I have change the path of my life over the past few years to change the meaning of what it is to serve one's government as an elected official, to make the focus of that service being an agent of the people to find solutions to the problems that we all face.
Politicians promise people far too much, so I can only promise you, the people of Merrimack, three things from myself.
#1. I promise to listen to those who are willing to listen in return.
#2. I promise to treat people the way they treat me and I will treat other groups the way the treat the group that I respresent.
#3 I promise to work as hard as I can
#4.I will be as earnest as possible on situations we may face together.
I believe that comprehensive healthcare, not just emergency services, should be affordable enough for all New Hampshire residents that want it.
The larger the payer pool, the easier it is to provide services that are fiscally feasible, so I would encourage tax incentives for everyone not eligible for inadequate care provided now to veterans, the poor, and the elderly.
However, if providers wish to accept customers using these tax incentives, they cannot discriminate based upon pre-existing conditions or not provide coverage.
We can turn New Hampshire into a world leader in cellulosic ethanol made from non-food supplies as well as other renewable, affordable, and low emission fuel sources. This, along with preserving the natural beauty of our state that is such an integral part of our character, should be the primary focuses of our environmental policies.
I am proud that we have joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or "Reggie"(RGGI) as it is called, and I want to help New Hampshire due its fair share in protecting our shared environment.
I do not believe an Income or Sales Tax is the best way for us to go as a state and could not believe that unless there were a comprehensive lowering of some kind on all other taxes on an individual by individual basis. However, we must reassess our fiscal policies as a state as reinvestment in our infrastructure will be vital in making sure New Hampshire's economy remains strong. I would welcome looking at all forms of revenue for the state, and would base my decisions on information rather than preconceptions.
I lean towards gambling as well as other revenue sources that come from voluntary measures or measures by municipalities choose to partake with the state, however I am willing to listen to any idea.
I also want to hear from regular citizens from across the state what they believe is necessary and not necessary within our budget so we as Representatives can make better decisions upon our deliberations.
Whether we pursue a constitutional amendment or pursue a simple change in the state revised statutes annotated, one of the root issues is eliminating the feeling of "us" versus "them" that has permeated the educational debate. A child in any town deserves the same opportunity at a quality education as a child in any other.
That being said, I support the state and federal government focusing on only funding mechanisms while school policies should be determined by a partnership of local school boards, parents, teachers, and the students themselves.
In Merrimack, we have 33% of the state's toll booths and 2% of the state's population. The state as a whole has treated us with disrespect for far too long when it comes to this issue and we as a town must engage on a new comprehensive strategy from both our representation in the General Court as well as from the Town Council and the citizens of Merrimack at large.
It will not be easy, and it will not happen quickly, but it can happen through three steps.
#1. We must stop using the tolls and keep track of the money we save by not using the tolls. If you go down to Boston 5 days a week for work, 52 weeks a year, that is $260. If we could get only ten percent of the town's population to do this and save that money, we would be taking nearly $1,000,000 out of the hands of the state and into our own hands.
#2. We must work with other towns and cities across the state, especially those with toll plazas (Hooksett, Hampton, Bedford, Rochester and Dover), to create an electoral and legislative coalition around the issue of toll booths.
#3. We should use the money gained from the money saved by not using the tolls to build this coalition as well as working on a legal case against the state.
If you have any other issues you would like me to address, please contact me!
