Senate republicans support secure elections

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Concord, NH – Today the New Hampshire Senate passed SB 631-FN, authorizing online voter registration. Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead), Senator James Gray (R-Rochester) and Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) issued the following statements:

“This legislation puts the cart before the horse and needs to be carefully studied before it becomes law,” said Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead). “There is currently legislation in the House to create a study commission, bringing together the necessary groups, to determine the needs for a New Hampshire online voter registration system. That study commission should be allowed to complete their work before rushing to implement a program that may not meet the needs of New Hampshire.”

“New Hampshire does not have a voter registration problem,” said Senator James Gray (R-Rochester). “According to the Secretary of State’s office, there are around 30,000 eligible unregistered voters in New Hampshire, most of whom would continue to be unregistered even if we had online registration. We are trying to solve a problem that currently does not exist and HAVA funds would be better spent on other programs.”

“There are too many unanswered questions to pass this kind of legislation,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “There are no details on how the system would be set up or the safeguards that would be put in place. Our same day registration process has worked well for many years, giving every Granite Stater the opportunity to vote. This bill is not ready for prime-time and is not ready to become law.”

Carson forces Senate democrats to fix legislation protecting New Hampshire children

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Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted to rerefer to committee HB 263, relative to department of health and human services family reunification practices involving convicted sex offenders. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) issued the following statement:

“While Senate Democrats tried to kill a piece of legislation to protect children from sex offenders, I am pleased we forced their hand to send the bill back to committee for fixing,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “I asked to overturn the interim study so I could offer an amendment, supported by the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual violence, but Senate Democrats blocked that opportunity. It is my hope that we can work in a bipartisan manner to produce an amendment that will unanimously pass the Senate in the future and protect every child in New Hampshire.”

Carson applauds protecting the unemployment trust fund

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Concord, NH – Today the New Hampshire Senate voted to sustain the Governor’s veto in SB 146, relative to eliminating the waiting period before eligibility to receive unemployment benefit:

“Forty-Four other states impose a waiting period for collecting unemployment benefits. This is standard practice across the country. If this had passed, it would have triggered an increase in unemployment insurance tax rates to the tune of $11.9 million just in the first quarter of 2020. In good economic times, we should not be drawing down the unemployment trust fund. The Governor was right to veto this bill and I am thankful my Republican Senate colleagues upheld his veto.”

“Forty-Four other states impose a waiting period for collecting unemployment benefits. This is standard practice across the country. If this had passed, it would have triggered an increase in unemployment insurance tax rates to the tune of $11.9 million just in the first quarter of 2020. In good economic times, we should not be drawing down the unemployment trust fund. The Governor was right to veto this bill and I am thankful my Republican Senate colleagues upheld his veto.”

Carson, French believe current responsible gun laws should remain unchanged

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Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed four bills restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. HB 109-FN, HB 514-FN, HB 564, and HB 696-FN were all passed on party line votes. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) and Senator Harold French (R-Franklin) issued the following statements:

“These laws will restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners while doing nothing to prevent criminals from possessing firearms or committing crimes,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “The unintended consequences of these bills will turn average gun owners into criminals. New Hampshire is consistently one of the safest states in the nation with a long history of responsible gun laws and any attempt to restrict our rights will only make the state less safe.”

“Some states may have problems with gun violence, but New Hampshire does not,” said Senator Harold French (R-Franklin). “This is an issue that has been pushed by large out of state Super PACs who are trying to tell New Hampshire that they know how we should live and what laws we should pass. Any attempt to limit the second amendment rights of Granite Staters should be swiftly rejected.”

Carson, Reagan oppose increased property taxes and irresponsible spending

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Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed HB 616-FN, relative to a cost of living adjustment for retirees in the state retirement system. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) and Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield) issued the following statements:

“I have supported responsible COLAs in the past, but this legislation is an unfunded mandate on municipalities that will force towns to increase property taxes,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “It does not only give a pay raise to those people who receive a modest pension, but to people receiving pensions over $100,000 a year will receive an increase as well. It took many years of tough decisions and hard work to get the retirement system to the financially stable place that it is today. I offered a more responsible floor amendment that would give a COLA to retirees without increasing property taxes, but unfortunately it was defeated by my Democratic colleagues.”

“When state employees join the pension system, there is no obligation for the state to regularly give pay raises to their pensions when they retire,” said Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield). “There are a lot of financial obligations the state and towns need to address, but this will increase property taxes and make it more difficult to pay for programs that protect children and help our most needy citizens. Passing this legislation says retired state employees are more important than seniors living off social security with no pensions. This is a handout to highly paid union members at the expense of our hard-working taxpayers who are trying every day to make ends meet.”