Issues

Welcome
To my constituents:

As the first Democratic majority in over 8 decades we accomplished much and there is still much to be done. This issue and accomplishment guide should help you to understand what we have done over the last two years, as well as, help you see our goals for the next two years. This is not meant to be an all inclusive document, touching every issue in great detail, but rather a fairly inclusive guide to allow you to judge the progress we made and our campaign’s vision for the future.

I hope you will find this informative but I also hope it will act as a stimulus for those of you who have not yet gotten involved, to get involved in the process. Much can be done in the halls of government but we cannot do it alone. It is citizen participation, on every level, that has been at the heart of the New Hampshire way of life.

I have long believed that an informed and involved electorate is the best ally of any political process and the best advocate for the future of New Hampshire.
My Best Regards and thanks,

Rep. Steve Spratt
Senate District 11 Candidate
www.SteveSpratt.com
Consumer Protection/Public Safety
Accomplishments:
- Passed legislation eliminating predatory lending practices
- Prohibited New Hampshire from joining the Federal ID program
- Repealed a law that infringed on a woman’s right to choose
- Established civil unions protecting rights for same sex couples
- Increased the number of New Hampshire State Troopers
- Established a death benefit for police and fire fighters killed in the line of duty

Issues/Goals
- Continue to work to support those who served our country by establishing measures and programs that address hardships and challenges associated with their service and return to civilian life to include; establishing a full service VA hospital in-state and pressing for health care availability wherever offered rather than strictly through the VA system
- Continue to look at predatory credit/lending practices to ensure New Hampshire citizens are protected from usurious interest rates
- Continue to monitor air and water quality issues
- Support privacy and equality through careful monitoring of the use of personal information, including medical and pharmaceutical records of New Hampshire citizens
The Economy
Accomplishments:
- Increased the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade
- Re-established the job training fund to promote a more competitive workforce
- Expanded access to affordable housing
- Established R&D tax credit
- Strengthened workman’s compensation
- Worked to stabilize and sustain the New Hampshire Retirement System
- Defeated so-called ‘Right to Work’ legislation that would attempt to tie the hands of businesses and unions to negotiate fair contracts

Issues/Goals:
- Continue to expand employment opportunities in growth areas of alternative energy, healthcare, education and construction/infrastructure
- Continue to expand access to workforce housing in all areas of the State
- Continue to work to balance the budget through policies that reflect real tax reform and the continued elimination/reduction of cost drivers in all areas
- Promote a serious and meaningful debate that results in progressive tax reform
- Work with all sectors; individual, business, community and state to provide incentives for responsible economic growth which do not place unrealistic burden’s on any one sector
Education
Accomplishments:
- Passed legislation that defined an adequate education according to the mandate delivered by the New Hampshire Supreme Court
- Passed an education cost formula to define the cost an adequate education
- Passed legislation that brings the availability of public kindergarten to all New Hampshire students, putting New Hampshire in line with the other 49 states
- Passed additional assistance to NH universities and technical colleges
- Revised state laws relating to special education
- Expanded alternative education programs
- Targeted $4 million to dropout prevention
- Increased funding for technical colleges and university system
- Funded Boys and Girls Clubs for a healthy after school environment for our children

Issues/Goals:
- Establish a comprehensive and equitable funding formula that will ensure that the educational requirements for our children are met for the generations to come
- Strive to enhance our students access to broader learning experiences through technology, distance learning, vocational instruction and community resources
- Continue to work to make post secondary education more affordable for New Hampshire residents so that our students are not forced to go out of state, primarily due to cost
The Environment
Accomplishments:
- Passed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that lowers greenhouse gas emissions and supports New Hampshire’s economic interests
- Passed the Renewable Energy Portfolio requiring that 25% of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2025
- Passed the banning of the burning of toxic construction and demolition debris
- Funded the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP)
- Passed the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act protecting the quality and quantity of our surface waters
- For the first time since 1963 we expanded the New Hampshire State Park System by passing legislation bringing the historic Temple Mountain area into the recreational system
- Banned the disposal of mercury-added products in solid waste landfills

Issues/Goals:
- Continue to promote alternative energy by exploring and investing in new and existing technology both to benefit the environment and to create 100s of new jobs statewide
- Work to upgrade transmission lines in cooperation with utilities to bring more clean energy to bear across the state and region
- Continue to work to balance growth with the need to ensure public health safety and preserve the state’s natural resources
- Work to continue to create programs which provide incentives to both individuals and businesses to become more energy efficient through home improvements such as insulation, reduction of energy consumption, mass transit alternatives and the use of more energy efficient technologies
Healthcare
Accomplishments:
- Passed increased access to health care by raising coverage for dependents until the age of 26
- Passed the statewide smoking ban prohibiting smoking in restaurants and bars
- Passed legislation to help prevent lead poisoning in children by strengthening public health laws and housing standards
- Created Health First initiative for small business to improve access to healthcare for their employees
- Expanded the New Hampshire Children’s Health Program to cover 10,000 more children
- Created budget to eliminate the developmental disabilities waiting list over the next 3 years

Issues/Goals:
- Continue to expand access to health care for businesses and individuals.
- Work to pass legislation that will further the ability for small sectors to form large groups to make health care both accessible and affordable
- Continue to reduce/eliminate health cost drivers that add nothing to direct care
- Work to expand the community based health care programs available statewide to lessen the impact on emergency rooms and provide real preventative care