Articles tagged as

NH House of Representatives

Clarity and Collective Bargaining?

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Mr. Sapienza asks in the Union Leader, “Do legislators even know what state workers do?”
Perhaps some don’t. I know for a fact that some do…many have been state workers themselves. With so many flawed or misquided assumptions, the demagoguery lives on. 

Edward Sapienza of Manchester, through the Union Leader opposite editorial pages seeks to “offer some clarity and ask our state representatives and state senators, specifically what conservative values do [sic] you bring to the table?” Mr. Sapienza asserts this legislature is taking from the rank and file working class. “Getting state and county spending under control is, “taking from the working class?” pointing to the measure to remove collective bargaining.

Mr. Sapienza is a correctional officer at the Hillsborough County Jail.  As a Hillsborough County taxpayer, I am grateful and thankful for his service because being a correctional officer is a tough job. The care, custody, and control of our societal miscreants is a significant task, requiring patience, an even temperament and intelligence. Correctional Officers must follow a clearly defined set of rules, procedures and standards in dealing with our county prisoners and detainees, who, on the other hand, adhere to no such rules or standards, other than those imposed by the facility that keeps them. Few truly know what a day in the life of a correctional officer is truly like and often times, the only public mention of the men and women who do this job is when we see acts of wrong-doing by them in newspapers. It’s unfair.

Moreover, very few understand that in Mr. Sapienza’s workplace; even the most seemingly innocuous question or request by an inmate or detainee can tax a Correctional Officer. A Correctional Officer must be able to think quickly, evaluate, and understand that his response may have an unintended consequence. The CO must ask, “Did the inmate or detainee already ask another staff member? Did that staff member say, ‘no'”? If I say, ‘yes’, am I causing an inconsistency with my other staff members, enabling an inmate manipulation?” Being a correctional officer is a challenging career and is not a job for stupid people.

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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.

Protestors of New NH House Budget

To the Editor: 

Those protesting the new House budget in Concord last week have one thing in common, they want NH taxpayers to open their wallets for their personal benefit.   

Most protesters were public employees demanding no changes to their cushy, secure, low stress, highly compensated (compared to similar private sector) jobs, nor to the corrupt system that maintains their great jobs, benefits, and consequently grows the cost of government .   

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Republican Change In New Hampshire

NH State SealH/T to Patricia Wulfson for sending me this first.

“The New Hampshire House of Representatives received a mandate from the voters of this state to cut state spending; reduce taxes and fees; return fiscal sanity to the state; promote economic development and create jobs; mend a state retirement system that was nearing insolvency; provide our children with an education based on excellence; protect the personal rights and freedoms of its citizens; and maintain transparency in state government. Listed here is a compilation of legislation passed by the 2011 New Hampshire House of Representatives in response to that message that they received in November from the voters.

 

Trans-formative Change:

• Passed a constitutional amendment to require a super-majority in the House and Senate to raise taxes or borrowing. (CACR 6)

• For the first time in NH history, that included more that 50 attempts in the legislature, the House passed a constitutional amendment to expand local control of education funding by returning authority to elected officials, not unelected judges. (CACR 12) Setting an example for our citizens by “living within our means:”

• Passed a fiscally responsible budget that, (1) was balanced by using realistic revenue figures; (2) did not increase taxes or fees; (3) does not downshift onto local property taxpayers; and (4) does not increase borrowing, setting New Hampshire on a financially sustainable path will allow our economy to grow and create more jobs. (HB 1 & 2)

• Passed an education funding formula that maintains existing levels of aid to communities and allows additional targeted aid to needy cities and towns. (HB 337)

• Passed a bill to allow local communities to enact tax and spending caps. (HB 341) Moving our economy forward, creating more jobs and putting out the “Open for Business sign” in New Hampshire once again.

• Passed a small business tax cut to protect reasonable compensation from the business profits tax. (HB 557)

(more on the jump…)

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RLCNH Report for April 3, 2011

The RLCNH Report  | subscribe to this list ACTION ALERT! Stand up for worker’s freedomOn 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 … Read more

Who Missed The Vote? [updated]

Someone asked…who didn’t vote on HB1 and HB2.  Who are these reps anyway?  OK, we’re here to deliver.  HB 1 here, HB 2 on the jump!

[update] So everyone knows, I am not passing judgment here, just posting the list.  Plenty of these folks will have been excused, or approved absences, even important or necessary business that kept them away or took them away from the State House.  Your job is verify the absences of your reps if they concern you, and if you are unable to find good cause, discuss it with them as time permits.

Only four democrats skipped the vote on HB 1 while  twenty six Republicans did not cast a vote.

House Rep Party County District Vote
Beattie, Thomas  Republican Hillsborough 17 Not Voting
Belanger, Ronald  Republican Rockingham 4 Not Voting
Brosseau, Charles  Republican Grafton 6 Not Voting
Coughlin, Sean  Republican Hillsborough 6 Not Voting
DeJong, Cameron  Republican Hillsborough 9 Not Voting
Dowling, Patricia  Republican Rockingham 5 Not Voting
Dwinell, Richard  Republican Cheshire 5 Not Voting
Eaton, Stephanie  Republican Grafton 1 Not Voting
Emerton, Larry  Republican Hillsborough 7 Not Voting
Flanders, Donald  Republican Belknap 4 Not Voting
Hawkes, Samuel  Democrat Cheshire 3 Not Voting
Hogan, Timothy  Republican Hillsborough 23 Not Voting
Hutchinson, Karen  Republican Rockingham 3 Not Voting
Huxley, Robert  Republican Hillsborough 3 Not Voting
Keane, Thomas  Republican Merrimack 13 Not Voting
Kingsbury, Robert  Republican Belknap 4 Not Voting
Larsen, Kirst
en 		 Republican Strafford 2 Not Voting
Moody, Marcia  Democrat Rockingham 12 Not Voting
Parison, James  Republican Hillsborough 3 Not Voting
Peckham, Michele  Republican Rockingham 13 Not Voting
Pelletier, Marsha  Democrat Strafford 5 Not Voting
Pepino, Leo  Republican Hillsborough 11 Not Voting
Quandt, Matt  Republican Rockingham 13 Not Voting
Roberts, Kris  Democrat Cheshire 3 Not Voting
Sapienza, Marie  Republican Rockingham 8 Not Voting
Simpson, Tyler  Republican Belknap 1 Not Voting
Souza, Kathleen  Republican Hillsborough 11 Not Voting
Stroud, Kathleen  Republican Hillsborough 19 Not Voting
Summers, James  Republican Hillsborough 26 Not Voting
Terrio, Ross  Republican Hillsborough 14 Not Voting

 

Click through for HB 2

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Extremists? Sure, On The Left Aide Of The Aisle

NH Democrats and unions do not support New Hampshire workers rights. If they did they’d be defending the other 90% of the states workers from the inequality in pay and benefits afforded to public union employees. So this isn’t about workers rights, it is about protecting the big business of big Unions and democrat political campaign contributions, at the expense of 90% of New Hampshire’s workers. If anyone is being an extremist it’s the democrats and their union backed, taxpayer funded ponzi scheme.

Cornerstone Ministries Weighs In: Support the Responsible Republican State Legislators!

VISIT NHCORNERSTONE.ORG >> This Legislature has put our money where their mouth was… And we should thank them for it! Dear Tim, The message was LOUD and CLEAR last November – Stop the Spending.  More importantly, government needed to live within its means. If deficit spending does not work on the home front, then there is no reason our government should … Read more

TOMORROW MORNING! GET YOURSELVES TO CONCORD!

RALLY AT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HOUSE IN CONCORD TOMORROW MORNING, March, 31, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. SUPPORT THE RESPONSIBLE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY! From Nick Pappas, Jeff Chidester, and Chris Bucik: Please join us in support of the all the State Representatives who will be voting on the current budget with HB 2.  We … Read more

What’s Happening In Concord, last week and this week: The RLCNH Report

The RLCNH Report  | subscribe to this list March 27, 2011 ACTION ALERT! Several important floor votes are occurring this week: Budget bills HB 1 and HB 2 are on the house floor this week. Rep. Kurk offered an amendment to HB 2 ending collective bargaining for public worker unions when their current contracts expire and replacing it with at-will … Read more

Public Employee Union Members Fail in Attempt to Intimidate Republicans in NH State House Finance Committee!

WOW! On March 24, 2011 the State House Finance Committee—which prepares state budgets—met to vote on a budget bill. Rep. Neal Kurk proposed an amendment that would put an end to the so-called "Evergreen Clause" that gives public employee unions huge power in spending negotiations, and an incentive to "stonewall" in order to get what they want. With … Read more

Roll Call-palooza – Another Democrat Taxpayer Swindle

New Hampshire Democrats, who benefit from taxpayer money laundered through public employee union dues into their campaign, are spending taxpayer dollars in the legislature to make sure they have sound bites and talking points to give to their union buddies to ensure the Aztec gold continues to flow moving forward.

The RLCNH Report: What’s Up Last Week in the State House Committees? Big News!

The RLCNH Report March 20, 2011  | subscribe to this list ACTION ALERT! Stand up for New Hampshire!HCR 19, which reasserts New Hampshire’s sovereignty, and HB 590, which provides a constitutional check on federal control through funds distribution, both have executive committee hearings this Tuesday. Please contact the committee and ask them to vote OTP (Ought To Pass) … Read more

Mike Brunelle’s Jobs Program

In true class warfare passion the prominent democrat schemster Mike Brunelle saw his minimum wage bill go down in flames yesterday, which was exactly the point. But all the politicking and future sound biting aside, what is the point? Democrats either don’t give a damn about jobs or are to daft to know any better.

How About Some Cheese With Your Hamm?

Tax TrapIf the democrats in New Hampshire want anyone to take them seriously on why we should not lower the cigarette tax, they had best find a better spokesperson than House rep. Christine Hamm from the Peoples Republic of Hopkinton.(PRH)

From this mornings union leader..

Rep. Christine Hamm, D-Hopkinton, argued against the change. She said no state has seen tobacco tax revenue increase after a tax cut.

“This is yet another expensive exercise in futility,” she said. When it comes to tobacco, she said, “Every tax hike produces new revenue, and every tax cut reduces it.”

Oregon tried a 10-cent cut, and saw revenues fall by 10 percent, she said.

“To do the same thing would be fiscally stupid,” Hamm said

You know what else is stupid?  Listening to Christine Hamm.  Oh, and comparing Oregon to New Hampshire?  There are almost no demographic similarities, the most important of which is the sheer size of Oregon and the proximity of neighboring states which are also huge.

No one is driving across Washington State, or up from California, or Idaho, or anywhere else to buy cigarettes in Oregon.  Only Washington State taxes them more (the last I checked.) No incentive, no gain.

But here in New England, where people can buy almost everything cheaper in New Hampshire, the classic New England maxim does not apply–"you can get there from her," or here from there, and they do.  People shop here from other states to save money.  So reducing taxes on cigarettes (or anything else) gives them one more incentive to make the trip or to buy more while they are here.

Need proof?

Raising the tax already cost us revenue.  Last August Maine announced that it’s sales had increased 20%.  That is most likely money that used to get spent here but which the tax hike diverted back to Maine. (I wrote about it here)

And more Proof?

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Republicans Now Use ‘The Template’

Marty Harty of Barrington resigned his house seat after making remarks that were both insensitive and inappropriate. The resignation was appropriate because to be a lawmaker in Concord, one must represent ones’ constituency with fairness and judiciousness. Comments made by Representative Harty fell short of that.  But it’s not enough that Jim Splaine, writing on … Read more

The Lie That Persists: Guns and the State House in Concord

It’s unrelenting. Never ending. With the seating of the New Hampshire Legislature, house rules were returned to where guns were allowed in the state house. And oh how gunfighters.jpgthe liars and demagogues lined up to have their say.  The pablum-puking hoplophobic liberals don’t like it. We get that already. Repeating it, “ad nauseum,” ain’t going to change a thing, folks.

 This past Wednesday Concord Businessman Glen Currie opined in the Concord Monitor, “Unfortunately, the new folks in town seem to want us to become the place where Little House on the Prairie hosts the Gunfight at O.K. Corral,” conjuring television and movie images of Tom Mix or John Wayne facing off with some cowboy in a tumbleweed street. Mr. Currie, however,  is little more than full of crap…and himself, irrespective of whether he thinks the legislature is a bunch of “wing nuts“[sic].

 The unending plethora of references to the New Hampshire Statehouse becoming analogous to the Wild West, the O.K. Coral, Wyatt Earp, and Billy the Kid has now become an annoying cacophony to those of us who have spent considerable time, energy and academic capital studying American History. Despite the multi-disciplinary and long-existing peer-reviewed, scholarly works of contemporary academia, these references manage to hang on like herpes…or a bad penny.  

 The overlying thesis of Wild West narratives and presentations is that, without government, society becomes disordered and out of control. We need only look to early television shows like Wagon train, Have Gun will Travel, Cheyenne, Bonanza, and the Lone Ranger to see Hollywood’s consistency in their liberal advocacy of a government solution through the lens of television. [insert picture of Mr. Currie in a cowboy suit sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a 60’s vintage tube TV eating a Swanson Frozen Dinner watching, “The Big Valley.”]

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