The Town of Strafford Democratic Committee is proud to support our state legislators who give generously of their time and energy. What's happening in Concord? Here is the latest update from State Representative Bob Perry from Strafford:
Re: Discrimination
H.B. 73, the Marriage Equality bill, was approved by the NH House of Representatives at 4:12 P.M. on 6/3/09 by a vote of 198 - 176. Moments later, Democrat Dan Eaton made a motion to reconsider and asked that it be defeated. Such motion is a parliamentary procedure used to ensure the lasting integrity of the vote to which the motion is directed. The motion to reconsider failed by a vote of 159 - 214, which ensures that no bill with the same subject matter can be filed in this session of the legislature, i.e., through 2010. In short, marriage equality cannot be overturned until the next session of the legislature. It's likely that an attempt to overturn will result in a very organized and vocal opposition. Indeed, outside the windows of the state house yesterday morning could be heard the vocal outpouring of supporters of marriage equality. Despite offending house decorum, supporters of the bill who had gathered in the house gallery burst into celebration upon the vote to approve marriage equality.
The governor intended to sign the bill at 5:15 P.M. When the time arrived, approximately 75 people jammed the governor's office to witness the historic signing. Governor Lynch's statement in support of the bill was spirited as he challenged the federal government to follow the pattern of the states to chip away at remaining discrimination. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, was also in attendance. Although protections for separation of church and state are already present in NH law, H.B. 73 specifically reiterates those protections. It means that no religious organization is compelled to perform same-sex marriage. H.B. 73 is merely enabling legislation in terms of church participation. Perhaps the Catholic Church won't perform such marriages, but the Unitarian Universalist church, for example, will.
Passage of H.B. 73 is consistent with the opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, the NH Constitution, various Supreme Court opinions, the inscription over the doorway of the U.S. Supreme Court (paraphrasing, Equality and Justice for All), The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, and the laws of five other states.
I will be writing a series on discrimination, and since it is nearly impossible to effectively communicate, given the unfortunate general taboo on political discussion, will be disseminating those writings door to door on a bicycle. On this topic, I leave you with this thought: In 20 years, white folks are going to be the minority U.S. population. How will we want to be treated by the Latina majority? Ending discrimination in all forms is not only the right thing to do, but in the long-term interests of a white minority.
Re: Education
In the mid 1980s, longstanding education inequities resulted in a negotiated agreement between the aggrieved parties and the legislature known as the Augenblick formula. Over time, the legislature reneged on its promise to abide by Augenblick. Thereafter, several poor towns sued for relief, which, years later, resulted in the NH Supreme Court's Claremont and Londonderry opinions, which mandated the legislature to:
1) Define an "adequate" education by June 30, 2007;
2) Determine the cost of an adequate education by June 30, 2008;
3) Fund an adequate education;
4) and develop a system of accountability.
Through the determined efforts of the 2007/2008/2009 sessions of the legislature, the long hours and dedication of the legislature's Education Committee, which traveled the state in search of citizen input (Emma Rous, Chair), all four prongs of the Londonderry decision have now been satisfied, and the June 3rd vote on SB 180-FN, establishing an accountability system to ensure the opportunity for an adequate education and repealing the legislative committee on costing an adequate education [sunsetting the 2nd prong, above], Roll-Call vote of 230-144, formally ends that chapter of failed legislative leadership. In recognition of the current legislature's good-faith efforts, lawsuits and NH Supreme Court oversight were terminated last year.
MISCELLANEOUS
1) SB 40, Relative to protecting workers and local governments with advance notice of impending plant closings and layoffs - adopted on a vote of 219 - 156;
2) SB 129, Establishing a committee to study negative balance employers.
The NH unemployment compensation fund will be bankrupt by March 1, 2010, if the current rate of job loss continues. Passage of this bill by a roll-call vote of 244-12 ensures increased contributions from employers so the State of NH won't be compelled to borrow money from the U.S. government at 4.9 percent to pay unemployment benefits.
3) SB 85, relative to the commission to develop a plan for the expansion of transmission capacity in the north country. Passed by voice vote.
Expansion of the electric grid is essential to the advancement of green energy production, where capacity to transport electricity is now limited. Existing capacity will be outstripped by two alternative-energy upstarts in the north country, one being a wood boiler, the other being a wind array.
4) SB 138, relative to insurance coverage for telemedicine services.
Offering insurance coverage for medical services provided electronically is one small step towards health-care cost reductions. Passed by voice vote.
5) SB 147, relative to the data-collection practices of health-care providers and relative to the development of an uninsured health-care database.
This and a previous bill has become the model for consideration in 15 other states. It provides for the selective collection of information in order to determine how the uninsured access health care, how that equates to cost shifting, and the impact on general health-care delivery.
6) SB 168, establishing the Coastal Watershed Alliance, which will allow all communities to participate in comprehensive watershed management to improve and protect water quality in the seacoast watershed. Passed by voice vote.
In addition, we voted on 30 other bills and an additional 32 house bills amended by the senate.
I trust you will find this information helpful.
Best wishes - Bob Perry, State Representative, Dist. 3, Strafford
H.B. 73, the Marriage Equality bill, was approved by the NH House of Representatives at 4:12 P.M. on 6/3/09 by a vote of 198 - 176. Moments later, Democrat Dan Eaton made a motion to reconsider and asked that it be defeated. Such motion is a parliamentary procedure used to ensure the lasting integrity of the vote to which the motion is directed. The motion to reconsider failed by a vote of 159 - 214, which ensures that no bill with the same subject matter can be filed in this session of the legislature, i.e., through 2010. In short, marriage equality cannot be overturned until the next session of the legislature. It's likely that an attempt to overturn will result in a very organized and vocal opposition. Indeed, outside the windows of the state house yesterday morning could be heard the vocal outpouring of supporters of marriage equality. Despite offending house decorum, supporters of the bill who had gathered in the house gallery burst into celebration upon the vote to approve marriage equality.
The governor intended to sign the bill at 5:15 P.M. When the time arrived, approximately 75 people jammed the governor's office to witness the historic signing. Governor Lynch's statement in support of the bill was spirited as he challenged the federal government to follow the pattern of the states to chip away at remaining discrimination. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, was also in attendance. Although protections for separation of church and state are already present in NH law, H.B. 73 specifically reiterates those protections. It means that no religious organization is compelled to perform same-sex marriage. H.B. 73 is merely enabling legislation in terms of church participation. Perhaps the Catholic Church won't perform such marriages, but the Unitarian Universalist church, for example, will.
Passage of H.B. 73 is consistent with the opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, the NH Constitution, various Supreme Court opinions, the inscription over the doorway of the U.S. Supreme Court (paraphrasing, Equality and Justice for All), The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, and the laws of five other states.
I will be writing a series on discrimination, and since it is nearly impossible to effectively communicate, given the unfortunate general taboo on political discussion, will be disseminating those writings door to door on a bicycle. On this topic, I leave you with this thought: In 20 years, white folks are going to be the minority U.S. population. How will we want to be treated by the Latina majority? Ending discrimination in all forms is not only the right thing to do, but in the long-term interests of a white minority.
Re: Education
In the mid 1980s, longstanding education inequities resulted in a negotiated agreement between the aggrieved parties and the legislature known as the Augenblick formula. Over time, the legislature reneged on its promise to abide by Augenblick. Thereafter, several poor towns sued for relief, which, years later, resulted in the NH Supreme Court's Claremont and Londonderry opinions, which mandated the legislature to:
1) Define an "adequate" education by June 30, 2007;
2) Determine the cost of an adequate education by June 30, 2008;
3) Fund an adequate education;
4) and develop a system of accountability.
Through the determined efforts of the 2007/2008/2009 sessions of the legislature, the long hours and dedication of the legislature's Education Committee, which traveled the state in search of citizen input (Emma Rous, Chair), all four prongs of the Londonderry decision have now been satisfied, and the June 3rd vote on SB 180-FN, establishing an accountability system to ensure the opportunity for an adequate education and repealing the legislative committee on costing an adequate education [sunsetting the 2nd prong, above], Roll-Call vote of 230-144, formally ends that chapter of failed legislative leadership. In recognition of the current legislature's good-faith efforts, lawsuits and NH Supreme Court oversight were terminated last year.
MISCELLANEOUS
1) SB 40, Relative to protecting workers and local governments with advance notice of impending plant closings and layoffs - adopted on a vote of 219 - 156;
2) SB 129, Establishing a committee to study negative balance employers.
The NH unemployment compensation fund will be bankrupt by March 1, 2010, if the current rate of job loss continues. Passage of this bill by a roll-call vote of 244-12 ensures increased contributions from employers so the State of NH won't be compelled to borrow money from the U.S. government at 4.9 percent to pay unemployment benefits.
3) SB 85, relative to the commission to develop a plan for the expansion of transmission capacity in the north country. Passed by voice vote.
Expansion of the electric grid is essential to the advancement of green energy production, where capacity to transport electricity is now limited. Existing capacity will be outstripped by two alternative-energy upstarts in the north country, one being a wood boiler, the other being a wind array.
4) SB 138, relative to insurance coverage for telemedicine services.
Offering insurance coverage for medical services provided electronically is one small step towards health-care cost reductions. Passed by voice vote.
5) SB 147, relative to the data-collection practices of health-care providers and relative to the development of an uninsured health-care database.
This and a previous bill has become the model for consideration in 15 other states. It provides for the selective collection of information in order to determine how the uninsured access health care, how that equates to cost shifting, and the impact on general health-care delivery.
6) SB 168, establishing the Coastal Watershed Alliance, which will allow all communities to participate in comprehensive watershed management to improve and protect water quality in the seacoast watershed. Passed by voice vote.
In addition, we voted on 30 other bills and an additional 32 house bills amended by the senate.
I trust you will find this information helpful.
Best wishes - Bob Perry, State Representative, Dist. 3, Strafford