Legislative Update - 3/14/08 (talk about busy....)
Get ready for an extremely busy week in the House, with three sessions scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We will have a caucus at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday in Rooms 305-07 of the LOB. Caucuses on the other two days will be on an “as needed” basis. We will let you know with an announcement at the end of Tuesday’s session as to whether or not we will meet the following morning.
We will be asking you to support the majority report of ITL (7-3) on CACR28, a measure calling for a $100 per week allowance for all legislators. The fact is we all know what the salary was when deciding to run for the state legislature. We are here because we love our state, love serving our constituents and doing the business of the people. The voters are not going to support a pay increase for their representatives, especially in this economy, nor should they.
HB 1460, a bill out of Science, Technology & Energy, is legislation that would allow Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) to build generation facilities in the North Country—an effort that would result in lower rates and the creation of more jobs. This bill has everything to do with economic development in the State of New Hampshire by stimulating the economy in the north country. We had initially supported refer for interim study. However information received last week with regard to transmission issues makes this motion no longer viable. We ask you to support the bipartisan Thomas-Fargo floor amendment.
We are supporting the minority positions of Ought to Pass on two important bills out of Ways & Means.
Oppose Legislators’ Salary Increase
We will be asking you to support the majority report of ITL (7-3) on CACR28, a measure calling for a $100 per week allowance for all legislators. The fact is we all know what the salary was when deciding to run for the state legislature. We are here because we love our state, love serving our constituents and doing the business of the people. The voters are not going to support a pay increase for their representatives, especially in this economy, nor should they.
Support Fargo-Thomas Amendment
HB 1460, a bill out of Science, Technology & Energy, is legislation that would allow Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) to build generation facilities in the North Country—an effort that would result in lower rates and the creation of more jobs. This bill has everything to do with economic development in the State of New Hampshire by stimulating the economy in the north country. We had initially supported refer for interim study. However information received last week with regard to transmission issues makes this motion no longer viable. We ask you to support the bipartisan Thomas-Fargo floor amendment.
Removing Fees
We are supporting the minority positions of Ought to Pass on two important bills out of Ways & Means.
HB 1360 would repeal the civil court filing fee that was adopted last year. Adding a fee of
$25 for filing any civil case is just another step in preventing our
citizens from seeking redress and is yet another example of the
mismanagement of the budget writers in attempting to balance it on the
backs of our citizens.
HB 1547 is a bill to repeal the fee charged by the Register of Deeds with the funds going directly to LCHIP. The Register of Deeds Association has major objections with processing and administering this program because they do not think they can be ready for implementation in time. LCHIP is an entity that should not be funded by methods that are harmful to citizens experiencing an already fledging real estate market, which is why the Realtors Association also spoke in favor of repeal.
HB 1623, out of Criminal Justice, would reduce the penalty for possession of marijuana from felony to violation and reduce the fine to the point where the penalty for this possession would not even begin to serve as any form of deterrent. We you to support the majority of the committee in their report of ITL (13-5) so that we may continue to take a hard stance against drug dealers in this state.
HB 1429, from Environment & Agriculture, is legislation, as amended, that will place great restrictions on private landfills by requiring legally binding host community agreements and also require new permits before making any changes. It also forms a new commission to study issues that are already being studied by other commissions. Why duplicate state efforts and why support a measure that is harmful to our small business owners? Please support the minority report of Refer for Interim Study.
A bi-partisan measure to save our charter schools (16-8) came out of House Finance. HB 1642, previously supported by the Education Committee and the Department of Education, will fund charter schools for next year. A floor amendment will be offered to fix the effective date, which we will support. We also ask you to support a final motion of OTP/A. Please reject any attempt to table this bill or refer it for interim study.
From Judiciary, HB1146 comes with an ITL (9-7) motion, but we will ask you to support the minority report of OTP. This is a bill that will grant teachers immunity from using necessary force in protecting students. Currently, teachers may break up fights between students, but are not granted protection in restraining or subduing violent students. This bill gives teachers the tools they need to prevent serious injury among students in schools.
From the Labor Committee, we have two bills for which Republicans on the committee request your support. HB 1127 is an attempt to restore part of SB 88, which we defeated last year. While it is enabling, the minority amendment allows for the legislative body of a community (i.e.,the voters) to decide on bargaining units of under 10, as opposed to the governing body. We ask you to support the minority amendment, but should it fail, we would ask you to vote no on OTP/A.
The other piece is HB 1436, which is the remainder of SB 88, and establishes the evergreen clauses (evergreen meaning it automatically continues the provisions of a contract, even if the parties do not agree) in local communities. This is an attempt to take away local control and mandate state provisions in local contracts, which our caucus has constantly opposed in the past. Please support the minority report of ITL.
Municipal and County Government has been extremely busy this year and for the most part has avoided partisan battles. However, there are two close votes this coming week and we ask that you support the minority committee reports.
HB 1472 relates to workforce housing and establishes a definition that will cause confusion and force municipalities to provide opportunities for workforce/ affordable/low-income developments as opposed to other private developments.
HB 1259 also allows for the creation of local housing commissions, but severely restricts its powers by mandated definitions and places the buzzword “workforce housing” in our laws. Please support the minority report of ITL.
The other piece is HB 1581, and we ask you to support the minority report of Refer for Interim Study. The problem with this bill is that DES did not bring forward any suggestions as to implementation or standards. Though enabling, it will expand state and county expenditures due to anticipated litigation from this measure. This bill is not quite “ready for prime time,” and deserves further study.
From Resources, we ask that you support the majority report of ITL (14-4) on HB 1439, creating a moratorium on large ground water withdrawals. This was an attempt to hit those who withdraw ground water for soda or bottled water, but the fact is, the permitting process for withdrawal involves the community and makes this bill unnecessary.
Science, Technology & Energy dealt with HB 1434, regarding the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ( RGGI) and we ask you to support the minority report of ITL (12-2). This bill will increase the cost to ratepayers; ratepayers will be subsidizing programs for nonelectric users. It creates a new dedicated fund that will not be protected from future raiding (similar to the highway fund). This program will be administered through officials in New York City, where we will lose sovereignty regarding local issues. RGGI is a local “solution” to a global issue. In fact, New England is less responsible for environmental concerns than the Midwest, whose winds carry pollution through our state. This bill is well intentioned, but lacking substance, and we ask your support for ITL.
From Ways & Means, we have several party line votes that will likely be debated next week. HB 1426 and HB 1427 are two attempts to RAISE TAXES. Motor fuels imported into New Hampshire will be taxed higher and dedicated to a cleanup fund that DES testified, “does not need the money right now.” It also raises significant legal questions regarding money being diverted from road maintenance or police patrol. HB 1427 will raise the tax on heating oil, for those who can least afford it. The governor apparently agrees with Republicans since he called for no increases in taxes and fees this year, so we would ask you to support the minority report of ITL for both HB 1426 & 1427.
Yet another tax bill, HB 1594 establishes NEW FEES that will be levied on the backs of small business owners in New Hampshire. The minority believes that general government funds should be paid for by the general fund, and not with additional, new fees. We ask you to support the minority report of ITL (11-6) on HB 1594.
Finally, in State-Federal Relations, HR 24 will be coming to the floor for debate. This is the resolution calling for impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Personal feelings aside, the language of this resolution is sophomoric, vitriolic and completely lacking in factual substance. When Republicans were in the majority, they never once filed a resolution in this vein, even during the impeachment proceedings of the last president. We testified against this resolution during the hearing and would ask you to support the bipartisan majority of the committee in voting ITL (10-5).
The Republican office is starting to maintain a list of Republican members who have made a decision as to whether or not they intend to run for reelection. Please contact our office and let us know your intentions. It will help us to decide where we need to recruit candidates for the House. Thank you.
HB 1547 is a bill to repeal the fee charged by the Register of Deeds with the funds going directly to LCHIP. The Register of Deeds Association has major objections with processing and administering this program because they do not think they can be ready for implementation in time. LCHIP is an entity that should not be funded by methods that are harmful to citizens experiencing an already fledging real estate market, which is why the Realtors Association also spoke in favor of repeal.
Marijuana Bill
HB 1623, out of Criminal Justice, would reduce the penalty for possession of marijuana from felony to violation and reduce the fine to the point where the penalty for this possession would not even begin to serve as any form of deterrent. We you to support the majority of the committee in their report of ITL (13-5) so that we may continue to take a hard stance against drug dealers in this state.
Protect the Small Businessman
HB 1429, from Environment & Agriculture, is legislation, as amended, that will place great restrictions on private landfills by requiring legally binding host community agreements and also require new permits before making any changes. It also forms a new commission to study issues that are already being studied by other commissions. Why duplicate state efforts and why support a measure that is harmful to our small business owners? Please support the minority report of Refer for Interim Study.
Charter Schools
A bi-partisan measure to save our charter schools (16-8) came out of House Finance. HB 1642, previously supported by the Education Committee and the Department of Education, will fund charter schools for next year. A floor amendment will be offered to fix the effective date, which we will support. We also ask you to support a final motion of OTP/A. Please reject any attempt to table this bill or refer it for interim study.
Liability Immunity for Teachers
From Judiciary, HB1146 comes with an ITL (9-7) motion, but we will ask you to support the minority report of OTP. This is a bill that will grant teachers immunity from using necessary force in protecting students. Currently, teachers may break up fights between students, but are not granted protection in restraining or subduing violent students. This bill gives teachers the tools they need to prevent serious injury among students in schools.
Labor Issues
From the Labor Committee, we have two bills for which Republicans on the committee request your support. HB 1127 is an attempt to restore part of SB 88, which we defeated last year. While it is enabling, the minority amendment allows for the legislative body of a community (i.e.,the voters) to decide on bargaining units of under 10, as opposed to the governing body. We ask you to support the minority amendment, but should it fail, we would ask you to vote no on OTP/A.
The other piece is HB 1436, which is the remainder of SB 88, and establishes the evergreen clauses (evergreen meaning it automatically continues the provisions of a contract, even if the parties do not agree) in local communities. This is an attempt to take away local control and mandate state provisions in local contracts, which our caucus has constantly opposed in the past. Please support the minority report of ITL.
Municipal and County Government
Municipal and County Government has been extremely busy this year and for the most part has avoided partisan battles. However, there are two close votes this coming week and we ask that you support the minority committee reports.
HB 1472 relates to workforce housing and establishes a definition that will cause confusion and force municipalities to provide opportunities for workforce/ affordable/low-income developments as opposed to other private developments.
HB 1259 also allows for the creation of local housing commissions, but severely restricts its powers by mandated definitions and places the buzzword “workforce housing” in our laws. Please support the minority report of ITL.
The other piece is HB 1581, and we ask you to support the minority report of Refer for Interim Study. The problem with this bill is that DES did not bring forward any suggestions as to implementation or standards. Though enabling, it will expand state and county expenditures due to anticipated litigation from this measure. This bill is not quite “ready for prime time,” and deserves further study.
Resources, Recreation and Development
From Resources, we ask that you support the majority report of ITL (14-4) on HB 1439, creating a moratorium on large ground water withdrawals. This was an attempt to hit those who withdraw ground water for soda or bottled water, but the fact is, the permitting process for withdrawal involves the community and makes this bill unnecessary.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Science, Technology & Energy dealt with HB 1434, regarding the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ( RGGI) and we ask you to support the minority report of ITL (12-2). This bill will increase the cost to ratepayers; ratepayers will be subsidizing programs for nonelectric users. It creates a new dedicated fund that will not be protected from future raiding (similar to the highway fund). This program will be administered through officials in New York City, where we will lose sovereignty regarding local issues. RGGI is a local “solution” to a global issue. In fact, New England is less responsible for environmental concerns than the Midwest, whose winds carry pollution through our state. This bill is well intentioned, but lacking substance, and we ask your support for ITL.
Fight Increased Taxes
From Ways & Means, we have several party line votes that will likely be debated next week. HB 1426 and HB 1427 are two attempts to RAISE TAXES. Motor fuels imported into New Hampshire will be taxed higher and dedicated to a cleanup fund that DES testified, “does not need the money right now.” It also raises significant legal questions regarding money being diverted from road maintenance or police patrol. HB 1427 will raise the tax on heating oil, for those who can least afford it. The governor apparently agrees with Republicans since he called for no increases in taxes and fees this year, so we would ask you to support the minority report of ITL for both HB 1426 & 1427.
Yet another tax bill, HB 1594 establishes NEW FEES that will be levied on the backs of small business owners in New Hampshire. The minority believes that general government funds should be paid for by the general fund, and not with additional, new fees. We ask you to support the minority report of ITL (11-6) on HB 1594.
Impeachment Resolution
Finally, in State-Federal Relations, HR 24 will be coming to the floor for debate. This is the resolution calling for impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Personal feelings aside, the language of this resolution is sophomoric, vitriolic and completely lacking in factual substance. When Republicans were in the majority, they never once filed a resolution in this vein, even during the impeachment proceedings of the last president. We testified against this resolution during the hearing and would ask you to support the bipartisan majority of the committee in voting ITL (10-5).
Running Again?
The Republican office is starting to maintain a list of Republican members who have made a decision as to whether or not they intend to run for reelection. Please contact our office and let us know your intentions. It will help us to decide where we need to recruit candidates for the House. Thank you.
