New Republican Majority Restores Fiscal Sanity

July 15th, 2011

To the Editor,
As the 2011 session of the New Hampshire legislature approaches its conclusion, I think it is time to take a look at the great progress our new Republican majority has made in bringing fiscal sanity back to State government and making New Hampshire an attractive place to do business. These were the promises made by our Republican candidates, and in the House of Representatives they have delivered:
• A constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority vote in the House and Senate to raise taxes or borrowing (CACR 6)
• A constitutional amendment to expand local control of education funding by returning the authority to elected officials, not unelected judges (CACR 12)
• A fiscally responsible budget that uses realistic revenue projections, does not create or increase any taxes or fees, does not downshift costs to local communities, and does not increase borrowing. (HB 1 & HB 2)
• A bill to allow local communities to enact spending and tax caps (HB 341)
• A small business tax cut, which is quite a reversal from the Democrats’ infamous LLC tax. (HB 557)
• A cigarette tax cut to enhance cross-border sales. (HB 156)
• Right-to-work legislation to preserve worker’s rights and attract employers to New Hampshire (HB 474)
• Legislation to move the state pension system (HB 580) and the retiree health plan (HB 231) back to fiscal solvency
• Legislation that enacts a performance-based measurement system for state government (HB 508)
• Elimination of the gambling winnings tax that was costing the state revenue. (HB 229)
• Repeal of the cap-and-tax program known as RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) thereby reducing everyone’s utility bill (HB 519).
All of these items were passed by the New Hampshire House this session in addition to numerous other bills reducing unnecessary business regulations, reforming and bringing transparency to state government, and protecting civil liberties and parental rights. The budget agreement between the House and Senate reduces spending by an incredible 12.8%. This is the largest spending reduction since World War 2 and a welcome change from the massive spending increases we saw under Democrat control in Concord. I would like to thank our Amherst and Milford State Representatives: Bill Belvin, Sean Coughlin, Gary Daniels, Peter Hansen, Steve Palmer, Bob Rowe, Steve Stepanek, and Bob Willette for all their hard work during this busy legislative session. Well done.

Mark Vincent
Amherst

Posted in Amherst News, Legislation | Comments Off

Marathon three day session in the New Hampshire House of Representatives

March 19th, 2011

March 19, 2011

To the Editor

Last week was a marathon three day session in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. One day lasted until 10 PM in the evening. Here are some of the bills that passed or were killed.

HB 329 passed mandating for parental notification to parents before an abortion can be performed on a minor daughter. We are only one of seven states that does not have a parental notification or consent law.

HB 513 died. This bill would allow state sanctioned suicide and the government to condone and be involved in the end-of-life decision of a citizen.

HB 524 passed correcting last year’s law that allowed for automatic early release from prison of persons convicted of violent or sex crimes. The bill also restores the power of the Parole Board.

HB 337 was passed. This insures all towns the same state educational funds in each of the next two years as received this year. This will allow budgeting stability to our school districts.

HB 213 passed as a small but first step in encouraging economic recovery and jobs by a small reduction in the business profits tax.

Killed was HB 577, a bill that would have mandated in-store aisle markings in as many as six languages in retail establishments.

Killed HB 569, a bill that would have establishes homosexual domestic unions between siblings, father son etc.

HB 609 passed insuring that the Milford District Court will remain open.

HB 147 passes the House making it a capital murder for a killing during a home invasion.

HB 210 passed allowing a person to use deadly force when faced with the threat of serious bodily injury or death. Current law mandates force only used if retreat is impossible.

In the next few weeks there will be debates and votes on the state budget. At the present time the economy and state revenues are such that we will be facing a budget deficit as much as a $600 to 800 million. To balance the budget for the next two years, cuts to the budget will be necessary in the range of 15 to 18 percent.

Representative Robert H. Rowe

Posted in Amherst News | Comments Off

Drill, Drill, Drill

March 19th, 2011

To the Editor,
10 years ago those legislators opposed to exploiting more domestic oil resources rejected the idea because “we wouldn’t see any oil for 10 years”. Had these short sighted irresponsible obstructionists been ignored we may not be looking at gasoline heading towards $4 a gallon today. We are the only nation on earth that simply refuses to take advantage of its own natural resources. We insist on staying dependent on other, often unstable, nations for our crude oil. We have an entire federal department created to alleviate our dependence on foreign oil. The Department of Energy costs us $24 billion annually. How good a job have they done? Like most federal agencies they have failed miserably. So have those who scoffed at the idea of “drill, drill, drill” as an energy policy. That’s certainly better than anything the Dept. of Energy has come up with during its lifetime. Call your Congressman and Senators today and insist that we begin to make use of our own American sources of oil. Or would you prefer to rely on Libya and Saudi Arabia? I would rather rely on ANWR and offshore drilling. Drill early and often.

– Mark Vincent
– Amherst

Posted in Opinion | Comments Off

Out of State Students Should NOT Vote in NH

February 21st, 2011

To the Editor,
I fail to see how insisting that someone vote in their state of residence is somehow disenfranchising them. This is all HB 176 seeks to do. When I was a student at UNH I was not a NH resident as I am now. How did I know? I just looked at my tuition bill and saw I was paying a much higher rate as an out-of-state student! I also did not pay any taxes to the town of Durham or to the State of NH. My license plate did not say “Live Free or Die” on it. Oddly enough, my driver’s license also did not say “New Hampshire” on it anywhere. These were all clues that I was not a NH resident. So, when election time rolled around I voted absentee in my home state. I was not disenfranchised. The thought of going to vote at a Durham polling place never crossed my mind. Why do students think this makes sense? Out of state students are not New Hampshire taxpayers and they should not be allowed to vote here. HB 176 should be passed and signed into law.

– Mark Vincent
– Amherst, NH

Posted in Legislation | Comments Off

Charlie Bass and Mitt Romney – October 29, 2010

October 28th, 2010

You are cordially invited to join Mitt Romney and Charlie Bass for an Economic Round Table and Meet and Greet on Friday, October 29, 2010 from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Martha’s Exchange, 185 Main Street, Nashua, NH.

For questions or to RSVP, please call 226.6000 or email mclark@votebass.com

Posted in Events | Comments Off

« Older Entries