GMCC Capitol Insight

Sponsors

Editorial Board

Brad Cook
Sheehan Phinney

Bass + Green

Bruce Berke
Sheehan Phinney
Capitol Group

Valerie Acres

Sheehan Phinney
Capitol Group

Henry Veilleux

Sheehan Phinney
Capitol Group

Erle Pierce

Sheehan Phinney

Capitol Group

Will Stewart
Greater Manchester
Chamber of Commerce

A legislature of, for and by the people

Erle Pierce, Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group

While talk of budgets, auto dealers' bill of rights and the ongoing hearings of how gambling might fit into the social fabric of our State dominates headlines, the Legislature does conduct other hearings for those issues important to small groups of people seeking legislative assistance to advance causes for which they are very passionate.

Here are a couple of examples of how handling those issues are at the heart of our citizen legislature:

A hearing was held on Thursday that pitted local fishermen against those who want to protect the State's loon population. As with most bills, one must read more than the title to get a sense of the real issue.

The fishermen are not convinced banning the use of all lead sinkers solves the loon mortality problem. In testimony, fishermen did not come out saying they didn't care about loons but when the State now wants to apply penalties for having lead sinkers in your possession, forcing them to buy new lead free tackle, they wanted to be sure the lead sinker problem was real.

Proponents of banning all lead sinkers want to outlaw the use of lead in fishing tackle in order to be sure that lead is not a widespread contributor to the ancient bird's mortality rate.

This was an example of civil discourse, with members of each side pleading their case to those who help craft the laws by which we live, work, and play in New Hampshire.

Another seemingly innocuous bill that demonstrates the closeness business can have with our legislature related to a road sign.

Ragged Mountain Ski Area sought to replace the sign that has stood at the foot of their access road since the ski area opened in the 1970's. Because of state transportation and local zoning laws that had changed over the years, the existence of that sign had been grandfathered, requiring the sign to be removed if it was ever upgraded or changed. Forced with having to remove the sign, the folks at Ragged Mountain petitioned the legislature for relief, and it was granted. They now can upgrade their sign and leave it where it stands today.

The message here is very simple. Even with some of its "warts,"our legislative process is here for the people of our State and we should never, ever be afraid to contact our local legislators to ask for help!

Good infrastructure: we all want it, but how to pay for it?

Will Stewart, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

For New Hampshire's economy to flourish, the state must maintain an adequate infrastructure network. Funding such a network, however, has proved challenging.

That's why the Chamber was pleased to testify in support Senate Bill 192 at a House Public Works and Highways Committee public hearing on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, SB 192 would establish a committee to study the establishment of a state infrastructure bank. Other states have created such infrastructure banks to help fund state and local infrastructure projects at a savings to taxpayers. It's worth determining if such a funding mechanism could also work here in New Hampshire.

We certainly need to do something differently.

Indeed, as New Hampshire Public Radio recently reported, "New Hampshire was given a 'C' grade by the American Society of Civil Engineers for the condition of its roads and bridges." Likewise, "New Hampshire was rated among the worst in the country for the poor condition of its bridges by Transportation For America. On average, bridges are older in New Hampshire than those in the rest of the country. There are hundreds of bridges on the so-called 'red list,' which means that the bridges have major structural problems and need to be repaired or replaced."

"The majority of New Hampshire's infrastructure funding comes from vehicle registration fees and gas taxes. The state takes out fewer bond loans than other states and considers its funding a "pay as you go" system. The gas tax, the lowest in New England, has not been raised since 1991. The 2011 Legislature did away with a motor vehicle fee increase, a change that has meant more than $30 million a year in cuts to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation," which makes projects like the needed expansion of I-93 all the more challenging.

With infrastructure funding in short supply, we urge the legislature to study any and all infrastructure funding mechanisms, including infrastructure banks.