Roy Russell
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?
"How can one argue that viability is not present for a 20 week fetus, when the heart beat can be heard and when an ultrasound so clearly demonstrates a human child. So, no. Twenty weeks is a barbaric date to set. I would state that at that age one can unequivocably be said to be committing a murder of a human. The child of a rape or incest is not the least bit guilty of the crime. I do greatly feel for a mother who would carry to term in the face of that history. However, she should not feel victimized to the extent of total hardheartedness with regard to her child. There is always someone who would adopt. Difficult as this is, it is not impossible. And, there are mothers who go to term under these circumstances who end up being extremely grateful for the new life and soul that they have cooperated in bringing into existence."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH pursue expanded commuter rail?
"I support expanded commuter rail."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH limit terms for elected officials?
"I support term limits for New Hampshire elected officials."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH increase funding for heroin treatment programs?
"Yes, but I am for so much more in this regard. Pastoral care programs supported strongly by our Governor are ideal in this regard. It is time to bring some basic research on this matter into clinical medicine. Treatment programs that are value or religiously based and require many months of residential care are the only way to go."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"I oppose New Hampshire adding a broad-based sales tax."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH legalize the recreational use of marijuana?
"Legalization will bring about commercialization and immense usage, just as it did with cigarettes. And they market indiscriminately to children with many cute products. The plants and THC extracts are many-fold stronger that in your father or grandfather's time and folks are going to EDs in psychotic breaks. People say that there is only psychological addiction, but from one who has done research on receptors and habituation, this is patently false. There are THC receptors and they are desensitized by using marijuana and that is physical addiction - no question asked. Taking a look at Colorado, we see that serious auto injuries potentially associate with MJ are greatly elevated, work absences are up, much greater cartel activity is found in the State (estimate 50% of head shops run by the cartel and people looking there for less expensive MJ in greater quantities than available in shops). In addition to all of this is the financial net zero to Colorado when what expected was a boon. I can understand the Libertarian take on this - why should the State be involved in such a personal matter? Having a strong libertarian tendency myself, I can almost agree. But, in this instance I believe it is truly a matter of safety of NH citizens that I am against legalization. Decriminalization is another matter for small quantities. So is medicalization. For those I am agreed. When the FDA reduces the classification of MJ's various derivative products, then quality regulation and proper research about MJ's and CBD's medical indications will proceed."
Against| Read My Position
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 oppose expanded Medicaid eligibility, using the traditional system of managed care instead of private insurance."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH do more to enforce federal immigration laws?
"I support increased state enforcement of federal immigration laws."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should New Hampshire increase subsidies and tax credits for business investment?
"New Hampshire should increase subsidies and tax credits for business investment."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Is police brutality an issue in NH?
"Police brutality is not an issue in New Hampshire."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
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?
"We should stay in RGGI as a means of incentivizing improving our State's air quality. But, I believe much of the proceeds from this program should be remitted back to NH rate payers. It's only just. Our electrical cost are way out of hand."
Against| Read My Position
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 need to come down AGAINST on this issue. This is an extremely complex matter to assess and decide upon. I used the following resource to inform myself on this matter - Environmental Research Letters: 'Assessing the costs and benefits of US renewable portfolio standards', 26 September 2017. One thing that caught my attention right off was that, once in place, RPS standards are extremely difficult to dial back. That is always troublesome from a governmental freedom of action point of view. It might be that RPS standards, nationally, could be cost effective. But, that position leaves each state on its own. NH would not want to follow the national herd of 29 states and DC that utilize RPS standards. The study acknowledges that other means are present to promote Renewable Energies. I believe that if they cannot grow independent of RPS subsidies, then they may not be worthy sources of energy. Another issue concerns environmental and health benefits as RPS outcomes. It appears that RPS programs do not represent the most cost-effective path towards achieving these air quality and climate benefits. Standard economic principles dictate that the most-efficient means of addressing environmental costs is typically through direct pricing or regulation of those emissions, not through renewable energy policies. Previous research focused on RPS policies has sometimes found that the desired benefits of RPS programs may not be fully achieved or achieved as cost effectively as desired."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should New Hampshire government do more to increase the supply of affordable housing?
"For Veterans, yes. For the undeniably medically disabled, yes. For persons/family units holding down jobs and unable to temporarily make do, yes. For persons who make no substantial attempt to come off welfare, when it seems that they could, no."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH continue to administer statewide standards-based student assessments?
"This to me this is a vague question. What standards are we talking about? If it is a strict rigorous academic studies performance standard in question, then yes. If it involves socialization matters and very poor quality measures such as CORE, then absolutely not."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"I believe the laws on the books are strict enough. NH is one of the safest states in the Union and has facilitative gun laws. This applies to many other such States. People seem to not want to understand that compelling fact."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should New Hampshire allocate tax revenues for private and home schooling costs?
"I support allocating tax revenues for private and/or home schooling costs."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote?
"New Hampshire should impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote."
