Democrat
State Representative
District H09-Cheshire
603-532-6781
Issue Transparency
Took Survey
18
of 18
of 18
2018 Declared Issue Positions
Background
Experience
Representative, NH House of Representatives (2012 - present); Vice Chair, Jaffrey Energy Committee; Current Chair, Jaffrey Democrats; Current Chair, Amos Fortune Forum; Attorney/Manager, Boston's Model City Program; General Counsel, Massachusetts Executive Office of Human Services; General Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; Volunteer, U.S Peace Corps; Member of the Board of Directors, Brookline Center for Mental Health; Member of the Board of Directors, Center for Public Representation
Family
Married; Children: 3
Education
JD, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA.
BS, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA.
Home Address
12 Blackberry Lane
Jaffrey, NH 03452
Legislator Activity Profile
These objective, nonpartisan measures are used to show this elected official's activities at the Statehouse. They are not intended to present a ranking or rating of any kind. Average is that of all state elected officials in this chamber. The data below is based on legislative activity during 2017 and 2018, through October 1.
Attendance
How often does the elected official attend official legislative days?
Average 88%
Committee Participation
How often does the elected official attend committee public hearings?
Average 75%
How often does the elected official vote in committee executive session?
Average 81%
Partisanship
How often does the elected official vote with the majority of fellow party members (applies to Democrats and Republicans only)?
Average 76%
Voting Participation
How often does the elected official cast a vote during official roll call votes?
Average 85%
Bill Prime Sponsorship
Does the elected official prime sponsor bills?
Average 3
How many of the elected official’s prime sponsored bills became law?
Average 1
POSITION ON ISSUES
These issue positions are derived from the annual Citizens Count issue surveys or candidate websites, social media posts, media interviews, voting records, and other sources.
Crime and Public Safety
Was NH right to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving?
Should NH increase law enforcement policies and penalties for heroin-related offenses?
Is police brutality an issue in NH?
Should NH legalize the recreational use of marijuana?
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
Should NH keep the death penalty?
Should NH decriminalize small amounts of marijuana?
Economy, Budget and Taxes
Was NH right to raise the gas tax in 2014?
Should NH authorize one or more casinos?
Should New Hampshire government do more to increase the supply of affordable housing?
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
Should New Hampshire increase subsidies and tax credits for business investment?
Should NH add restrictions on welfare recipients?
State role in economic growth
Should NH pass right-to-work legislation?
Should NH continue to use property taxes instead of a new broad-based tax, such as an income tax?
Should NH raise the minimum wage?
Should NH do more to limit eminent domain?
Should NH require labels on some or all genetically modified foods?
Education
Should New Hampshire allocate tax revenues for private and home schooling costs?
Should NH continue to administer statewide standards-based student assessments?
Should NH continue to base statewide assessments on Common Core standards?
Should NH provide more funding for charter schools?
Energy and Environment
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?
Should NH restrict further wind power development?
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)?
Should NH allow the Northern Pass to proceed with some (not all) of the lines buried?
Should NH do more to limit eminent domain?
Should NH require labels on some or all genetically modified foods?
Health Care
Should NH allow physician assisted suicide?
Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?
What is your opinion on the state providing some funding for Planned Parenthood?
Should NH increase funding for heroin treatment programs?
Should parents be allowed to opt their children out of the NH immunization/vaccination registry?
Was New Hampshire right to continue expanded Medicaid eligibility, using the traditional Medicaid system of managed care instead of private insurance?
Was NH right to expand Medicaid eligibility, using private insurance wherever possible?
Should NH expand its medical marijuana law?
Should NH limit access to abortion?
Should NH require labels on some or all genetically modified foods?
Politics and Political Process
Should NH impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote?
Should NH limit terms for elected officials?
Should NH broaden campaign finance disclosure laws?
Recreation and Transportation
Was NH right to raise the gas tax in 2014?
Was NH right to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving?
Should NH pursue expanded commuter rail?
Should NH require car insurance for some or all drivers?
Social Issues
Should NH do more to enforce federal immigration laws?
Should NH authorize one or more casinos?
Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?
What is your opinion on the state providing some funding for Planned Parenthood?
Should NH increase funding for heroin treatment programs?
Should NH increase law enforcement policies and penalties for heroin-related offenses?
Should NH add restrictions on welfare recipients?
Should NH legalize the recreational use of marijuana?
Should NH decriminalize small amounts of marijuana?
Should NH limit access to abortion?
Should NH allow physician assisted suicide?
VOTING RECORD
2018
Crime and Public Safety
CACR 22 (2018) -
Constitutional amendment establishing various rights for crime victims.
-
Voted against constitutional amendment
SB 500 (2018) -
Removes the prohibition of carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun in or on a stationary motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, or aircraft. This bill also changes some legal references to firearms, and allows licensed bow hunters to carry firearms. Lastly, this bill removes the ability to deny or revoke a hunting license if a person "is not a suitable person to carry firearms." The Senate amended the bill to also allow carrying a loaded firearm on a moving vehicle if the person is protecting livestock or crops. The Senate amendment also allows hunting with an air rifle. -
Voted against changing firearm and hunting laws
SB 593 (2018) -
Changes the penalty for any offense eligible for the death penalty to life imprisonment without parole.
-
Voted to repeal the death penalty
SB 500 (2018) -
Removes the prohibition of carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun in or on a stationary motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, or aircraft. This bill also changes some legal references to firearms, and allows licensed bow hunters to carry firearms. Lastly, this bill removes the ability to deny or revoke a hunting license if a person "is not a suitable person to carry firearms." The Senate amended the bill to also allow carrying a loaded firearm on a moving vehicle if the person is protecting livestock or crops. The Senate amendment also allows hunting with an air rifle. -
Voted against changing firearm and hunting laws
Health Care
HB 1680 (2018) -
Prohibits abortion after viability, unless the mother's life is in danger, "in cases of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, or to remove a fetus with severe anomalies incompatible with life." -
Voted to table this bill, effectively killing the bill for 2018
SB 313 (2018) -
Continues New Hampshire's expanded Medicaid program. This bill makes several significant changes to the program. First, it moves participants off private insurance and into managed care, similar to traditional Medicaid enrollees. Second, it adds a work requirement for participants. Third, it removes funding from voluntary contributions by health care providers, which the federal government said is illegal. Instead, bill sponsors say the program will use revenue from alcohol sales to fund the program. SB 313 also establishes the Granite Workforce program, which will use some federal welfare funding to establish a program that will help place low income individuals in jobs in areas with workforce shortages.
-
Voted for Medicaid expansion
HB 1680 (2018) -
Prohibits abortion after viability, unless the mother's life is in danger, "in cases of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, or to remove a fetus with severe anomalies incompatible with life." -
Voted to table this bill, effectively killing the bill for 2018
Politics and Political Process
HB 1264 (2018) -
Redefines "resident" and "inhabitant" to remove the phrase "for the indefinite future." This bill would potentially require all voters domiciled in New Hampshire to follow residency laws, such as the requirement to register any car in New Hampshire. -
Voted against voter residency requirement
Social Issues
HB 1319 (2018) -
Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. -
Voted to add gender identity to anti-discrimination laws
2017
Crime and Public Safety
SB 66 (2017) -
Includes fetuses as potential victims under murder statutes. The Senate amended the bill to include only fetuses twenty weeks and older, not just "viable" fetuses. -
Voted against fetal homicide law
HB 640 (2017) -
Decriminalizes possession of 3/4 ounce or less of marijuana, with additional penalties for violators under age twenty-one. -
Voted to decriminalize marijuana
SB 12 (2017) -
Increases the length of time for which a license to carry a concealed firearm is valid, and repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm.
-
Voted to keep the license to carry a concealed firearm
HB 656 (2017) -
Legalizes and taxes marijuana for adults over age twenty-one. The bill outlines various regulations, from the ability of municipalities to control the location of marijuana establishments, to labels disclosing the THC in each serving of a marijuana product. The bill also legalizes hemp. The House amended the bill to instead legalize possession and homegrowing of marijuana without allowing sales. -
Voted to send this bill to interim study, effectively killing the bill for 2018
SB 131 (2017) -
Appropriates $1,155,000 to hire five state troopers assigned to drug enforcement on the state border. This bill also appropriates $3,340,000 for state and local law enforcement and the state lab for overtime related to drug enforcement. -
Voted for additional drug enforcement funding
SB 66 (2017) -
Includes fetuses as potential victims under murder statutes. The Senate amended the bill to include only fetuses twenty weeks and older, not just "viable" fetuses. -
Voted against fetal homicide law
HB 656 (2017) -
Legalizes and taxes marijuana for adults over age twenty-one. The bill outlines various regulations, from the ability of municipalities to control the location of marijuana establishments, to labels disclosing the THC in each serving of a marijuana product. The bill also legalizes hemp. The House amended the bill to instead legalize possession and homegrowing of marijuana without allowing sales. -
Voted to send this bill to interim study, effectively killing the bill for 2018
Economy, Budget and Taxes
HB 628 (2017) -
Establishes a social insurance program that would be operated by New Hampshire Employment Security to provide for paid family and medical leave insurance. Employers would pay 0.5% of wages per employee as premium payments. The House amended the bill to increase the employee contribution to 0.67%, to allow employees to opt out, and to limit benefits to six weeks of paid leave. -
Voted for family and medical leave insurance program
HB 115 (2017) -
Raises the minimum wage to $9.50 in 2018 and $12 in 2019, with annual cost of living adjustments starting in 2020. The bill also establishes a training wage that is one dollar less than the minimum wage for the first three months of employment for someone sixteen or seventeen years-old. -
Voted to consider a minimum wage increase
HB 144 (2017) -
Changes the annual county budget procedures for Rockingham County to match those used in Hillsborough County. Since the House failed to pass the 2018-2019 budget bill HB 1, the Senate amended this bill into a new budget bill. -
Voted against 2018-2019 budget bill
SB 10 (2017) -
Creates a program to repay licensed milk producers from losses during the 2016 drought. The bill appropriates $2 million to the Milk Producers Emergency Relief Fund. -
Voted for dairy farmer assistance
SB 11 (2017) -
Right-to-Work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.
-
Voted against Right to Work
SB 242 (2017) -
Authorizes one smaller and one larger casino with video lottery and table gaming. The smaller casino would pay an initial ten-year license fee of $40 million, and the larger casino would pay an initial ten-year license fee of $80 million. The casinos would pay a tax of 35% on gross slot machine revenue and 18% on gross table game revenue. The Legislature would choose how to distribute this revenue, provided that some of the revenue goes to towns hosting or neighboring the casino, and some of the revenue goes to treat problem gambling. -
Voted against casinos
HB 144 (2017) -
Changes the annual county budget procedures for Rockingham County to match those used in Hillsborough County. Since the House failed to pass the 2018-2019 budget bill HB 1, the Senate amended this bill into a new budget bill. -
Voted against 2018-2019 budget bill
SB 242 (2017) -
Authorizes one smaller and one larger casino with video lottery and table gaming. The smaller casino would pay an initial ten-year license fee of $40 million, and the larger casino would pay an initial ten-year license fee of $80 million. The casinos would pay a tax of 35% on gross slot machine revenue and 18% on gross table game revenue. The Legislature would choose how to distribute this revenue, provided that some of the revenue goes to towns hosting or neighboring the casino, and some of the revenue goes to treat problem gambling. -
Voted against casinos
Education
HB 103 (2017) -
Requires school districts to provide advance notice to parents and legal guardians of course material involving discussion of human sexuality or human sexual education.
-
Voted against parental notification
SB 193 (2017) -
Establishes the "education freedom savings account program." This allows a parent to contract with a scholarship organization so that state education funding is transferred to the student's scholarship account rather than to the municipality in which the student resides. The House amended the bill to limit the scholarships to certain students, particularly low income students, students in underperforming schools, and special education students. The amended version also requires any student receiving a scholarship to complete an annual assessment to ensure academic progress. Lastly, if enough students leave a school district, the state will reimburse the school for some of the lost state education funding.
-
Voted to send this bill to interim study, effectively killing the bill for 2018
SB 8 (2017) -
Allows a school district to assign a child to a non-sectarian private school if there is no public school for the child's grade in the child's resident district. The bill was amended to also require the non-sectarian private school to administer an annual assessment. -
Voted against allowing assignment to a private school
SB 191 (2017) -
Increases state funding for full-day kindergarten programs, with adjustments based on the number of English language learners and free and reduced lunch students in each district. The House amended the bill to simply provide full funding for full-day kindergarten programs, and half funding for half-day kindergarten programs. The House also added keno legalization to the bill to create the revenue for kindergarten funding. -
Voted for full day kindergarten funding with keno
HB 103 (2017) -
Requires school districts to provide advance notice to parents and legal guardians of course material involving discussion of human sexuality or human sexual education.
-
Voted against parental notification
Energy and Environment
HB 592 (2017) -
Repeals the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The House amended the bill to instead end energy efficiency grants, and send all the proceeds from RGGI to commercial and residential ratepayer rebates. -
Voted against revising RGGI
Health Care
HB 587 (2017) -
Prohibits conversion therapy for anyone under age eighteen. Conversion therapy attempts to change a person's sexual orientation. -
Voted to ban conversion therapy
HB 157 (2017) -
Adds chronic pain to the qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana. -
Voted to allow marijuana for chronic pain
HB 587 (2017) -
Prohibits conversion therapy for anyone under age eighteen. Conversion therapy attempts to change a person's sexual orientation. -
Voted to ban conversion therapy
Politics and Political Process
SB 3 (2017) -
Changes the definition of domicile for voting purposes to make it more restrictive. This bill explicitly excludes anyone who comes to the state "for temporary purposes," such as volunteering or working on political campaigns. Out-of-state college students are still allowed to claim a domicile in New Hampshire. However, if someone moves to a new New Hampshire address within 30 days of voting, he or she must present proof of intent to stay in New Hampshire. This proof could include a lease, driver's license, a child's enrollment at a public school, etc. The voter has until 10 days after the election to provide this proof to the town clerk. If the voter does not present this proof, he or she may be investigated, including a home visit by election officials. -
Voted against stricter voter registration laws
Social Issues
HB 478 (2017) -
Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. -
Voted to consider gender identity discrimination protections
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