A Special Thank You to
our Corporate Sponsors:

February 2010 Member Posts (14)

Summit Proves Arrogance of Politicals and NOTHING Else!

Regardless of the fact that The American People are fed up with all "Politicals" the Republicans continue to battle the Democrats and visa-versa. The Health Care Reform Bill is nothing more than a power/money grab on the middle class. To put lipstick on it makes it still a pig laden with pay-offs, bribes and backdoor deals. This administration has already cost me hundreds by slashing the coverage of my eighty year old mother so drastically that I am forced to pay the difference. I have… Continue

Added by Eydie on February 25, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Legislators to vote on cider, not milk as state drink

For the past two months, there has been debate about the official state drink among our legislators.

Students from Jaffrey Grade School made a pitch for apple cider and ultimately convinced State Rep. Bonnie Mitchell (D-Jaffrey) to sponsor a bill.

Students at Gilford Elementary School made the case for milk, but they could not win over any legislators.

Last week, the House Environment and Agriculture… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 22, 2010 at 12:40pm — 1 Comment

Alliance aims to empower citizens

(The following editorial was published in the Seacoast Online on Feb. 22)

It's hard to argue with the goal of the Live Free or Die Alliance: to foster civil, fact-based debate about public issues in New Hampshire.

So much of our public dialogue today seems aimed at scoring political points rather than doing what's right. It's not surprising that truth… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 22, 2010 at 9:39am — No Comments

Study: New Hampshire has one of the worst pension systems

Pew Center on States has published the status report on the pension system of the fifty states. New Hampshire rated as one of the worst with over $3B in unfunded liability, funding ratio at 58% and the state withdrawing its funding to 30% and 25% in the next two years.

It is a huge burden on the local taxpayers that hasn't come ashore yet.

Group II employees can retire after 20 years (amended to 25 for new employees) with retirement pay formula calculated at 125% of the base pay which… Continue

Added by Ananta Gopalan on February 20, 2010 at 11:40am — 1 Comment

Sen. Gregg: Teachers who don't cut it should be asked to leave

During the Live Free or Die Alliance webcast on Tuesday, Senator Gregg talked about a merit pay system for teachers.

Gregg: "We should say to the good teacher, we’re going to pay you more. To the moderate teacher, we’re going to pay you, but not as much as the good teacher, so get better. And we’re going to say to the teacher who is not cutting it, we’re not only not going to pay you what the other teacher’s are being paid, we’re going to ask you to leave. There is no question that… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 18, 2010 at 9:30am — 2 Comments

Sen. Gregg equates stimulus to "sugar high"

During the Live Free or Die Alliance webcast on Tuesday, Senator Gregg offered his opinion on the Obama administration's economic stimulus plans.

Gregg: "If we want to do something substantive to get this economy going again, we shouldn’t be doing these short stimulus events, they’re sort of like a sugar high, they don’t last very long and in some cases they don’t very much. The last stimulus bill did very little in my opinion. I think we have to do structural reform that shows the… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 18, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

Sen. Gregg opposed to expanded gambling in NH

During Tuesday's webcast with the Live Free or Die Alliance, Senator Gregg was asked if he supported expanded gambling as a way to increase state revenues.

Gregg: "No. I don’t think we’re a big enough state with a strong enough infrastructure to defend ourselves from the people who might come in here to run those types of operations. Those folks are highly funded people who know how to influence legislative activity, and I would be very concerned about the influence. I also think it… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 18, 2010 at 9:28am — No Comments

Is this appropiate behavior for a NH legislator?

Rep. Steven Valliancort (R-Manchester) forced the legislature to individually consider 90 bills that were scheduled to be handled in a single vote Wednesday, according to the Union Leader.

Valliancourt was reportedly upset because he was asked by Democratic leaders to revise a report on tax caps. They claimed the report contained…

Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 11, 2010 at 10:51am — 1 Comment

The Building Code, Child Safety and Frustration

(The following blog post was submitted by LFDA member Susan Bunting.)

As part of the child safety requirements in the state's Building Code (2006 International Residency Code, Framing R613.2), the sill of any window (higher than 16-feet off the ground) needs to be at least 24-inches above the floor.

I recently experienced trouble getting an occupancy permit (I… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 9, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

Will pay-to-play be the New Hampshire way?

(The following article appeared in the Feb. 7 edition of the Nashua Telegraph. It's written by Michael Brindley.)

Before they can take the field or skate out on the rink, many New Hampshire student- athletes and their families are being asked to shell out a fee to help cover the cost of school district sports.

Commonly referred to as pay-to-play, roughly one-third of high schools across the state have implemented some type of fee for students who choose to play… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 8, 2010 at 1:25pm — No Comments

NH's Most Powerful?

Here are "NH's Most Powerful," according to Business NH Magazine. (In no particular order)

Thomas Colacchio and Nancy Formella - Leaders of Darthmouth-Hitchcock

Jim Demers - President, The Demers Group

Maggie Hassan - Senate Majority Leader

Dean Kamen - Founder of DEKA Research and Development and FIRST

Richard Ober - VP of Civic Leadership and Communications at NH Charitable Foundation

Ed Dupont - Chairman of the… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 4, 2010 at 1:30pm — No Comments

My day at Pres. Obama's Town Hall in Nashua

My first experience with a presidential town hall forum happened this afternoon in Nashua. For some unknown reason, the White House figured I'd be a good guest. Are they aware that I voted for John McCain in '08? Politics aside, I wanted to soak in a good old-fashioned town hall, and for the first time, stand in the same room with a sitting U.S. president.

The Arrival

With ticket in hand, I arrived at Nashua High School North at 11:30am. I was advised to get there early,… Continue

Added by Chuck McKenney on February 2, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Excerpts of Pres. Obama's Speech at Nashua Town Hall

Jobs will be our number one focus in 2010. And we're going to start where most new jobs do – with small businesses. These are the companies that begin in basements and garages when an entrepreneur takes a chance on his dream, or a worker decides it's time she became her own boss...

Small businesses like this have created roughly 65 percent of all new jobs over the past decade and a half. And I think we should make it easier for them to open their doors, expand their operations, and… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 2, 2010 at 8:30am — No Comments

Volunteers are answering president’s call to serve

The LFDA wants to call attention to the following article by Ann Sanner of the Associated Press. It appeared Jan. 18 in the Boston Globe. The LFDA works hard to promote citizen engagement and is pleased to see our mission being promoted at the national level as well.

When President Obama called for Americans to volunteer, Loretta Martin… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on February 1, 2010 at 10:38am — No Comments