<taps mic>
"This thing on?"
<howls of distortion>
<adjusts volume>
I should probably use this twitter account to tell people what I've been up to in the NH statehouse.
"This thing on?"
<howls of distortion>
<adjusts volume>
I should probably use this twitter account to tell people what I've been up to in the NH statehouse.
2/
In NH bills are drafted by legislators, get turned into actual parseable legal English by the OLS (Office of Legislative Services), get sent to a committee, then come out of committee with either a thumbs up, a thumbs down, or a shrug.
Most stuff is a clear up/ down and >
In NH bills are drafted by legislators, get turned into actual parseable legal English by the OLS (Office of Legislative Services), get sent to a committee, then come out of committee with either a thumbs up, a thumbs down, or a shrug.
Most stuff is a clear up/ down and >
3/
goes to the assembled legislature on a "consent motion". These are usually passed by acclaim, without a tedious rollcall vote.
The idea is if a committee of 10 D and 10 R all liked it (or all hated it), then ...the house should just go along w the committee.
goes to the assembled legislature on a "consent motion". These are usually passed by acclaim, without a tedious rollcall vote.
The idea is if a committee of 10 D and 10 R all liked it (or all hated it), then ...the house should just go along w the committee.
4/
Sometimes, though, a bill is 95% liked or hated by a committee, but a handful of people want to fight a (likely doomed) rear guard action to reverse that, and bring it to the floor to debate it.
So...what does the house as a whole do on session days?
Sometimes, though, a bill is 95% liked or hated by a committee, but a handful of people want to fight a (likely doomed) rear guard action to reverse that, and bring it to the floor to debate it.
So...what does the house as a whole do on session days?
5/
we pass by acclaim (a shouted "aye!"), or flush by acclaim stuff that's solid, we vote on stuff that committees were divided on, and we vote on stuff that committees were united on but a small minority wants a floor vote.
we pass by acclaim (a shouted "aye!"), or flush by acclaim stuff that's solid, we vote on stuff that committees were divided on, and we vote on stuff that committees were united on but a small minority wants a floor vote.
6/
Oh, some lingo.
"OTP" = "Ought to pass" = yes
"ITL" = "Inexpediant to legislate" = no
Oh, some lingo.
"OTP" = "Ought to pass" = yes
"ITL" = "Inexpediant to legislate" = no
7/
Finally, even stuff that makes it through the house with an OTP still has to go to the Senate, then the Governor, and sometimes - if it's finance related - has to go to one more committee ("finance")
Finally, even stuff that makes it through the house with an OTP still has to go to the Senate, then the Governor, and sometimes - if it's finance related - has to go to one more committee ("finance")
8/
at 9am we had the Republican caucus meeting, where party leadership briefed us on the day ahead
at 10am the Dems came up from the statehouse cafeteria where they caucused and joined us (it's nice to be the majority party!)
at 9am we had the Republican caucus meeting, where party leadership briefed us on the day ahead
at 10am the Dems came up from the statehouse cafeteria where they caucused and joined us (it's nice to be the majority party!)
9/
First up SB1-FN-A. A big about tearing down the old youth services center and building a new one, or something. 23-0 in committee, so voice vote "aye!"
First up SB1-FN-A. A big about tearing down the old youth services center and building a new one, or something. 23-0 in committee, so voice vote "aye!"
10/
Then HB91-FN-A relative to privacy obligations of the dept of health. Another unanimous "aye", IIRC
Then HB91-FN-A relative to privacy obligations of the dept of health. Another unanimous "aye", IIRC
11/
Then HB347-FN, which is an issue that I care about (bc #BarnLaw): adding another judge to the superior court staff and having him or her specialize in land use law. I was strongly in favor. Some dems disagreed and gave speeches, which were incoherent & misunderstood issue
Then HB347-FN, which is an issue that I care about (bc #BarnLaw): adding another judge to the superior court staff and having him or her specialize in land use law. I was strongly in favor. Some dems disagreed and gave speeches, which were incoherent & misunderstood issue
12/
A quick note on the price of this, and my thoughts on gov spending: an extra judge plus support costs something like $250k/yr.
While I strive to minimize taxes and gov spending, lawsuits are a much superior technology to resolve conflicts, compared to blood feuds >>>
A quick note on the price of this, and my thoughts on gov spending: an extra judge plus support costs something like $250k/yr.
While I strive to minimize taxes and gov spending, lawsuits are a much superior technology to resolve conflicts, compared to blood feuds >>>
13/
...and as the State currently has a monopoly on providing legal services and adjudication ( I say with only PARTIAL fear of contradiction from @amyalkon !), it is in everyone's interest to have a responsive competent judiciary.
...and as the State currently has a monopoly on providing legal services and adjudication ( I say with only PARTIAL fear of contradiction from @amyalkon !), it is in everyone's interest to have a responsive competent judiciary.
@amyalkon 14/
In my capacity as a private citizen I've seen how overloaded the courts are with land use issues, and how slow the wheels grind ( #BarnLaw is 5 years old, and far from resolved right now).
Anyway, I voted "aye!" it OTP.
In my capacity as a private citizen I've seen how overloaded the courts are with land use issues, and how slow the wheels grind ( #BarnLaw is 5 years old, and far from resolved right now).
Anyway, I voted "aye!" it OTP.
@amyalkon 15/
another unanimous, IIRC HB62FN, then on to an interesting one, HB234-FN relative to renewable energy credits.
Right now NH has some stupid "incentives" that force utilities to EITHER do renewable stuff or pay fines.
another unanimous, IIRC HB62FN, then on to an interesting one, HB234-FN relative to renewable energy credits.
Right now NH has some stupid "incentives" that force utilities to EITHER do renewable stuff or pay fines.
@amyalkon 16/
Were it up to me, I'd scrap this system bc it's ill designed, does nothing about the fact that China is burning dirty coal, harms NH rate payers with expensive electricity, and burdens NH utilities with a silly program that accomplishes nothing.
...but that's not possible
Were it up to me, I'd scrap this system bc it's ill designed, does nothing about the fact that China is burning dirty coal, harms NH rate payers with expensive electricity, and burdens NH utilities with a silly program that accomplishes nothing.
...but that's not possible
@amyalkon 17/
The extremely silly program has an extra silly component: the utilities can buy credits off of individuals who have installed solar and are issued credits by the state ... OR, if individuals haven't applied for the credits program, the utilities can "sweep" credits.
The extremely silly program has an extra silly component: the utilities can buy credits off of individuals who have installed solar and are issued credits by the state ... OR, if individuals haven't applied for the credits program, the utilities can "sweep" credits.
@amyalkon 18/
This is, at some level, nonsense.
I, personally, have installed a solar system. I do not intend to register it, and thus I will not get issued credits.
This means that a NH utility can note that I have solar, say "well, he's not claiming the credits...so give them to me"
This is, at some level, nonsense.
I, personally, have installed a solar system. I do not intend to register it, and thus I will not get issued credits.
This means that a NH utility can note that I have solar, say "well, he's not claiming the credits...so give them to me"
@amyalkon 19/
These paper credits mean absolutely nothing ... other than their utility for compliance with a silly state program.
BUT ...by "sweeping" imaginary credits from unregistered systems, the utilities AVOID paying fines to the gov.
Dems want to get rid of these sweeps.
These paper credits mean absolutely nothing ... other than their utility for compliance with a silly state program.
BUT ...by "sweeping" imaginary credits from unregistered systems, the utilities AVOID paying fines to the gov.
Dems want to get rid of these sweeps.
20/
Their stated rationale was hilarious BS. Dems care a lot, apparently, about "takings". They cry themselves to sleep at night worrying about the plight of poor solar owners (like me) who are having our imaginary credits taken away by big bad corporations.
Their stated rationale was hilarious BS. Dems care a lot, apparently, about "takings". They cry themselves to sleep at night worrying about the plight of poor solar owners (like me) who are having our imaginary credits taken away by big bad corporations.
21/
If this were true, it would be the first time in the history of the Republic that Dems were upset by a government Taking !
The actual reason they dislike it is that they want utilities to pay fines ...which would raise electricity rates, which would be Good, bc...
If this were true, it would be the first time in the history of the Republic that Dems were upset by a government Taking !
The actual reason they dislike it is that they want utilities to pay fines ...which would raise electricity rates, which would be Good, bc...
22/
that would encourage ratepayers to consume less electricity, and would encourage utilities to develop more ultra-high-costs "renewable" resources.
The entire debate was a bit of a goat rodeo, and I voted AGAINST the D proposal.
that would encourage ratepayers to consume less electricity, and would encourage utilities to develop more ultra-high-costs "renewable" resources.
The entire debate was a bit of a goat rodeo, and I voted AGAINST the D proposal.
23/
My take on rewnewables:
1. We need to develop and deploy clean fails-safe fission reactors
2. there is no step 2
( RETVRN to "too cheap to meter!")
My take on rewnewables:
1. We need to develop and deploy clean fails-safe fission reactors
2. there is no step 2
( RETVRN to "too cheap to meter!")
24/
OK, I need to take a break and do some work at my day job
(being a NH legislator pays $100/year, so while I am ABSOLUTELY doing this for the filthy lucre, I need to labor in the code mines for the other 99.9% of my WH40k budget)
More later (tomorrow?)
OK, I need to take a break and do some work at my day job
(being a NH legislator pays $100/year, so while I am ABSOLUTELY doing this for the filthy lucre, I need to labor in the code mines for the other 99.9% of my WH40k budget)
More later (tomorrow?)
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