The
Pittsfield Area Senior Center will be offering an AARP Safe Driving
Program at the center on Tuesday, February 15, and Wednesday,
February 16th from 9 am to 1 pm. Also on February 15th,
(Tuesday) you may come in between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm for Free
Volunteer Income Tax Preparation Assistance. Call the center
at 435-8482 for an appointment.
Dylan Thomas Smith graduated from Bishop Brady High School
in Concord, NH and is a third year student in the UMaine
Construction Management Technology program. He is the
second recipient of MBTA’s Kenneth W. Burrill Scholarship.
For
two summers, Dylan has worked for Pike Industries, and his
experience has included projects such as the installation of
high-speed tollbooths in Hampton, NH and the resurfacing of I-95 in
the Portsmouth area. He is Vice President of the student
chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. His career
goal is to work in road construction. Congratulations, Dylan!
The American Legion in Epsom will not hold a supper for the
month of February.
Do you have a refrigerator that you would like to donate to
someplace in need? The American Legion in Epsom is that
place and is looking for a refrigerator. Contact Walter at
736-9754 with any info.
A Few Of My Favorite Things 2011 Submitted By
Meggin Dail
Having things to look forward to; how excited Carson is to tell me
about his day in Kindergarten; Iced Coffee deliveries; sales on
Pillsbury cake mixes; walking with friends; Facebook moral support;
calendars; playing Nancy Drew computer games with Earnhardt;
directing a show I love; organization; shopping locally; being on
the same page; strong women; trying new recipes; peanuts covered in
dark chocolate; birthdays; cousins; DVRs; photography; rekindling
old friendships; finding new friendships; great hair days; cozy
sweaters; the change of seasons; yard sale finds; Liz Claiborne &
Ann Taylor; cooking and DIY magazines; horoscopes; fairy lights;
hugs; Nachos Cowabunga at Margaritas; date night; voicemails that
start with, “Hey, beautiful..."
Letter
The
Old Epsom Meeting House needs to meet codes and accept the fact that
certain additions and changes are necessary to make safe these
premises so as to protect any invitee that may enter there upon.
I
can’t imagine any insurance company volunteering to insure this
building against any peril. We can’t have a sign at the door
which reads: “ Enter at your own risk.” Don’t forget this
building is setting on land owned by the town of Epsom. This could
conceivably be a target for a tort action leading to liability for
damages. My hat is off to Fire Capt. Matt Moulton for doing the job
in his usual professional and thorough manner.
Jim
Breagy Epsom
Letter
To
my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom, and Pittsfield: Tuesday, my
committee heard HJR3, which enjoined the Board of Mental Health from
adopting all their new rules. This was necessary because the way
they interpreted the law on their investigative powers was violating
the patient privacy protections in a different section of their law!
These conflicting provisions have to be reconciled, and it’s the
legislature’s duty to fix the laws. After the hearing, we voted 11-0
to send this to the House for adoption.
The
committee also heard two bills on the rule making process: my HB211,
which incorporates legislative committee review of new rules and
requires the legislative committee on rules to actually vote to
allow a rule to go into effect; and HB222, which allows any town to
object to any rule, requires notice of fee increases, and eliminates
many sections of law that broadly allow agencies to make rules. I
was surprised to discover how many places allow agencies to create
rules – with the full effect of law – on a wide range of topics.
These two are going to subcommittee and will be amended and probably
combined before going to the House.
Finally, we heard HB260, another fire code/building code bill that
is also going to subcommittee with the other two. The more we look
into these codes and how they are enforced, the more troublesome it
seems to get. HB260 was sponsored by Representative Mirski, who is
an architect specializing in renovating old buildings, so he could
speak with authority about the conflicting code provisions and the
inconsistent interpretation across the state.
Anyone interested in what is going on in the State House is invited
to email or call me. Anyone who wants more information than I can
fit into a letter in the Sun should email me for my newsletter.
Representative Carol McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
Granite State Taxpayers (GST) Supports Insurance Choice Bill
By Jim Adams, Chairman GST
Granite State Taxpayers (GST) announces their support for House Bill
241 “Free Market Option Available for Health Insurance.” This bill
would allow New Hampshire residents to buy medical insurance that
suits their own needs without any government mandated coverage.
Presently people have two options for health insurance: They can buy
(either on their own or through an employer) the bloated “one size
fits all” insurance mandated by the legislature, OR they can go
without any insurance. Judging by what we read and see, more and
more people are choosing to go without insurance.
HB
241 would allow people (and insurers) not just a single third
option. It would allow as many options as suit both people and
insurers. People would be able to buy insurance that suits their
risks and pocketbook. Under the proposed law, thin people wouldn’t
be forced to buy coverage for bariatric surgery, and people who
aren’t going to have children wouldn’t be forced to buy pregnancy
coverage. For those who so choose, the present system will still be
an option.
Insurers will be able to look at people (and families) and base
coverage and premiums on the risks that people choose to take.
Smokers, the obese and others who’ve chosen high health risk
lifestyles will pay higher premiums, while people who choose lower
risk lifestyles will pay much lower premiums. People will be able to
balance the financial risk they can take themselves with the amount
of risk coverage they want to buy.
For
some the concept will sound revolutionary. However, it really isn’t
anything new. It’s the system that worked in “the good old days”
when everyone could afford medical care, and insurance was something
you bought to cover unexpected catastrophes.
Granite State Taxpayers is 100% behind HB 241, and a return to real
choice in healthcare. We’ve had enough of Concord and Washington
bureaucrats telling us what’s good for us while healthcare has
become a national crisis. New Hampshire can, and should lead the way
in returning to a system where people control their own healthcare.
If
HB 241 passes, people will be able to buy real insurance that will
protect them in the case of catastrophic illness or accident.
For
more information please contact Jim Adams, GST Chairman, at
435-8125.
Letter
To
my constituents: While most of my time in the legislature is
spent in the Finance Committee, trying to find ways to close an
almost one billion dollar budget gap (suggestions welcome), one of
my bills was heard by the Election Law Committee this past week and
was reported in various newspapers, so I thought I’d tell you about
it.
Have you ever voted for some candidate instead of your first choice?
Most likely that happened because you didn’t think your first choice
would be competitive and you didn’t want to throw your vote away.
My bill, HB240, would reduce this kind of gamesmanship in voting,
and let you always vote for your first choice.
It
does it in a very subtle way, by eliminating the restriction against
over voting. Right now if you vote for two or more candidates
in a one-winner race, say a primary election for Governor, your vote
will be thrown out. With HB240, it would count.
At
first this seems fairly odd, but when you think about it logically,
it is easy to see the advantages. It allows you to consider
each candidate as an individual. Would you be happy with that
candidate in that office, or not? It is almost like a separate
referendum on each candidate. The winner would still the be
person with the most votes; the one who was approved of by the most
voters.
This method should lead to happier voters because they can express
themselves on the ballot better; happier candidates because they
learn their true level of support, and fewer problems caused by
vote-splitting, spoilers and gamesmanship.
I
encourage you to contact me with any of your thoughts or concerns
about state government.
Yours, Rep. Dan McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
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