appeal, including Rusty McLear, a local hotelier, who said

"Beauty, tranquility, serenity, relaxation,”…“This is what New Hampshire markets.”

…simply to win the argument.  Danger all about – unless they do as we want.  That’s what his biz model sells.  I have no problem in him doing what is best for his business – and he is quite good at what he does; great for him (really!)!. And it seems to be what many other businesses are doing nowadays; not merely competing merely in the free market but going to Government to lobby for rules, regulations, and laws that provide an enhancement to their business over others.  Economists call this "rent-seeking" – the use of Government to obtain either a monetary or marketplace advantage. 

Lest anyone think I’m picking on Rusty (I’ve met him, briefly; he seems to be a good guy); let me assure you, I’m not.  Heck, compared to some, his lobbying efforts are hardly a sniffle – GE’s Jeffrey Immelt has THAT gig all sewn up big time, being BFWO (Best Friends With Obama), dontcha know.

Anyways,  I wrote this ("Letters doodlings – a terror zone on Lake") a bit ago, and my friend Chan over at Weekend Pundit left a comment on it – so I’ve decided that since I have no actual dog in the fight (not owning a boat, but only blogging as it seems to be more of a Freedom issue than an actual danger issue as some would have you believe) to promote the comment up.  Why?

Well, he’s been plying these waters for 30 years – a bit of experience, I would posit (full disclosure: he’s has had TMEW & I on his runabout in the past…..a grand total of…er…once (heh!)). He says this about the "No Fun Faster than 45 on Winnipesaukee" crowd:

While I haven’t been as vocal on this issue as I might have, I believe I must now comment.

First, let me state that I have plied the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee for over 30 years. In all that time I have seen an excessive speed ‘incident’ once, and that was perpetrated by someone under the influence of way too much beer.

While claims about the speeds of boats being too high and ruining the ambiance on the lake have made again and again and how it threatens the safety of everyone out on the lake, those making those claims have chosen to ignore the real problem, one the law already covers.

Under New Hampshire law boats are supposed to…

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Save HB 540 – Biannual Auto Inspections [updated]

It’s not unsafe.  It will not turn into a short film titled ‘Death on The Highway II,’ but it will save everyone a few hours and a few bucks.  It’s HB 540, the bill to move New Hampshire from annual auto inspections to every other year.

Opponents have come up with all kinds of reasons why we shouldn’t do this but my favorite was this; that an inspector might have to let something go that was not yet in violation but that could become a violation before the next inspection.  So we’re all unsafe, irresponsible dopes?  No sense of self preservation apparently either.  We just drive along until the next inspection….I don’t think so but nice try.  The other classes of opponents are bureaucrats and rent seeking mechanics who enjoy state mandated visits to their repair shops.  I’ve no time for them either. 

Then there is this.  It is testimony from Rep Steve Vaillancourt, a fellow Blogger at NH Insider, and a guy who can post more content than me on a good day.  He’s also someone with whom I disagree on most social issues, but we see eye to eye on taxes and spending (as far as I can tell), and on HB 540.

Here is Steve’s testimony before the Senate Committee, courtesy of BikerBill (on the jump).  It’s only three plus minutes so check it out.   Then check out Steve’s Blog at NHI and Bill’s Youtube Channel, both worthy excursions across the New Hampshire Political Landscape.

And don’t forget to contact the committee to tell them you support HB 540.  And remember to be polite.

Email

james.rausch@leg.state.nh.us

dboutin1465@comcast.net

james.forsythe@leg.state.nh.us

molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

Phone

Senator Jim Rausch (R-Derry) (Senate District 19) 271-8630.

Senator David Boutin (R-Hooksett) (Senate District 16) 271-2709

Senator James Forsythe (R-Strafford) (Senate District 4) 271-3096

Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene) (Senate District 10) 271-2166

Senator Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton) (Senate District 24) 271-6933

 

 

 

Update: Removed Senator Jim Luthur who is not on this committee; added the correct email for Senator Jim Rausch who is. Thanks to our commenters below for the correction.

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Recovery From Irresponsible Democrat Budgets

To the Editor:

Every child knows which parent to approach for permission to do something risky, expensive, inappropriate, or too impractical.    The parent who says “No” is called “mean”, “uncaring“, “selfish”, etc.     

Some marriages have problems because over-spending threatens  financial disaster, e.g., eviction, inability to purchase real needs like food and health insurance.  Sometimes one spouse stands up to avoid the disaster, slashes expenses, sells expensive toys, cancels unessential services, etc.  Family members enjoying the excess spending may call these cuts “extreme” and the responsible parent “mean”, “uncaring“, “selfish”, etc.   

Across our country city, state, and federal governments have recklessly over-spent and over-committed future spending. 

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