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AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin, 2019-01

2019 Legislative Session Underway

Bow, NH - February 4, 2019

The NH General Court (the Legislature) began its substantive work early in January, but it is only in the past two weeks that activity has really picked up. You may recall that the 2019-20 Legislature is quite different from the 2017-18 version. Voters erased Republican majorities in both the Senate and the House in the November 2018 elections, so Democrats now control the Senate 14-10 and the House by a nearly 60-vote margin. With a Republican governor still holding office, there will be a fair amount of friction and a need for some degree of cooperation between the Legislative and Executive branches if anything is to be accomplished. It is a new situation for both Democrats and Republicans, and it will be interesting to watch as the session unfolds over the next five months.

Press Release - AFT-NH President Douglas Ley’s Testimony to “Save Our Summer” Commission

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Douglas Ley, AFT NH President

Phone: (603) 831-3661

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9:00 A.M EDT, November 2, 2018

AFT-NH President Douglas Ley’s Testimony to “Save Our Summer” Commission

BOW, NH NOVEMBER 2, 2018

AFT-NH President Douglas Ley provided written testimony to the Governor’s “Save Our Summer” Commission to make recommendations whether or not there should be a change made at the state level that would have schools only be allowed to open after Labor Day.

In relevant part, President Ley stated, “AFT-NH supports our long-established NH tradition of local control and local preference in matters of school year scheduling. We believe those closest to the community and to the students are best situated to make appropriate decisions in regards to scheduling. We ask that the Commission respect local control and draw appropriate conclusions in your report due on November 30, 2018.”

He further offered that, “There is a strong preference for local control—i.e., leaving the issue of start-dates in the hands of the locality. Different localities and districts may have different perspectives and AFT-NH strongly endorses leaving this issue in the hands of the local school districts. They are directly responsible to their community and are best positioned to meet the needs and desires of their constituents and to serve the interests of their students.

Read the full testimony at "Save Our Summer" Testimony".

Read the Executive Order creating the "Save Our Summer" Commission at Executive Order creating "Save Our Summer" Commission.

AFT-NH 2018 Endorsements- Molly Kelly, Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster

AFT-NH ENDORSEMENTS FOR 2018

Governor, Congress , Executive Council and NH State Senate

Governor: Molly Kelly

Congressional District 1: Chris Pappas

Congressional District 2: Annie Kuster

Exec. Council 1: Mike Cryans

Exec. Council 2: Andru Volinsky

Exec. Council 3: Joe Pace

Exec. Council 4: Gray Chynoweth

Exec. Council 5: Deb Pignatelli

NH Senate 2: Bill Bolton

NH Senate 3: Christopher Meier

NH Senate 4: David Watters

NH Senate 5: Martha Hennessey

NH Senate 6: Anne Grassie

NH Senate 7: Mason Donovan

NH Senate 8: Jenn Alford-Teaster

NH Senate 10: Jay Kahn

AFT-NH Releases 2018 Endorsements for NH House

AFT-NH 2018 Endorsements for NH House

Belknap County:

District 2 (Gilford, Meredith):

Dorothy Piquado

District 3 (Laconia-Wards 1 thru 6):

Carlos Cardona

David Huot

Philip Spagnuolo

District 4 (Sanbornton, Tilton):

Charles Mitchell

District 5 (Alton, Gilmanton):

Betty Ann Abbott

Michelle Carter

District 6 (Belmont):

Justin Borden

District 9 (Belmont, Laconia-Wards 1 thru 6):

Charlie St. Clair

Carroll County:

District 1 (Bartlett, Hart’s Location, Jackson):

Anita Burroughs

District 2 (Chatham

2018 HONEY CASCIO SCHOLARSHIP, AFT-NH, AFT, AFL-CIO

2018 HONEY CASCIO SCHOLARSHIP, AFT-NH, AFT, AFL-CIO

AFT-NH is proud to award two $1,000 scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year. The scholarships will be offered to one graduating senior who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning, and to one continuing student at an accredited institution of higher learning for the 2018-2019 academic year. Prior winners are ineligible.

Applicant’s parent or guardian must be a current member of AFT-NH. Winners will need to provide proof of enrollment (continuing or as a new student) for the 2017-18 academic year in order to receive their

AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin, 2018-19

Legislative Session Wrap-Up

June 1, 2018 - Bow, NH

In just over three hours it was over. Some legislative sessions end in high drama. The 2018 legislative session ended on Wednesday, May 23 with barely a whimper or ripple, at least in regards to legislation of direct concern to AFT-NH. Of course, after all the drama surrounding SB 193, the “whack a mole” so-called voucher bill that had seemingly refused to die, we welcomed the quiet end to the session.

There were a few noteworthy bills that came before the Legislature on the final day as conference reports (compromises worked out between the