Issues

The Claremont Decision
Common Sense Gun Laws
Vouchers
Choice
Health Insurance and SB110
Prescription Drugs
Minimum Wage
Gambling
Campaign Finance Reform
Kindergarten
Smart Growth

The Claremont Decision

The landmark decision in the Claremont Case stands for two principles: We have an obligation to educate our children, and we have an obligation to pay for it fairly. I support these principles.

Peter Bragdon wants to amend the NH Constitution to undo the Claremont decision. The only time in memory that the property tax burden has decreased was in 1999 after the Claremont decision. A constitutional amendment would remove the legislature's obligation to provide school aid. The Republicans, who have opposed state aid from the start, will then be able to cut aid to towns that are considered too 'rich' for aid, such as Rindge, Milford, Amherst and Peterborough. Bottom line: a constitutional amendment means your property taxes will skyrocket.

Common Sense Gun Laws

I support the right of law-abiding people to bear and own arms. I will work for common sense change to keep guns out of the hands of felons, children, and those who are mentally incompetent. For example, people who have been found legally insane can still buy firearms in New Hampshire. Children are able to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons. Legislation intorduced to deal with both these issues has failed. Why? Because the gun lobby and its Republican allies oppose all gun laws.

Vouchers

I oppose any voucher plan that would take public funds away from our public schools. I support school choice, provided that all schools receiving public funds meet the same standards and are subject to the same accountability as our public schools.

The voucher plan that failed by one vote in the legislature this year did not require voucher schools to meet any standards for quality or accountability and would have redirected public education tax dollars to religious schools such as the one where Mr. Bragdon teaches.

Choice

I fully support a woman's right to choose, to keep her medical records private, and to have access to emergency contraception.

Health Insurance and SB110

I will vote to repeal this disastrous new law, which has driven up health insurance costs for many small businesses by as much as 80%. Since January, this new Republican-sponsored bill has caused
businesses to drop employee health insurance, discriminate against older workers, and put off hiring
new employees. At a time when so many are without coverage, this law hurts New Hampshire's people.

Peter Bragdon supports SB110, which allows insurance companies to discriminate against older
workers and against people who have had health problems by charging them higher premiums. If
someone in your office gets cancer or another serious illness, everyone there faces soaring insurance
premiums.

Prescription Drugs

I support the creation of a drug purchasing plan--similar to that adopted in Maine--that will allow consumers to enjoy the same drug price discounts as the big insurance companies and HMO's.

Minimum Wage.

Years of inflation have eroded the value of the minimum wage. It's time for new Hampshire to increase it, whether or not Congress does.

Gambling

I am opposed to any expansion of gambling in New Hampshire. Studies have shown that the costs to society from those who become addicted to gambling exceed any revenue we might receive.

Campaign Finance Reform

Do special interests try to buy influence? Of course they do. We've just learned that Speaker of the House Gene Chandler received over $60,000 in unreported gifts, mostly from lobbyists and corporations. I will continue to fight for campaign finance reform, so that we can have a government free of taint.

Kindergarten.

Milford is one of 16 towns in America that does not have public kindergarten. I support making kindergarten part of our state education standards.

Smart Growth

Rapid growth is threatening our traditional villages and our beautiful landscape. The state cannot, and should not, stop growth, but we can prevent the ugliest aspects of sprawl. The state must locate its offices in town centers, and urge the postal service to do the same.

We need to increase funding of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), a state program which provides matching funds for the preservation of critical lands and historic properties. During its first four years, the program was involved in the protection of over 200,000 acres. Last year, the Republican legislature cut LCHIP by over 90%. I will vote to restore full funding to LCHIP.

New Hampshire’s reliance on property taxes puts enormous pressure on our cities and towns to zone farmland and open space for strip development, in an attempt to avoid the property tax noose. Our tax structure also leads to residential sprawl. It is ironic that everyone loves New Hampshire villages, yet it is impossible to build such a village under the existing zoning laws in our cities and towns. About three-quarters of the money for public education comes from property taxes. Every planning board in the state knows that residential development means more children and higher school taxes. Half-acre zoning has been replaced with one-acre zoning, and one-acre zoning with two-acre zoning. Multi-family districts have been reduced or eliminated. We have essentially zoned much of our state against children. The result is residential sprawl--more land devoted to roads and driveways to serve the same number of residents, and a shortage of affordable housing.