It’s been a busy few months with bills coming before the House specifically targeting fellow human beings, whether they happen to be asylum-seekers, documented, undocumented or here on student visas. First we had a “preventative” bill, HB 71 preventing schools from closing if asylum-seekers or refugees, here legally, are looking for emergency shelter. Keep in mind, this is something that has NOT happened here. Besides, according to the sponsor, schools are supposed to be SCHOOLS, especially if they receive state money, if there’s any left after the private, religious schools get their take.

SB 13 is meant to invalidate out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented refugees. People who have these out-of-state licenses, including refugees, must originally pass road test exams, have driver identification, and often have car insurance. Simply put, if you are stopped for whatever reason on a NH road and you are not of this country, your out-of-state driver’s license can be confiscated according to this legislation.

Defining requirements about issuing and renewing of nonresident refugees drivers' licenses who are in NH temporarily, was HB 452. In a nutshell, you will not be able to renew a driver's license if you are not an American citizen and can’t prove you are a lawful permanent resident of this country. The sponsors made it harder for a lot of people here under protected status or asylum seekers who have jobs or attend school to get there. 

HB 461 required all printed and digitally available driver's license exam-related materials, including the exam itself, be available and given in English only. Luckily, the Senate’s Transportation Committee voted this mean bill as “Inexpedient to Legislate.”

HB 511 is one of many bills that is intended to strip local control away. This one will prohibit state and local government from endorsing sanctuary policies to prohibit or obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration law (ICE). This was a bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, who feels the need to constantly remind the House, “if you are in NH illegally, you are NOT welcome in NH,” or “take the cuffs off local law enforcement to work with ICE,” or “should not have sanctuary in our cities, churches or schools.” 

These bills have come from members of Liberty Alliance, one of multiple extremist groups in the state and have already been voted on.

Yesterday we voted on (among other bills) SB 62, a bill that removes the power of local towns and counties to have any say in how taxpayer funded law enforcement resources are used to support ICE efforts. Law enforcement agencies who enter into arrangements with ICE receive training with all operational charges placed on the shoulders of taxpayers in the towns or communities signing on to the arrangement. There is nothing in the bill which gives town/city officials the chance to decide if this is something they want in their community. More chipping away at local control. 

But before we could vote on the bill, Rep. “if you are in NH illegally, you are NOT welcome in NH,” Sweeney (yes, he had to say this again) had a floor amendment to shove down everyone’s throats. The amendment would hurt taxpayers. . . again, while taking away more local control. . .again.

“Any local governmental entity that violates this chapter may be subject to action by the attorney general, who may file suit against a local governmental entity in a court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this chapter. Relief for violations of this chapter shall be determined by the court and may include injunctive relief and punitive damages. Punitive damages may include a fine of up to 25 percent of the total state funds received by the local government entity in the fiscal year when the violation occurred. Any fines collected for violations of this chapter shall be lapsed to the general fund of the state of New Hampshire.”

The amendment and the bill as amended passed, I am sorry to say.

Their collective hatred towards those who come here seeking safety, asylum and a better life for themselves and their families, much like many of our own ancestors did, truly is quite palpable.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 
Matthew 25:25-36

Whoever thought this would be something needed here, in the United States? Yet, here we are again, in the Regime, Part II.

Let’s take a moment and look at an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence’s grievances against King George III. Remind you of anyone?

• He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners;
• For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world
• For imposing taxes on us without our consent
• For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury
• For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal D-Washington, has organized “The Resistance Lab” which is a grassroots series of training. These  trainings have been developed specifically for moments such as where we find ourselves now. The organizers looked at how non-violent movements around the world have responded to leaders who seize power in authoritarian ways and the most effective tools and tactics to utilize in these moments. Frameworks are offered to help understand this moment here in this country while incorporating interactive conversation with others to help create community and build our own resistance movement. 

The Resistance Lab was developed with experts who have researched and studied democratic backsliding around the world as well as in the United States and the non-violent movements that have emerged to challenge those authoritarian leaders. They draw from various toolkits for effective tactics and frameworks as well as from Pramila’s own background, leading successful organizing movements for economic and social justice for two decades. 

The goals are: helping people to understand how democracies fall and the most effective resistance movements that have challenged authoritarians and dictators; turning anger, fear and frustration into action in the short-term while also preparing for a coordinated resistance movement for the longer term; and to build community across the country that can help grow this movement. People need to be strike-ready and street-ready to make sure we protect our fellow citizens, our freedoms and importantly, our democracy. 

With the so-called “President” and his MAGA billionaires doubling down on their attacks on the economic livelihoods of people and on our democracy, we can’t afford to sit this moment out. This is about building real power together. And it starts with all of us. 

If you are interested in learning more there is an upcoming ZOOM training to be held on Sunday, June 1st from 2-4. To sign up click on this link: 
The Resistance Lab — Pramila for Congress 

The one thing the government fears is the day we stand together! 
Let’s be ready for it. I’m signed up!

While this is a “call to action” it is also a timely reminder the legislature is ready and eager to expand vouchers for the wealthy at the expense of the rest of us. Additionally, the budget just passed  by the House makes cuts to programs and healthcare for citizens all across New Hampshire.

On Tuesday, May 6th, the Senate Finance Committee will be holding their only public hearing on the budget. The hearing is anticipated to go into the evening so if you work during the day and want to personally express your opinion at the State House you should be able to do so. This budget is critical and from a public education standpoint, it fails again to have the state fulfill its constitutional duty to public school students to adequately fund public education in NH. Instead, they included another increase to the unaudited, unaccountable, unproven and wasteful school voucher program for families who have no need of public funding for private, religious schools.

But there’s more . . .

There are Medicaid cuts, increased costs for CHIP (Children’s Healthcare Insurance Program) which means higher healthcare costs for all of us, while worsening health outcomes across NH. This budget also cuts the Office of the Child Advocate, responsible for protecting children across the state.

This budget makes destructive cuts to the University System of NH, which already receives the least funding of any in the country. If we want the next generation to stay in NH we need a robust University System. They are important to the whole state. 

Tell the Senate Finance Committee this budget is a failure and they must fund our universities and public schools and protect kids! Tell them to oppose the budget as drafted by the House. We can all let them know, through submitted opposition, this budget hurts NH families and they need to do better!

Please click here to submit your opposition to the budget. You will need to go to Tues., May 6th, Senate Finance Committee and register your opposition to HB 2. This is a critical time in the budget approval process and the Finance Committee needs to hear from thousands of NH voters!

Thank you for participating in this very important issue which affects us all.

Not content to eliminate the Office of the Child Advocate, or vote to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association or vote to add an income tax (premium) to low-income families who use Medicaid, several House Republicans along with a single Democrat, (Jonah Wheeler D-Peterborough), sponsored HB 357. This bill was meant to phase out the required childhood vaccinations for chicken pox, Hepatitis B and influenza type B. It also removed the Commissioner of health and Human Services’ authority to establish rules requiring immunization for additional childhood diseases. At the end of March the bill passed the House, 195-174 and then went on to the State Senate.

Where it died in their Committee on Health and Human Services. According to the committee, they felt it best to NOT move forward with this legislation due to the potential unintended consequences of this bill. This was on Thursday, April 24th.

On Tuesday, April 29th, not to be over ridden by members of the Senate, Rep. Matt Drew R-Manchester, added an amendment to a Senate bill which was coming up for a vote in the House in two days. The wording in the amendment was the exact same wording from HB 357, the bill previously passed by the House, but then killed in the Senate.

On Thursday, May 1st, the House was in session to vote on a dozen bills, one being SB 60, a bill having to do with advanced deposit wagering on pari-mutuel betting on horse racing. Hastily attached to this bill, while having NOTHING to do with it at all was a floor amendment, which was basically HB 357. 

A vote was taken to decide as to whether or not the amendment would be added and by eleven votes in favor of, the wording was added to SB 60, where it went on to pass as amended by a voice vote. End result? HB 357, as an amendment to a horse betting bill, got passed again. Those required vaccines will come to an end in June, 2026. Perhaps, NH can then become the chicken pox capital of America, like Texas who has the measles.

Don’t ever let a Republican tell you they care about the health and well-being of children. Their votes prove otherwise . . .

In the interest of trying to find revenue for highway projects, two State Senators, David Watters, D-Dover and Mark McConkey, R-Freedom, reached out to Gov. Kelly Ayotte with the suggestion of raising the price of tolls. They noted that the increase would mostly affect out-of-state drivers, and now that the United States has become “persona non grata” with Canada, well, there won’t be any Canadian tourists.

But, I digress . . .

There are two big highway construction projects under way, on Interstate 293 in Manchester, new exits 6 and 7 along with the expansion of Interstate 93 through Bow and Concord. Two projects which may not see completion as more revenue is needed. All toll revenue from the New Hampshire turnpikes gets reinvested into the maintenance and upkeep of said turnpikes and according to Sen. Watters these current projects are already part of a years-long highway plan. 

What to do?

The two Senators reached out to the governor with a request to raise the tolls and a reminder that such a raise has not taken place  since 2009, almost 16 years now. In the meantime, like everything else, the costs of highway construction has risen. The governor’s office responded (to WMUR) with a resounding, "NO. The governor does not support increasing tolls."

We’ll see how the Executive Council feels, but with a 4-1 Republican majority. . .

What the governor does support, however, is a full-blown embrace of the “education freedom accounts” otherwise known as the hated school vouchers, as she and the majority party continue to defy Articles 6 and 83 of the NH Constitution, taking more and more public money to support private, religious schools.

How much more can the average property taxpayer take while the majority party cuts and dismantles organizations and programs specifically meant to help those who are children, disadvantaged, elderly and vulnerable, in their quest to destroy the public school system?

In the meantime, what about those construction projects?

This is an open letter to Republicans who are following [president] Trump like sheep, and to Democrats and Independents who are still trying to figure out what’s next. What will you do to prevent the destruction of this country? 

Senators and Representatives are charged with acting to preserve the USA and its precious democracy, as testified in their installation oath to follow the Constitution. Although I may not be one of your direct geographical constituents, my citizenship allows me — forces me — to communicate with anyone in Congress. The assaults on democracy, institutions, legal aliens and federal employees are cruel, vindictive, unjust and unnecessary. 

Every day, Trump is shredding pieces of this country and throwing them away. To save money? RIDICULOUS! It's like cutting down all the trees to save a forest when the disease is the shredder, not the trees. It is time to develop enough courage to listen to the American people and DO SOMETHING! 

Trump is the opposite of presidential. He demonstrates negative traits easily witnessed. He is not a leader. He has no moral vision. He cares nothing for people or organizations which have historical and beneficial characteristics and have enriched our culture. He cares nothing about his insulting behavior to leaders of other countries or their people. He is both a liar and a hypocrite. He is vindictive and does not accept responsibility for being wrong. He is angry at anyone who does not agree or expresses a different viewpoint. He is self-indulgent, thoughtless and ignorant. 

As a result, he attempts to diminish others or he gets rid of them with falsehood and insult. He recently proclaimed that “America is a fat, dumb and foolish country." Perhaps – for electing him – but he should look in the mirror! How insulting and outrageous for someone who claims to love America! He seems to think he can do or say anything because he believes he is (or wants to be) king! This is not a kingdom! This is a democracy with Senators and Representatives who are charged with serving the needs of their constituents; i.e., PUBLIC SERVANTS! That representation is supposed to be for everyone -- whether they believe in or follow similar ideologies -- whether they live in wealth or in poverty – from wherever their ancestors came. We are suddenly learning how little politicians seem to care and how reluctant they are to make waves. 

Congress is like the third leg of a table that balances the leadership of this country to be reciprocally accountable. Where is their courage to do the job for which they were elected? There are graver concerns than Trump’s narcissistic personality. Our legal system, checks and balances, national security, and influence in the world are no longer at risk – THEY ARE BROKEN! 

There is no trust in the Department of Justice because the it accepts his lies and fails to hold him responsible. Laws, rules and norms are abandoned and orders by the Courts are ignored. Other departments are being led by wealthy sycophants who are actually causing great harm (prevent or cure measles with Vitamin A – REALLY?). News media, colleges and universities are being intimidated. Effective leaders in various governmental departments, upon which we depend, have been fired, leaving a legacy of fear and a dearth of expertise among the remainder. Staffing is reduced irrationally so work cannot be done successfully. 

Trump is listening to phony influencers (such as Elon Musk, Peter Navarro, Stephen Miller and Laura Loomer) who have little or no knowledge of, or experience in, government and who foster no beneficial purpose for the nation. Our political enemies (internal and external) are on a joy ride because of the chaos, poor decisions, and negative consensus. Business leaders are living with unrelenting anxiety but are afraid to speak out because of likely retribution. 

The economy is in free-fall and Trump’s promises to reduce prices remain unfulfilled. Trump has imagined he can take extraordinary measures to “protect” the US from violence and fraud, but he is creating an environment that can actually lead to the same and a new type of war! Perhaps this is purposeful so he can declare martial law and abandon democracy thoroughly. Some of these actions are outright illegal and impeachable! 

Congress, do something! If one person can be assaulted and deported “by mistake” while others have been suddenly taken off the streets, kidnapped and deported to places which are suspiciously secret and unsafe, all without explanation or legal process, what else can happen? NO ONE IS SAFE! Your loved ones are in danger too! What will you do then? How much threat will encourage you to be courageous? DO SOMETHING! It is past time when the US Congress should be taking a stand about what is right and what is wrong. Trump is indifferent to right and wrong, good and evil, as evidenced by his lies about the 2020 election and his multiple felony convictions. 

The world watched as Trump committed treason January 6, 2021, and he should be in jail for any or all of the aforementioned. It is shameful for a convicted felon to be President of the United States and the current situation is abysmal. AREN’T YOU ASHAMED? When something is bad or wrong, it is mandatory to say or do something to fix it. Ignoring only reinforces. THIS IS THE TIME to take responsibility for saving this country. Republicans are able to stop this insanity, vitriol and cruelty but seem unable to stand for what is right and good. 

This begs the questions: What does Trump hold over their heads? What are they expecting to earn for misplaced loyalty? Are they hoping to sit at his table in the new regime? Do they really imagine he will be loyal to them? WHAT ARE THEY (YOU) AFRAID OF? The fact is that doing nothing makes Congresspeople as guilty as Trump is of the malevolence he is bestowing on this country. They are allowing him to get away with illegal and immoral activities. Therefore, INACTION OR CONDONATION DEMONSTRATES THEIR OWN ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL BEHAVIOR. 

If this continues, Congress too will soon be out of a job – no matter what or who they think will be their salvation. Espoused Christian values will not save them when they are flouting the values of Christianity and every other faith. Trump is tearing this country apart, embedding fear, hate and corruption. His actions are making people sick! Families are in turmoil! There will be some who commit suicide and others who will simply die as a result. And there is nowhere to escape. It feels like no one cares. WHAT WILL YOU DO TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS COUNTRY?

Katie Delaney, Keene, New Hampshire

Cosignatories: 

Áine deDanaan, Keene, New Hampshire

Lewis Whittum, Keene, New Hampshire

Terri O’Rorke, Keene, New Hampshire

I’m sure we’ve all seen the recent television ads with Gov. Ayotte promoting her “all in” support for education freedom accounts, better known as the hated “school vouchers.” These ads come from a fairly new organization called yes. every kid. 

Now we need to connect the dots as there are quite a few. 

Yes. Every kid. was founded in 2019 by Andrew Clark, who hails from the Stand Together community, a philanthropic organization founded by Charles Koch. Koch and his late brother, David brought us Americans for Prosperity and yes there is a chapter here in Windham, New Hampshire. Koch has also supported and donated to the Heritage Foundation, who are the authors of the conservative playbook Project 2025. Lest we forget, the playbook calls for eliminating the Dept. of Education. 

Craig Hulse is the Executive Director who previously managed policy and government affairs at Tesla and public policy and public affairs at Uber. He also served as the Chief of Staff for the Nevada Speaker, helping to bring in education reforms, including universal education savings accounts, tax credit scholarships for private schools, and the creation of an achievement school district. 

Erica Jedynak is the Chief Operating Officer whose background includes Director of Economic Opportunity for Stand Together. 

Matt Frendeway is Vice President of Strategy bringing with him more than two decades of experience in strategic communications,  including working as a senior advisor to the US Secy. of Education Betsy DeVos, and Gov. Jeb Bush at Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Alexander Graff is a legislative analyst, having interned with Koch Internship Program and the Independence Institute.

These are just several of the people behind Yes. Every kid. Think about that the next time you see one of those TV ads. 

"Beware the snakes in the grass."

An activists work seems to never be done! And here we go again with another suppression bill. SB 33 is the Senate’s version of a book ban bill. Books should not be banned or removed as classroom materials based on one parent’s complaint. If a parent does not want their child to read a particular book, that parent needs to have a conversation with their child, letting them know why. But one parent does not get to determine what another parent’s child can read. If there are issues, that can be brought to the librarians and schools boards to be worked on locally. A state driven process that ends with our libraries being bare is not needed. This is just one more attempt at chipping away at local control and slowly turning New Hampshire into a police state.

This bill “requires local school districts to adopt and publicly post policies describing materials authorized for use by students in the district and outlining procedures to address complaints alleging that material is harmful or age-inappropriate for use in the district's schools.” Confused? Good. Mission accomplished by the Senate and House Republicans who sponsored this mess, with most being members of Liberty Alliance. 

On Wed., April 23rd, there will be a public hearing on SB 33 in the House Education Policy Committee. You are being asked again to go online and register your opposition to this bill:

https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/remotetestimony/

 Fill in your Personal Information

· Select the correct date and committee for the hearing by clicking on it in the Meeting Schedule Calendar (make sure you are on the right week). [Select Bill # and select the date].

· In the drop box below "Select the Committee," select committee.

· In the drop box below "Choose the Bill," select the appropriate time and bill number.

· Select the appropriate option for the "I am" drop box (likely "Member of the Public").

· Fill in the content box under "I'm Representing" with the business, organization, or group you are representing. If you are representing yourself only, write "myself."

· Under the “Indicate Your Position on this Bill,” check the circle stating your position on the bill. “I Oppose this Bill” or “I Support this Bill”

· After filling in all the appropriate drop boxes, click “Submit.”

· After clicking submit, you will be brought to the next page, where you fill in the content boxes with your first and last name, your town, state, and email address.

· Press “Continue.”

· If you wish to speak during the hearing to present your testimony, you need to attend in person at the State House, but you upload your testimony if you cannot attend.

· If you wish to submit testimony on the bill, email the relevant committee and upload the testimony file from your computer.

The other one is HB 273, sponsored by mostly Liberty Alliance members. This will allow parents access to all of their minor child's library records, because what parent wouldn’t already be able to access their MINOR child’s library records? A solution looking for a problem. There will be a hearing on Thurs., April 24th and if you would like to register your opposition click here. Just follow the directions above. 

Thank you for taking a few moments to voice your opinion!

1775 - 250 years ago - New England was abuzz…. At least Massachusetts and the distant town of Keene…. Those damned British!

By April 19, the British Royal Governor General Thomas Gage felt things had gone too far and he had to act, as he was under orders to extinguish the growing rebellion.  He must have felt that back in London others were undermining his position at court, and no doubt he wanted to report some success rather than let the merchant rumors fly.  There were reports of munitions stockpiled in Lexington and Concord, so he seized upon the opportunity.  On the night of April 19 at 10:00 pm he sent a force of 800 British soldiers to capture and destroy the weapons.  At 10:00 pm!  Imagine getting up (perhaps with a throbbing headache from the earlier drinking) and putting on the heavy woolen uniform, donning the belts and hoisting the musket and setting out on the 13 mile dark, cold and wet march to Lexington.  And as we know, as they started out, so did Paul Revere, Richard Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, bound to raise the alarm. 

(One if by land!  Two if by sea!  I on the opposite shore will be!)

And raise the alarm they did:  To arms! To arms!  In Lexington, Capt. John Parker assembled 70 militia on the town green to meet them.  They too were roused in the middle of the night, kicking off their bed clothes, pulling on heavy boots in the cold wet weather, their spouses not knowing what they might be off to.  At about 5:00 am still in the dark the British arrived the British commander ordered the colonials to lay down their arms.  Capt. Parker, recognizing that 800 to 70 on an open field was not a good idea, called on his men to do so. But somewhere a twitchy finger twitched and a shot rang out.  The trained, nervous, and, no doubt, fatigued British soldiers fired a volley into the militia, killing eight and wounding ten.  The “shot heard round the world” had sounded.

It's still just dawn, and the British moved on to Concord by 8:00 am, marching another 7 miles, but getting more nervous with each step.  Here the British sent about 220 men ahead to secure the bridge across the Concord River, controlling movement in the town.  Once the bridge was secured (the British commander was no dummy) the rest of the force would head to the Barrett Farm, where the munitions were understood to be stored.  But by now the sun was up and so were the colonials, and a force of about 400 had assembled on high ground overlooking the bridge.  They could see some smoke rising from the other side of the river, and their commander Joseph Hosmer called out that the British were burning the town!  (They weren’t but it was a good motivator.)  As the colonials started across the bridge the British opened fire, and the militia on the hillsides returned very effective volleys, given their advantaged position. 

The British commanders realized that after having been marching for almost 12 hours and encountering growing resistance it would not be a good day, so they ordered return to Boston. Another 20 miles to travel to get to safety!  Unfortunately for them by now militias all over the countryside had arrived along the entire road back to Boston and the retreat became a rout.  The 800 that started out suffered 73 killed, 174 wounded and 26 missing.  All told the British soldiers lost more than 10% of their force, and carried the wounded back.  Overall, they traveled about 40 miles under difficult circumstances, to say the least.   Not a motivating day for troops that made it back to the ships in the harbor.  

Meanwhile, a messenger dispatched from Concord arrived in Keene on the morning of April 20.  Determined to support the cause, Isaac Wyman formed a force of twenty-nine men and himself, and they marched out at sunrise on the 21st.  It took three days to reach Concord, marching 64 miles through the wet and cold and muddy April.  Shooting was over, but they eventually did reach Boston and became part of the larger force.  Overall, about 1000 men from New Hampshire journeyed to Boston for the fight.

The colonials were no doubt elated and invigorated, as they began to mass around Boston to drive the British out.  But militia against the embedded troops sheltered under shipborne cannon would not work to well – the rebels needed cannon.  Where might there be an easy source?  Ticonderoga!

Militias in Connecticut and Massachusetts realized this opportunity simultaneously but totally separately.  The Connecticut militia was led by Col. Ethan Allen, who along with his “Green Mountain Boys” headed to the great stone fortress at the place between the lakes.  (Remember, Vermont did not exist as yet, it was all called Connecticut.)  At the same time the frequent hero of the Revolution Benedict Arnold set out with a force from Massachusetts.  They ran into each other on May 9 on the eastern shore, and, while no doubt surprised and wary, they determined to work together.  Turns out that the fort was only lightly defended and easily taken “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!”  Ethan Allen got the fame and the painting, and Arnold rose in the ranks of the Continental Army, leading the (disastrous) invasion of Canada later in 1775, but continuing heroic deeds at Valcour Island (1776) and Saratoga (1777).  Henry Knox managed the cannon transfer back to Boston, to force the issue and drive the redcoats away.

A couple big years of history ahead, for sure!  especially for us in the East.  Stay tuned.

Taking their cues from the current regime, the Republican majority “party” in New Hampshire have been practically falling all over themselves and each other trying to pass one lousy, cruel, mean-spirited bill after another. Their targets? Quite a list; the elderly, the disabled, those with low-income jobs, those seeking an affordable college education, voters, immigrants, children, public schools and teachers, libraries, women of child-bearing age, Medicaid recipients, LGBTQ community, affordable housing, the environment. 

WOW!! Sounds like they’re destroying everybody and everything they imagine is standing in the way of their own personal utopia!

Let’s break it down with a few examples.

• The elderly – Really? They’re a threat? HB 645 was an amended bill giving the Prescription Drug Affordability Board data access that could support increased pricing transparency while lowering costs for public payers. It was “tabled” by Liberty Alliance member Rep. Jason Osborne. They also voted to “zero out” the budget for the Commission on Aging.
• Voters - HB 365 is the sloppy attempt by Liberty Alliance member Rep. Bob Lynn to fix the constitutional issues he created with last years HB 1569 voter suppression bill. Targets married women and naturalized citizens. Not only do you now need to request an absentee ballot six months in advance to an election, you better still have an excuse for voting absentee, otherwise no absentee ballot. HB 217, (Lynn again) will now require absentee ballot voters to present information showing citizenship, age, domicile, and identity in order to qualify to vote. Suppression disguised as legislation. Targets, elderly, disabled, students and military overseas.
• Immigrants – Nope, no funding for the Human Rights Commission. HB 511 prohibits state and local government from endorsing sanctuary policies to prohibit or hinder the enforcement of federal immigration law (ICE). Liberty Alliance member Rep. Joe Sweeney stated, “If you are in NH illegally, you are not welcome in NH.” HB 452 adds the following to RSA 263:10 : “The department shall not renew a driver's license for any person who is not a United States citizen and cannot prove that they are a lawful permanent resident of the United States.” A lot of people are here under protected status or asylum seekers, how are they supposed to get to their jobs, school? HB 461 requires all printed and digitally available driver's license exam-related materials, including the exam itself, be available and administered in English only. And yet, NH already has multi-language driver training and tests. Just more cruelty towards “the other.”
• Women - HCR 7 was a resolution acknowledging abortion as an important piece of comprehensive reproductive health care. They “tabled” it. Best to bleed out to within an inch of your life before anything can be done for you. Restoring the funding for Family Planning also failed.
• Schools - HB 329 would require school boards to initiate a policy governing air quality and temperature issues in schools, along with a heat illness prevention and emergency response plan. The bill failed, who cares about air quality in schools anyway? Especially when they do not want mandatory mask policies in schools. Or vaccines either. HB 520 allows the Dept. of Education to issue subpoenas against educators to investigate “alleged” violations of the Code of Conduct. Targets teachers and school staff. And of course, they passed HB 115 where more and more property tax money goes towards school vouchers.
• Energy/Environment - HCR 4 rejects all offshore wind projects in and around the waters off the coast of NH and Gulf of Maine until there is a better understanding of the effect such projects may have on the ocean's ecosystem, the fishing industry and electric ratepayers. Unfortunately for the ten Republicans who sponsored this, they failed to acknowledge that NH has no jurisdiction over federal waters.
• LGBTQ - HB 377 prohibits a medical procedure or giving out medication, upon or to a minor child, that is intended to alter gender or delay puberty. It should be noted only after evaluations and consultations with the patient, parents, medical professionals and counselors, are these treatments implemented. HB 148 removed transgender peoples from NH’s anti-discrimination laws. So, no protections. Pretty obvious who the intended targets are . . .

This is just the tip of the mean-spirited legislative iceberg!