It has recently been brought to my attention that there is a sign protesting the new camp ground property tax on camper trailers and it states, ”Boycott Hampstead business”. As the NH state representative of district # 8 representing the towns of Hampstead, Kingston and Plaistow, and as an advocate of small business which is the life blood of our country, I was not happy to hear this.
Don’t blame small business for any tax increases including property tax and don’t blame them for the new property tax on campground trailers either. Did you know that on 2/8/09 the Republican budget was defeated by the majority Democratic party in both the house and the senate and upheld by Governor Lynch? And did you know that the Republican budget had no new taxes while the Democratic majority voted as follows:
Not to fund education in their budget.
They left out revenue sharing.
They passed a capital gains tax.
They voted to increase meals and rooms tax.
They voted to enact a gambling winnings tax on all types of gambling even those out side the state.
They voted for a gas tax even though the Federal Government is also enacting a gas tax.
They voted to enact an insurance premium tax.
They voted to enact an inheritance tax.
They voted to enact a tobacco and liquor tax.
They voted to enact an estate tax.
If we add up all of what the socialist Democratic majority have done to us with HB1 and HB2 by raising and down shifting the financial burden to our cities and towns, we are talking about more than $350 million taken out of the NH economy. How does this affect you the taxpayer and your family? A family of four will expect to pay over $1000 in additional taxes. This is not good economic policy. House Democrats have adopted a budget that spends more than we can afford with our existing tax structure.
The Democratic majority’s position of raising and spending more money on the backs of the taxpayers is not only bad policy but is irresponsible in the middle of a recession. Why not look for other sources of revenue and perform audits in order to reduce waste and duplication in State Government? Don’t blame small business in Hampstead. Let’s put the blame where it belongs and hold State Government accountable to the tax payers and their families. Tell Governor Lynch and the Democratic house and senate majority if they don’t listen we will vote them out in Nov. 2010. Governor (phone 603-271-2121) (fax 603-271-7680) Senate (phone 603-271-2111) (fax 603-271-2105) Executive Council (phone 603-271-3632) (fax 603-271-3633) House (phone 603-271-3661) (fax 603-271-3309).
Small businesses are taxpayers who provide employment along with many services and contribute to many local, state and national charities. Without them and their services our nation would suffer. Support small businesses. Don’t blame them as they carry the tax burden as we do.
John B Sedensky, PhD.
State Representative District # 8
Commission Still Needed
To The Editor:
I am writing in response to an action taken by the NH Senate Finance Committee in the very early morning hours of May 28 to “un-fund” the NH Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission was created by the NH Legislature in 1969, and has worked diligently since that time to enhance opportunities and promote positive change for the women and girls of NH.
The Commission, currently comprised of two full-time staff and 15 volunteer Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor and the Executive Council, has performed admirably over the last forty years to advocate on behalf of those who were least able to stand up and speak for themselves.
The work of the Commission has been unparalleled and unduplicated in our State, starting with the establishment of an Annual Academic and Athletic Awards program for High School females, to the ground-breaking study on NH’s incarcerated women, Double Jeopardy, to the creation and publication of the widely acclaimed Legal Handbook for NH Women, the fourth revision of which has just gone to press – to name just a few.
Currently, the Commission is working tirelessly to create the NH Women’s Heritage Trail which will finally provide recognition and acknowledgement to many women who have gone unnoticed for their amazing accomplishments. The Commission also launched a Better Jobs for NH Women-New Traditions project to expand access to livable wage careers and jobs for more women.
In New Hampshire, women have made incredible gains over the past decades, particularly in the political arena. Yet, we are still ranked in 39th place when it comes to pay equity between women and men doing comparable work. It is apparent that we still have work to do! More information on the Commission can be obtained at: HYPERLINK "http://www.nh.gov/csw"www.nh.gov/csw
Sylvia E. Gale- Executive Director
NH Commission on the Status of Women
Universal Health Care
To the Editor:
Universal health care has laudable goals and is supported by thousands of doctors and millions of Americans. At the same time, the United States National Healthcare Act (H. R. 676), which would provide for universal coverage and a public (government run) option for health insurance coverage, is also opposed by thousands of doctors and millions of Americans. Why the disagreement?
“Public option” health insurance would initially pit the federal government against private insurance companies. Many fear that competing successfully against the government is impossible in the long term because taxpayer financing and government power make the competition ultimately futile. Insurance companies once driven out of the health insurance business will never return, leaving us with a single payer system..
Medicare and Medicaid are held out as evidence that the government can run successful medical programs. Critics point out that the programs pay less than 80% of costs and the difference is picked up by cost shifting to private insurance. They are sure that when the insurance companies are driven away and cost shifting no longer works, we will all face higher taxes and long delays for needed services – just what all of the other countries with single payer systems now face.
There are many other reasons that naysayers fear replacing the current system and its problems with a government system, but probably the biggest reason is that the government is known to over promise and significantly overspend. We are already facing trillions of dollars of new debt and the government has announced that Medicare and Medicaid are already grossly under funded.
The path to government run health care is a one way street which ends at a cliff. The country pulled back from “Hillarycare” before it was too late. We do need to reform the healthcare system, but a foolish headlong dash into “Katrinacare” would leave us all paying a higher price less care and longing for a return to today’s flawed system. Unfortunately, it would likely be impossible to return.
Mark Sykas
Stratham
Senate President Stacks the Deck
To the Editor:
I have kept my objections quiet because I thought I would let the process work as it should, but enough is enough! The Senate President has just replaced Senator Roberge on the committee for HB 73 because she didn't like Senator Roberge's vote and, to add insult to injury, she decides to replace her with a more friendly vote, who had to call in his vote. This is an absolute disgrace! It is one thing to let the process work as it should and then lose, but to change the rules and stack the deck in your favor because it's not going your way is disrespectful and a slap in the face to the voting citizens of the state of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire process.
I strongly urge you to let the Senate President know that many of us who have remained on the sidelines are now waking up and I will not forget this disgraceful act and I for one will make sure that many of my fellow voters don't forget either for 2010. That I can promise you!
