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Former Member, Municipal and County Government Committee, New Hampshire State House of Representatives
Member, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee
Priority Issues:
Small business owners, fishermen, farmers, and other shop owners. These are the folks who form the backbone of our economy. They create most of the new jobs, and they are the people who are doing the real work out there.
Reason for Seeking Public Office:
I wanted our district to have someone who is up there working for the interests of the people back home. The lobbyists and big monied interests have their people up there and have their friends at work for them. Ordinary taxpayers should have good people up there with a public service mindset.
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life
2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- Yes
3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes
4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes
5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes
6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes
7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- Yes
8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes
9. Other or expanded principles
- Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is actually a political action office in Burlington, Vermont, that gives your tax money to the campaigns of Democrats and RINO's (Republicans In Name Only) only. When my two opponents voted to give $549,000 of your tax money to PPNNE, they were voting to send your tax money right back into their own campaigns. This is no different that billions of dollars in public sector "union dues" money--paid for by taxpayers--that it then run into the campaigns of Democrats and RINO's who rob the taxpayers incessantly.
1. Tapping into New Hampshire's "rainy day" fund
- Yes
2. Decreasing funding for public universities
- Yes
3. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- Yes
4. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- Yes
5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No
6. Other or expanded principles
- UNH is one of the most powerful political lobbies in Concord. They've spent $17,000 on a pastel lit table, $62,000 reworking their logo, and $23 million a year on the chancellery. We need to institute work requirements and random drug testing for welfare recipients, and we need to offer a much more realistic welfare-to-work program with OJT. Most of what the State has been spending money on could be much better handled locally or privately through local charities, churches, towns, and human services agencies. Stop prosecuting non-violent drug offenders and collect $30-40 million in tax revenue from cannabis.
1. Education (higher)
- Maintain Status
2. Education (K-12)
- Maintain Status
3. Environment
- Maintain Status
4. Health care
- Slightly Decrease
5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Slightly Decrease
6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase
7. Welfare
- Slightly Decrease
8. Other or expanded categories
- I would let the Obamacare/Medicaid subsidy for hospitals sunset. This is $424 million a year in subsidies for the hospital industry that lobbied for it. It provides almost no additional medical coverage or care. In fact, the lobbyists for the medical industry were always talking about "uncompensated care," the cost of which is already passed on to the insured. Insurance premia and out of pocket expenses have doubled under Obamacare, small hospitals have had to close, and tens of thousands of doctors have been forced into retirement.
1. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status
2. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status
3. Small business taxes
- Greatly Decrease
4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status
5. Property taxes
- Greatly Decrease
6. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Eliminate
7. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Eliminate
8. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Eliminate
9. Other or expanded principles
- I absolutely oppose any sales or income tax. We need to reduce the size, scope, and power of the state government and lower these property taxes. The Claremont decision has resulted in almost every town being turned into a "donor town," forcing everyone's property taxes much higher. The same school administrators association and teachers union officials who've stood to gain from the $14,000 per year per student then support Democrats and RINO's who vote to give them even more.
Eliminate $39 million in business subsidies to reduce the Business Enterprise Tax on small businesses and independent contractors by 15%.
1. Individual
- Yes
2. Political Action Committee
- Yes
3. Corporate
- Yes
4. Political Party
- Yes
5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes
6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes
8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes
1. Other or expanded principles
- Neither corporations nor unions should be allowed to contribute to political campaigns, nor mention candidate names in advertising 180 days before the general election. I support the Anti-Corruption Act and the repeal of Citizens United. Many districts are gerrymandered to keep one party in power indefinitely, and that is why we need third parties that are competitive in those local races.
There has been widespread voter fraud all over the country. Despite overwhelming evidence, video, affidavits, and other records, the Democrat-appointed Attorney General refuses to investigate most of these cases.
1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No
2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes
3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes
4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes
5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes
6. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- Yes
7. Do you support additional funding for programs intended to reduce drug addiction in New Hampshire?
- Yes
8. Other or expanded principles
- Nearly every country in western Europe has been moving their limited resources away from drug enforcement to treatment, prevention, and recovery support. Portugal decriminalized drugs, while Holland effectively tolerates them in order to gain more tax revenue. Spain, Italy, and Luxembourg also decriminalized most drugs. All have seen drug use, drug addiction, crime, new HIV and Hepatitis cases drop dramatically because they have more resources for prevention and other Harm Reduction strategies.
Everyone needs to be actively involved in prevention. When I grew up, we had Just Say No, and everyone was reminding us of the importance of avoiding drugs.
1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
3. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes
4. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes
5. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No
6. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes
7. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes
8. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No
9. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- Yes
10. Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them?
- Yes
11. Other or expanded principles
- All of the income growth and job growth is occurring in the 30 lowest taxed states. The 20 highest taxed states (most having Democrat majorities) have no net job growth nor income growth. Open up insurance markets to competition.
I proposed a $9 an hour minimum wage to be paid for by allowing employers to keep a larger portion of the Meals & Rooms tax. Businesses would not have seen a net increase in their costs. I would not veto any Right to Work bill, which some manufacturers need before they would bring their equipment and jobs here.
1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No
2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- Yes
3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No
4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- Yes
5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes
6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes
7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from New Hampshire high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No
8. Other or expanded principles
- I support expanding the Education Tax Credit so that any parent or homeowner can send more of their property taxes to any public, private, charter school, or trade school.
We need to get the State out of schooling. Local school boards are being heavily put upon by both state and school district bureaucracies. Repeal the state statute that mandates that school boards use School Administrative Units to make most of their decisions for them. Charter schools, private schools, and trade schools do not have SAU's, and they eat up more than $500 per year per student.
1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No
2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No
3. Do you support state funding for improvements to New Hampshire's energy infrastructure?
- No
4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes
5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No
6. Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- Yes
7. Other or expanded principles
- Most professional economists prefer to simply tax pollution rather than use regulations and permits. The tax revenue would help buy down the property tax rate, and there would not be as great a need for such a large state bureaucracy.
I voted to increase Net Metering from 50MWh to 100MWh, allowing more homeowners, schools, and businesses to install solar. I also support exempting these solar panels from property taxes, currently a local option allowed under RSA 72:62. Fracking must be prevented until it can be proven that no toxic chemicals will be spilled at the drill site.
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No
2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes
3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes
4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No
5. Other or expanded principles
- I spoke on the floor of the House as a state representative on the need for Constitutional Carry, which Vermont, Maine, and almost a dozen states now have. There is no reason why law abiding gun owners should have to fear felony level prosecution for putting on a jacket while awaiting their Pistol/Revolver License. There is currently no "gun show loophole." All gun purchases must go through a seller with a FFL.
Cities, states, and countries that have enacted strict gun control or that have disarmed their people have seen violent crime rates escalate, sometimes 10-20 times higher.
1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No
2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes
3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes
4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No
6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes
7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes
8. Other or expanded principles
- Before government got into healthcare with all of these taxes, subsidies, regulations, red tape, procedural licensing, the FDA's 10-18 year long approval process, and state insurance mandates, medical insurance was affordable, and almost every employer offered it.
I voted against SB481 because it allows hospitals to overcharge patients at a time when they're least able to afford it, and for HB 128, which would've opened up the health insurance market of competition. Even opponents admitted that it would save businesses and consumers about 5% on insurance. We also ended Certificate of Need, which prevented competition in certain medical procedures.
1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes
2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New Hampshire's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Hampshire's anti-discrimination laws?
- No
4. Other or expanded principles
- Gender identity becomes too onerous for legislators to handle. That is just being realistic about the kind of politicians we have up in Concord. I support a ban on gay conversion therapy, and have offered to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on fixing the problems that remain in last session's bill.
The laws of the state must treat everyone equally and give everyone the same benefit of the doubt: black or white, young or old, rich or poor, gay or straight, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, or agnostic.
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- i. Return money, power, and decision making back down to the local level and back to the people.ii. Reduce property taxes.iii. Offer drug treatment and recovery support instead of prison.
By Doug Ireland It's been a tight race for governor as three candidates battle to replace Maggie Hassan, who is seeking election to the U.S. Senate. The close contest is between Republican Chris Sununu of Newfields and Democrat Colin Van Ostern of Concord, both current members of the Governor's Executive Council who have fought over issues such as the funding of Planned Parenthood. The third candidate is Libertarian Max Abramson of Seabrook. The election is Nov. 8. Sununu, 41, is the chief executive officer of Waterville Valley Resort. The Salem native and father of three is the son of former governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu and the brother of former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu. Van Ostern, 37, is a former business manager for Stonyfield and a senior adviser for the College for America at Southern New Hampshire University. He is a father of two. Max Abramson, who would not disclose his age, is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. He also served on his town's Budget Committee and Planning Board. The three candidates were asked to respond to five questions on top issues in the state. How would you fix New Hampshire's transportation woes? Abramson: Finish Interstate 93. Remove all taxes, red tape and obstacles to the development of both local and private transit options and van-pool services. We passed House Bill 1697, guaranteeing free-market alternatives like Uber, Lyft, and Arcade City, and reducing the need for private use of and parking for cars. Sununu: In order to alleviate transportation issues, we need to first address our failing infrastructure. We have more than 150 "red-listed" bridges and crumbling roads in every corner of the state. That's unacceptable. As governor, repairing our infrastructure will be a top priority. Van Ostern: Work with Democrats and Republicans to fix New Hampshire's roads and bridges, finish the expansion of Interstate 93 and bring passenger rail to the capital corridor with stops in Nashua, the Manchester airport and the Manchester Millyard. Do you agree with the way education is funded in New Hampshire? If so, why? If not, how would you change it? Abramson: No, I would expand the education tax credit so that parents, homeowners and businesses could send their property tax dollars directly to any public, private, charter, or trade school or any community college without those funds being eaten up by state bureaucracy or school administration costs. Sununu: I believe that we need to return the power of education funding in New Hampshire to the Legislature through a constitutional amendment. Van Ostern: Will ensure our public schools and our teachers have the resources they need to succeed and fully fund the state's education commitments to local communities for the first time in years. New Hampshire cannot afford to refuse fast-growing school districts a proportional increase in state funding for their students. Will also work to increase state funds to fully fund the cost of full-day kindergarten for every New Hampshire child. Would you ever support an income or sales tax under any circumstances? Abramson: Absolutely not, under any circumstances. We need to reduce waste, fraud, abuse, bureaucracy, no-bid contracts, subsidies and pork-barrel projects instead. Sununu: I will always oppose an income and sales tax. Van Ostern: Opposed to a sales or an income tax and would use all tools available to preserve New Hampshire's low-tax structure and prevent a broad-based state income or sales tax. How would you keep New Hampshire's young people from leaving the state? Abramson: We need to make New Hampshire the best place in the Northeast for new businesses and startups. I am an active member of the House Business Caucus, and we are working very hard to simplify and reduce business taxes, regulations, red tape and state mandates, and to reduce electricity, fuel, insurance, and health care costs. Sununu: The first step in retaining young people in New Hampshire is to attract new businesses into the state. Young people graduating with record-high student debt are leaving for Boston and New York, where they can find high-paying jobs. We need to reverse that trend. Van Ostern: New Hampshire has the highest in-state tuition and the highest level of student debt in the country. Will fight to cut college costs and make higher education more affordable so more young people can stay and get the skills needed for good-paying jobs here in our state. We also need to maintain our low-tax structure with no sales or income tax and combat the opioid and drug epidemic, which is the greatest threat to our quality of life. What is your top priority in fighting the heroin epidemic? Abramson: I was the prime sponsor of Jessie's Law, which would have enabled a Gloucester-style Angel program. The bill would also have enabled best practices in prevention, treatment and recovery support in each county, allowing county delegations to try different approaches. Sununu: Aggressive prevention education. Programs in our schools have not gone far enough to educate students on the dangers of heroin or parents on the warning signs of substance abuse. It is critical that we get to our kids before the drug dealers do. Van Ostern: The only candidate for governor who's endorsed the nonpartisan New Futures plan to combat the epidemic. Central to that plan is boosting resources to combat substance abuse and also fully funding New Hampshire's Alcohol Fund to support prevention, treatment and recovery. Will fight to safeguard and make permanent the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Plan and increase access to prevention, treatment and recovery.
By Staff Reports New Hampshire's next governor will likely have the opportunity to nominate three justices to the NH Supreme Court, as three of the five current justices will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 within the next three years. Bar News sent a brief questionnaire to the three candidates vying for the governor's office whose names will appear on the general election ballot in November. Executive Council Chris Sununu (R-Newfields) chose not to answer the questions, which cover judicial selection, budget priorities and other justice issues. His campaign said that he was working on it, but then never responded to follow-up emails. The responses submitted by candidates Max Abramson, a Republican state representative from Seabrook, who is running as a Libertarian, and Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern (D-Concord), follow: Bar News: Would you continue to use the judicial selection process that involves screening candidates by a judicial selection commission? Abramson: No, I would use a different system of assisted appointment by merit. Judicial appointments to either the superior courts or the New Hampshire Supreme Court would exclude current members of the Attorney General's Office as a clear conflict of interest. As governor, I would recommend prospects from a broad range of backgrounds, including civil and criminal defense attorneys, and the Public Defender program, especially those who have done pro bono work or who have worked on wrongful conviction cases. Van Ostern: Yes. As Governor of New Hampshire, I will appoint an independent Judicial Selection Commission to help recruit, interview, and select competent candidates to be nominated as New Hampshire judges, as three of the past four Governors have done successfully. Bar News: The new governor will likely be nominating three justices to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Please describe the qualities and previous experience that you would seek in candidates to serve on the Supreme Court. Abramson: A commitment to the Constitution and due process must be the first requirement. I would not appoint either liberal nor conservative "activist" judges. I would not want judges who mechanically apply outdated precedent, but follow the spirit and intent given in Jacobs, 149 NH 505 (2003). Van Ostern: I believe New Hampshire citizens deserve a fair, impartial justice system managed by well-qualified judges who are selected on the basis of merit and not politics. It is in the best interest of all our citizens to attract the top judicial talent in the state, thoroughly review the candidate's qualifications, and select judicial candidates based on competency, qualification, intellect, temperament and integrity. Bar News: What would your budget priorities be with regard to the NH Judicial Branch? Abramson: The state needs to prosecute far fewer cases, and, in particular, victimless crimes. Estimates of one-third to three-quarters of cases pursued are now victimless. Until the late 1970s, New Hampshire had fewer than 200 people incarcerated. That number has grown to 3,800. For those with mental health issues, addiction, or other problems that can be solved without prison, I would promote outpatient treatment, recovery support, job training, employment support, and other alternative forms of rehabilitation. Van Ostern: I would ensure New Hampshire's judicial branch has the resources it needs to operate a fair, impartial, and timely court system without unreasonable wait times or delays. New Hampshire citizens deserve no less. Bar News: What else do you think is most important for attorneys who are licensed to practice law in New Hampshire to know about your platform? Abramson: As a current state representative, I have been a strong supporter of jury nullification. Judges need to inform juries during closing instructions of their right and duty to acquit in any case where the law is being unjustly applied. The NH Supreme Court must also develop a more realistic standard of evidentiary review that allows the trial judge, sitting as the "13th juror," to reject convictions that might be based on an excessive reliance on forensics, testimony, or possible misinterpretation of jury instructions. Van Ostern: I have a record of leaving partisanship at the door and working with Democrats and Republicans to move our state forward the New Hampshire way. As Governor, I'll take a pragmatic approach to growing the economy, boosting wages and strengthening New Hampshire's workforce without an income or sales tax. I'll also fight New Hampshire's opioid crisis, the most urgent public health crisis facing our state, by making the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Plan permanent that has already provided substance use disorder treatment to 7,500 Granite Staters.
