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Rick Watrous

Historical Details

Position on Issues

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2008

"I believe the term for governor should be expanded to 4 years, and limited to 2 terms."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2008

"Create a fairer tax system and more reliable revenue source other than the current patchwork of fees and various taxes. I believe the tax burden should be reduced on property owners--many of whom are on a fixed income--by introducing a graduated income tax. You earn little or no money, you pay no taxes. The higher your income, the higher your taxes."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2008

"Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2008

"Abortions should always be legal."

Voting Record, 2014

Voted to repeal the death penalty (HB 1170)

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2008

"Create a fairer tax system and more reliable revenue source other than the current patchwork of fees and various taxes. I believe the tax burden should be reduced on property owners--many of whom are on a fixed income--by introducing a graduated income tax. You earn little or no money, you pay no taxes. The higher your income, the higher your taxes."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2008

Supports requiring background checks for sales between private citizens at gun shows

Voting Record

HB 1486 (2014)

Decreases the fine for underage drinking from $300 to $100 on first offense and from $600 to $300 on a subsequent offense.

SB 3 (2014)

Removes all tolls in Merrimack.

HB 1325 (2014)

Allows physician-assisted suicide.

HB 1602 (2014)

Givies the Public Utilities Commission the power to force PSNH to sell its power plants. This bill also requires the state Site Evaluation Committee to address scenic impacts, sound impacts, fire protection plans, and more when evaluating wind farm proposals.

HB 1633 (2014)

Authorizes one casino in New Hampshire, regulated by the Gaming Commission.

HB 1294 (2014)

Requires Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to allow any health provider into their network for the purpose of participating in the online health insurance exchange.

HB 1508 (2014)

Terminates New Hampshire’s participation in the Common Core educational standards.

HB 1625 (2014)

Decriminalizes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, with additional penalties for violators under age twenty-one.

SB 318 (2014)

Establishes the crime of domestic violence.

SB 413 (2014)

Expands Medicaid eligibility, using private insurance wherever possible.

HB 1403 (2014)

Raises the minimum wage, starting at $9 per hour.

HB 1170 (2014)

Repeals the death penalty.

SB 207 (2014)

“Pay Equity Law,” a bill to combat pay discrimination based on gender, forbidding employers from restricting employees from discussing wages, and allowing a three year deadline to report pay discrimination to the state (current deadline is one year).

SB 319 (2014)

Authorizes "buffer zones" for protestors around reproductive health clinics.

HB 1503 (2014)

Originally written to include fetuses eight weeks and older as potential victims under first and second degree murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, and causing or aiding suicide.  The House amended the bill to instead increase penalties for for manslaughter or negligent homicide causing a miscarriage or stillbirth.

HB 1411 (2014)

Sends some of last year's budget surplus to the Department of Health and Human Services.

HB 1360 (2014)

Forbids cell phone use while driving, unless hands-free.

SB 367 (2014)

Increases the gas tax by four-cents per gallon and removes the toll at Exit 12 in Merrimack.

SB 203 (2014)

Forbids the use of EBT cards or cash from EBT cards for alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, firearms, or adult entertainment.

HB 501 (2013)

Sets the state minimum wage at $7.25, in place of federal minimum wage.

SB 1 (2013)

Increases the Research and Development tax credit.

SB 153 (2013)

Gives the legislature power to review collective bargaining agreements entered into by the state.

HB 451 (2013)

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.

HB 323 (2013)

Right-to-Work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.

HB 1 (2013)

Final 2014-2015 state budget, including increased funding for higher education, increased funding for services for individuals with mental illness and/or other disabilities, no Medicaid expansion, and no gas tax increase.

HB 306 (2013)

Changes RGGI to dedicate some of the proceeds to ratepayer rebates, and lowering the cap on carbon emissions, which will raise the cost of carbon credits to utilities and utility bills to consumers.

HB 271 (2013)

Forbids NH from expanding Medicaid eligibility under the federal Affordable Care Act.

HB 573 (2013)

Allows medicinal use of marijuana, without allowing home growing.

HB 630 (2013)

Reallocates proceeds from RGGI to the low-income energy efficiency program.

HB 2 (2013)

Makes various appropriations related to the budget bill, and establishes commissions to study Medicaid expansion and casino regulations.

SB 163 (2013)

Establishes a commission to recommend legislation to prepare for projected sea level rise and other coastal and coastal watershed hazards.

HB 135 (2013)

Limits the use of deadly force, repealing "Stand Your Ground" in favor of the "Castle Doctrine." Under this bill victims could use deadly force within their homes without retreating, but anywhere else they would have to attempt retreat before resorting to deadly force.

HB 370 (2013)

Repeals the education tax credit program, in which businesses receive tax breaks for contributing to a scholarship fund for low income students that wish to attend private school.

HB 595 (2013)

Revises 2011 voter ID law to delay requirement that poll workers photograph voters without ID; also allows student ID at polls.

HB 1654 (2012)

Authorizes earned time credits for inmates participating in rehabilitative programming.

HCR 42 (2012)

Expresses support for preserving the Electoral College.

HB 1492 (2012)

Requires public employers to verify an employee's eligibility to work in the United States.

HB 1677 (2012)

Right-to-Work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.

HB 1264 (2012)

Establishes a religious exemption for individuals who do not wish to provide accommodations, goods, or services for same-sex marriages.

HB 330 (2011)

Repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm.

HB 1650 (2012)

Exempts foodstuffs grown or produced and then sold in New Hampshire from federal regulation.

HB 1560 (2012)

Establishes the interstate Health Care Compact, which provides that each member state shall have the authority to enact state laws that trump all federal laws regarding health care within its state.

HB 1660 (2012)

Prohibits abortions beyond 20 weeks gestation.

HB 1658 (2012)

Limits financial assistance for mothers who have additional children while receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The House and Senate amended the bill to instead establish an income and identity verification system for public assistance recipients.

HB 648 (2012)

Forbids the use of eminent domain for regional electricity projects when costs and benefits cannot be shared across the ISO - New England network.

HB 1383 (2012)

States that only United States citizens may receive in-state tuition at the University of New Hampshire.

HB 1595 (2012)

Limits primary elections to voters who have registered as party members.

HB 1482 (2012)

Limits the exemption from property taxation granted to charitable nonprofit hospitals only to the main campus of the hospital.

HB 1405 (2012)

Allows local governments to establish moratoriums on refugee resettlement.

HB 1679 (2012)

Prohibits partial birth abortions and abortions in the third trimester.

HB 1666 (2012)

Requires legislative approval of any collective bargaining agreement entered into by the state.

SB 372 (2012)

Establishes a tax credit for businesses that contribute to a scholarship fund for students who wish to attend private, parochial, or home schools.

SB 289 (2012)

Requires voters to present identification at polling places.

HB 1487 (2012)

Requires legislative approval for the expenditure of funds involving New Hampshire in any low carbon fuel standards program, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

HB 1413 (2012)

Directs New Hampshire to withdraw from the No Child Left Behind federal education program.

SB 295 (2012)

Increases the Research and Development tax credit.

HB 1659 (2012)

"Women's Right to Know Act," mandating that women considering an abortion receive "complete and accurate information on abortion and its alternatives."

HB 1526 (2012)

Decriminalizes possession of 1/2 ounce or less of marijuana, with additional penalties for violators under age twenty-one.

SB 409 (2012)

Allows medicinal marijuana through home growing.

SB 286 (2012)

Establishes a prescription drug monitoring program funded entirely through "grants, gifts, or user contributions."

HB 1511 (2012)

Removes the prohibition on convicted felons possessing certain weapons for self-defense.

HB 592 (2012)

Redistricts the House of Representatives.

HB 1705 (2012)

Legalizes and taxes marijuana for adults over age twenty-one.

HB 1676 (2012)

Establishes a pilot program to provide public financing for eligible candidates for state senator.

HB 1667 (2012)

Raises the threshold between juvenile and adult offenders from seventeen to eighteen years-old.

HB 569 (2011)

Establishes "domestic unions" as an alternative to marriage.

SB 1 (2011)

Eliminates "evergreen clauses" in public contracts.

HB 176 (2011)

Changes the definition of "domicile" for voting purposes so that out-of-state students can not claim domicile in New Hampshire.

HB 370 (2011)

Reverses the expanded definition of bullying in the Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention Act.

HB 340 (2011)

Exempts parents from the education property tax if their children are not enrolled in public school.

HB 109 (2011)

Prohibits local planning boards from requiring sprinklers as a condition for a local permit.

HB 133 (2011)

Ties the New Hampshire minimum wage to the federal minimum wage.

SB 27 (2011)

Raises the speed limit in some areas of Lake Winnipesaukee.

SB 52 (2011)

Repeals early release programs for inmates convicted of violent crimes.

HB 519 (2011)

Repeals the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), New Hampshire's cap-and-trade program.

SB 3 (2011)

Makes various changes to the state retirement system, such as raising retirement ages and increasing member contributions.

HB 113 (2011)

Prohibits the use of state funds for New Hampshire Public Television (NHPTV).

HCR 23 (2011)

Urges congressional earmarks for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

SB 88 (2011)

Expands the use of deadly force, adding "Stand Your Ground" to the "Castle Doctrine." Under this bill victims could use deadly force without retreating, anywhere the victim has the right to be.

HB 218 (2011)

Repeals the New Hampshire Rail Transit Auhority (NHRTA).

SB 57 (2011)

Makes various revisions to title loan regulations.

HB 329 (2011)

Requires parental notification prior to a minor's abortion.

HB 474 (2011)

Right-to-Work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.

HR 9 (2011)

Resolution expressing support for earmarks for law enforcement.

HB 631 (2011)

Repeals the requirement that school districts offer public kindergarten.

SB 489 (2010)

Authorizes three casinos in New Hampshire.

CACR 28 (2010)

Constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

HB 1644 (2010)

Includes all fetuses as potential victims under first and second degree murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide.

HB 1128 (2010)

Makes various regulatory changes, such as allowing towns to adopt a local meals and rooms tax in addition to the state meals and rooms tax and authorizing expanded gambling.

HB 1653 (2010)

Decriminalizes possession of 1/4 ounce or less of marijuana, with additional penalties for violators under age eighteen.

SB 450 (2010)

Makes various budget cuts.

SS HB 1 (2010)

Repeals the LLC tax.

SB 464 (2010)

Establishes speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee.

HB 1607 (2010)
Establishes certain requirements for the reasonable compensation deduction under the business profits tax. The bill creates a committee to study safe harbors and taxation of investment organizations. This bill also deletes a provision subjecting to taxation certain income accumulated in trust for the benefit of unborn or unascertained persons.
SB 497 (2010)

Establishes certain requirements for the reasonable compensation deduction under the business profits tax. This bill also establishes a committee to study safe harbors.

HB 531 (2009)

Requires parental notification prior to a minor's abortion.

HB 556 (2009)

Repeals the death penalty.

HB 415 (2009)

Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.

HB 648 (2009)

Allows medicinal use of marijuana, without allowing home growing.

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