Ruth Larson
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
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?
"I oppose using taxpayer funds to pay for private education and home schooling."
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?
"I think the 20-week standard would be acceptable if the exceptions are adequate."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 24 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?
"I believe abortion is a personal decision that should be left to a woman and her doctor. Policies encouraging availability and use of contraceptives should be supported, as they would reduce the likelihood of abortion."Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH pursue expanded commuter rail?
"I am undecided on this. I would support expanded rail if I see convincing evidence that it is likely to benefit our state economy and quality of life."
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?
"I support increased funding for heroin treatment programs, and encourage the state to seek federal financial assistance in this area (such as the pending State Opioid Response grant application submitted by the Governor for $23 million)."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"I trust women to know what is best for them and their families. It should not be up to the state legislature to decide women's reproductive decisions. I would also support the codification of reproductive freedom."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"I trust women to know what is best for them and their families. It should not be up to the state legislature to decide women's reproductive decisions. I would also support the codification of reproductive freedom."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"I trust teachers in their ability to lead honest discussions, and I trust children to be able to learn in an open and uncensored environment."
Against| Read My Position
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"?
"I oppose muzzling teachers and preventing them from teaching our children about our history, including the more difficult aspects of our history."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Although many aspects of the current taxation system in NH need reform, I do not believe a broad-based tax is the answer at this time."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Although many aspects of the current taxation system in NH need reform, I do not believe a broad-based tax is the answer at this time."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire add a tax credit for businesses that contribute to student loan repayment for employees?
"This would be one way to encourage young people and young families to move to NH or to stay in NH."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"NH has been steadily lowering business taxes, which creates a hardship for working families and increases income and wealth inequality."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"Income inequality is already a major problem and is on the rise. A tax on capital gains might be part of the solution to the need to reform our current tax system, that relies too heavily on local property taxes."Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire increase the tax on cigarettes?
"I am open to this possibility, but undecided. Everything needs to be on the table to create a taxation system that is fairer than the current system with its over-reliance on local property taxes."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"New Hampshire currently lags behind our New England neighbors, and needs to do much more to seriously address climate change on many fronts."
Against| Read My Position
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?
"I support measures that encourage voting, and I oppose anti-voting measures such as this. The measure will result in votes of some or many not being counted, which in my view is not good."
Undecided| Read My Position
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?
"I generally favor measures to encourage the purchase and use of electric vehicles, so tend to think I would not favor this. I would study the issue further before reaching a final decision."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey,
Should New Hampshire add restrictions to the governor's powers during a state of emergency?
"Undecided"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"In view of the serious problem of lack of affordable housing, I favor this, although obviously individual circumstances vary, and some zoning restrictions may turn out to be beneficial."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire extend the renewable portfolio standard past 2025, requiring public utilities to obtain more than 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"I trust women to know what is best for them and their families. It should not be up to the state legislature to decide women's reproductive decisions. I would also support the codification of reproductive freedom."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire increase public access to reports of police misconduct?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"I support measures that encourage voting. This includes mail-in voting, for starters."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should NH legalize the recreational use of marijuana?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"I favor cannabis legalization, and lean towards allowing private enterprise to manage sales. This is how cannabis sales are handled in most other states where it is legal."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"I favor cannabis legalization, and lean towards allowing private enterprise to manage sales. This is how cannabis sales are handled in most other states where it is legal."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"I favor cannabis legalization, and lean towards allowing private enterprise to manage sales. This is how cannabis sales are handled in most other states where it is legal."
For| 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 support expanded Medicaid eligibility, using the traditional Medicaid system of managed care instead of private insurance. The expanded Medicaid program provides treatment for 43,000 NH residents and is an essential tool in the battle against opioid addiction. The transition to managed care should lead to lower costs."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"New Hampshire does not really have a minimum wage, relying instead on the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. This is not an adequate wage."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH do more to enforce federal immigration laws?
"I believe that federal immigration laws should be enforced by federal authorities, and the resources of local and state police departments should not be diverted to those purposes."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire increase the size of solar panel installations that may participate in net energy metering?
"This is something that is beneficial from an environmental point of view and is also good for business."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire increase subsidies and tax credits for business investment?
"I would favor certain tax credits and business subsidies, if they promote good-paying jobs and attract young families to NH. I would especially support subsidies and/or tax credits to businesses that are beneficial to the environment."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire increase the base amount of per-pupil funding it provides to local school districts?
"The NH Supreme Court has already ruled that the state must provide an 'adequate education'. At the present time, state funding falls far short of that requirement, and is a major cause of the current unfair system, with its over-reliance on local property taxes."For| Read My Position
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?
"For"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"The Interest and Dividends tax benefits ordinary NH citizens, and phasing it out would create a hardship and would increase income and wealth inequality."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Is police brutality an issue in NH?
"To my knowledge, it is not an issue in this area, and complaints of excessive force have been infrequent in the state as a whole."
Against| Read My Position
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?
"Against"
Against| Read My Position
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?
"I strongly oppose the current system, which I believe is inequitable and probably in violation of the NH Constitution."
For| Read My Position
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 something that is beneficial from an environmental point of view and is also good for business."For| 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 support the renewable portfolio standard in New Hampshire."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"I trust women to know what is best for them and their families. It should not be up to the state legislature to decide women's reproductive decisions. I would also support the codification of reproductive freedom."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire create a road usage fee?
"I am open to this possibility, but undecided. Everything needs to be on the table to create a taxation system that is fairer than the current system with its over-reliance on local property taxes."Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should New Hampshire government do more to increase the supply of affordable housing?
"I favor measures that encourage young families to stay in New Hampshire, and I know that affordable housing is a major factor. The state should partner with the private sector in the development of affordable housing."
For| Read My Position
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, and note a recent study from US News and World Report ranking New Hampshire 4th in education. If any studies show flaws in Common Core, then I would be open to looking at how these could be corrected."
For| Read My Position
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?
"It was very disappointing to have Governor Sununu veto the bipartisan paid family leave bill, and I would strongly support such legislation in the future."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"I would describe the measures I favor as 'gun safety' regulations. I would have opposed allowing concealed carry without a permit. I support 'red flag' laws, and universal background checks. I also believe that certain military style firearms have no place in civilian use."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire provide student loan debt repayment programs for workers in industries with labor shortages?
"I would favor such programs where it could be shown that the overall economic effect would be positive. It appears that the state of Maine has been successful in implementing this type of policy."For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire add tax incentives for affordable housing development?
"Lack of affordable housing is a major factor causing young people to leave the state and discouraging other young people and families to move here. The future of NH depends on having a strong workforce essential to a vibrant economy."Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2020
Should New Hampshire allocate tax revenues for private and home schooling costs?
"Every tax dollar that goes towards home schooling or private schools takes money away from public education, which is fundamental to the health of our economy and our state."Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018
Should NH impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote?
"I believe that efforts to make it more difficult for college students and military of any political party to vote are misguided and inconsistent with our democracy."