Category: Press Releases

NH House Freedom Caucus
For Immediate Release
July 25, 2018

Contact: Rep. JR Hoell, 603-315-9002

NH House Freedom Caucus Congratulates House on Rejecting Senate Bill That Paved the Way for Other States to Compel Our Businesses to Collect Their Taxes

Concord – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) yesterday called the proposed legislation for Wednesday’s special legislative session ineffective and in desperate need of reform. The proposed legislation created the road map on how to allow out-of-state entities to force our businesses to collect their taxes. Today the House rejected the proposed version and adopted a simple study commission to study the issue.

“The proposed legislation, SSSB1 inadvertently trampled over protections in both our State and the Federal Constitutions. Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution of the United States explicitly designates Congress with the Authority to act on interstate commerce. ‘No State shall, without the consent of Congress lay any impost or duties on imports or exports…’ SSSB1 as introduced, built the ladder to broach the walls of protections that our State and Federal Constitution provide”, stated Rep. Dan Itse (R-Fremont)

“The House was asked to vote on a bill that created a legal frame work for other states to compel our businesses to collect their taxes. The floor amendment that was finally adopted striped out the unconstitutional sections, and was a great step forward. There was a better way to address the SCOTUS decision and I am disappointed that the House Leadership did not take up the rules for a more transparent process that would have concluded on September 13th with legislation that would have addressed all of the issues surrounding the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision”. Rep. Hoell (R-Dunbarton)

“The bill that that was before the house today, did not create a roadblock, but a toll booth to allow other states to force New Hampshire Companies to collect their taxes”, Rep. Spillane (R-Deerfield)
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The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

NH House Freedom Caucus
For Immediate Release
July 24, 2018

Contact: Rep. JR Hoell, 603-315-9002

New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus Says the Online Sales Tax Bill Lacks Meaningful Protections, Demands Real Teeth in Fight to Safeguard NH Retailers and Citizens

Concord – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) today called the proposed legislation for Wednesday’s special legislative session ineffective. The proposal is sorely lacking meaningful teeth to block out-of-state taxing authorities from requiring New Hampshire retailers to collect sales taxes in the wake of the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision. NHHFC calls for additional provisions, such as the right to private causes of action by NH retailers and consumers against out-of-state taxing agencies, a prohibition on state and local officials cooperating with foreign taxing jurisdictions in collection of sales taxes, and the possibility of a constitutional amendment to remove standing in NH courts for out-of-state taxing entities to collect sales taxes.

“The proposed legislation coming before the Legislature Wednesday is not a roadblock to prevent out-of-state sales taxes, it’s a roadmap to tell the 10,000 taxing entities how to collect these taxes. While this law might stop some of the smaller jurisdictions from trying to come to New Hampshire, it doesn’t offer the full, robust protections that our retailers need. The goal of this effort should be to put up a real fight, not merely manage the slow decline of our no sales tax status,” stated Rep. Michael Sylvia. (R-Belmont)

“Legislators and the public still don’t fully know what is in this bill and how it would work. We are being told to ‘pass the bill to find out what’s in it.’ This legislation itself never had a public hearing and the process isn’t giving anyone the opportunity to consider other, stronger alternatives. While we support the idea of a special session to deal with this matter, we should slow this train down to ensure that the public and every legislator get a chance to try to make the bill better. “Legislating “on the fly” is a very poor way for our State House to pass laws”, added Rep. Len Turcotte (R-Barrington).

“The Freedom Caucus shares the desire to protect our retailers and citizens from the assault on the New Hampshire Advantage. However, we want to do so in a way that is comprehensive and forward looking. We want a real, durable solution that turns our state into the “Delaware of online retailers” and grows our competitiveness. We have a chance to do this, but we need to go far further than the current draft legislation”, concluded Rep. JR Hoell (R-Dunbarton).
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The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

NH House Freedom Caucus
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2018

Contact: Rep. JR Hoell, 603-315-9002

CONCORD – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) today blasted the massive, $120 million state spending spree in new spending outside of a state budget year in bills coming before the House tomorrow. In particular, the NHHFC focused on the $102.3 million omnibus spending bill (HB 1817), legislation that never saw a public hearing in the House for any of the appropriations included within it.

“The Legislature abandoned its fiscal responsibility by approving this off-budget spending, and the committee of conference made this terrible mistake even worse. At a time when we are already overtaxing Granite Staters, the solution isn’t more spending; it should be to return the money back to the hard-working taxpayers who earned it. Instead, we have members in both chambers who spend first, ask questions later,” said Rep. Elizabeth Ferreira (R-Nashua).

“This drunken sailor spending binge is Washington politics at its worst. This omnibus spending bill never received a public hearing in the House while burning through over $100 million in taxpayer money, with no thought about any other priorities or asking the public to weigh in. Then, just four House members decided to add even more spending to this outrageous monster without discussing it with the rest of the House. On Wednesday, we’ll be asked to ‘pass this bill so we can find out what’s in it.’ That might be fine for Washington, but it’s truly disgusting to see that happen here in New Hampshire,” added Rep. Glen Aldrich (R-Gilford).

“Fiscal responsibility and lowering tax burdens are precisely why we are seeing New Hampshire’s economy expand. However, instead of returning excess revenues directly to the taxpayers, Legislative members are looking for places to spend it. This transparent attempt to try to buy votes in an election year with taxpayers’ money is exactly what turns people off. The people of New Hampshire deserve better,” concluded Rep. Len Turcotte (R-Barrington).
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The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus Comments
on House Commerce Committee Recommending
Defeat of Paid Medical Leave Bill HB 628

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 31, 2018

Concord – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) today commended the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee for recommending HB 628 as Inexpedient to Legislate. The bill would have created a 0.5% tax on income, paid by the employer, to fund paid family and medical leave, unless the employee opted out of the program and tax upon being hired.

“President Reagan sagely pointed out that ‘If you can find it in the yellow pages, government shouldn’t be doing it.” While the Internet is making phone books obsolete, the wisdom remains – government should not be interfering where the private sector has a competitive, robust market. The House Commerce Committee acted prudently regarding HB 628.” stated Rep. Jeanine Notter, R-Merrimack

“The Insurance Department made clear that HB 628 would destroy the insurance market, which offers individuals and employers the ability to develop and customize plans that best meets consumers’ needs, and would replace it with a one-size-fits-all program that the Department of Employment Security says would be insolvent and potentially cost state taxpayers enormously. We applaud the Commerce Committee for recommending this bill die, because it is unnecessary and inappropriate intrusion with the free market” stated Rep. James Spillane, R-Deerfield

“As a small business owner, the last thing I need is one more piece of government interference between my employees and me. This legislation would replace an ongoing dialogue between business owners and their employees about how staff wants to structure compensation and benefits with a hard-to-administer tax that employees would have to decide upon employment whether they would take or not, and then not be given the chance to change their minds. By killing this, these types of insurance products go back to being part of an ongoing discussion between employers and employees, which is exactly what it should continue to be, to give everyone the best ability to make their own decisions,” added Rep. JR Hoell, R-Dunbarton

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The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

House Freedom Caucus Opposes Legislation to
Make Obamacare Expansion of Medicaid Permanent

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 16, 2018

CONCORD – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus stands strongly opposed to legislation that would make Obamacare Medicaid expansion permanent in New Hampshire. Today, legislation that would keep the current Medicaid expansion regime in place permanently (HB 1811) will receive a public hearing before the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.

“Medicaid expansion has failed New Hampshire, leading to massive, 52% premium increases this year for those who are forced to buy health insurance in the individual marketplace. While giving a free ride for some to get health insurance, it has made getting that same opportunity unaffordable for many working families across the state. It’s time to admit that this program is a disaster, not to double down on this colossal failure,” said Rep. Jeanine Notter (R-Merrimack).

“The only way that Medicaid expansion has been able to exist is through a scheme that the federal government showed is illegal. Instead of realizing the folly of setting up the taxpayers for failure, some are working to keep this charade going. Enough is enough. It’s time to end the games and start protecting the taxpayers of New Hampshire. Giving free Medicaid to those who can work, but choose not to do so, at a time when jobs are abundant, is absurd and needs to stop now,” added Rep. Mike Sylvia (R-Belmont).

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The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

NH House Freedom Caucus
Contact: info@nhhfc.org
For Immediate Release
October 26, 2017

PRESS RELEASE

New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus Announces Committed Speaker Candidates, Panelists for November 2nd Forum

Concord – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) will host a forum for candidates for Speaker of the House on next Thursday, November 2nd, after the House veto session. Currently, seven candidates for Speaker have confirmed for the event, which will be moderated by Rep. Len Turcotte (R-Barrington), with a panel of policy experts.

The confirmed speaker candidates are (in alphabetical order):

Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry)

Rep. John Burt (R-Goffstown)

Deputy Speaker Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett)

Rep. Jim McConnell (R-Swanzey)

Rep. Laurie Sanborn (R-Bedford)

Rep. Steve Shurtleff (D-Concord)

Rep. Steven Smith (R-Charlestown)

The confirmed panelists for the event will be:

Andrew Cline, Interim President, Josiah Barlett Center

Andy Crews, President, AutoFair

Michelle Levell, Director, School Choice for New Hampshire

Ed Naile, Chairman, Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers

“The coming election for Speaker will have a significant impact on the state’s future, so it is critical to hear where the candidates stand on important issues facing the state. We’re thrilled to have such great participation and such a distinguished panel to help both House members and the public understand the vision of each candidate. Every candidate will get their chance to convince their colleagues to support them and the opportunity to earn their vote. This should be a very exciting forum,” added Rep. Turcotte.

The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

MEDIA ADVISORY
NH House Freedom Caucus to Host Forum for Speaker Candidates November 2nd

Concord — The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) will host a forum for candidates for Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday, November 2nd. The event will take place at the Holiday Inn in Concord after the conclusion of House veto session which is scheduled for 1:00 PM that day. Almost all of the publicly declared candidates for House Speaker have already committed to attending the event, which will include a panel of state experts on issues facing the legislature in 2018. Next week, NHHFC will announce a full list of Speaker candidates attending and the list of panelists.

The event will be open to credentialed media and House members of all parties. The public will be allowed to attend, depending on space available.

“The House Freedom Caucus knows that it is critical for members to hear from those who wish to serve as Speaker about where they stand on key issues that might come forward in 2018. Giving these candidates a forum with a panel of distinguished experts allows each of them to get their message out to those who will be voting later in November. While we don’t anticipate that the Freedom Caucus will endorse any candidate, we want all members to go into this vote with a clear sense of what 2018 might bring. We look forward to providing this opportunity to all the candidates,” said Rep. JR Hoell (R-Dunbarton).

What: NHHFC Hosts House Speaker Candidate Forum

Where: Holiday Inn Concord, 172 N Main St

When: 2:00 PM (or 15 minutes after House session, whichever is later), Thursday, November 2nd
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The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.

NH House Freedom Caucus
Contact: info@nhhfc.org
For Immediate Release
August 29, 2017

NH House Freedom Caucus Calls Out $93 Million
in Off Budget Spending Added by Fiscal Committee

Concord – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) today criticized the Legislative Fiscal Committee for adding $93 million in off-budget spending at the first meeting during the new budget cycle this past Friday.

“Taxpayers deserve the right to know how the state is spending our money. However, the Fiscal Committee bypassed the budget process to spend $93 million without a single word of public input. This shows a disturbing lack of transparency that undermines the credibility of government. The Freedom Caucus fought the House budget in part because it included roughly $220 million in phony ‘cuts’ that were simply a way of bringing money in through the back door. New Hampshire is entitled to integrity in budgeting taxpayer money, but we’re witnessing just the opposite here,” stated Rep. Josh Moore (R-Merrimack)

DHHS Commissioner, Jeffery Meyers approved the following statement in a letter to the Fiscal committee, dated July 25th asking for the $70 million that the House Finance Committee removed: ” This accounting unit has traditionally been budgeted and was included in the Agency Efficiency budget and the Governor’s budget. The funding was taken out in both the House and Senate phases with the expectation that the Department would request the reinstatement of funding from the Fiscal Committee.”

“Without any discussion with the other 395 members, just five House members on the Fiscal Committee voted to add nearly $100 million in new spending to the state budget. That is an outrageous abuse of the legislative process that thumbs its nose at the vast majority of Representatives and our constituents. The merits of all major spending should be debated by the whole House, so that we all can determine if the taxpayers are getting good value for the money that government is taking from us,” added Rep. Len Turcotte (R- Barrington).

This “off budget” spending is precisely why I couldn’t give my endorsement of the budget. The pretense of removing this money from the budget with every anticipation to return it via the Fiscal Committee was intentionally misleading, as this money has already been spent or budgeted by the local School Districts. Furthermore, it causes the real increase in State spending for the budget to rise faster than the rate of inflation as we all anticipated it would with off budget spending. Rep. Dan Itse (R-Fremont)

The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus is a grassroots organization consisting of legislators and private citizens, who believe in personal liberty and the traditional conservative “Yankee” values that made New Hampshire a great place to live.