NH INSIDER

Legislation will create more jobs and strengthen economy

Organizing for America (OFA)-New Hampshire Director Tim Arsenault today released the following statement on President Obama’s signing of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, a bill that will fuel job growth and strengthen the economy by encouraging businesses to hire new workers and invest in their companies and communities:

“President Obama’s signing of the bipartisan HIRE Act, a bill that will help create more jobs and strengthen our nation’s economy, is another critical part of the President’s plan to turn our economy around.  While there is still more work to do, Granite Staters and all Americans should be proud of the progress President Obama and Congress have made in bringing our economy back from the brink of collapse.

“Thanks to President Obama’s leadership, our economy is growing again and we are no longer on the verge of a depression.  But those economic statistics are cold comfort to the millions of Americans still looking for work.  That is why President Obama and Congress have been working tirelessly to encourage job creation in our nation’s private sector, the engine of our economy. 

“The HIRE Act signed today is just one of several job-creating measures that President Obama has championed to help get Americans back to work.  The tax breaks and other provisions this bill provides to businesses will help encourage the creation of new jobs.  Right now Americans need jobs, and this bill will go a long way in accomplishing that goal.  I want to thank President Obama and Congress for their bold and decisive actions to address our nation’s struggling economy.”

The HIRE Act:

1.      Forgives payroll taxes on new employees hired by businesses by the end of the year in cases where the employee has been out of work for at least the past two months.

2.      Allowing small businesses to write off investments in equipment this year.

3.      Reform municipal bonds in a way that encourages investments in schools and clean energy.

4.      Maintain investments in construction projects throughout the spring and summer.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) ― New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter is lending her support to a bill that would help protect troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from the disposal of toxic waste in open air burn pits.

The bill would prohibit the disposal of the toxins in burn pits and ensure that the thousands of troops exposed to those elements receive proper medical care. Hundreds of troops have become sick from overexposure to the toxins.

The bill calls for a registry documenting the exposures in order to remove obstacles to accessing VA care benefits. It also pushes for a ban on the open-air burning of large quantities of plastics.

New York Congressman Tim Bishop is sponsoring the bill. Shea-Porter is the lead co-sponsor.



NH Legislature Re-Convenes
Heating Aid Attempt Fails; House Kicks Payday Lending Down the Road

The Senate attempted but ultimately failed to temporarily shift funds now dedicated to energy efficiency to the state's Electric Assistance Program. The move was expected to assist an estimated 8,000 low-income NH residents on a waiting list for help paying energy bills this winter. 

In a dramatic vote over in the NH House, lawmakers last week overturned a committee recommendation to kill SB193 - a bill which would extend New Hampshire's 36% interest rate cap on payday and car title loans to cover all small loans. It didn't pass that day but it survived to see another day - January 20 - when another House vote will be taken.  The bill is supported by a number of organizations as well as NH Banking Commissioner Peter Hildreth. More information about this bill and what it would do from Sarah Mattson or Jon Baird, NH Legal Assistance, 206-2214. Because of the tight vote, your calls in support of capping the interest rate on small loans to your House members over the next week are important. Click here to find contacts for your state representatives.

This Wednesday, the House will vote on other bills carried over from 2009 that may be of interest. HB 304, an assisted suicide bill, is recommended inexpedient to legislate. Against the backdrop of the spread of H1N1 and a tough economy, the Committee studying paid sick leave for workers has  recommended the idea be referred for further study. A bill to ban all live dog racing in the state - with both NH dog tracks now closed - is recommended to pass. HB 642, which would establish a flat rate education income tax, while reducing statewide property, business and other taxes has been rejected by the House Ways & Means Committee, which is asking the House to agree and kill the proposal.

Legislation to expand gaming in NH, for and against new forms of taxation, for and against expanding healthcare for low and moderate-income children through Healthy Kids, same-sex marriage, abortion and other measures are proposed in what is shaping up to be a busy year for policy makers. We will report on matters of priority to Council members. If you work on policy matters for your denomination, please contact Policy Associate Laurel Redden with news of your work at 894-5931 or Laurel@nhchurches.org.

Concord, NH – Legislators and small-business owners are rallying in opposition to the newly created income tax on small business owners, the so-called LLC Tax, and will testify Wednesday morning at the only public hearing to be held on this new tax. 

"Implementing a 13.5% income tax on small business owners, and doing so in the midst of a recession, will hurt small businesses and cripple their ability to create new jobs in New Hampshire," said Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon.  "We stand with our state's small business owners in opposition to this new income tax and urge them to join us at Wednesday's hearing. We also invite Governor Lynch to attend the hearing and listen to the concerns of New Hampshire businesses.”

The following legislators and small business owners and advocates oppose or plan to testify against the small business income tax at the public hearing to be held Wednesday at 10 AM at the Department of Revenue Administration's training room, located at 109 Pleasant Street in Concord.

Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire

Senator Jeb Bradley

Senator Peter Bragdon

Cornerstone - Action

Andrew Hemingway, Owner of Online Sports Coaching, LLC

Representative David Hess

New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association

Andy Sanborn, Owner of the Draft Restaurant

Small Business Small Industry Association of New Hampshire

STEWARD of Prosperity

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter introduced two pieces of legislation that recognize and honor our nation’s service members and their families.  Shea-Porter introduced a resolution that recognizes the contributions of the New Hampshire National Guard (NHNG). She also introduced legislation that honors the spouses of our military men and women who have served in combat zones.

Shea-Porter’s resolution recognizes the NHNG’s service to the State of New Hampshire and their contributions to the domestic and international missions of the Armed Forces.

“Members of the New Hampshire National Guard are patriotic Americans that have contributed greatly to our Armed Forces,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “They have helped our state recover from numerous natural disasters, were first responders to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and have served our nation honorably.  They deserve this recognition.”

The Military Spouse Pin Act would present an official lapel pin to the spouses of service members that have served in a combat zone for more than thirty days.  Lapel pins would be distributed to all spouses of service members who have been deployed since September 11, 2001.  Spouses of service members deployed prior to September 11^th will also be eligible to apply for the pin if they wish to do so. 

“Military spouses are often the glue that holds families together while their spouses are fighting overseas,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “For their service, sacrifice, and patriotism, military spouses should be honored alongside the military men and women they stand beside.”