Every year, the NH Liberty Alliance tackles the monumental task of analyzing and rating each and every bill submitted to the NH legislature, in preparation for advocacy efforts in and around the halls of power, as well as rating our "representatives" based on their voting records. To that end, each year new volunteers need to be brought up to speed with the process, and old hands need to be apprised of any improvements to the ever-evolving rating software. Herewith, this year's first effort, 12/12/2009, with over 2 dozen in attendance, as an introduction to the process.
Anyone, anywhere can participate in the bill review process. If challenging NH state government's interpretive monopoly on legislative voodoo sounds intriguing to you, visit the NHLA website and get involved.
Hands-On
Q&A
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Concord Does 420
NH 420 celebrations come to the halls of power, the NH State House, this Guy Fawkes Day, 11/5/2009. Celebrants are threatened with free speech limitation infractions, and not with controlled substance violations. Go figure...
I had to leave for a Capitol Access taping, but from what I hear, the supply having been merrily spent, the scofflaws dispersed naturally a few minutes later.
I had to leave for a Capitol Access taping, but from what I hear, the supply having been merrily spent, the scofflaws dispersed naturally a few minutes later.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
NH Rep Dan Itse Calls Out the House. Again.
And yet again, we must inquire, why aren't they embarrassed? Even just a little bit. But no-o-o-o. . . The first time, no one seemed sufficiently and justifiably contrite. This time, from 10/28/2009 -- the same day the Senate couldn't see fit to extricate itself from peaceful individuals' medical decisions -- is clearly no different.
Rep. Itse first references last term's SB153, "relative to business practices between motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and dealers," specifically. But he could just as easily have used as examples the recently eviscerated payday loan industry. Or any of the far too numerous professional licensing boards and mandatory requirements in NH (one of the most onerous lists in the country), and all of which directly restrict the forms of contracts into which your state "allows" you to enter. Our government is flatly prohibited from passing such legislation by the Constitution, by rule of law, and all these are just violations of merely one particular Constitutional provision.
Then Rep. Itse goes on to cite intentional Constitutional limitations on the imposition of taxes. You know, like income taxes?
And what is the reaction of this august body to the notion that they've violated their oaths (which they took most recently less than a year ago), and that violation thereof is, in fact, a serious matter for honest citizens? Chortles. Snickers from the peanut gallery, so to speak. It's just so much mindless trivia, not an intentional proscription on the expansion of government's delegated authority that they should be remotely expected in any substantive way to adhere to. And then -- get this -- they quite vocally don't want a record of his chiding published! Stunning.
But I suppose no criminal wants evidence laying around, though, right? Well, by request of the orator, here it is, dear viewer, for all posterity. Including the "honorable" House's reaction... <shudder>
Hey, I just thought of a great statist campaign slogan:
Must be true. It's on the internets...
Rep. Itse first references last term's SB153, "relative to business practices between motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and dealers," specifically. But he could just as easily have used as examples the recently eviscerated payday loan industry. Or any of the far too numerous professional licensing boards and mandatory requirements in NH (one of the most onerous lists in the country), and all of which directly restrict the forms of contracts into which your state "allows" you to enter. Our government is flatly prohibited from passing such legislation by the Constitution, by rule of law, and all these are just violations of merely one particular Constitutional provision.
Then Rep. Itse goes on to cite intentional Constitutional limitations on the imposition of taxes. You know, like income taxes?
And what is the reaction of this august body to the notion that they've violated their oaths (which they took most recently less than a year ago), and that violation thereof is, in fact, a serious matter for honest citizens? Chortles. Snickers from the peanut gallery, so to speak. It's just so much mindless trivia, not an intentional proscription on the expansion of government's delegated authority that they should be remotely expected in any substantive way to adhere to. And then -- get this -- they quite vocally don't want a record of his chiding published! Stunning.
But I suppose no criminal wants evidence laying around, though, right? Well, by request of the orator, here it is, dear viewer, for all posterity. Including the "honorable" House's reaction... <shudder>
Hey, I just thought of a great statist campaign slogan:
"He simply knows better than you. And the Founders.
So just let him run your life, already!"
On NH's failure to override Lynch's medical marijuana veto
Sent this afternoon to my representatives, regarding HB648, "relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes," following the NH legislature's failure this morning to override Democratic Gov. Lynch's supercilious veto, which itself followed the meticulous rewriting of the bill to meet his very own stated requirements (btw, Sen. Gallus was the only Republican Senator -- again -- to vote in favor of smaller, less intrusive government, not to mention compassion):
Representatives and Senator Janeway of Hillsborough 7 (and Sen. Letourneau),
A great 'thank you' to those of you -- Rep. Hikel, particularly, for your floor speech (although you did miss the opportunity to point out that while the dismissively challenged 53% of your "they-haven't-read-it" constituents support this, 63% of the House, itself, supported it back in March, then 68% in June, and presumably they read it, so...) -- who voted to defy our "liberal" governor and return just the tiniest yet still wildly restrictive shred of my civil liberty. You know who you are. I do...
A shred that was originally and unconstitutionally stolen from me (thanks primarily to authoritarian prohibitionists and crony capitalists -- sure, that's how a "limited-government, free market capitalist society" should work...) equally without the "100% certainty" (which we enjoy when, exactly?) that we were told in today's House floor debate should nevertheless be needed before government deigns to return any of its self-delegated control. Rush to regulate, inertial stagnation to rescind, neither with better knowledge than the marketplace. Or, in this case, than the patient actually in pain and her doctor.
My only concern, had the veto override mercifully also passed in the Senate today, would have been that "the good enough" would have proven to be the enemy of "the perfect." Or even just "the better," and we would have been stuck at this marginal level of returned freedom for the foreseeable future. Instead, we now have a prime opportunity starting next session -- perhaps with a little help from a finally fed-up electorate -- to do, perhaps not "perfect," but at least even "better." I can only hope we don't have to wait longer to take advantage of it, and remove just a little Draconian, non-omniscient, unauthorized government from peaceful people's lives.
As Rep. DiFruscia positively noted this morning, (even non-patient) activists have been smoking openly in Keene and Manchester. And surprise, the world hasn't ended. The empire hasn't collapsed. Chaos hasn't descended on quiet hamlets (although, yes, dogs and cats are living together, though causation has yet to be established). Indeed, law enforcement is largely ignoring them. So if, per law enforcement (and presumably its local governments, too, and despite its incongruously contrary hearing testimony), the law doesn't actually have to be enforced because it's demonstrably not a problem, then why is it still arbitrarily illegal? What is the specifically demonstrated compelling state interest that should continue to trump the individual's? (And please, no one give me essentially that the 10th Amendment is dead, and we simply must continue to submit to a self-appointed "higher authority." It's dead only if we allow it to be. But then, so is the Republic.)
And I find it profoundly disheartening, disturbing and hypocritical, too, that legislators such as Sen. Letourneau can appreciate and outspokenly champion the fundamental underlying principle of liberty for his own pet issues (such as motorcycles -- which is also one of mine, btw, so you can bet you'll be hearing from me on the upcoming helmet bill), but as per his own floor address today, loses any semblance of consistency on others, such as (even compassionate medical) marijuana. "Let those who consume decide." Especially those whose pain you mercifully don't have to share.
What a barbaric outcome. Shame on Gov. Lynch. Shame on the Senate. Undying, iniquitous shame.
Please maintain the consistent spirit of individual liberty and personal responsibility when considering legislation -- related or otherwise -- that comes before you in the future.
Representatives and Senator Janeway of Hillsborough 7 (and Sen. Letourneau),
A great 'thank you' to those of you -- Rep. Hikel, particularly, for your floor speech (although you did miss the opportunity to point out that while the dismissively challenged 53% of your "they-haven't-read-it" constituents support this, 63% of the House, itself, supported it back in March, then 68% in June, and presumably they read it, so...) -- who voted to defy our "liberal" governor and return just the tiniest yet still wildly restrictive shred of my civil liberty. You know who you are. I do...
A shred that was originally and unconstitutionally stolen from me (thanks primarily to authoritarian prohibitionists and crony capitalists -- sure, that's how a "limited-government, free market capitalist society" should work...) equally without the "100% certainty" (which we enjoy when, exactly?) that we were told in today's House floor debate should nevertheless be needed before government deigns to return any of its self-delegated control. Rush to regulate, inertial stagnation to rescind, neither with better knowledge than the marketplace. Or, in this case, than the patient actually in pain and her doctor.
My only concern, had the veto override mercifully also passed in the Senate today, would have been that "the good enough" would have proven to be the enemy of "the perfect." Or even just "the better," and we would have been stuck at this marginal level of returned freedom for the foreseeable future. Instead, we now have a prime opportunity starting next session -- perhaps with a little help from a finally fed-up electorate -- to do, perhaps not "perfect," but at least even "better." I can only hope we don't have to wait longer to take advantage of it, and remove just a little Draconian, non-omniscient, unauthorized government from peaceful people's lives.
As Rep. DiFruscia positively noted this morning, (even non-patient) activists have been smoking openly in Keene and Manchester. And surprise, the world hasn't ended. The empire hasn't collapsed. Chaos hasn't descended on quiet hamlets (although, yes, dogs and cats are living together, though causation has yet to be established). Indeed, law enforcement is largely ignoring them. So if, per law enforcement (and presumably its local governments, too, and despite its incongruously contrary hearing testimony), the law doesn't actually have to be enforced because it's demonstrably not a problem, then why is it still arbitrarily illegal? What is the specifically demonstrated compelling state interest that should continue to trump the individual's? (And please, no one give me essentially that the 10th Amendment is dead, and we simply must continue to submit to a self-appointed "higher authority." It's dead only if we allow it to be. But then, so is the Republic.)
And I find it profoundly disheartening, disturbing and hypocritical, too, that legislators such as Sen. Letourneau can appreciate and outspokenly champion the fundamental underlying principle of liberty for his own pet issues (such as motorcycles -- which is also one of mine, btw, so you can bet you'll be hearing from me on the upcoming helmet bill), but as per his own floor address today, loses any semblance of consistency on others, such as (even compassionate medical) marijuana. "Let those who consume decide." Especially those whose pain you mercifully don't have to share.
What a barbaric outcome. Shame on Gov. Lynch. Shame on the Senate. Undying, iniquitous shame.
Please maintain the consistent spirit of individual liberty and personal responsibility when considering legislation -- related or otherwise -- that comes before you in the future.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Taxing Times in NH?
The NH House Ways & Means Committee holds another the-public's-not-invited-to-instruct-us "House Information Session," this time jointly with the NH Senate's analogous committee, 10/21/2009.
Faithful viewers may recall that I recorded the first such session, back on 9/10/2009. But this one's slated for 2 full days, so all I could stand was the opening ceremonies. If you can stand it, Chair Almy promises the audio will be posted on the state's website.
Surrounding the "session," anti-tax activists commence a parallel 2-day rally, and hold a press conference outside the Legislative Office Building. If you just wanna jump to the good stuff, the press conference begins at minute 4.
The rally will continue tomorrow, 10/22/2009, tracking the second ponderous day of outsiders reinforcing NH government's desire for more of your money. Be there or be... poorer. Whenever you can make it, between 8:30am and 3:00pm...
EDIT: Grant Bosse is live blogging from the "session" over at NH Watchdog.
Faithful viewers may recall that I recorded the first such session, back on 9/10/2009. But this one's slated for 2 full days, so all I could stand was the opening ceremonies. If you can stand it, Chair Almy promises the audio will be posted on the state's website.
Surrounding the "session," anti-tax activists commence a parallel 2-day rally, and hold a press conference outside the Legislative Office Building. If you just wanna jump to the good stuff, the press conference begins at minute 4.
The rally will continue tomorrow, 10/22/2009, tracking the second ponderous day of outsiders reinforcing NH government's desire for more of your money. Be there or be... poorer. Whenever you can make it, between 8:30am and 3:00pm...
EDIT: Grant Bosse is live blogging from the "session" over at NH Watchdog.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Manchester Marijuana Meetup, Day 2
The soon-to-be-very-usual-suspects gather in the soon-to-be-very-usual-location for the soon-to-be-very-mundane activity. 420 @ 4:20 in Veteran's Park, Manchester, NH, 9/29/2009.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The "Ins" 'n' "Outs" of NH Activism
NH liberty activists, primarily of the Merrimack Valley variety, spend a busy day practicing "inside-the-system," then "outside-the-system" liberty activism, 9/28/2009.
First it was early morning FIJA outreach in Concord, Manchester, and Nashua. From the inaugural Concord session at the Merrimack County Courthouse, Mike Tiner called in to Porc411 with news, then later recounted the events for this videographer.
Concord FIJA Follies
Then prohibition push-back at Veteran's Park in Manchester. No arrests. No press -- yet...
Manchester Marijuana Meetup, or...
420 @ 4:20
Come join the subversive, dissident fun, every day at 4:20pm, at Veteran's Park on Elm St.
First it was early morning FIJA outreach in Concord, Manchester, and Nashua. From the inaugural Concord session at the Merrimack County Courthouse, Mike Tiner called in to Porc411 with news, then later recounted the events for this videographer.
Concord FIJA Follies
Then prohibition push-back at Veteran's Park in Manchester. No arrests. No press -- yet...
Manchester Marijuana Meetup, or...
420 @ 4:20
Come join the subversive, dissident fun, every day at 4:20pm, at Veteran's Park on Elm St.
Friday, September 11, 2009
NH House Committee income tax hearing-- err, "meeting" loses cover
UNH Professor Ross Gittell addresses the NH House Ways & Means Subcommittee by request, regarding HB642, the current income tax bill, 9/10/2009.
What I found particularly galling was the good professor's open hubris regarding a paternalistic state-directed economy. One of his claimed "benefits" -- "I see this as a positive" -- to his preferred sales tax (which is first broached at 24:30) would be the intentional non-market-driven shrinking of the retail sector, thus forcing people out of those jobs (first offered at about 25:30, again at 28:00, and again at 41:30~42:35, but clearly contradicted at 19:45). "For their own good," of course. Not that the legislature hasn't been more than happy to impose a similar employment purge on the payday loan industry not that long ago. Certainly, by his own stated criteria, this is expressly his goal: tax what you want to (what you believe you have the authority to) discourage (17:30, 28:45); in this case, by definition, retail commerce...
Also, if the current sales tax rate disparity is acceptable to surrounding states, if we cut that disparity in half as the professor recommends, why wouldn't that encourage those states to increase their revenues by subsequently increasing their rates in response, to maintain that acceptable-to-them disparity? What's the down side for them? Why wouldn't we be doing them a favor by voluntarily closing the gap, thus encouraging their consumers to spend their FRNs at home? Why wouldn't this course spark a tax rate "arms race" in the wrong direction? Isn't NH's lack of a sales tax a significant reason why those other states aren't higher now?
The presumption throughout, no surprise, is that the state needn't cut spending. It will have more revenue at the expense of our wallets. The only question is how. Why is the state's position always, "if we can collect it, we should have it to spend?"
In a backroom conversation before the gavel fell, it's clear Chairwoman Almy was not particularly pleased that word got out about her quiet little session. "I'm sure one of these cameras is the Free Staters. Probably the first." ... "And I'm not going to be bullied." (I suppose we should leave the bullying to the professionals, then...?) WMUR's reporter assured her it wasn't he who was responsible. She acknowledged, and blamed the Portsmouth Herald for the leak. The "media circus" (Hey, Mom! I was mentioned in Subcommittee! Unless I'm still not considered the med-- HEY...!) she references around the 4:50 mark she apparently considers sparked by a Herald article that doesn't seem to be online at this point, but she also makes a crack in the meeting that the Union Leader owes her an apology.
Well, the video's finally converted, so I gotta get this posted. Some background can be had here. "After action reports" here and here.
What I found particularly galling was the good professor's open hubris regarding a paternalistic state-directed economy. One of his claimed "benefits" -- "I see this as a positive" -- to his preferred sales tax (which is first broached at 24:30) would be the intentional non-market-driven shrinking of the retail sector, thus forcing people out of those jobs (first offered at about 25:30, again at 28:00, and again at 41:30~42:35, but clearly contradicted at 19:45). "For their own good," of course. Not that the legislature hasn't been more than happy to impose a similar employment purge on the payday loan industry not that long ago. Certainly, by his own stated criteria, this is expressly his goal: tax what you want to (what you believe you have the authority to) discourage (17:30, 28:45); in this case, by definition, retail commerce...
Also, if the current sales tax rate disparity is acceptable to surrounding states, if we cut that disparity in half as the professor recommends, why wouldn't that encourage those states to increase their revenues by subsequently increasing their rates in response, to maintain that acceptable-to-them disparity? What's the down side for them? Why wouldn't we be doing them a favor by voluntarily closing the gap, thus encouraging their consumers to spend their FRNs at home? Why wouldn't this course spark a tax rate "arms race" in the wrong direction? Isn't NH's lack of a sales tax a significant reason why those other states aren't higher now?
The presumption throughout, no surprise, is that the state needn't cut spending. It will have more revenue at the expense of our wallets. The only question is how. Why is the state's position always, "if we can collect it, we should have it to spend?"
In a backroom conversation before the gavel fell, it's clear Chairwoman Almy was not particularly pleased that word got out about her quiet little session. "I'm sure one of these cameras is the Free Staters. Probably the first." ... "And I'm not going to be bullied." (I suppose we should leave the bullying to the professionals, then...?) WMUR's reporter assured her it wasn't he who was responsible. She acknowledged, and blamed the Portsmouth Herald for the leak. The "media circus" (Hey, Mom! I was mentioned in Subcommittee! Unless I'm still not considered the med-- HEY...!) she references around the 4:50 mark she apparently considers sparked by a Herald article that doesn't seem to be online at this point, but she also makes a crack in the meeting that the Union Leader owes her an apology.
Well, the video's finally converted, so I gotta get this posted. Some background can be had here. "After action reports" here and here.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Paul Hodes surfaces and holds restrictive court
Or: It's good to be da king...
NH Congressman (I will not honor him by implying that he in any way "represents" me) Paul Hodes deigns to address the little people on specifically selected topics at a press conference (NOT a town hall meeting), 9/3/2009. NH State Rep. Jenn Coffey exposes the violence inherent in the system.
EDIT: Telegraph: Hodes was wrong to shun town halls
NH Congressman (I will not honor him by implying that he in any way "represents" me) Paul Hodes deigns to address the little people on specifically selected topics at a press conference (NOT a town hall meeting), 9/3/2009. NH State Rep. Jenn Coffey exposes the violence inherent in the system.
EDIT: Telegraph: Hodes was wrong to shun town halls
Monday, August 31, 2009
FIJA Outreach in Manchester, NH
"Fully Informed Jury" Activists take to the street to educate prospective jurors on their rights, in front of the Hillsborough County Court in Manchester, NH, 8/31/2009. I believe there was a previous such effort in Manchester (following the lead of similar, and now long ongoing, outreach in Keene) in the past 2 years, but Big Mike fully intends this one to become a regular Manchester event.
FIJANH.info
NHCLOG.org
FIJA.org
FIJANH.info
NHCLOG.org
FIJA.org
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