Sgambati's Successes? Er, not so much

Janet Allen, House Representative from Center Barnstead, had this Letter to the Editor skewering Democrat Senator Sgambati in the Citizen yesterday - way to go!  BelknapCountyRepublicans.org is ALWAYS happy when GOPers stand up to the Democrats touting their own horn - especially when their results are just "feel good" stuff, lessen our freedoms and just spend money.

Sgambati's 'successes' are too costly for N.H.

Editor, The Citizen: I happened to be reading our Annual Report for the Town of Barnstead, year ending Dec. 31, 2007, when I came across a report that was submitted by Senator Kathy Sgambati. Her report highlighted what she considered to be her accomplishments for this year.

These are some of her self proclaimed accomplishments (page 100). She tells the reader that she voted to implement a smoking ban in restaurants and bars. That is an issue that was regulating itself without the help of the NH Legislature. There were plenty of smoke free restaurants and bars for non smokers to choose from. It was not necessary to force small business owners to have smoke free establishments if that isn't what they wanted. I don't believe it's necessary for the government to regulate every business and/or personal decision we make.

She supported expanded eligibility to health care. This piece of legislation does not help with the ever rising cost of health care; it makes the cost higher because it forces health care providers to continue to service those who are divorced. This legislation does nothing to help more citizens to obtain health care, nor does it help more citizens to afford health care. She states that she has worked hard to be sure every child has an adequate education. I have lived in NH all of my life and I personally do not believe that there are any children who were getting an inadequate education. My daughters went through public schools and I always thought that the education was there for those who wanted to partake. By defining an adequate education and then throwing more and more money at the system, does not mean that the education will improve. By increasing the cost per student of an education you are not guaranteeing that each child will have any better of an education than they had ten years ago. The only thing that you are guaranteeing is that the price tag will be higher.

Next, she writes that she, ". exhibited great fiscal responsibility in working to implement a fair and balanced budget." How can the budget be fiscally responsible when it increases 17%? Why was the last budget increased by a mere 2% and this budget increased by 17%? If this is a fiscally responsible budget then why is the governor calling for millions of dollars to be slashed from the budget? Could it be that the revenues were inflated in order to give the appearance of a balanced budget? Now the state is short millions of dollars and the budget is a mess.

Lastly, Senator Sgambati is pleased to write that she is, ". reducing the high school drop out rate by ensuring attendance to age 18." I guess that it will raise the attendance rate if the students are not allowed to drop out at age 16 but to what advantage is this? Is this fair to the students who want to be in the classroom and desire to learn? Is this fair to the teachers who have to put up with the behavior of students who simply do not wish to be there? Yes, the rate on paper will go down but that is not even suggestive of what is really going on. To my way of thinking, it is simply a ploy to make the drop out rate look better.

As the reader can see, I disagree with Senator Sgambati on every issue and I find it amazing that she can be so proud of the stands she has taken. The citizens of Belknap County are going to be suffering at her hands when/if her plan for the state to withdraw support from the county nursing homes survives the court challenge. The full burden of the nursing home cost will be paid by the citizens of the county. Demographics show that the state is graying and with the cost of health care skyrocketing, the citizens of NH will be paying out of their pockets to maintain the county nursing homes without any help from the state.

During Senator Sgambati's watch, your taxes have skyrocketed with more repercussions on the way. Remember this when you head to the polls in the fall.

Rep. Janet Allen
Center Barnstead