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Thank You Senator Ayotte

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

To the Editor,

                The citizens of the State of New Hampshire certainly are fortunate to have someone representing us in the United States Senate who actually seeks effective solutions rather than simply signing on to whatever is most politically expedient. With her recent votes on gun control legislation, Senator Kelly Ayotte demonstrated a thoughtful, problem solving approach to preventing mentally ill individuals from acquiring firearms. She understands that expanding a flawed background check system to more types of firearms transfers will do nothing to address this issue. The Toomey-Manchin amendment would not have prevented Sandy Hook but would place additional burdens on millions of law abiding citizens who had nothing to do with that or any other criminal act. In addition, this legislation would have put the foundation in place for a national gun owner registry. Yes, the bill included a substantial fine for actually creating such a registry but who would prosecute that case? Would it be Attorney General Eric Holder of “Fast and Furious” fame? Don’t make me laugh.

                Rather than sign on to a fatally flawed bill, Senator Ayotte supported a bi-partisan amendment that would improve our existing National Instant Check System (NICS), address mental health gaps in the criminal justice system, boost resources to improve school safety, and criminalize gun trafficking and straw purchases. Senator Ayotte is well aware that the real issue behind atrocities committed in Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, and elsewhere is our broken mental health treatment system. While others have sought to capitalize on these horrific acts to push an anti-gun and anti-gun-owner agenda, Senator Ayotte has instead chosen to pursue real solutions to the real problems while respecting and protecting the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. I am very proud to have Kelly Ayotte as a United States Senator for New Hampshire and I thank her for all the great work she has done on this and other important issues.

 

Mark Vincent

Amherst

 

Posted in Legislation, Opinion, State | Comments Off

How our Amherst Democrat Voted

Friday, April 5th, 2013

How our Amherst Democrat

VOTED

 

Increase gasoline tax by 12 cents a gallon, HB 2

 

Increase tobacco tax by 30 cents a pack HB 659

 

Increased the state budget by  $one billion, 10.2%  increase over last term, HB 2

 

Legalizes medical marijuana HB 573

 

Decriminalize marijuana possession HB 621

 

Adopting Obama Care HB 271

 

Downshifted $7,000,000 to the counties and property owners HB 2 amendment 2013-1193

 

To keep moratorium on local school building aid HB 2 amendments 2013-1196

 

Allowed the governor to raid money from the 200 dedicated funds HB2 Amendment 2013-1177

 

Continue the moratorium on charter schools HB 2 Amendment HB 2, 2013-1204

 

Against a needs based scholarship program HB 2, amendment 2013-1204

 

To end school choice tax credit program, HB 2, amendment 2013-1203

 

Increase the oil cleanup fund 25% which will add to the cost of heating oil HB 185

 

R. H. Rowe

 

 

 

 

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Concord Happenings

Friday, April 5th, 2013

Concord Happenings

 

 

          The legislative session for the House of Representatives is half over with the exception of the budget. House bills have been voted on and, if passed, forwarded to the Senate and the Senate passed bills will be received in the House. This is called crossover and this year it occurs on April 4th.

 

          Here are some of the results on bills passed or killed in the House – all were passed or killed along the party lines with the Majority party prevailing.

 

HB 271 filed to prevent expanded Medicaid law in New Hampshire failed by a vote of 206 to 155.

 

HB 573 The bill allowing marijuana to be legal for medical purposes with few or no restrictions as to substance quality and prescribed amount passed. The vote was 286 to 64

 

HB 621 This bill made it lawful to carry a ¼ ounce of marijuana. It passed with a vote of 214 to 115

 

HB 659 We increased the tobacco Tax by 20 cents passed by a vote of 214 to 115.

 

HB 617 We voted to increase the gasoline tax by 12 cents per gallon. The purpose is to increase the money available to pay for the repair of roads and bridges. A laudable goal but 28% is siphoned off to the NH Safety Department. An amendment to reduce this to 1% failed.

 

Both the tobacco and the gasoline tax increase will reduce the commercial activity of out of state shoppers in our state.

 

HB 135 The stand your ground law passes last term was repealed by a vote of 189 to 184.

 

HB 185 The oil spill discharge fund was increased by 25%. The bill received little attention but like the gas tax it will be passed on to the consumer. It passed by a 194 to 166 vote.

 

          You can determine how the Amherst representatives voted on each of these bills by logging on the NH legislative site and type in the bill number, but with no exception the majority reprehensive (Democratic) voted on the prevailing side and the minority representative (Republican) voted with loosing side.

 

Robert H. Rowe, Amherst Representative to the NH House

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Amherst Republicans March Meeting Review

Friday, March 8th, 2013

 

Thanks to all who attended our March meeting this past Saturday at Joey’s Diner. We heard from many elected officials, some candidates, and the leadership of one of New Hampshire’s top conservative activist groups. Here are the highlights:

 

We discussed the gas tax increase which passed the House yesterday. Here’s the story which includes a link to the roll call vote. I am pleased to report that ALL of Amherst’s Republican Representatives voted NAY. Care to guess how Democrat Shannon Chandley voted?

 

HCRC Report: County Republican Chair Ray Chadwick reminded us that the HCRC Lincoln-Reagan dinner is coming up March 23rd. Get your tickets here.

 

Ray also mentioned the new and improved Grassroots Givers program for the NHGOP. It’s an easy way to support our State Party organization and help Jennifer build an election winning operation for 2014 and beyond. Please join TODAY.

 

SVRW Report: The next meeting of the Souhegan Valley Republican Women is Monday, March 11, 2013, 10:00 am

 

They will meet at the Amherst Town Library to hear from Representative Peter Hansen on Bills before the House, specifically the proposed repeal of the “Stand your Ground” Law. He has mentioned that there is a lack of women standing in favor of the law as written and would like to encourage us to get involved in protecting our basic right to defend ourselves when threatened. Also speaking: Sam Cohen, President of Pro-Gun NH who will answer all our questions about gun ownership.

 

And mark your calendars for the NHFRW Annual Lilac Luncheon coming up on May 20th.

 

We then turned our attention to local issues and heard from candidates for the Amherst Board of Selectmen: Dwight Brew and John D’Angelo.

The other candidates not in attendance are Reed Panasiti and Marilyn Peterman. Marilyn provided a statement which is attached.

 

Our unofficial Chairman of the Amherst Independent Caucus, John Bachman, has a very interesting column in the Nashua Telegraph about our Selectman’s race. Give it a read.

 

We have another opportunity to pick up a seat in the NH House. A special election in Manchester is coming up March 19th. Let’s do all we can to send Republican Win Hutchinson back to Concord to fight for limited government, low taxes, and a strong NH economy. We need phone calls and door knocks. Please contact Jake Avery at the NHGOP to get a call list to use to make calls from home.  Let’s win with Win.

 

Our guest speaker was Corey Lewandowski who is now Regional Director for Americans for Prosperity. Corey sent the following note and asked me to pass it along:

 

Thank you for allowing me to attend your recent meeting. I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss legislative and political issues in New Hampshire and around the country with you and share a little bit about our activities and events at Americans for Prosperity-NH.

If you are interested in learning more about AFP-NH, I encourage you to visit our website where you can read our press releases, learn about upcoming events or join our chapter.

By becoming an AFP-NH member, you will receive our weekly email updates as well as legislative action alerts and invitations to events.

Thank you again for allowing me to speak at your meeting. I hope you will consider joining AFP-NH.  If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to Joy or myself at your convenience.

Sincerely,

 

Corey R. Lewandowski

State Director

Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire

 

 

Thanks Corey Lewandowski and Greg Moore for joining us Saturday and bringing us up to date with what AFP New Hampshire is up to.

 

Please join is for our next meeting, April 6th, when our guest speaker will be Neil Levesque, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Political Library at Saint Anselm College. In the meantime, keep writing those letters to the editor. See you in April!

 

 

– Mark Vincent

– Area 3 Vice Chairman, New Hampshire Republican State Committee

– Treasurer, Hillsborough County Republican Committee

– Chairman, Amherst Republican Town Committee

– www.amherstrepublicans.org

– www.twitter.com/AmherstGOP

– 603-801-8851

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Amherst News, Events, Legislation, State | Comments Off

A NH HISTORY CONCERN

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

The most devastating 20th century economic event in New Hampshire didn’t occur before World War II, but immediately after the war. I fear it is a lesson unlearned and may revisit us.

In the decade of 1950s most of the major manufactures left our state for states with better economic climates. Then the smaller supporting companies closed. We had high unemployment, wages plummeted, property values fell, and an exodus of our children for jobs in more prosperous states. We became little more than a tourist destination and bedroom community for Massachusetts industry.

It was almost twenty years before our legislature corrected the problem and the economy started to recover. We became a business friendly state with low business taxes and reasonable business regulations. As a result major companies such as Sanders Associates and Digital Equipment started or relocated here. The 1970s was the beginning of companies providing good jobs and rising property values. We were the leading business friendly state in the Northeast.

However in the past decade the business climate in New Hampshire changed dramatically. We became a business unfriendly state, having high business taxes, excessive business regulations and unfavorable utility rates. In this current legislative term, we arrested the decline. Now, in this next term, we must take action to improve our business climate. The actions our legislature this next term will determine what New Hampshire will become – a retirement state, a tourist destination, a bedroom state for Massachusetts industry, and a continuing exodus of our children and grand children, or a state with high paying jobs for all and a high quality of life.

On November 6th I ask that you consider those candidates who will have the courage to make a change for a better future for New Hampshire. Let us, once again, to become the business friendly state in New England.

Robert H. Rowe, Current Representative and Candidate for re-election to the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Posted in Amherst News, Legislation, Opinion | Comments Off

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