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House Rewrites Electric Renewable Portfolio Standards to Lower Electric Rates

Posted by on May 17, 2012 in Press Releases | 0 comments

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien offered the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 218, which, as amended, makes significant changes to New Hampshire’s renewable electric portfolio standards (RPS) law. It expands the potential number of eligible renewable generation facilities, giving slight preference to New Hampshire indigenous resources such as wood, wind and water. SB 218 passed 275 to 6.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Senate Bill 218 strikes a balance between ratepayer rights, local economic development benefits and fuel diversity of electricity generation. Eliminating regulatory roadblocks and allowing more New Hampshire facilities to qualify for the renewable electric portfolio standards program will reduce cost to New Hampshire electric customers. We will always move forward to bring back jobs to New Hampshire and this is another step in that direction.”

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House Leaders Comment on Passage of Bill to Lower Tax on Employers, Eliminate Internet Tax

Posted by on May 16, 2012 in Press Releases | 0 comments

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) offered the following comments on passage of Senate Bill 399, which passed the House by a vote of 245-80.  The bill includes provisions to increase the exemption for the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) by 33%, to index the BET to inflation and to ban taxation of Internet services.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“When Republicans took office in 2010, New Hampshire ranked 50th – dead last – in the nation for our business tax rate, according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation.  Through our efforts to reduce taxes last year, we were able to reduce that ranking to 46th.  That’s progress, but 46th in the nation does not make our state the type of attractive state that can bring new employers and convince our current companies to grow here.  In fact, it represents a New Hampshire Disadvantage.  The BET is a payroll tax, so reducing it provides a strong incentive for employers to create good, new jobs here.  This legislation will also reduce compliance costs for the many companies who will no longer need to file tax forms, and for the state, which will no longer need to process these forms.  Fully one-third of our businesses will not pay BET as a result of this bill.  Cutting the BET helps restore the New Hampshire Advantage by making us more competitive and will bring jobs to the Granite State.  The progress continues.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“Eliminating the tax on the Internet will put money into the pockets of New Hampshire’s working families.  At a time when we our still facing a difficult recovery in our economy, this is a step that will provide relief and encourage more individuals to get connected online and have access to all the advantages of the information on the web.  This is one more example of Republicans keeping our commitment to deliver affordable government to the citizens of the state.”

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House Passes School Choice Bill

Posted by on May 16, 2012 in Press Releases | 0 comments

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) offered the following statements on the passage of Senate Bill 372, which will offer up-to $2,500 scholarships to students toward the cost of out-of-district public schools, independent schools, and even certain homeschooling expenses.  SB 372 passed 236 to 97.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“No parent should be forced to send their child to a bad school. While many kids flourish in their assigned school, some students need a different educational environment.  No child learns exactly the same as others and each child has his or her talents and strengths. This potential can best be realized when a child and their families have the ability to choose what school they believe will best engage, prepare, and educate them for the future. Parents know their children best and this will allow families those choices.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“Education unfortunately has become not about what is best for the kids but about the money. Our top priority should be the students. If you come from a rich family, you have school choice. But what about the child that doesn’t come from a wealthy family and that student needs something different than the traditional educational path? Unfortunately, other than the choice to uproot and move to a different school district, most middle class families have lacked choice in education, which is a barrier preventing many children from achieving their full potential.

“With these scholarships, students and families can investigate and select the educational forum that best suits their needs.  The best school for a child may offer smaller class sizes, or a vocational technical program, or a ‘move on when ready’ system for gifted students, or a particular expertise with a child’s special needs.  In addition to better serving our students, choice will empower their parents to get engaged in their children’s education. These reforms will create better accountability in education—proven the single biggest factor in improving academic performance.

“Scholarship programs are a low-risk first stop in educational innovation.  Similar programs have been tested as successes in eight other states.  Moreover, studies from Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Arkansas have shown that school choice programs have positive impacts on academic performance.  As for school choice in general, 18 of 19 studies in Milwaukee, Florida and Washington D.C. showed improvements in educational outcomes directly related to school choice. We sincerely hope that the Governor will stand up to special interests and on the side of the hundreds of needy students seeking educational choice and opportunity.”

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House Concurs with Senate on Allowing Manufacture and Sale of Specialty Beer in New Hampshire

Posted by on May 16, 2012 in Press Releases | 0 comments

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) offered the following statements on the passage of House Bill 1241, which expands the definition of specialty beers in New Hampshire to allow for ingredients such as, but not limited to, molasses, maple syrup, honey, spices, herbs, fruits, nuts, chocolate, vanilla, or other nonbeverage ingredients.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Redhook Breweries had indicated to legislators that they had to move hundreds of jobs out of New Hampshire and do their manufacturing in Massachusetts because of heavy and overly strict regulations on specialty beers here. We need to work with our employers, not against them. We hope New Hampshire employers know we are listening and doing all we can to help them prosper and expand. We will continue to work to get our 37,000 friends and neighbors who remain unemployed back to work.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“We’re on the side of businesses not frivolous regulations. I hope this aids in bringing jobs sent to Massachusetts back here to New Hampshire. We will continue to work with our employers to give them confidence to invest, grow and hire and this means both lowering the cost of doing business and rolling back excessive regulations.”

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