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House Leaders Comment on Medical Malpractice Tort Reform 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 406, a tort reform bill to settle medical injury claims. SB 406 passed 236 to 103.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“By establishing an optional process for victims of medical injury to pursue their claim without having to go through lengthy and expensive litigation, we can reduce the uncertainty for both patients and providers, which in turn will lower health care costs for consumers. It also allows malpractice victims a route to find resolution quickly, if they so choose, and be able to move on with their lives.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“This legislation will bring a new and optional process through which victims of medical malpractice can settle their cases early without the long and expensive procedure of a trail. This legislation will benefit doctors and patients alike by bringing more consistency and speed to medical injury claims in lieu of the often long and burdensome litigation that can take years to resolve. Giving patients more choice will always produce better results, and this new Tort reform is a win-win for all involved.”

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House Leaders Comment on Circuit Court Accountability 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 354, which provides authority to the presiding judge in each court district to have greater authority over personnel and management. This bill also gives $1.5 million to the electronic court system that is currently in the developmental stage. SB 354 passed 235 to 95.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Decentralizing power from Concord and giving authority to local towns will ensure an accountable, consistent and more efficient circuit court system. The needs for specific court districts vary greatly from community to community and this bill will allow for some autonomy in management practices. Additionally, allowing our courts to transition in to 21st century technology will bring substantial savings to the judicial branch in the future.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“This legislation improves the structure and workability of the circuit court system ensuring presiding judges have some say in managing the personnel within their court and the e-court system will lead to a more user friendly court system for our citizens.”

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House Continues Focus on Jobs and Economy, Passes Business Tax Cut

Posted by on May 15, 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 155, which increases expense deductions under the business profits tax (BPT). The bill passed 231 to 79.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“We need to work with our employers to give them confidence to invest, grow and hire. Lowering their cost of doing business and making New Hampshire more competitive will entail a complete transformation in a state government that also rolls back excessive regulations; refuses to increase taxes; and ensures an environment of growth, responsiveness, stability, and support. We understand our state’s future depends on a government committed to advancing economic growth and we will continue to advance these goals to preserve and enhance our New Hampshire Advantage.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“This bill would increase the ability of our small business community to invest in capital equipment. In a recovering economy, we need to give the green light to our entrepreneurs and small business owners to go out and buy machinery, equipment, vehicles, furniture and other qualifying property knowing that they’ll be able to deduct up to $25,000 from their Business Profits Tax. This will contribute to the overall health of our economy and continue our efforts to make New Hampshire more business friendly.”

 

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House Leaders Comment on Blocking ObamaCare Exchanges

Posted by on May 15, 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 219, which was amended to prohibit the implementation of healthcare exchanges in New Hampshire. SB 219 passed on a voice vote.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Creating an exchange would only entrench ObamaCare in New Hampshire and serve as a contract with the federal government that the state agrees to pick up the tab for the healthcare mandate. Several times the House has asked our Attorney General to join the 26-state lawsuit against Obamacare. If we truly want to do this, we should not adopt a strategy that will make us complicit in the law we’re trying to overturn. Soon we will know the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and it makes no sense to waste taxpayer money in the meantime on a law that might not stand. Most importantly, rejecting these state exchanges will add New Hampshire to the list of states opposing this unconstitutional law.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“It is easier to repeal a theoretical bureaucracy than a real one. Obamacare says that the states must meet certain federal standards or give way to further federal takeover. The bottom line is this: as far as these exchanges go, there is no such thing as local control. We are keeping our promise to voters blocking ObamaCare every way we can here as it would be the nail in the coffin of the New Hampshire Advantage.”

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