NGCRC

In short, the latest New Hampshire State Budget signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu, and passed by the New Hampshire State Legislature largely with Republican support, focuses on many aspects of everyday life of Granite Staters. Who, in his/her right mind, doesn’t like lower taxes and more benefits?

Overall, this 2021 New Hampshire State Budget provides: help for Main Street businesses; property tax reduction; education funding; education improvement; help for working families; improvements in the field of Mental Health Services; improvement in Health Care Services; promotion of safe communities; protection for our environment; protection for children; promotes homeless shelter programs; improvements to Infrastructure; increased savings for the “Rainy Day Fund;” strengthening anti-discrimination laws; and lastly, protection for life.

This creative NH State Budget provides tax relief to various segments of NH society: families, senior citizens, and small businesses. 

Over the next 10 years, for example, Granite Staters will realize over $1 Billion (with a “B!) in tax savings.  Some ways in which this is accomplished are: lowering the Rooms and Meals Tax by 5.55% to 8.5%, and reducing taxes on small business with inclusion of reduction in the BET business tax by 8.33% with a similar reduction in the BPT business tax by 1.30%; fully eliminating the Interest and Dividends Tax for those seniors with IRA’s and other Savings Plans; exempting over 30,000 small NH businesses from even filing taxes by raising minimum business tax thresholds; and, by providing $100 Million to NH small businesses in PPP tax relief. These should all translate into savings for NH businesses, residents and families, and visitors.

Thanks to New Hampshire voters, who, by capturing the Legislative and Executive Trifecta, have made economic policy pay off for New Hampshire!

Nick De Mayo

LTE, “How your local Northern Grafton County representatives voted on GUN CONTROL, year-to-date”

In order to help voters in the communities of Northern Grafton County understand more about how their local representatives are voting when down in Concord, the following gives some meaningful explanation and transparency on GUN CONTROL votes.  Check recent editions of local newspapers to learn about local reps’ votes on TAXES and FEES and EDUCATION.

EGAN, Timothy (Democrat, Sugar Hill)

• AGAINST: permitting self-defense within a vehicle (HB 197);
• AGAINST: strengthening the right to keep and bear arms (CACR 8);
• AGAINST: clarifying that displaying a firearm does not constitute reckless conduct (HB 195);
• AGAINST: stating that displaying a firearm to warn away a trespasser is not a crime (HB 196);
• AGAINST: requiring political subdivisions to obey state law regarding firearms regulation (HB 307);
• AGAINST: making it faster for law-abiding citizens to obtain approval from a background check (SB 141);
• AGAINST: prohibiting the state from enforcing any federal statute, regulation, or Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms (SB 154).

MASSAMILLA, Linda (Democrat, Littleton)

• AGAINST: permitting self-defense within a vehicle (HB 197);
• AGAINST: strengthening the right to keep and bear arms (CACR 8);
• AGAINST: clarifying that displaying a firearm does not constitute reckless conduct (HB 195);
• AGAINST: requiring political subdivisions to obey state law regarding firearms regulation (HB 307);
• AGAINST: allowing law-abiding persons to carry a loaded firearm on an OHRV or snowmobile (HB 334);
• AGAINST: making it faster for law-abiding citizens to obtain approval from a background check (SB 141);
• AGAINST: prohibiting the state from enforcing any federal statute, regulation, or Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms (SB 154).

RUPRECHT, Denny (Democrat, Landaff)

• Absent: permitting self-defense within a vehicle (HB 197);
• ABSENT: strengthening the right to keep and bear arms (CACR 8);
• ABSENT: clarifying that displaying a firearm does not constitute reckless conduct (HB 195);
• ABSENT: stating that displaying a firearm to warn away a trespasser is not a crime (HB 196);
• ABSENT: requiring political subdivisions to obey state law regarding firearms regulation (HB 307);
• ABSENT: allowing law-abiding persons to carry a loaded firearm on an OHRV or snowmobile (HB 334);
• AGAINST: making it faster for law-abiding citizens to obtain approval from a background check (SB 141);
• AGAINST: prohibiting the state from enforcing any federal statute, regulation, or Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms (SB 154).

In the wise words of Beta MetanI’Marashi, “Before you cast your vote, be sure you don’t cast your freedom out of the window.  Please be sure you do not vote for anyone who is out there after your freedom, after your religion, and after your gun!  What they have in common?…Fascist Socialist, Nazist Socialist, Marxist Socialist, Democrat Socialist, Global Socialist?”

Nick De Mayo, M.Ed., NGCRC, Chairman

In order to keep voters in Northern Grafton communities apprised of how their local representatives are voting in Concord on various issues, this list provides some transparency.  Two weeks ago, the topics of TAXES & FEES were presented for your inspection.  The topic for this message is: EDUCATION.

EGAN, Timothy (Democrat, Sugar Hill):

• AGAINST: giving parents more information about students’ assessments (HB 194);
• AGAINST: expanding the choice of school options in an educational hardship to private schools and not just public schools (HB 388);
• AGAINST: requiring schools with unused space to make it available to approved charter school students (HB 278).

MASSAMILLA, Linda (Democrat, Littleton):

• AGAINST: giving parents more information about students’ assessments (HB 194);
• AGAINST: expanding the choice of school options in an educational hardship to private schools and not just public schools (HB 388);
• AGAINST: requiring students in the university and college systems of New Hampshire to pass the US Civics Naturalization test (HB 319);
• AGAINST: requiring schools with unused space to make it available to approved charter school students (HB 278).

SIMON, Matthew (Republican, Littleton):

• AGAINST: giving parents more information about students’ assessments (HB 194).

RUPRECHT, Denny (Democrat, Landaff):

• ABSENT: giving parents more information about students’ assessments (HB 194);
• ABSENT: expanding the choice of school options in an educational hardship to private schools and not just public schools (HB 388);
• ABSENT: requiring students in the university and community college systems of New Hampshire to pass the US Civics Naturalization test (HB 319);
• ABSENT: requiring schools with unused space to make it available to approved charter school students (HB 278).

In order to help voters in northern Grafton County towns learn more about how their local representatives are voting in Concord, the following list gives some meaningful explanation. These are the results in the category of TAXES and FEES.

Egan, Timothy (Democrat, Sugar Hill)

• FOR requiring state taxpayers to make up for poor investments by the State Retirement Board. (HB274)
• FOR shifting property taxes from some property owners to other owners. (SB102)
• AGAINST prohibiting an income tax on earned personal income. (CACR 1)
• AGAINST prohibiting any broad-based sales tax. (CACR2)
• AGAINST requiring a super-majority vote to override a property tax cap via city charter exclusions or ordinances. (SB52)
• AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB614)
• AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB351)

Massamilla, Linda (Democrat, Littleton)

• FOR requiring state taxpayers to make up for poor investments by the State Retirement Board. (HB274)
• FOR shifting property taxes from some property owners to other owners. (SB102)
• AGAINST prohibiting an income tax on earned personal income. (CACR1)
• AGAINST prohibiting any broad-based sales tax. (CACR 2)
• AGAINST requiring a super-majority vote to override a property tax cap via city charter exclusions and ordinances. (SB52)
• AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB614)
• AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB 351)

DePalma IV, Joseph (Republican, Littleton)

• ABSENT: Shifting property taxes from some property owners to other owners. (SB102)
• ABSENT: Requiring a super-majority vote to override a property tax cap via city charter exclusions or ordinances. (SB52)
• AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB614)

Ruprecht, Denny (Democrat, Landaff)

• ABSENT: Requiring state taxpayers to make up for poor investments by the State Retirement Board. (HB274)
• FOR: Shifting property taxes from some property owners to other owners. (SB102)
• ABSENT: Prohibiting an income tax on earned personal income. (CACR1)
• ABSENT: Prohibiting any broad-based sales tax. (CACR2)
• AGAINST: Requiring a super-majority vote to override a property tax cap via city charter exclusions or ordinances. (SB52)
• ABSENT: Reducing the cost of electricity. (HB614)
• ABSENT: Reducing the cost of electricity. (HB351)

This list represents how New Hampshire Democrat representatives scattered throughout the state have been voting in the New Hampshire General Court in Concord through April 9, 2021.

On all of these votes, more than 90% – in most cases 97% – of Republicans voted the other way.

TAXES & FEES

• 97% AGAINST prohibiting an income tax on earned personal income. (CACR1)
• 97% AGAINST prohibiting any broad-based sales tax. (CACR2)
• 100% FOR requiring state taxpayers to make up for poor investments by the Retirement Board. (HB274)
• 98% AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB614)
• 99% AGAINST reducing the cost of electricity. (HB351)

EDUCATION

• 99% AGAINST giving parents more information about students’ assessments. (HB194)
• 98% AGAINST expanding the choice of school options in an educational hardship to private schools and not just public schools. (HB388)
• 96% AGAINST requiring students in the university and community college systems of New Hampshire to pass the US civics naturalization test. (HB319)
• 100% AGAINST requiring schools with unused space to make it available to approved charter school students. (HB278)

GUN CONTROL

• 96% AGAINST permitting self-defense within a vehicle. (HB197)
• 97% AGAINST requiring political subdivisions to obey state law regarding firearms regulation. (HB307)
• 85% AGAINST allowing law-abiding persons to carry a loaded firearm on an OHRV or snowmobile. (HB334)
• 97% AGAINST strengthening the right to keep and bear arms. (CACR8)
• 93% AGAINST stating that displaying a firearm to warn away a trespasser is not a crime. (HB196)
• 97% AGAINST clarifying that displaying a firearm does not constitute reckless conduct. (HB195)

ELECTION INTEGRITY

• 99% AGAINST improving voter checklists to remove people who have moved or died. (HB285)
• 100% AGAINST requiring the same level of identity for absentee ballot requests as all other voting. (HB292)

CIVIL RIGHTS

• 99% AGAINST requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature for the taking of property in a declared emergency. (HB402)
• 97% AGAINST guaranteeing free exercise of religion even during a state of emergency. (HB542)
• 97% AGAINST protecting religious services as essential services that may not be unduly burdened. (HB440)

OTHER

• 98% FOR presuming the defendant is guilty until proven innocent. (HB246)
• 97% AGAINST allowing school nurses to have associate (community college) degrees rather than bachelor’s degrees. (HB349)
• 91% AGAINST prohibiting municipalities from requiring a license for children to operate a lemonade stand. (HB183)
• 91% AGAINST allowing after market window tinting to the same degree as can be ordered on new vehicles. (HB224)
• 100% FOR spending public funds for abortions. (HB2-1068)
• 91% AGAINST requiring that any baby born alive shall not be killed just because it was unwanted. (HB233)
• 98% AGAINST prohibiting abortions after 24 weeks. (HB625)