State House Bulletin March 28 2011
Rally for New Hampshire
Thursday, March 31st
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
State House Plaza
107 North Main Street
Concord, NH
This budget hurts New Hampshire families! People are more important than politics. The Senate should throw this budget out and start over. Join us in a rally to restore New Hampshire’s budget!
RSVP for the Rally online here.
Bus transportation to the rally will be available. Click here for more information about transportation options. (This page will be updated as other options become available.)
Read coverage of last week's House Finance Committee vote in the SEIU blog here.
Contact your Representatives and tell them - This budget goes too far; vote it down!
- Contact information for Representatives is available here. (Please use your home or personal cell phone only when you call.)
- You can use our on-line contact system to send an email to your Representatives, by clicking here. (Please use your home computer and home email address only.)
The line-up, this week
This week marks decision points for several pieces of legislation critical to New Hampshire's public services (and the people who provide them).
On Tuesday, the House Finance Committee will present its version of the budget to the full House, starting at 9:30 am in Representatives' Hall at the State House. You can read their version of HB 1 here and HB2 here.
Attend the budget presentation, if you can.
- As the House members listen to the Finance Committee's recommendation, we need to remind them that this budget will impact real families and real public services. Just by sitting in the audience, you can "be the face" of all the people whose lives would be devastated by this budget.
- There will be no opportunity for public comment, but it will help to have SEA active and retired members in the audience when the Committee explains its recommendation.
On Wednesday, the Senate will vote on SB 3, Sen. Jeb Bradley's "Omnibus" bill which would make a long list of changes to our pension benefits. The current version would also increase employee's contribution rates (which would, of course, reduce rates paid by employers).
Let your Senator know exactly what you think about SB 3!
- Contact information for your Senator is available through the link here. (Please use your home or personal cell phone only.)
- You can use our on-line contact system to send an email to your Senator clicking here. (Please use your home computer and home email address.)
On Thursday, the House will vote on the FY12-13 state budget.
Come to the Rally for New Hampshire!
(And bring your family, friends and neighbors, too!)
RSVP for the Rally online here.
Also on Thursday, the Senate Executive Department & Administrative Committee will hear HB 231 which would impact medical care for state retirees, their spouses and dependents. This often-amended bill now sets a limit on the amount the state will pay for retiree medical benefits.
Contact the Committee and tell them how HB 231 will affect you and your family!
- Contact information for Committee members is available through the link here. Click on each Senator's name for details. (Please use your home or personal cell phone only.)
- You can use our on-line contact system to send emails to the Committee members by clicking here. (Please use your home computer and home email address.)
Also on Thursday, the House will take a floor vote on HB 580, the "Omnibus" pension bill sponsored by Rep. Neal Kurk.
But now it doesn't just change the NH Retirement System -- HB 580 has been amended to reduce public employees' bargaining rights. If this bill is passed, then as soon as our contract term expires, employees' health and pension benefits can be unilaterally changed (or eliminated) by employers.
Contact your Representatives and tell them - vote it down!
The attacks on public workers have nothing to do with balancing the budget, creating jobs, or improving the economy. The Legislature acted responsibly, three years ago, when it changed the Retirement System and fixed the chronic, intentional underfunding. More than 70,000 New Hampshire families rely on the NH Retirement System for their long-term financial security. They should not become pawns in some political "game" being played by House leadership.
- Contact information for Representatives is available here. (Please use your home or personal cell phone only.)
- You can use our on-line contact system to send emails to your Representatives by clicking here. (Please use your home computer and home email address.)
You’re invited to
An Evening with
Senator Jeb Bradley
This is your opportunity to let Senator Bradley know how you feel about his proposed changes to our Retirement System and voice your concerns on legislative issues.
Coffee served. All-you-can-eat Roast Beef Buffet available for only $10.00 per person.
The Conway Café
32 Main St., Conway Village
Monday, April 4th
5:00 - 8:00 PM
RSVP to John Thyng at 271-3411 x113 or jthyng@seiu1984.org
Special thanks to Chapter 19 Councilor Lynn Chesinas for arranging this event!
Legislative Calendar Items for SEA Members
Week of 3/28 – 4/1
Tuesday March 29, 2011
PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, Room 101, LOB
Sen. Barnes (C), Sen. Forrester (VC), Sen. Boutin, Sen. Merrill, Sen. Stiles
9:15 a.m. HB 155, relative to permits to conduct raffles.
9:30 a.m. HB 185-FN, relative to determining bargaining units for purposes of public employee collective bargaining.
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
9:30 a.m. HOUSE FINANCE BUDGET BRIEFING, Representatives’ Hall
Briefing by House Finance for other House members (open to public)
COMMERCE, Room 102, LOB
10:00 a.m. HB 26-FN, (New Title) relative to the definition of gross misconduct for purposes of unemployment compensation.
WAYS AND MEANS, Room 100, SH
1:00 p.m. HB 229-FN-A, repealing the tax on gambling winnings.
EDUCATION, Room 103, LOB
1:30 p.m. HB 69, (New Title) relative to the community college system of New Hampshire academic centers.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
10:00 Senate Session voting on the following bills:
CAPITAL BUDGET
SB 61, relative to capital appropriations to the liquor commission.
Ought to Pass, Vote 6-0. Senator Odell for the committee.
HB 91, relative to the reporting by state agencies with capital budget projects to the capital budget overview committee. Ought to Pass, Vote 5-0. Senator Rausch for the committee.
COMMERCE
SB 86, requiring the department of labor to warn employers of certain violations prior to imposing a fine.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 3-0. Senator White for the committee.
SB 179, relative to qualified purchasing alliances.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 4-0.
Senator Prescott for the committee.
SB 191, relative to the registration of independent contractors for the purposes of workers’ compensation. Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 5-0. Senator De Blois for the committee.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
SB 4, requiring legislative approval of cost items for state employee contract negotiations.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 3-2. Senator Luther for the committee.
SB 92, establishing an economic strategic commission to review the relationship between business and government. Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 5-0
SB 166, relative to medical benefits for beneficiaries of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty. Ought to Pass, Vote 5-0. Senator Luther for the committee.
SB 170, relative to the New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 5-0. Senator Carson for the committee.
FINANCE
SB 3-FN-A-L, making comprehensive changes to the state retirement system.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 6-1. Senator Morse for the committee.
SB 52-FN, excluding persons convicted of violent crimes and sexually violent persons from mandatory early release on probation or parole. Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 7-0.
Senator Forrester for the committee.
SB 76-FN, relative to the authority of the department of revenue administration to adopt rules and to administer state tax laws. Ought to Pass, Vote 7-0. Senator Forrester for the committee.
SB 129-FN, requiring valid photo identification to vote in person.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 4-3. Senator Barnes for the committee.
SB 154-FN, (New Title) reforming and renaming the comprehensive shoreland protection act.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 5-0. Senator Odell for the committee.
SB 156-FN-L, (New Title) authorizing retail vehicle dealers to act as agents of the division of motor vehicles for vehicle registrations and title applications.
Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 6-1. Senator Morse for the committee.
SB 165-FN, relative to the Medicaid uncompensated care fund and the Medicaid enhancement tax. Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 6-0. Senator Morse for the committee.
JUDICIARY
SB 88, relative to physical force in defense of a person. Ought to Pass with Amendment
PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
SB 2, relative to adoption of spending caps by municipalities. Ought to Pass with Amendment, Vote 4-1. Senator Boutin for the committee.
SB 193, relative to nomination of political organizations. Ought to Pass, Vote 4-0. Senator Stiles for the committee.
HB 410, extending the reporting date of the committee to study dispatch times within the enhanced 911 system and requiring quarterly meetings of the committee.
Ought to Pass, Vote 5-0. Senator Boutin for the committee.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
9:00 a.m. HOUSE SESSION voting on the following bills:
HB1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013.
HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
Senate Committee Hearings:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 100, SH
Sen. Carson (C), Sen. Groen (VC), Sen. Larsen, Sen. Luther, Sen. White
9:10 a.m. HB 491-FN, relative to divestiture of retirement system assets relating to Sudan.
9:20 a.m. HB 461-FN, relative to repealing the authority for retirement system members to
purchase service credit for certain out-of-state service.
9:40 a.m. HB 462-FN, relative to the determination of employer assessments for excess benefits paid by employers in the retirement system.
10:00 a.m. HB 464-FN, requiring the transfer of certain retirement system group II special
account funds to the state annuity accumulation fund. Bill would transfer $89 million from Group II COLA account to the retirement trust fund.
10:20 a.m. HB 231-FN, (New Title) relative to payment of medical benefits for state retirees, their spouses, and dependents. Bill would put retirees health benefits in jeopardy by capping total state appropriations to $27.5 million in general funds
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:00 p.m. EXCUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW 1:00 p.m. public hearing
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Room 102, LOB
Sen. Bradley (C), Sen. De Blois (VC), Sen. Kelly, Sen. Lambert, Sen. Sanborn
1:20 p.m. HB 642-FN, requiring the departments of health and human services and administrative services to jointly issue a certain request for information.
JUDICIARY, Room 101, LOB
1:30 p.m. HB 609-FN, establishing the New Hampshire circuit court to replace the current probate courts, district courts, and judicial branch family division.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW
TRANSPORTATION, Rom 103, LOB
10:00 a.m. HB 347, exempting from nondisclosure the records of accidents involving and violations by county, city, and town employees and officials
Secure Your Future!
This winter, hundreds of SEA members gathered to discuss pending legislation that would harm New Hampshire's public services -- and the people who provide them. Did you miss out on these conversations? You can still get involved in the campaign to Secure Your Future.
- If you only receive our email newsletters when a friend or colleague forwards them to you, join our mailing list! You can subscribe to our newsletters by filling out the online form here.
- You can "Tell Your Story" about how pending legislation will affect your work and your family. Statistics and aggregate data only go so far, when we're trying to explain to Legislators why certain bills would be good -- or bad -- for New Hampshire. Personal stories often have a greater impact. Tell your story by filling out the form here.
- You can let us know how you want to get involved in the campaign by filling out the form here.
- Contact your field representative for more information, or to set up a meeting at your worksite.