NASHUA BULLETIN May 27, 2016

Bulletin No. 18

Welcome to the Chamber's weekly legislative newsletter, The Advocate! This newsletter is our recap of what happened in Concord each week during the legislative session, and a preview of what is coming up in the following week that pertains to various business interests. Although we will be letting you know about legislation that we think is of note, don't hesitate to tell us about bills that you may be familiar with and which you think are worth our review. We exist to serve you, our members.

And The Number Is Now 8!

Over the last few weeks, we have been reporting on the remarkably large numbers of Senators who have announced that they will not be seeking reelection. Last week, the number stood at six. As this week comes to a close, the number now, amazingly, stands at eight, with announcements by Senator Sam Cataldo of Farmington and Senator Nancy Stiles of Hampton that they will not be running again.

This means that come January, even if all the remaining members of the Senate are successful in their reelection bids, fully one-third of the Senators will be brand- new. This sets up an extremely interesting election season and a novel sort of start to the 2017 session.

Thank You to Our Legislators

Until January, this edition of The Advocate will be the last of the weekly blasts that you will be seeing in your email boxes each Friday. You can be looking for the Chamber's upcoming annual final report on its work during the legislative session just past, and of course during the summer and fall we will continue to be following what is happening in Concord and reporting on that as events might dictate. Most importantly, we will continue to prepare for the 2017(!) session, and so we ask you to let us know about changes in New Hampshire statutes or rules that you would like to see being put into place.

We want to take this opportunity to express our thanks to local Senators Bette Lasky and Kevin Avard, and all of the members of the House who have served on behalf of constituents in the greater Nashua area over these past two years.

We want to especially thank Speaker of the House Shawn Jasper of Hudson and House Majority Leader Dick Hinch of Nashua, who showed great wisdom and political courage in working to get the NH Health Protection Program bill passed by the House, as was being urged by the Chamber. This was a major achievement for New Hampshire businesses and it was excellent public policy on a number of accounts. Representatives Jasper and Hinch did their jobs while always maintaining their usual collegiality and good humor, and no one should underestimate how important that has been to the operations of the House this session.

Also on this issue, we'd like to thank and acknowledge Nashua Representative Cindy Rosenwald for her leadership and in particular for her assistance in helping our CEO Tracy Hatch get up to speed quickly on such an important issue.

Last but not least, we want to salute Senator Lasky for her tireless efforts on the rail issue. Although (through no lack of effort on Senator Lasky's part) the funding proposal fell just short of gaining the necessary votes in the House and Senate (and a thank-you also to Senator Avard for his vote on behalf of rail), her long efforts did pay off on SB 549, the bill to establish public- private partnerships for intermodal transportation projects. This legislation took almost two years to be developed and passed, and it is a dedication to what can be done through perseverance. Truly a job well done.

Memorial Day

We close, as we do on this weekend each year, by honoring all those who have given life, limb or well-being in the service of our country. These words of Theodore O'Hara are inscribed on the McClellan Gate at Arlington National Cemetery:

"The muffled drum's sad roll has beat

The soldier's last tattoo;

No more on Life's parade shall meet

That brave and fallen few.

On fame's eternal camping ground

Their silent tents to spread,

And glory guards, with solemn round

The bivouac of the dead."

Tracy Hatch

President & CEO

Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

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