Extreme NH State Reps Push ‘Agenda 21’ Conspiracy Theories

State Rep. Jeanine Notter (R-Merrimack) – best known for claiming birth control causes prostate cancer – and several other extreme NH State Representatives took to the House floor this morning in support of HB 144. The legislation is the latest in a national trend of tea party officials promoting a conspiracy theory about United Nations Agenda 21, a non-binding plan for sustainable development endorsed by four U.S. Presidents.

During the floor session today, the NH Tin Foil Hat Caucus was in full view, with such theories as:

• “Sustainable development is the UN’s Agenda 21 program for the global control and redistrict over your native life, including your private property, individual rights and civil liberties.” - Rep. Lenette Peterson (R-Merrimack)

• “We wanna be able to, as a state, tell cities and towns that you cannot make a deal with a treaty that the UN (inaudible) to move into our country and go into each city and town and attack us from within and expand throughout our country.” - Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry)

• “I know that unsustainable development, according to Agenda 21 and ICLEI, includes such things as roads, agriculture, animal husbandry, logging and skiing.” - Rep. Dan Itse (R-Fremont)

Testimony on the bill during committee also included claims of U.N. ‘mind control’. Granite State Progress issued the following statement in response:

“Rep. Peterson and her caucus should spend less time in their tinfoil hats promoting conspiracy theories and more time focused on improving the economy and other things important to New Hampshire families,” said Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress. “These representatives have a track record of supporting extreme legislation, whether it’s from the John Birch Society or the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). They are wasting our time and taxpayer dollars with these ridiculous theories.”

Agenda 21 helps promote sustainability, climate protection, and clean energy initiatives for towns, cities and counties who choose to join. HB 144 sought to prohibit communities from participating in the program; currently four New Hampshire communities – Wolfeboro, Nashua, Keene and Portsmouth – participate. The NH House of Representatives killed the bill 211-141. Granite State Progress publicly thanked Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom) for requesting a roll call vote on which NH House members believe the U.N. is pushing ‘mind control’.

HB 144 is very similar to legislation proposed in Washington, Alabama, South Dakota, Missouri, and New Mexico. The legislation is also being promoted by the ultra-conservative group the John Birch Society.

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Background:

John Birch Society opposes Agenda 21
http://www.jbs.org/issues-pages/stop-agenda-21

Agenda 21 legislation in Washington state
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2013-14/Htm/Bills/House%20Bills/1165.htm

Agenda 21 legislation in Alabama
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2012rs/PrintFiles/SB477-enr.pdf

Agenda 21 legislation in South Dakota
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2013/Bill.aspx?File=HB1190P.htm

Agenda 21 legislation in Missouri
http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills131/billpdf/intro/HB0042I.PDF

Agenda 21 legislation in New Mexico
http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/13%20Regular/bills/house/HB0307.PDF

Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Press releases and other information available online at www.GraniteStateProgress.org.