Martha Fuller Clark
For State Senate
Press Releases
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Federal Stimulus Funds Benefit Seacoast Area Schools
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), proposed by President Obama and approved by Congress, will allow our Seacoast area schools to benefit from a one-time infusion of education dollars to
help them meet the educational needs of our students.
One of the main goals of ARRA is to stimulate the economy by short-term investments in education and other essential public services that will have long-term benefits.
Schools and school districts must use the money for the following purposes:
• Preventing the layoff of teachers and other needed personnel, including guidance counselors, school nurses and special educational aidesInvesting in additional professional training of school personnel and teachers
• Investing in the educational needs of our students by purchasing, for
example, new textbooks, computers, upgraded science labs and
equipment
The chart, below, shows what District 24 communities are scheduled to
receive in ARRA money based on the number of children in each community who are at risk of not meeting academic achievement standards, are homeless because of the economic recession or are
children with disabilities.Greenland $98,925
Hampton $394,309
Hampton Falls $70,838
New Castle $10,951
Newington $9,459
North Hampton $135,162
Portsmouth $1,083,269
Rye $116,967
Total $1,919,880 -
Senator Clark Explains Her Support For State Budget
State budget balanced despite economic woes
This was a very difficult budget year, and I — along with all of our legislators — had to make some very hard decisions to preserve
essential services while avoiding major new taxes.New Hampshire, like so many other states, has been hit hard by the economic recession with more than 50,000 New Hampshire workers unemployed and foreclosures increasing every day. Additionally, the state has lost close to $300 million in anticipated revenues from business and real estate taxes. As the revenue losses climb, a growing number of families are turning to the state for help. Welfare caseloads have increased by more than 50 percent since the governor first presented his budget proposal in February.
In difficult economic times, it is easy to call for less and less spending, including revenue cuts across the board. Such random cuts never work but instead wreak havoc with essential support in health and human services, corrections and education funding.
Instead, I believe that we in the Legislature did the right thing by making carefully considered cuts that would not result in increased costs later on or eliminate critical and necessary services. That is why I supported reducing overall state spending by eliminating specific state programs that can be addressed in more cost efficient ways and by scaling back many others.
In this budget, we laid off approximately 200 state employees
and eliminated 400 existing state jobs; we also directed the
governor to find another $25 million savings in employee and
personnel-related areas.
Another seemingly easy solution to the budget crisis would have been to approve the proposal to license 13,000 video gaming machines in the state to an out-of-state developer that proponents said would generate more than $200 million in gaming revenue.
However, I have consistently opposed gambling as detrimental to our quality of life here in New Hampshire. I believe it will jeopardize many state and Seacoast businesses, including lodgings, restaurants and recreation and cultural attractions that cater to both in-state and out-of -state tourists, especially families. I do not believe that slot machines are the solution to our revenue problems, nor did I have confidence in the revenue projections. It is for those reasons that I voted against the
gambling proposal in the Senate budget deliberations.
Besides saying no to video gaming and casinos, I also rejected tax proposals for a capital gains tax, an entertainment tax, an estate tax and a temporary suspension of the tax credit for the Business Employee Tax. I did believe that it was important to create greater fairness and consistency in our tax system, which is why I supported
closing the loophole that had allowed limited liability companies to avoid paying the interest and dividend tax on money earned that was above reasonable compensation.For the same reason of fairness, I also supported extending the rooms and meals tax to include tent sites and accommodations. In the end, however, in order to achieve the needed revenues so that the state’s safety net for our most vulnerable population would remain intact and not downshift those costs to local communities and local property tax payers, I voted for the increase in the cigarette tax and the room and meals tax, as well as for a variety of fees to better reflect the cost to the state of providing certain services.
The budget also includes $123 million more in state aid to local schools. It includes $18 million to serve people on the developmental disabilities waitlist and restores some funding for senior volunteer programs and aid to those facing catastrophic illness. Voting for additional Medicaid funding to help our citizens who have lost their jobs and their health care as a result of the recession also was the right thing to do.
No budget is perfect, but I believe the Legislature came together to put the interests of the people first, to make the necessary and responsible cuts, and to fund essential services in these difficult times without burdening our citizens with a new, major tax. In the end, I know we passed a tough and responsible budget for the people of New Hampshire. I am proud to have been part of the process. -
Senator Clark Disappointed by Governor's Veto of Medical Marijuana Bill
Portsmouth cancer survivor rips Gov. Lynch for veto of medical pot bill
news@seacoastonline.comJuly 11, 2009 6:00 AMPORTSMOUTH — Gov. John Lynch's veto of the medical marijuana bill was met with mixed reactions locally.
In his veto message, Lynch said while "I have been open, and remain open, to allowing tightly controlled usage of marijuana for appropriate medical purposes," the "defects" in the bill that passed with bipartisan support in the Legislature prevented his support.
"I have tremendous compassion for people who believe medical marijuana will help alleviate the symptoms of serious illnesses and the side effects of medical treatment," Lynch said. "But in making laws, it is not enough to have an idea worthy of consideration. The details of the legislation must also be right."
Lynch's reasoning did not convince a cancer survivor who ate marijuana cookies to help her deal with the painful side effects of chemotherapy more than a decade ago.
"I am angry and I think it's just crazy that we couldn't get this bill passed," said Nancy Grossman of Portsmouth. "This bill couldn't be tighter. I don't understand (Lynch's) position."
Grossman and other cancer survivors had met with aides of Lynch recently to lobby for the bill, and she plans "on a busy summer" to convince lawmakers to override Lynch's veto.
Rep. Trinka Russell, D-Stratham, one of the bill's co-sponsors, said she was disappointed but not surprised by Lynch's veto because of his previous concerns. But the veto has made Russell more determined to get the bill right.
"I think it really bothers me when there are so many in pain who would be helped by this," Russell said. "We will try again, because it's important to me and it's a worthy cause. Sometimes the time isn't right, and you need to be patient to get the right bill."
The medical marijuana bill — which passed the Senate by a 14-10 vote and 232-108 in the House — allowed for small distributions of the drug through so-called "compassion centers" to serve some 150 terminally ill and acute care patients per year. New Hampshire would have been the 14th state in the country to allow some form of medical marijuana distribution.
Lynch focused his veto message on potential abuses of distribution and use.
"Law enforcement officials have raised legitimate public safety concerns regarding the cultivation and distribution of marijuana," Lynch said. "These concerns have not been adequately addressed in this bill. Marijuana is an addictive drug that has the potential to pose significant health dangers to its users, and it remains the most widely abused illegal drug in this state."
Supporters said plenty of safeguards had been built in to limit distribution. But opponents, such as Portsmouth Police Chief Michael Magnant, had encouraged Lynch to veto the bill.
"Calling it medicine doesn't make it so," Magnant told the Herald. "It's not FDA-approved, and there's no quality control. It leads to higher drug use, and it impairs driving. I think it sends the wrong message to our kids."
But Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, said the Legislature "leaned over backwards to create the most focused law in the country" — and that Lynch's concerns and those of law enforcement were "ill-founded" and had been addressed.
"We should have policy in place that cares for our most vulnerable, and that's what the legislation did," she said. "The reality is that if a person wants to get marijuana, they can get it. I don't believe we are going to see people taking advantage of people who are truly ill. Sometimes, controversial legislation doesn't succeed the first time. It takes a while to educate the public, policy makers and leaders why it's the correct and appropriate thing to do."
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Senator Clark's Supports Bill Protecting Seacoast Businesses From Paying MA Taxes
Gov. John Lynch has signed a bill to put the Massachusetts tax man at bay within the Granite State, even though tax experts on both sides of the border said it's questionable what kind of an impact the legislation will have. The legislation sets up numerous hurdles that tax officials from other states must clear before retailers in New Hampshire grant them access to their records. The Legislature passed the bill after Massachusetts officials attempted to collect $108,000 in unpaid use taxes from Town Fair Tire, which sells tires in several New England states. A Massachusetts lawyer involved in the Town Fair Tire case questions how the law will be enforced, and whether Massachusetts officials will comply with it.
"It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in actual practice," said David Nagle, an attorney with the Boston firm of Sullivan & Worcester. He questioned what will happen when a multi-state retailer tries to follow the Granite State law while a Massachusetts auditor is handing him a summons that demands customer addresses.
"I'm certain that New Hampshire did not intend to put retailers in a bind between a rock and a hard place," he said. "The question, I think, is what leverage does this (new law) give a retailer who receives a summons from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?"
The legislation requires Massachusetts, or any other state looking to collect tax information in New Hampshire:
--To notify New Hampshire tax officials of its plans.
--To clear the notice through the New Hampshire attorney general within 60 days.
--To prove the store is subject to the tax.
--To prove that items bought in New Hampshire were meant for use in a shopper's home state.
--To show that it audits sales the same way in all states.
--To audit at least 10 percent of its use-tax payers annually.
--To require its residents to file annual statements listing what they bought outside their home state.
The legislation may put New Hampshire retailers in a tight spot, said Glenn Perlow, an assistant New Hampshire attorney general who drafted the amicus brief that New Hampshire filed in the Town Fair Tire case.
But the retailer is already in such a predicament, and the legislation provides relief, Perlow said. The legislation is another arrow in the quiver of a New Hampshire retailer who refuses to turn over customer information, he said.
"It's not directly enforceable against Massachusetts revenue agents, but it's a New Hampshire law the retailers would be able rely on if they choose not to cooperate," Perlow said.
He said the Attorney General's Office is prevented from representing such a retailer. But were a retailer to challenge a summons in court, the attorney general could file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the retailer, he said.
Town Fair Tire challenged a $108,000 tax bill that Massachusetts is trying to collect on its New Hampshire sales. Perlow said a positive decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in that case will have more impact on retailers than the law Lynch is expected to sign.
Article published Jul 10, 2009
Gov. Lynch tells Mass. to collect its own sales tax
NEWINGTON — Gov. John Lynch doesn't have a problem with Massachusetts having a sales tax, but vowed New Hampshire businesses won't be collecting it on behalf of their southern neighbor.
Lynch traveled to Rockingham Electrical Supply on Thursday to sign into law Senate Bill 5, which prevents New Hampshire businesses from having to collect sales taxes from customers who hail from Massachusetts or any other state.
"We've chosen not to have a sales tax," Lynch said, adding, "If Massachusetts wants to have one, that's their prerogative."
Lynch said New Hampshire has worked hard to uphold a business-friendly environment with a low tax structure and didn't hold back in condemning recent efforts by the Massachusetts revenue commissioner to collect taxes for sales made to Bay State residents doing business in the Granite State.
"I believe it's outrageous," Lynch said.
Legislation to fight such action began being developed by New Hampshire legislators shortly after Massachusetts embarked on efforts to force businesses like Town Fair Tire — a company with a Seabrook location close to the Bay State border — to provide customer information in case the state chose to tax their residents on purchases made in New Hampshire.
The tire retailer is taking Massachusetts to court over the state's attempt to levy a 5 percent sales tax on tires purchased in New Hampshire.
As that issue headed toward a Massachusetts Supreme Court battle, Lynch worked with lawmakers to expedite passage of legislation that ensures New Hampshire retailers do not have to provide private consumer information to another state for a determination of use or sales tax liability.
The newly signed bill notes numerous states impose a sales tax on goods and services purchased by customers within their borders, as well as an excise, or "use tax," on usage, storage or consumption of goods and services purchased by their residents from a business located out of the taxing state.
Many of these states require their residents to report and pay the use tax directly to the state.
The bill notes New Hampshire has no such sales tax and should not be required to determine, collect and remit such taxes for other states as such a mandate would be "unreasonably burdensome" given the variation in rates and exemptions of these taxes in other states.
Senate Bill 5 essentially prevents businesses in New Hampshire from having to question their customers about whether they live in another state or plan to use an item purchased here in a state with a sales tax.
The bill does not exempt states with sales taxes from collecting them on qualifying products purchased in New Hampshire, but it does protect Granite State businesses from having to disclose customer information and collect the taxes themselves.
New Hampshire lawmakers have expressed concern that efforts to try and make Granite State businesses collect other state's taxes requires them to determine if their customers are telling the truth about where they live and were they intend to use or store a purchased item.
Lawmakers say the newly passed Senate Bill 5 will ensure Massachusetts or any state will carry their own burden of demonstrating whether a good or purchase in New Hampshire is to be used, stored or consumed in another state.
The governor appeared with numerous local legislators on Thursday at the Newington-based business to sign the bill and emphasize its importance.
Lynch said a broad spectrum of business owners from around New Hampshire have expressed support for the legislation, which was passed with strong bipartisan support.
Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, said the legislation was a response to an issue that "came out of nowhere" and threatened New Hampshire with having to "do the work of another state."
More than one legislator attending Thursday's signing of the bill, including House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, said they were proud of how expeditiously the bill was pushed through with the support of lawmakers on both side of the aisle.
Doug Bates of the Greater Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce said the new law will prevent Massachusetts and other states from "picking the pocket" of New Hampshire businesses.
Lynch's signing of the bill will see the law go into effect immediately.
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Senator Clark's Efforts Help Portsmouth Take Next Steps for Middle School
PORTSMOUTH — Following months of uncertainty, the state Legislature has fully funded the state school building aid program, allowing the city to move forward with plans to build Portsmouth Middle School. For the last three years, city officials have sought a way to upgrade the 78-year-old school on Parrott Avenue. In April, the City Council approved first reading of a $38.3 million bond for a renovated and expanded school following years of debate on location and price. The bond vote was delayed, however, because the state House of Representatives temporarily removed funding for building aid in the proposed state budget.
The program was fully funded in the state budget signed into law Tuesday by Gov. John Lynch.
Mayor Tom Ferrini said he's now hoping to vote on a bond, which will require a two-thirds majority to pass, in August. He said he expects a public hearing will be held separate of the council vote.
"I'm very pleased the state was able to keep money in the budget. Our city certainly appreciates it," said Ferrini. "A lot of time and hard work has been put into this project, and we certainly look forward to having a public hearing and seeing what people think about it."
While the project came in below Ferrini's stated goal of $40 million, other members of the council have expressed displeasure with the price and location of the school at past meetings, making two-thirds approval uncertain.
But the state's building aid money was a big hurdle, one that School Board Chairman Mitch Shuldman is glad to have behind him.
"I was getting discouraged. ... The board had done its job, and now other people had to do their job to make this a reality. The fact that (the funds) might not be included was almost unthinkable, but as the process unfolded, the unthinkable almost happened," said Shuldman. "Hopefully we'll get a minimum of six people on the council to vote for this, especially given how close we came to the abyss."
Shuldman said he would like to bring back JCJ Architecture to give a full presentation on the project before the public hearing.
Sen. Martha Fuller Clark said there were a number of schools throughout the state with structural issues even beyond the needs of the middle school. She said it was important for the state to continue to fund the program to meet the need and take advantage of low prices in the construction market.
"This is a great time to put people back to work, and as a result, we're going to be able to get the best use out of those dollars and stretch them further than in the past," said Fuller Clark.
"We know a lot of work, thought and community engagement has gone into the decision to rehabilitate the existing middle school, and that clearly needs to happen. So I'm delighted."
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Senator Clark Supports Passage of Marriage Equality Bill
Several weeks ago, I proudly stood beside Gov. Lynch as he signed into law the Marriage Equality bill, which I — along with so many others — had strongly supported. It was truly a historic day as New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage.
The legislation, especially through subsequent amendments, contains very clear language that guarantees that no recriminations may be lodged against any church or religious organization affiliated with any church whose beliefs and doctrines oppose same-sex marriages.
At the signing ceremony, I noted that enacting this law now was a matter of leadership on human rights and not about whether it was the right time
or not. As one of my colleagues stated during the debate, ‘New Hampshire has a choice to lead or to follow.” I am honored to have been a part of a legislature that chose to lead by recognizing that now is the time for us to extend equal rights to everyone in our state while at the same time protecting freedom of religion. -
New Health Care Option Approved
As your state senator, making health insurance more affordable has been, one of my long-standing commitments. Most people in
We can and must change this. Earlier this year, Gov. John Lynch signed into law a bill that clearly addresses this problem. I was proud to be a co-sponsor of that legislation. This new initiative, known as Health First, is aimed at helping small businesses better afford health insurance for their employees. Heath First must be structured to provide comparable coverage with reduced premiums by requiring better prevention, better care management and more efficient use of health care services.
All health insurers that cover 1,000 or more people in the state will be required to offer the Health First Plan to small businesses with 50 employees or less. It will be illegal for an insurer to market a plan with similar benefits that undercuts the Health First plan. The plan will also include a set cap for a person’s out-of-pocket medical expenses. Such plans are expected to be available by 2009.
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New Law Expands Moderate Housing Options
The lack of moderate housing options, especially on the Seacoast, hurts
These employees are the backbone of our economy. We need to ensure that they have decent and affordable housing options near their jobs. In a time of rising gas prices, no one can afford to commute long distances to work.
I have also heard from many constituents whose children cannot afford to buy a home in the area. If we want our young people to stay or return to the state to live and work, we must solve our workforce housing needs.
That is why for years, I — along with many other Democrats in the House and Senate — have worked to pass legislation to help fix this problem. This year, with a Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, we were finally successful! I was especially pleased when Gov. John Lynch signed into law my bill, SB 342, which created a new and expedited appeal process for developers wanting to include moderately priced housing for working families in their real estate projects.
This new law will require municipalities to provide reasonable opportunities for the development of workforce housing in conjunction with their regional planning commissions. It also recognizes communities that have already provided their fair share of such housing. The bill fulfills a major goal of the Democratic leadership in the state Senate to expand opportunities for workforce housing. Both the NH Municipal Association and the Business and Industry Association of NH endorsed it. I am very proud of its passage.
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Everyone Benefits From State's New Energy Policy
Helping to turn businesses and communities green.
As chair of the Senate Energy, Environment, and Economic Development Committee, I know that it is essential New Hampshire be in the forefront of creating a new energy policy. Such a policy is needed to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and harness renewal energy supplies. It also will create new and rewarding jobs throughout the state, which will strengthen New Hampshire’s economy.
That’s why I am excited that Gov. John Lynch signed into law my bill to encourage and promote development of innovative solutions for renewable energy and new technologies to lower energy costs at the local level. SB 451, co-sponsored by Sens. Jackie Cilley and Maggie Hassan and Rep. David Borden of New Castle, will let regulated utilities like Unitil, Public Service of New Hampshire or National Grid earn rate recovery for their investment in helping homeowners, small businesses and even local governments use solar panels, windmills, wood-waste burning turbines and other technologies to generate electric power that can be added to our power grid.
This legislation will help keep energy dollars here in the state, lower our energy costs and promote economic development. Another benefit will be to help utilities meet mandates to cut carbon missions and provide at least 25 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2025. -
New Law Helps With Tight Economy
In the past, only full-time employees could collect unemployment benefits. This left part-time workers in a lurchwhen they were laid off, especially during tough economic times. This year, I cosponsored a bill with Sen. Maggie Hassan to change Department of Labor regulations to allow part-time workers to collect unemployment benefits after a layoff.Gov. John Lynch signed our bill into law.Businesses pay taxes on the first $8,000 in wages of part-time workers. Surely, it makes sense to allow these part-time workers employees to have access to those benefits if and when they are laid off from work through no fault of their own. Dedicated part-time employees should not be denied benefits just because they work fewer hours.The new law will have no additional impact on employment taxes paid by businesses because employers are already paying into a fund on their behalf. -
Legislation Benefitting Greenland
Three bills which I sponsored will have a positive impact on the town of Greenland.
First, SB 352 gives the Wetlands Council jurisdiction over appeals of Department of Environmental Services decisions relating to protected shore lands. I introduced this bill because there were concerns in Greenland and
A second bill I sponsored will also benefit the town. SB 523, which was cosponsored by Representatives David Borden and Otto Grote, clarifies the authority of the Estuary Alliance for Sewage Treatment (EAST). Under current law, EAST has eminent domain authority over all municipalities within the boundaries of the alliance regardless of whether the communities choose to be members of the alliance. Our legislation will require that towns must first join EAST before they become subject to its eminent domain authority. This bill was also approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor.
The third bill I sponsored, SB 166, creates temporary seasonal coastal mooring permits and directs the PDA Division of Ports and Harbors to establish rules for such permits in coastal tidal waters. These temporary seasonal moorings will give more residents in the Seacoast the opportunity to moor their boats during the warmer summer months. The bill also establishes an appeals process for mooring holders who believe they have a legitimate reason for missing the mooring permit renewal date. The legislature approved this bill, and it was signed by the governor. The seasonal mooring permits will be available for the 2009 boating season.
Martha Fuller
State Senate District 24
(Greenland,
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On board with new sub: Fuller Clark buys USS New Hampshire buttons to pass out to constituents
PORTSMOUTH — With nearly a month left until the USS New Hampshire makes its way up the Piscataqua River for its commissioning ceremony, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark is the latest local to step up to the fundraising challenge.
Fuller Clark recently purchased 1,500 USS New Hampshire Commissioning Commemorative Buttons, which she plans on giving away to her constituents as she goes door-to-door canvassing on behalf of her Senate re-election campaign. "I'm thrilled to help the citizens of Portsmouth and the Seacoast region celebrate the commissioning of the USS New Hampshire," Fuller Clark said. "We are honored that Portsmouth was chosen as the site of the commissioning. We have a wonderful opportunity to once again showcase the long, historical relationship between Portsmouth, the Shipyard and the Navy." The submarine is being lauded as the Navy's newest nuclear powered fast-attack Virginia-class submarine and will be commissioned at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Oct. 25.
It is the fourth ship to bear the New Hampshire name and the shipyard was selected as the commissioning site thanks to a persistent letter-writing campaign by third-graders from the Garrison Elementary School in Dover.
Fuller Clark wants her constituents to know that should they receive a button from her while on the campaign trail, each of them has a number on the back that can be registered at the commissioning website, www.ussnewhampshire.org, for the chance to win a package of all the USS New Hampshire Commissioning memorabilia being produced for the celebration. For more details about the commissioning of the USS New Hampshire and to find out how to contribute to the fundraising effort, visit www.ussnewhampshire.org. -
SENATE VOTES TO SUPPORT REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE
"New Hampshire will be better off economically if we participate in RGGI," said Senator Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth). "As the rest of the region begins to implement RGGI, electricity costs will increase. If New Hampshire participates, this additional cost can be offset by the sale of RGGI allowances allocated to New Hampshire and their reinvestment in energy efficiency and conservation measures."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Contact: Senator Martha Fuller Clark (603) 271-6933
SENATE VOTES TO SUPPORT REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE
CONCORD - The Senate voted today 16-8 in support of legislation to allow New Hampshire to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is a market-based program that involves nine other states and is expected to reduce carbon pollution, improve energy efficiency and ultimately save ratepayers money. The legislation already has passed in the House. Today's Senate vote sends the bill to the Senate Finance Committee for review.
"New Hampshire will be better off economically if we participate in RGGI," said Senator Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth). "As the rest of the region begins to implement RGGI, electricity costs will increase. If New Hampshire participates, this additional cost can be offset by the sale of RGGI allowances allocated to New Hampshire and their reinvestment in energy efficiency and conservation measures."
RGGI would require electric utilities to buy a carbon allowance for each ton of carbon they emit. Participating in a regional auction of those allowances, New Hampshire would raise millions of dollars for local businesses and homeowners to use toward reducing energy use, both heat and electricity, through conservation and improved efficiency. Participation also would reduce the need for expensive upgrades to the state's old fossil fuel-based power plants.
To address concerns from the business community, the Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee capped carbon allowances starting at $6 per ton. The original legislation called for a limit that starts at $12 per ton.
"You don't have to believe in climate change to favor the bill because there is a strong economic argument for improving efficiency and conservation given our soaring energy prices," said Senator Harold Janeway (D-Webster). -
Senate Passes Legislation on Workforce Housing
"All citizens in the state benefit from a balanced supply of housing which is affordable to individuals and families of low and moderate income."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 21, 2008
Contact: Senator Martha Fuller Clark (603) 271-6933
SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION ON WORKFORCE HOUSING
CONCORD - The Senate this week passed two bills designed to make it easier for developers to build low- and moderate-income housing for working people.
The legislation embraces a major goal of the state's Business and Industry Association, which identified expanded opportunities for workforce housing as a top priority this year.
"All citizens in the state benefit from a balanced supply of housing which is affordable to individuals and families of low and moderate income," said Senator Martha Fuller Clark, (D-Portsmouth) who sponsored Senate Bills 421 and 342. "The housing shortage poses a threat to the state's economic growth by creating a barrier to the expansion of the labor force and adversely affects the ability of many communities to host new businesses."
Senate Bill 421, which passed 23-1, calls on municipalities to provide "reasonable and realistic opportunities for the development of workforce housing" and declares that the opportunity for such development "shall not be prohibited or discouraged by use of municipal planning and zoning powers or by unreasonable interpretation of such powers."
Lawmakers heard testimony about local zoning strategies - for example those that require large lot sizes - that made it impossible for developers to build anything but luxury homes or age-restricted housing for elders in some communities.
Senate Bill 342, which also passed 23-1, creates a new and expedited appeal process for developers to challenge the decisions of planning or zoning boards that unfairly deny a project that would include affordable housing for working families
Affordable housing advocates say developers currently don't want to take on the expense of a court challenge and instead restrict any projects that contain workforce housing to communities that will accept them - putting an unfair burden on certain municipalities when workforce housing opportunities need to be spread throughout the state.
Both bills head to the House, along with Senate Bill 199, which would change how taxes are assessed on rent-restricted properties that meet certain conditions. The goal is to assist those who offer subsidized housing and encourage the development of additional subsidized units. -
SENATE PASSES BILL TO ALLOW FOR IMMEDIATE BRIDGE REPAIR
"For my constituents who rely on this bridge, it is essential that we act quickly. Today we've taken steps to correct problems that resulted from more than 20 years of deferred maintenance. This recognizes that maintaining Portsmouth's infrastructure is critical not only to the community but to the entire state's economic health."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 17, 2008
SENATE PASSES BILL TO ALLOW FOR IMMEDIATE BRIDGE REPAIRCONCORD - In an effort to ensure a critical bridge can continue to function, the Senate voted today to transfer the Portsmouth-Kittery Bridge to the state Department of Transportation to allow for immediate repairs. The bill now heads to the House.
"For my constituents who rely on this bridge, it is essential that we act quickly. Today we've taken steps to correct problems that resulted from more than 20 years of deferred maintenance. This recognizes that maintaining Portsmouth's infrastructure is critical not only to the community but to the entire state's economic health," said Senator Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth).
The 1937 bridge across the Piscataqua River, also known as the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, has been in the care of the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge Authority. The authority's decision about 30 years ago to stop collecting tolls when the I-95 bridge opened left it with a steadily declining source of revenue to pay for repairs, and over time, the bridge was allowed to deteriorate. The authority supports House Bill 754 to dissolve its membership.
Plans call for Maine and New Hampshire to share the costs of maintaining the bridge going forward but this legislation will allow for some immediate short-term repairs to the drawbridge mechanism. Most of the cost for the immediate repairs will be reimbursed by the federal government because the bridge provides a critical rail link to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
The main drawbridge mechanism stuck just last month and a backup system was required to get the bridge working. The bridge must be raised to allow ships to pass underneath into the harbor.
"This bridge is vital not just to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard but to our ability to get ships and tankers in and out of Portsmouth Harbor, including those that carry home heating oil for the region," Burling said.
The Sarah Long Bridge also will be critical as an alternative route when much-needed repairs to the red-listed Memorial Bridge are made, he said. Memorial Bridge is one of the key projects identified in the Governor's new 10-year transportation plan.
"We have no more time to put off the necessary repairs," Burling said. "New Hampshire does not want to appear on the morning edition of CNN news with a whole bunch of cars in the river," he said referring to the bridge collapse last year in Minneapolis.
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Senator Fuller Clark sponsors bill to reduce global warming
SENATORS SUPPORT BILL TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
CONCORD - Joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will allow New Hampshire to reduce carbon pollution, improve energy efficiency and ultimately save ratepayers money.
So testified lawmakers today in support of House Bill 1434 which would allow New Hampshire to participate in a regional cap-and-trade program designed to reduce the emissions that contribute to global warming. Advocates spoke before the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee.
"ReGGI is a cost-effective, market-based program that will create jobs and drive growth. By 2018, ReGGI will increase New Hampshire's employment by more than 800 jobs and add more than $60 million to the economy. Ultimately, joining ReGGI means lower costs to electric consumers than not joining," said Senator Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth) referring to an economic analysis done by the University of New Hampshire's Ross Gittell.
Fuller Clark, the leading Senate sponsor of the bill, described the legislation as a companion piece to the Renewable Energy Act passed last year, which is expected to stimulate the growth of new sources of clean energy in the state.
House Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative "one of the most important bills of the legislative session." Senate President Sylvia Larsen called it "the most important initiative we're working on this session."
"Providing clean energy and improving our energy efficiency means we can have economic growth and still address climate change in our state and across the region," Larsen (D-Concord) said.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, dubbed "Reggie," would set a regional cap on carbon emissions starting in 2009. Electric utilities would be required to purchase allowances for every ton of carbon they emit into the atmosphere. This would provide a new incentive for utilities to seek out clean energy sources to reduce their carbon emissions. And it would generate revenue from the carbon allowances to reduce energy use by improving our energy efficiency.
Each participating state retains the right to decide how the allowances are distributed but thus far the nine other participating states in the Northeast have opted to engage in a regional auction to distribute their allowances and raise revenue. Following this road in New Hampshire is expected to generate $10-$12 million per year for the state.
