Brian Lee Rater

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?

On the 2020 Citizens Count issue survey, Rater indicated he was "against" New Hampshire allocating tax revenues for private and home schooling costs. Rater answered, "The purpose of state support for education is to provide an option for every child to be able to have an education. Private schools and most home schools can provide an excellent education, but those options are not open to all citizens state tax dollars should be spent on schools that are available to everyone."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?

"I oppose a ban on abortion after 20 weeks gestation, even with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 24 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?

"Women should be able to make decisions about their own health. This is not an appropriate place for government."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH pursue expanded commuter rail?

"I support expanded commuter rail."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH limit terms for elected officials?

"I oppose term limits for New Hampshire elected officials."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH increase funding for heroin treatment programs?

"I support increased funding for heroin treatment programs."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

When asked about a ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, Rater indicated, "I oppose a ban on abortion after 20 weeks gestation, even with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the state law that bans teaching certain concepts, such as the idea that people may be "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously"?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should NH add an income tax on earned income?

"An income tax would be better for tax payers than a property tax because it scales with income, but a major structural change in our taxes would need broad, popular support."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?

"A sales tax is regressive and would harm our businesses"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire add a tax credit for businesses that contribute to student loan repayment for employees?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

"In general, lower taxes is better than higher taxes, but the trend that we have seen in recent years is that business taxes have been lowered by shifting costs to local towns, causing individual property taxes to go up. Open to other ideas for lowering taxes both business and personal."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?

"This is a complex issue that would require further research. Concerned about the effect that it would have on retirement savings."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire increase the tax on cigarettes?

"Cigarette taxes in NH are far below that of neighboring states. Out of state purchasers would still come to NH if this tax were raised a moderate amount and this could lead to lowering other taxes."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire add a fee or mileage charge for electric vehicle owners to help pay for transportation and/or electric infrastructure?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire add restrictions to the governor's powers during a state of emergency?

"There should be a time limit, after which legislative approval should be required."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire extend the renewable portfolio standard past 2025, requiring public utilities to obtain more than 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources?

"We need to move away from fossil fuels toward cleaner, renewable energy that is better for the environment and reduced our dependence on foreign oil."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire increase public access to reports of police misconduct?

"We need to have more transparent mechanisms to handle incidents of misconduct and repeat offenders, but we also need to recognize that police officers are humans who can make mistakes and that not all accusations are true. We also can not allow the occasional 'bad apple' to go unstopped as this harms trust in our police and in the rule of law."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?

"This would encourage more voter participation."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should NH legalize the recreational use of marijuana?

"There must of course be reasonable restrictions for safety reasons and an age limit, but adults can make this decision on their own."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?

When asked about marijuana legalization in general on the 2020 Citizens Count issue survey, Rater wrote, "There must of course be reasonable restrictions for safety reasons and an age limit, but adults can make this decision on their own."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Was New Hampshire right to continue expanded Medicaid eligibility, using the traditional Medicaid system of managed care instead of private insurance?

"I support expanded Medicaid eligibility, using the traditional Medicaid system of managed care instead of private insurance."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?

"The current federal minimum wage is not realistic for a state in the northeast with a high cost of living."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH do more to enforce federal immigration laws?

"I oppose increased state enforcement of federal immigration laws."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire increase the size of solar panel installations that may participate in net energy metering?

"We need to be encouraging more use of solar panels, especially by municipalities."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire increase subsidies and tax credits for business investment?

"We should support and encourage certain kinds of businesses that can lead to a growing and more prosperous economy."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire increase the base amount of per-pupil funding it provides to local school districts?

"Yes. The amount of funding that the state provides has been declining in real donors due to the lack of adjustments for inflation. We need to provide more support for public education instead of shifting these costs to the local property taxes."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should the state permanently increase how much tax revenue it shares with towns and cities every year, beyond public school funding?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Is police brutality an issue in NH?

"I don't believe this is an issue in NH, but I am open to hearing evidence to the contrary."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Do you support Gov. Sununu's proposal to allow employers and employees to opt-in to a private, paid family and medical leave insurance plan, based on a pool of state employees, excluding coverage for personal illness?

"Support the concept of family medical leave, but would need to see the details of a specific proposal. Needs to be viably funded."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the state’s current system of public school funding, with each district’s total funding primarily dependent on local property tax revenue?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire continue to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which requires utilities to purchase allowances for every ton of carbon they emit?

"This is great way to create an incentive for utilities to move to more sustainable, renewable energy sources."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire maintain the renewable portfolio standard, which requires public utilities in New Hampshire to obtain a certain percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources (25% by 2025)?

"I support the renewable portfolio standard in New Hampshire."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

On the 2020 Citizens Count issue survey, Rater indicated she was "against" a ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation, with exceptions for rape/incest and health complications. He wrote, "Women should be able to make decisions about their own health. This is not an appropriate place for government."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire create a road usage fee?

"There is a need to pay for road maintenance and the income from gas taxes declines as people adopt more fuel efficient or electric cars. However, the fee should not penalize or discourage people from buying fuel efficient cars which are better for the environment and our energy economy."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire government do more to increase the supply of affordable housing?

"New Hampshire government should do more to increase the supply of affordable housing."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH continue to administer statewide standards-based student assessments?

"I support New Hampshire continuing to administer statewide standards-based student assessments."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire create a statewide family and medical leave program, paid for with a percentage of employee wages, with no opt-out?

"Support the concept of family medical leave, but would need to see the details of a specific proposal. Needs to be viably funded."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"Every person has a right to own guns and this is reasonable. However, all Bill of Rights freedoms still have some reasonable restrictions for the public safety. Gun owners should be required to take basic safety training similar to learning to drive a car. All gun sales should require a quick background check. We are lacking in basic responsibilities supported by a majority of gun owners."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire provide student loan debt repayment programs for workers in industries with labor shortages?

"New Hampshire has one of the most expensive college tuition rates in part because the state government provides considerably less financial support than other states. This would be one way to help students manage the debt, but the question would be how to pay for it?"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire add tax incentives for affordable housing development?

"Young families need more affordable housing options. This provides a ready workforce for our businesses and lack of affordable housing can cause workers to have to find a home further away from work, increasing travel costs, environmental costs, and energy costs."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020

Should New Hampshire allocate tax revenues for private and home schooling costs?

"The purpose of state support for education is to provide an option for every child to be able to have an education. Private schools and most home schools can provide an excellent education, but those options are not open to all citizens state tax dollars should be spent on schools that are available to everyone."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote?

"New Hampshire should not impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote."