About that NH State House gun ban

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I had lunch yesterday with a bunch of newly-elected, liberty-friendly state reps and some not-so-newly elected ones, where we talked about the upcoming legislative calendar, committee assignments, and other House-related business.

The topic of the State house gun ban, and what we'll need to do to undo it, came up.

Let's just say it's days are VERY numbered, as it can be undone by the same committee than enacted it. And, oh yeah, that committee, like all the others in the next session, will be jam packed with Republicans.

The only thing we couldn't agree on was who will get the honor of scraping the "no guns allowed" stickers off the windows at the entrances. Whoever gets the "Window Scraper of Freedom", the event will be captured on video and uploaded for all to see and celebrate.

- Bruce
 
I went to those hearings.Everyone spoke against the ban except for those that wrote it (what about the children !) and still they pushed on.I am very suspicious and will believe it when I see it.
 
I went to those hearings.Everyone spoke against the ban except for those that wrote it (what about the children !) and still they pushed on.I am very suspicious and will believe it when I see it.

Those hearings were for HB-1354 (March '08), the Democrats' unsuccessful attempt at banning guns at the State House.

http://massbackwards.blogspot.com/2008/03/ding-dong-witch-is-dead.html

The current gun ban (effective December 2009) was enacted by Democrats choosing to circumvent the legislative process (damn that pesky Constitution!!!) and pass it by committee with no public review or hearings.

http://massbackwards.blogspot.com/2009/12/nh-dems-pass-back-door-gun-ban.html
 
They had several hearings after the sleazy gun ban via the maint comittee or whatever they called it.They then wanted to ban on all state property and also folks did publically rail about the State house ban after the fact.Jenn Coffey spoke as well as Penny Dean and a host of others including my favorite douche Valerie Hardy.Check youtube a Marine in dress blue spoke and accused them of treason.That was held in the state house itself,the second hearing was across the street in the Leg. office building.William Kostric and co.were at both.
 
I attended a double hearing at the state house and one at the leg. office building.I realize the grounds comittee or whatever outlawed carry in the building,but there was a lively discussion by hundreds including Jenny Coffey,Penny Dean William Kostric and a Marine in Blues who told the lawmakers they were guilty of treason.The one at the leg office building had Evan Nappien ,DJ Bettencourt,Ken Blevens and my son spoke at all the hearings.Hundreds opposed their BS and it didn't matter at all.When you succeed ,I will offer heartfelt thanks,but not until I see it.We've been burned before.
 
Those sticker scrapers are sharp. Can you bring them into the State House to remove the ban-empowering stickers? Oh, noes! Catch-22!
 
I was just thinking about the high property tax here in NH, or should I say it's pretty high in my town (Danville). The biggest portion of my tax bill is to fund the regional school. It's now secrete how much of a cluster f*ck the education funding in this state is. So far every attempt to allow gambling in this state has been shot down. What is the chances of such a thing being introduced (and passing)? This could alleviate much of the property tax burden people in NH have to pay. After the failed attempt in MA to bring in casinos, now would be the perfect time to capitalize on it. If it doesn't go through soon I fear we may be missing the boat.

Sorry for the thread derail, I just figured we might have the ear of someone that can make a difference.
 
Ah, government funded by gambling, the last refuge of those who think there really is such a thing as free money.
 
I would love to hear your suggestions how to lower the property tax and fund the school. Please do tell.

First hint: 50% of your property taxes don't go to the town at all.

Second hint: States with government-funding by gambling are even more broke than NH.

The problem isn't the funding source.
 
First hint: 50% of your property taxes don't go to the town at all.

Second hint: States with government-funding by gambling are even more broke than NH.

The problem isn't the funding source.

You are correct, better than 90% of my property tax goes to the school. Just because the liberal states that have gone to gambling as a last resort doesn't mean it can't be done correctly. I still am waiting for you to offer a solution to school funding and high property tax.
 
You are correct, better than 90% of my property tax goes to the school. Just because the liberal states that have gone to gambling as a last resort doesn't mean it can't be done correctly. I still am waiting for you to offer a solution to school funding and high property tax.

Um, what is your point? Reduce state government so more goes to your town and school. Reduce waste. Put the rest back in your pocket and stop giving it to the state.

Or is it your wish to get something for nothing?
 
Um, what is your point? Reduce state government so more goes to your town and school. Reduce waste. Put the rest back in your pocket and stop giving it to the state.

Or is it your wish to get something for nothing?

With no state income or sales tax where is the state getting the $$ from? On a yearly basis I pay very little to the state of NH, however I pay quite a bit to the town of which the biggest burden is the school. How is allowing gambling getting something for nothing? That same term could be used on ALL taxes.
 
With no state income or sales tax where is the state getting the $$ from? On a yearly basis I pay very little to the state of NH, however I pay quite a bit to the town of which the biggest burden is the school. How is allowing gambling getting something for nothing? That same term could be used on ALL taxes.
Really? You pay very little to the state? I'd bet at the very least 15-20% of your property tax goes to the county/state, not to mention the many 'hidden' state taxes you pay in meals, gas, etc.

Let me paraphrase you: "I pay too much for our local schools. But I don't want to have less funding for my local schools. Therefore, someone else should pay for my local schools." Yet you in your own town vote on those taxes - your town comes up with the school budget and you and your neighbors vote on it. Many towns cut spending the last two years. My taxes were essentially flat the last three, and in fact a little lower the last two years - even though the state part went up (grr) - because my town voted down a lot of stuff we decided we could do without, or could be put off until times were better.

But gambling, especially casino gambling, requires creating more state apparatus. I'm not in favor of making a bigger state for some notion that it will make us locally have to pay less down the road, because it just won't do that. "This time for sure!" Yeah, right. Gambling revenue is highly variable, and so you can't reliably fund essential state government (or schools) with it, and if it is used to create rainy day funds... well, we all know how long rainy day funds last. Our state can't even manage steady-state funding from property taxes. Control spending first, or it'll be the same with any new revenue source. Ultimately, every state that has implemented casino gambling winds up in the same hole. Ultimately they all raid any surplus in the set-aside education revenue, then continue to bill against it even when that "source" is net in the red. I wonder why that is.

Reduce government waste. Eliminate the functions of state government that have little to do with its essential functions. Then talk about what you're funding and whether you're getting your money's worth.
 
Not to continue the derailing of the thread, but...

Gambling revenue is not what I consider part of a long-term plan to restore fiscal sanity to the state, no more than nickel and diming the People and businesses with increased taxes and fees.

Sure, it might bring in money that can plug some holes in the budget, but it will do nothing to fix what caused those holes to show up in the first place. Those holes will continue to surface. What new revenue source will be proposed then?

It will also do nothing to cure state government of their addiction to over-spending. If a state legislature over spends beyond their ability to pay for their spending by 10%, introducing more revenue is no guarantee that they won't overspend by 10% of revised revenue projection.

As for the jobs argument, these aren't the jobs we need here in NH. They produce nothing of value and will not lead to a more prosperous private sector job market. Casino jobs exist only to serve as a tool for depriving people of their money, and a conduit to deliver that money to the government.

The real winners in expanded, state-sanctioned gambling are out of state gaming interests.

If the issue comes to a vote, I will vote against it. Both candidates for NH governor (Lynch and Stephen) have also come out opposed to the expansion of gambling as a revenue generator.

</derail>
 
Really? You pay very little to the state? I'd bet at the very least 15-20% of your property tax goes to the county/state, not to mention the many 'hidden' state taxes you pay in meals, gas, etc.

Here is the breakdown for my town. Less than 15% goes to the state/county. I don't eat out much, and I spend less than $200/yr for fuel.

Town $3.332

School local $13.986

School state $ 2.146

County $0.845

Total $20.309


Let me paraphrase you: "I pay too much for our local schools. But I don't want to have less funding for my local schools. Therefore, someone else should pay for my local schools." Yet you in your own town vote on those taxes - your town comes up with the school budget and you and your neighbors vote on it. Many towns cut spending the last two years. My taxes were essentially flat the last three, and in fact a little lower the last two years - even though the state part went up (grr) - because my town voted down a lot of stuff we decided we could do without, or could be put off until times were better.

I don't know where you are, but I and my neighbors have very little say in the school budget voting. We have a regional school. Four towns go to the same school that is located in the biggest town with the most business. When the budget comes up the biggest town with the most residents pretty much can override what the other towns want, yet the tax impact for the residents of that town are the least.

But gambling, especially casino gambling, requires creating more state apparatus. I'm not in favor of making a bigger state for some notion that it will make us locally have to pay less down the road, because it just won't do that. "This time for sure!" Yeah, right. Gambling revenue is highly variable, and so you can't reliably fund essential state government (or schools) with it, and if it is used to create rainy day funds... well, we all know how long rainy day funds last. Our state can't even manage steady-state funding from property taxes. Control spending first, or it'll be the same with any new revenue source. Ultimately, every state that has implemented casino gambling winds up in the same hole. Ultimately they all raid any surplus in the set-aside education revenue, then continue to bill against it even when that "source" is net in the red. I wonder why that is.

Gambling may or may not be the answer. I do know for sure that the current system for school funding is not working well, and has been pretty well screwed up for a number of years. What do you think about this whole "donor town" system to fund schools located in lower income parts of the state?

Reduce government waste. Eliminate the functions of state government that have little to do with its essential functions. Then talk about what you're funding and whether you're getting your money's worth.

Here is where we agree.
 
I agree with where you're coming from with gaming revenue not being a budget solution. However, why should the state ban gambling? Shouldn't I be free to spend my money on gaming if I want to?
 
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