The first full week of hearings at the NH House begins with one of the most significant education bills of the year, universal school vouchers. House Bill 115-FN would expand the already unaccountable school voucher program regardless of income. Initial projections of the cost of such a program would exceed $100 million of state money which diverts public money which could be used to support our local public schools and provide property tax relief.

The legislature needs to focus on funding an adequate education for our public school students, fully fund special education, and support the more than 90% of NH students who attend these public schools. The current school voucher program has no guardrails or unaccountability. Public dollars need to be dedicated to our public schools.

ACTION REQUEST

If you agree that legislators need to support our public schools and stop this unwieldly expansion of the school voucher plan, please let the House Education Committee know that you OPPOSE HB 115.

Please use this link to register your opposition to universal vouchers.

Click on the link below to register your opposition to HB 115-FN:

link: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

1.   Fill in your Personal Information.

2.  Select the relevant date and committee for the hearing by clicking on it in the Meeting Schedule Calendar. HB 115-FN on January 16th

3.   In the dropbox below "Select the Committee," select committee. House Education Funding

4.   In the dropbox below "Choose the Bill," select the appropriate time and bill number. 1:00 PM – HB 115-FN

5.   Select the appropriate option for the "I am" dropbox (likely "Member of the Public").

6.   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."

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

8.  After filling in all the appropriate dropboxes, click “Submit.”

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

10. Press “Continue.”

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

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

Thank you for standing up for New Hampshire’s public schools.

On Sat., Jan. 18th, there is a “People’s March” planned from 1:00-2:30 in downtown Keene. This is in concert with hundreds of other marches that will take place nationally on the same day. Want more information? Click on peoplesmarch.com where you can also register. Then spread the word on your social media, and tell family and friends of this upcoming event. Signs are welcome, you could arrange a sign-making party beforehand or bring some extra signs to share. 

The goal is to connect with each other, inspiring and energizing each other to defend our freedoms, our families, and our future. American's democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it. We are all in this together. We can take actions locally that will make a difference, large or small. For instance, attending school board hearings where right now, budgets are being worked on, contacting your representatives on upcoming legislation in Concord, and, very importantly, getting out to vote for local candidates in March! Local governance is just as important to every day life.

We will begin our march to Central Square from Keene State College, meeting at 1:00 at the Appian Way Gate on 229 Main St. Continuing up on Main St. to Central Square, gathering together in solidarity for democracy until 2:30. There will be music, camaraderie and incorporating ideas of what we can do to preserve our threatened democracy.

Please join us at the Keene People's March on Saturday, Jan. 18, and be sure to register at peoplesmarch.com.

“Never be discouraged from being an activist because people tell you that you'll not succeed. You have already succeeded if you're out there representing truth or justice or compassion or fairness or love.”

“Democracy is not something we have. It is something we do.”

Doris Haddock “Granny D”    Jan. 24, 1910 – March 9, 2010

On January 3 I had the pleasure of attending the reception for the swearing in of Maggie Goodlander, our new Congresswoman from New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District. 

There was a pretty good contingent of people - constituents and supporters - who had come down from NH to attend the event. Keene, in particular, was well-represented, and I also appreciate that our new Executive Councilor, Karen Liot Hill made the trip down.

The highlight was when retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Bryer had Maggie take the oath again. I tried to get a good picture, with limited success.

I later got to talk to Maggie for a little bit and, as always, I was impressed by her sincerity in wanting to serve the people she now represents.

Some thoughts on this day, the four year “anniversary” of the (alleged) attempt by a so-called president to incite an insurrection.

Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights

“Section 3 Disqualification from Holding Office:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Ratified after the Civil War, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, sometimes referred to as the “Insurrection Clause” or “Disqualification Clause”, disqualifies any person from being a Senator, Representative, or elector of the President or Vice-President, or from holding any federal or state military or civil office, if that person has: (1) sworn to support the Constitution as a Member of Congress, officer of the United States, member of a State legislature, or state executive or judicial officer; and (2) then engages in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution or gives aid or comfort to its enemies. Section 3 further provides that Congress may remove the bar from an otherwise disqualifed person by a two-thirds vote in each House.

Section 3 has rarely been used. In 1872, Congress removed the disqualification bar from all persons except Senators and Representatives of the 36th and 37th Congresses, officers in the judicial, military and naval services, heads of departments and foreign ministers of the US. In 1898, Congress enacted greater legislation removing the remaining Section 3 disability brought on during the Civil War. Act of June 6, 1898, ch. 389, 30 Stat. 432 (the disability imposed by section 3 . . . incurred heretofore, is hereby removed.). During the Reconstruction Era, a lower court held Congress first had to adopt legislation providing for removal from office in order to give effect to Section 3 and, without such legislation, persons in office before the 14th Amendment was put into effect, continued to lawfully exercise their positions. 

On March 4, 2024, in its only decision specifically interpreting Section 3, the US Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Trump v. Anderson that states can’t enforce Section 3 against federal officeholders or candidates. With that ruling, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court holding Trump to be ineligible for the office of President under Section 3 on the grounds that he engaged in insurrection, therefore, couldn’t be listed on the Colorado presidential primary ballot. 

And here we are . . . again . . .

“Do not obey in advance.” 

Timothy Snyder, historian, author

What is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) makes up the shared culture,  philosophy and relationship of acknowledging, embracing, supporting and accepting those of all differing gender, racial, religious, sexual and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Diversity recognizes the many ways people are different.
Equity tries to correct the imbalance of an unequal society by creating more opportunities for people who historically have had less access. (Equality expects all people should be treated the same, equity takes into account a person’s individual situation, adapts accordingly so the end result is equal.)
Inclusion puts diversity into practice by respecting, supporting, welcoming and valuing all individuals and groups.

Now, what is the Office of Health Equity? That department goes back to 1999, starting out as Office of Minority Health and renamed in 2016 to the Office of Health Equity (OHE). It falls under the umbrella of NH Dept. of Health and Human Services. They provide coaching, guidance, policy, training and technical assistance throughout the whole Department for ongoing improvement related to diversity, equity and inclusion. OHE assures equal opportunity to the beneficial DHHS programs and services across all populations; ethnic, gender and sexual minorities, language, people with disabilities and racial.

What is the Governor’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?

The Council works together with the NH Commission for Human Rights, the Civil Rights Unit of the NH Dept. of Justice, and any other appropriate State entities. The Council was established by Executive Order 2017-09  in Dec. 2017.

-They revisit NH laws, regulations, agency policies and procedures. If necessary, they recommend changes or amendments. 

-Identify and recommend ways for the State to support local and community efforts, through educational programs or other sources. 

-Identify and recommend revisions to RSA 354-A and the exact duties of the Commission for Human Rights to fight discrimination while advancing diversity and inclusion.

-Identify and recommend ways for the State to partner with non-governmental organizations to fight discrimination while advancing diversity and inclusion.

What is NH’s Dept. of Environmental Services civil rights and environmental justice all about?

According to the Commissioner, NHDES is dedicated to making sure of equal participation in all activities, programs and projects, regardless of federal funding. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, requires that no person shall be discriminated against, denied the benefit of, or excluded from participation in any program due to race, color, or national origin. Additionally, they ensure equal participation regardless of age, citizenship status, disability, gender identity, income, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, or any other legally prohibited basis. To achieve this goal, NHDES have adopted a Civil Rights and Nondiscrimination Implementation Plan to make sure proper nondiscrimination measures are put into effect and supervised.

Sounds like a good thing, or maybe not to some . . .?

Rep. Mike Belcher (R-Wakefield), Liberty Alliance and Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) member, would like to see all that go away. He has sponsored a bill proposing to close those three departments, claiming that “no positive work” comes from them.  Rep. Belcher, opines “. . .these departments entirely fly in the face of historic understanding of the nature of government and improperly provide for a form of partiality based on different characteristics from religion to sex to race.”  

Hoo-boy!

Actually, these are guardrails put in place to fight what seems to be a never-ending battle against discrimination aimed at “the other.” Human rights are not a matter of opinion.

Ummm, why the effort to reverse all that?

College is expensive, yes. But the cost of child care can be just as daunting for some families. In 2023 the annual cost for an infant in a child care center was $17,250, rising to $31,870 for families with an infant and a 3 or 4 year-old in child care. Currently, New Hampshire has over 7,000 (26%) child care positions open, but burnout and low wages are pushing care takers from the field and causing some centers to close. Care takers are often striving to care for their own young children while earning wages that are scarcely above the federal poverty line. 

In 2020, NH received around $146 million in federal funds, a one time assistance for child care providers to get through the COVID pandemic. That funding has now run out.

The state will soon be offering a new temporary subsidy program for child care workers to help pay for their own children’s care. It is also the hope of the state these care takers will continue on in their role. A little info:

The state’s current child care scholarship is capped at 85% of state median income. To be eligible, for a family of four, that comes out to about $113,430 a year. This temporary assistance for child care workers raises the cap to 100%, or for a family of four, roughly $133,450 a year. Example; a family of four earning $125,000 would see their annual cost capped at $8,750. 

The subsidy can be used for child care at licensed centers, licensed home centers, and licensed-exempt centers that are state registered and enrolled in the state’s existing child care scholarship programs. Children can go to day care where their parents’ work or any other eligible child care programs.

According to state estimates, as many as 200 child care workers may be able to qualify for this program. If you are in the child care workforce or know of someone who is, please share this information with them. Visit this website to see if you qualify and if so, to apply.

Last week I wrote about the history of vaccines in this country and how many diseases are now either preventable or have reduced symptoms. Also mentioned was proposed legislation to repeal the law that created the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. So, this is basically following up on what the NHVA is. 

NHVA became a law on June 17, 2002, and was incorporated in Nov. 2002. In 2013, the New Hampshire legislature revised this law which is RSA 126-Q, ensuring assessments are shared equally among payers.

The New Hampshire Vaccine Association is a 501 (c) (3), a not-for-profit voluntary corporation working to improve childhood vaccine accessibility. All while keeping the cost of health care low. NHVA funds NH’s universal vaccine purchasing program through a combined approach with health care providers, insurers and the NH Depts. of Insurance and Health and Human Services.

They do not make vaccine laws or policy for the state. They collect and manage the state’s vaccine funding. This way, the state can purchase vaccines for all children, despite their family income or insurance coverage. 

To learn more about the NH Vaccine Association visit their website.

With so many more important issues facing the citizens of NH, such as affordable, available housing, mental health treatment, homelessness and high property taxes, why target the mission of an organization whose goal is to keep schoolchildren safe and healthy? 

I don’t know who needs to hear this but, Polio and Smallpox never reached natural herd immunity. 

They were eradicated by vaccines. Our nation’s fight against diseases goes way back:

-In 1798 the Marine Health Service was established, the nation’s first public health agency. It provided hospital care for merchant seamen while protecting port cities against diseases such as smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever.

-In 1885 Louis Pasteur first used rabies vaccine in humans. Three years later, the Pasteur Institute was established as a rabies treatment center and an infectious diseases research and training institute.

-In 1893 city and state public health departments began mass production of diphtheria antitoxin. Three years later, cholera and typhoid vaccines were first developed.

-In 1902 the Biologics Control Act was formed, regulating vaccine and antitoxin producers, also required licensing and inspections of manufacturers. 

-In 1906 the Pure Food and Drugs Act was formed, which prohibited interstate commerce in misbranded and adulterated foods, drinks, and drugs. Two years later, the first county health departments were formed.

-In 1914 the typhoid and rabies vaccines were first licensed.

-In 1928 the first iron lung was used to preserve breathing function in patients with severe polio.

-In 1937 an absorbed form of tetanus toxoid was licensed and the Division of Biologics Control was formed within the National Institute of Health, transferring to the FDA in 1972.  

-In 1942 Hepatitis A and B viruses were first differentiated. That same year, influenza A/B vaccine was introduced to the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, licensed in 1945 and, after WWII, used for civilians.

-In 1949 diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) were licensed, and the last case of polio was reported in the US. However, in 1952 the worst recorded polio epidemic in US history occurred with 57,628 reported cases.

-In 1953 the yellow fever vaccine was first licensed.

-In 1955 the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act was enacted by Congress, the first federal involvement in immunization activities. It allowed Congress to allocate funds to the Communicable Disease Center (later the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to help states and local communities acquire and administer vaccines. 

-In 1961 oral polio vaccine types 1 and 2, developed by Dr. Albert Sabin, were licensed.

-In 1962 Pres. John F. Kennedy signed the Vaccination Assistance Act into law, allowing the CDC to support mass immunization campaigns and initiate maintenance programs. Oral polio vaccine type 3 was now licensed.

-In 1966 the World Health Assembly called for global smallpox eradication. The CDC announced the first national measles eradication campaign. Within two years, measles outbreaks had decreased by more than 90% compared with prevaccine-era levels.

-In 1967 the Global Smallpox Eradication Program was launched by WHO (World Health Organization)

-In 1973 the measles and mumps virus vaccine became licensed.

-In 1977 Joseph A. Califano Jr., Sec. of the Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare (later Health and Human Services) launched the National Childhood Immunization Initiative intending to achieve 90% vaccination levels among all children.

-In 1980 the World Health Assembly certified the world free of naturally occurring smallpox.

Lots of nasty diseases out there. Luckily, we have scientists, doctors and organizations who work tirelessly in understanding, isolating, treating and eventually eradicating some of them. So why would some legislators in Concord want to reverse that trend? 

Liberty Alliance and Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) member Rep. Michael Granger, R-Milton Mills, has proposed a repeal of the law that created the NH Vaccine Association. This organization helps the state purchase vaccines at low rates. Rep. Granger, the prime sponsor of this proposed legislation, was endorsed by the conservative, libertarian organization known as Americans for Prosperity (AFP) founded by the billionaire Koch brothers, the same Koch who donates to the advisory board of Project 2025.

The other proposed bill is sponsored by YAL member Rep. Kelley Potenza, R-Strafford, and if passed would end the requirement of children receiving vaccinations before entering public schools, such as diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, rubeola and tetanus.

Rep. Potenza claims vaccines don’t prevent the transmission of disease therefore shouldn’t be a requirement. The CDC and other experts claim otherwise, noting they are vital for personal and public health. Hard to believe but there currently are communities in the country that have such low polio vaccination rates, there is now a real possibility of a resurgence of polio in the U.S.

Why would some New Hampshire legislators want to willingly expose young children to diseases that can either be prevented or have the symptoms weakened?

As we have seen more and more abnormal and extreme weather along with rising sea-levels, coastal communities and ecosystems have been under immediate threat. Nearly 40% of Americans reside in coastal communities, annually contributing roughly $10 trillion in goods and services to the economy. These areas are now affected more and more by coastal hazards and extreme flooding. In 2023, the US encountered 28 separate destructive climate and weather events costing at least $1 billon, totaling $92.9 billion. 

In 2018, the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) was founded. They invest in conservation projects aimed at increasing, restoring, and strengthening natural infrastructure. This would include coastal forests, marshes and wetlands, beach and dune systems, oyster and coral reefs, rivers and floodplains, and barrier islands which soften impacts of coastal hazards and storms to neighboring communities. 

The NCRF partners with the Dept. of Defense, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Occidental Petroleum Corp., and the American branch of the Shell company (oil and gas).

Recently, nearly $1 million is now making its way to New Hampshire through grants totaling $139 million. These grants were awarded to 31 other coastal states and American territories in order “​​to support nature-based solutions for coastal resilience.” According to NFWF, the money will fund stream-crossing projects in the state’s coastal wetlands and “will result in a pipeline of at least 10 restoration projects to expand habitat for native species, including American eel, brook trout, and American shad, while mitigating flood risk from a 100-year storm event.”

This grant money is destined for the Merrimack River watershed to be used in conservation work. Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated, “New Hampshire’s outdoor economy is one of the state’s most important industries and it’s critical we invest in conservation and resiliency to keep it that way while also protecting and preserving our environment for generations to come.”

With a new in-coming “administration” it remains to be seen what will happen to departments like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and efforts to combat extreme weather and climate change.

Here in New Hampshire, a law was passed in 2021 banning abortions after six months of pregnancy. The only exceptions were to protect the mother’s life or fetuses with fatal anomalies. 

OK, now fast forward to election season 2024 . . .

Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte had repeatedly stated throughout her campaign she would not change NH’s abortion laws or restrict abortion access or infertility treatments like IVF (in vitro fertilization) Kelly Ayotte: Protecting IVF for New Hampshire Families but her past political performances show otherwise.

From 2011 to 2017, Ayotte was the Senator from NH. During that time, she supported the Blunt amendment and the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act permitting employers and insurance companies to deny coverage of birth control and IVF. The amendment failed and the 2011 proposed legislation for the “act” was never voted on. In 2014, Ayotte and 33 other Senators pushed for a vote on the bill “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act”, which would ban abortions nationally after 20 weeks except in cases of incest, rape or the life of the mother. The bill did not pass.

This past Sept., Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem) declared fellow Republican House members were “not touching the issue.” Number 9 on their 10 point “Contract with New Hampshire” list states, Protect Commonsense Abortion Law. Fellow Liberty Alliance member and House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) called the list “. . .a promise to all of our citizens that we’ll protect and preserve the freedoms we cherish as Granite Staters.” 

Except if you’re a female of child bearing age.

Already there is Republican proposed abortion legislation gearing up for the next session set to begin in the new year. Rep. Glenn Cordelli R-Tuftonboro), Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) and Liberty Alliance member is proposing a “precautionary” bill designed to bring about civil and criminal penalties for the “recruitment, harboring, or transporting” of a pregnant minor for an abortion without parental permission. The exception being an emancipated minor. Has this happened anywhere in NH? Cordelli doesn’t know, hence the “precaution.”

Fellow YAL member Rep. John Sellers, (R-Bristol) wants students in high school to have complete knowledge of what having an abortion is all about. He admits he hasn’t heard anything from his constituents on this matter, but, you know, precautionary. Perhaps this would be included in a science class? Sellers would also be in support of a 6 or 15-week abortion ban as that is what he has heard from his constituents about.  

Liberty Alliance member Rep. Katy Peternel (R-Wolfboro) has sponsored a bill “relative to restrictions on elective abortion.” Who knows what that means. Hopefully, there will be more information on this in the future. 

So much for “not touching the issue.”

Oh, by the way, NH is also the only state in New England that hasn’t codified a right to abortion in our state Constitution.