Letter
To my constituents in Allenstown, Epsom, and Pittsfield,
The new Legislature started with a session to confirm the governor’s
election and amend House Rules for the new session. The first
amendment, putting in deadlines for bills, passed with only the
Speaker’s comment that they were the same as the Senate had adopted.
Secondly, allowing concealed carry of deadly weapons on the House
floor was briefly debated and passed, 228-149, on largely party
lines. The third recommended change would double, to 20, the number
of seconds required for a roll call vote. Before the debate started,
a committee chair moved to table. That motion passed, 343-36. I was
in the minority here because I thought it should be defeated in an
up or down vote, not tabled, but most others just wanted to move on.
Finally, an amendment was brought to require the Speaker, if not the
elected leader of the Majority Caucus, to appoint that leader as
Majority Leader. This was debated quite intensely, and I spoke
briefly on the fairness issue and that with the narrow majorities
both parties have enjoyed, having a Speaker who is not the choice of
either caucus is a definite possibility. Nonetheless, the amendment
failed, 120-260.
This session, I decided to concentrate on getting bills passed, so I
moved to the committee on Resources, Recreation and Development. It
has probably half as many bills as my previous committee, so I’ll
have more time to testify and lobby. Dan is on Finance again,
Representative Alan Turcotte is on Environment and Agriculture
again, as is new Representative Michael Brewster. I was also elected
chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules
(JLCAR), and re-elected as co-chair of the House Republican
Alliance.
Interested readers can email me for my newsletter, with more details
than fit here.
Representative Carol McGuire
[email protected]
782-4918
Letter
Epsom Welfare
Thank you to all who participated in the Epsom Holiday Gift Program.
Because of the support and generosity of so many, we were able to
provide many children with toys as well as much-needed winter
clothing. It is inspiring to see a community work together in this
season of giving and it continues to be a joy to live and work in
our community. Also, thank you to the Epsom Food Pantry for all that
you are doing, including orchestrating the holiday food baskets and
collecting toys for the gift program. Happy New Year to all!
Celeste Decker,
Epsom Welfare Administrator
Letter To The Editor
The Standard of Living
At any given moment, the general standard of living is dependent
upon essentially one thing: the amount of capital available to
invest per head.
The more capital that is available to invest per head in tools and
equipment, the greater the amount of goods and services that can be
produced and made available to consumers: the higher the standard of
living.
The less capital that is available to invest per head in tools and
equipment, the fewer goods and services that can be produced and
made available to consumers: the lower the standard of living.
The key to prosperity is capital.
Individuals and businesses accumulate capital by saving, i.e., not
consuming everything they produce.
Policies which inhibit and/or prohibit individuals and businesses
from accumulating capital tend to hold down or even reduce the
general standard of living.
The income tax, capital gains tax, taxes on interest and/or
dividends, as well as the Fed’s policy of inflating the money supply
and of credit expansion (now called “Quantitative easing”) all lead
to capital consumption and a lower standard of living.
Government does not generate capital.
Government consumes capital.
Government cannot raise the general standard of living.
Government uses force or threats of force to take capital from those
who have produced it and then transfer that capital to others to
whom it does not belong and who, in turn, proceed to consume it . .
.
Or the government transforms part of the stolen capital into things
which have only limited value to only a portion of the population.
Either way, there is less capital available to invest than there was
before the government confiscated it.
Government is the principal obstacle standing between prosperity (a
higher standard of living) and the American people.
Jack Kelleher
Epsom Food Pantry
It goes without saying, it has been cold and we eat more when it is
cold. So it is a good thing we have such a well stocked Pantry. Our
supplies are doing fairly well, although we are noticing that our
availability for getting meat is definitely down, but prices in the
markets are right up there, so we notice a shortage.
But on to the more positive subjects, that being all the wonderful
monetary donations we have received. I hesitate to relate names
until I check with the folks. As I said last time, our anonymous
donors are just awesome. Milk, eggs, canned goods, you name it. If I
mention the need, someone always steps up to the plate. We have a
wonderful group of citizens in our community, and I am proud to know
them.
Remember our hours are 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday and 12:00 PM
to 2:00 PM on Wednesday. If you get in a pinch, give me a call and I
will try and help you out.
Until next time,
Priscilla
Letter To The Editor
In response to our Road Agent’s (Gordon Ellis) letter last week. He
didn’t leave an address to send his requested responses, so I
figured I would respond here.
I have attended the t-2 program that UNH teaches. I know for a fact
that Pat from UNH has never recommended to put stone on a paved
road, nor has there been other Road Agents involved.
Gordon told Pat last fall what he does and told him that it works
great and there have not been any complaints or damage done to
equipment used to spread the stone.
There have been numerous complaints over the years (chipped paint,
windshields, rocks stuck in brake rotors, etc.).
Gordon has spent approximately $15,000.00 to continually fix our
spreader because of the damage the stones have done to it in the
past couple of years. There have been several selectmen’s meetings
about this issue, and last January Don Harty (previous selectman)
instituted a road treatment policy that the board voted all in favor
of which Gordon refuses to follow.
I did some research today to find a law that states that sand is
solid waste - couldn’t find anything. If you drive outside of Epsom,
I’m sure you have seen that all towns use sand on their roads. Sand
costs about $7.00 per ton. The stone that Gordon uses costs about
$15.00 per ton. It takes more tons to treat a road with stone than
it does sand.
If you would like to put an end to this issue, send a note to our
selectmen and tell them to enforce our road treatment policy. Their
addresses are at the town’s web site.
Frustrated with the stones,
Scott Elliott
Letter To The Editor
At the end of Jack Kelleher’s letter SVS Jan 7, 2015, he asks “How
could we be so foolish as to entrust the federal government with
something as important as control over the nation’s money supply?”
The Federal Reserve is independent of the federal government by
design. The Federal Reserve belongs to the American people, just as
our democracy is suppose to belong to “the people”.
Having said that, I too am very frustrated with the actions of parts
of federal government and Federal Reserve during the last 12 years
or so. I personally believe the answer is to get big money OUT of
politics. I will do what I can to support Lawrence Lessig’s New
Hampshire Rebellion come 2016.
Further, I am interested to know how Mr Kelleher would choose to
resolve the problems he writes about?
Nancy Heath
Epsom
Obituaries
Patrick “Rick” Joseph Wickman
Epsom -
Patrick J. “Rick” Wickman, 58, passed away at home on Saturday,
January 3 2015, after a long battle with Mesothelioma
(asbestos-related cancer).
Rick was born on June 27, 1956 in Menominee, MI, to the late Herbert
and Beatryce (Malmstadt) Wickman. He graduated from Marinette High
School and moved to New Hampshire in the 1970’s, where he spent over
30 years driving tractor trailer, primarily for Roadway Express. As
a truck driver, Rick was involved with No-Zone truck-awareness
training at schools and events. He successfully competed in State
and National Truck Driving Championships from 2000 to 2012, earning
NH State Grand Champion status in 2000, and was voted NH Driver of
the Year in 2004. He also participated in truck driving
competitions to benefit St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospitals.
Rick is well-known for his fruit and grape wines, which he perfected
over many years of trial and tasting. When he wasn’t tending his
backyard vineyard, he could be found in his boat on the ocean
fishing and relaxing with his friend Dennis and his nephew Dana.
During his illness, the cards, phone calls, and visits from family
and friends helped maintain his incredibly positive outlook on life.
He was strong and courageous, and will be missed by everyone who
had the privilege to know him.
Rick is survived by his wife, Lisa (Troy) Wickman; six brothers:
Roger of Wausaukee WI, Kenneth (Becky) and David (Sabrina) of
Houston TX, Mike (Kammy) of Escanaba MI, Bob (Barb) and Steve
(Brenda) of Porterfield WI; one sister: Mari Wickman of Porterfield
WI; three daughters: Kandi (Ryan) Horton of Burlington WI, Jennifer
(Dan) LaChance of Strafford, and Laura Wickman of Dover; and six
grandchildren. Rick was predeceased by his parents and oldest
brother Gayne.
Rick’s favorite charities were Special Olympics, and the Epilepsy
Foundation.
Friends and family were invited to call at Still Oaks in Epsom on
Sunday, January 11. After a second Celebration of life to be held
in Wisconsin, Rick will be buried in Forest Home Cemetery.
An on-line guestbook is available at
www.stilloaks.com.
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