Reply #464: NH State House Introduces a Shocking 7 ALEC Corp-Written Bills in One Week Jan 27 [View All]

CONCORD, NH - The New Hampshire State House and Senate heard public testimony on an alarming seven pieces of model legislation this week crafted by the corporate-funded ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), which allows corporations to write and then vote on which pieces of legislation to send to legislators.

HB 1607 "Education Tax Credit" - SPONSORS: Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4; Rep. Hill, Merr 6; Rep. W. Smith, Rock 18; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr 8; Rep. O'Brien, Hills 4; Rep. Tucker, Rock 17; Rep. Bates, Rock 4; Rep. Silva, Hills 26; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Sen. Forsythe, Dist 4; Sen. De Blois, Dist 18
This bill - including SB 372 heard on Tuesday - creates a tax credit for businesses specifically designed to divert funding for public education to private schools.

HB 1560 Health Care Compact - SPONSORS: Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4; Sen. Morse, Dist 22
The interstate health care compact would allow states to jointly opt out of all federal health rules, now and in the future. This would include everything from the Affordable Care Act to Medicare and Medicaid.

CACR 6 Super Majority Act - SPONSORS: Rep. Ulery, Hills 27; Rep. Renzullo, Hills 27
Senator President Peter Bragdon offered a flashback amendment to turn New Hampshire into a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) state, limiting state spending based on a rigid and flawed formula that will result in deep cuts to schools, health care, senior programs and other vital services.

SB 372 "Education Tax Credits" - SPONSORS: Sen. Forsythe, Dist 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Bragdon, Dist 11; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. De Blois, Dist 18; Sen. Gallus, Dist 1; Sen. Groen, Dist 6; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13; Sen. Luther, Dist 12; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 7; Sen. White, Dist 9; Rep. Hill, Merr 6; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4; Rep. B. Murphy, Rock 18; Rep. Groen, Straf 1
(See information from Monday's HB 1607)

SB 289 and SB 318 Photo ID to Vote - SB 289 SPONSORS: Sen. Prescott, Dist 23; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Tucker, Rock 17 AND SB 318 SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Barnes, Jr., Dist 17; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. De Blois, Dist 18; Sen. Groen, Dist 6; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13; Sen. Rausch, Dist 19; Sen. White, Dist 9
New Hampshire legislators have repeatedly tried to pass ALEC model legislation restricting the rights of voters to participate in elections. The Senate heard two versions of bills this week, each proposing photo identification and other measures despite widespread consent by election law officials and experts that so-called voter fraud is virtually non-existent and that these measures would disenfranchise millions of voters across the country

HB 1658 Eliminating Support Services for Newborn Children
SPONSORS: Rep. Kurk, Hills 7
This legislation would eliminate support services for newborn children whose parents are utilizing TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families). ALEC has a long history of promoting bills that minimize support for low and moderate income families...

*SURPRISE MOVE* HB 1220 Repealing Criminal History Record Checks for Gun Sales - SPONSORS: Rep. D. McGuire, Merr 8
In a surprise move, current ALEC member legislator Rep. Dan McGuire1 sponsored a bill this week to rollback one of the few stronger public policy bills ALEC has backed - a piece of model legislation from 1999 that called for criminal history record check as a routine part of firearm sales (bill was passed in accordance with the Brady Act).