Legislative Update – April 27, 2011 Session Day
Greetings from the NH House of Representatives and another week of gimmicks, games and cost shifting down to New Hampshire’s Cities & Towns!
Based on the House Calendar – many were expecting a short day last Wednesday – but that was not to be! I’ve been observing, for four months, these radical libertarians masking as mainstream Republicans, and I suspect the rumors about mainstream dissatisfaction could have some legs. Although I have no proof –I sense many traditional republicans are getting frustrated – their party, their agenda and their honor are being hijacked. Note: in the new political order – traditional conservative types are now moderates and moderates are called RINO’s. My read is old-school Main Street republican reps are quickly tiring of these radical libertarian/free staters and their blatant disregard for process. Hopefully they are realizing their extremist colleagues’ real agenda is to dismantle government, but more importantly will they stand up to the extremists and say no!
Last Wednesday – I listened to hours of debate and heard anger, frustration and disbelief in the voices of several old line republicans. They especially appeared to be upset over – the gamesmanship with the senate – the insinuation that town clerks (the glue of local government) are out of date luddites and just feeding at the public trough! OH, and let us not forget those outrageous arguments against requiring fire sprinklers because “it is about personal liberties” and how “we need protection from the tyranny of the state!”
Yes –fire sprinklers are no longer a public safety issue – but an act of tyranny! Hopefully, this will all translate into reasonable members of the NH House recognizing that what is happening is not focused on doing the people’s business.
LIVE FREE OR DIE – JOHN STARK DAY
Appropriately – among the first pieces of business, on Wednesday, was establishing April 27th as John Stark Day. All agree John Stark was a bona-fide American hero and certainly merits recognition – first as a member of the famed Rogers Rangers during the French & Indian War and later as a major general and NH hero of the American Revolution. Known as the “Hero of Bennington,” General Stark also fought at the Battles of Bunker Hill, Princeton, and Trenton. Sadly, I suspect those accomplishments do not matter to the present group of extremist radicals. They see John Stark as the author who penned, as an old man, the words “Live Free or Die” in a letter. Of course – this is probably all they care to know about this real patriot!
There were only a handful of bills not on the consent calendar – normally this would mean a short day – but not with this crowd. Nay – Nay, we started at 10 and went to the end of the day, debating only a handful of bills. Among the controversial issues were the following:
PAY DAY LOAN SHARKS! or Owe My Soul to the Company Store!
Last session the legislature did away with predatory loans and limited their interest rate to 38% - conventional thinking was/is that these loan programs take advantage of the most needy and desperate. It was pointed out (interestingly by common sense republicans) that this legislation provides for high interest rates (300-400%) and is a lending model that preys on people who can’t pay.
As the debate continued – the old country song (Owe My Soul to the Company Store) kept playing in my head. It’s about poor people who are given credit at the company store but never make enough money to pay off the debt, so consequently they just get deeper in debt.
Representative after representative rose to oppose the bill stating – that it was Usury – that 3 of the World’s religions condemned the practice – that it was bad policy – that 27 states ban predatory loans – that no New England State has this type of legislation – and that it was simply legalized Loan Sharking!
This went on for hours – however, in the end, all it took was the GOP Majority Leader to rise and say “it is an option for consumers and it may bring back jobs!” The bill passed 180 (Aye) to 171(Nay).
THE FOX IN CHARGE OF THE HEN HOUSE:
The Extremist Republicans also passed SB 156 which now allows car dealers to charge you (no limit set) for handling the motor vehicle registration on cars, as opposed to going to your Town Clerk’s office.
Now why would they want to take Town Clerks out to of the loop? Well – they have no confidence in town clerks – according to these radical republicans everyone knows town clerks are part of local government! It didn’t matter that the law clearly states that town/city clerks are responsible for collecting the Town portion and while questions weren’t answered as to who will determine residency or how much the car dealer can charge for this service – the decision was to pass this bill (176 – 166). AS one Free State Rep stated on the floor “We were sent here to lighten regulations”. Starting to see a theme!
SIDE BAR - Let’s Get Tough & Teach the Senate:
An interesting side bar is the realization, by the radical republicans, that the Senate may be a voice of moderation and are designating the more extreme house bills as DOA (Dead on Arrival).
So to counter any possible acts of maturity – these reps decided that the House should attach amendments to senate bills regardless if they are germane to the bill under consideration. Which is what they tried to do to this bill (SB 156) dealing with auto dealers.
Surprisingly, two seasoned republicans who’ve played ball until now rose in disgust. One called it a “silly parliamentary procedure” and reminded the group that they were attempting to put a transportation amendment on a commerce bill. This rep was followed by another old timer who, noticeably frustrated – spoke about process and that they were being asked to participate in a political game. He further said how the amendment was about bi-annual automobile inspections, which is part of a bill presently sitting in the senate.
Of course – an extremist then rose in full attack mode and took umbrage and was upset over being “lectured on process.” Fortunately, after a long back and forth the – the attempt to add the amendment was defeated 102 (Aye) to 242 (Nay). For once common sense prevailed.
SPRINKLERS ARE TYRANNY & LOCAL CONTROL BE DAMNED!
Yes, as stated above, the NH House voted 223 – 91 to deny cities & towns the authority to decide if they want to have fire sprinklers as part of their life safety codes. A republican who’s a professional building inspector rose to say how this bill is an attack on local control and how fire sprinklers save lives. He proceeded to state how locals create their own rules (based on municipal needs) and how this will result in an increase in property taxes. Also how the argument that sprinklers are expensive is oversimplified and incorrect.
He further said how the message of this bill says the legislature has no confidence in local government. A democrat rose and said how if we pass the amendment – as of July 1 no town can vote to determine if they want sprinklers – how is this support for local control – historically a standard NH philosophical belief?
However radical extremists’ rose and stated that it was somehow a “choice” issue and that “local government can’t tell us what to do!” Among these absurd rants was how fire sprinklers are about personal liberties and “we need protection from the TYRANNY of the STATE.” Yes – sprinklers are somehow now the symbol of tyranny.
GAS TAX GIMMICK
First the Republicans take 90 million dollars out of the Highway Fund for the next biennium which was designated to pay for bridge repairs & highway maintenance statewide, but now they want to eliminate, for two months, the NH gas tax by .05 cents which will mean an additional cut of 7 million dollars that will not go to pave roads, or repair bridges. Don’t forget that 12% of this fund goes to Cities & Towns for their local road/bridge maintenance. This reduction alone will mean an additional loss of $840,000 dollars to local communities.
Note: NH is rated the 11th worst state for bridges of the 50 States; we are now on a 28 year paving cycle; and the Interstate 93 improvements presently underway are not fully funded.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that this will translate into gas prices being lowered for consumers, and not just translate into higher profits for the oil companies. FYI – currently Oil Companies make a 400 million dollar profit every day!
Well – let it not be said that these extremist republicans don’t love a good gimmick when they see one. The chair of Finance (the same guy who screamed at witnesses to “shut-up & get out” of his committee), attempted to calm everyone with the comment “doom & gloom tales never come true – we cut the budget & nothing happened!”
Forget that it is bad for Cities & Towns; bad for the Highway Fund; bad for State Highways; and bad for Taxpayers. SB 78 passed 201 – 98.
So until next time – Happy Driving!
