Raven: Why I'm Running For State Rep (Hillsboro 12, Town Of Merrimack)

I’m motivated to run for state rep based on what I have seen happening in Concord.

Specifically, over the past few years I have noticed an alarming trend of legislators NOT listening to input from their constituents and instead pushing their own agenda

Let me give you 3 examples.

1. HB 1002 to repeal the solar energy systems tax exemption. https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB1002/id/3284500
   1. There were 5 comments in favor of repealing the solar energy tax exemption and 209 comments opposed. Yet the Republican controlled Science, Technology and Energy committee recommended that it “Ought to pass” or OTP. Which means that they voted to increase taxes for people with solar panels.
   2. Fortunately, This bill was tabled when it got further along in the legislative process 00 meaning it is NOT going to go any further in this legislative session.

1. This past legislative session there was HB 1062 introduced - Authorizing the secretary of state to conduct random audits of the citizenship qualification of registered voters. https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB1062/id/3284485
   1. There were 10 comments in support of this bill and 1,011 in opposition. However, even though over a thousand people registered their opposition, the house voted for it anyway and the gov signed it into law this past July 10.
   2. Even though there is no credible evidence of non-citizens registering, according to the Center for election innovation and research https://electioninnovation.org/research/claims-noncitizen-registration-voting-analysis-tracker/
   3. Gov Ayotte signed the bill into law on July 10.

3. HB 1114 – Documentation and preservation of public comments – https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB1114/id/3286517

1. This is a New Hampshire bill aimed at increasing legislative transparency. It mandates that standing committees preserve written public comments and prepare clear reports outlining how those comments influenced their legislative recommendations.
2. 501 people wrote or spoke in support of this bill.
3. 1 person spoke against it.
4. Yet, this bill did NOT become law. Which means that these numbers that I’ve been quoting you – they will not be preserved as part of the history of these bills.

I have these numbers thanks to a concerned citizen who is keeping track of the number of comments for and against bills. Because she is also concerned that our elected officials are not listening to their constituents. Thank you to Jean Slepian.

Jean’s list has – 39 bills where there were lots of comments from the public for one outcome, but the legislators voted the other way. THIRTY NINE.

Take a look for yourself:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yzligFtTewGB8ZWUBPw9j1Y6AlTDnoaqRKDS2yNqMhs/edit?usp=sharing

Main reason #2:

I am concerned that the Republican majority has a party agenda that they are trying to push through even if the general public does not want them.

I believe that the Republican party is pushing the state to be overly reliant on fossil fuels perhaps because of all the money that the fossil fuel industry lobby gives to them.

This past session, Merrimack State Rep Jeanine Notter, along with 6 other Republicans, introduced HB 1455 - Relative to the criteria for reliable energy sources. The summary of that bill includes the following phrase:

requiring that energy used in New Hampshire be affordable, reliable, and include hydrocarbons.

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2026&id=2105&txtFormat=html

Now, hydrocarbons are the primary components of fossil fuels like petroleum and natural gas. So what would that mean, if this bill were passed? Would it outlaw solar panels? Would it outlaw the electric heat pump that my husband and I installed last year? Would it mean we have to stop importing Hydro from Quebec? If so, to what end?

NH does not have any coal, oil or natural gas reserves. Passing such a bill would require the state to be MORE reliant on imports. This seems completely opposite to our state motto of "Live Free or Die." - I think we want to as self-sufficient as possible.

Why would anyone introduce such a bill? The public comments were:

6 in support and 373 in opposition.

Luckily, good sense prevailed and this bill was not passed. But many people spent a lot of time driving to Concord to testify to kill a bill that was clearly NOT in the best interest of the people of New Hampshire.