NHLA “Don’t Touch” Policy

In May 2010, the NHLA Board of Directors sat with members to hear thoughts and concerns regarding the informal “Don’t Touch Issues” policy. There were over 30 people in attendance with many having traveled great distances to be heard. The level of respect and professionalism displayed was impressive.

Feedback on this matter was also solicited via email input from the membership for 2½ months. Over 35 members wrote in expressing their thoughts, all of which were reviewed by the Board. Many of those who were unable to attend the meeting had their comments read aloud by a Board member. The Board would like to thank all of the members who took time to provide input on this matter.

After reviewing all of the comments offered by members and spending a great deal of time deliberating, the Board has come to the conclusion that taking the pro-liberty position on pending legislation where a controversial topic might be involved is in line with our mission statement of “A non-partisan coalition working to increase individual freedom in New Hampshire.” By stating the pro-liberty position clearly and consistently, even on issues that may be uncomfortable to some (as demonstrated with medical marijuana), the NHLA will stand as a beacon for the principled reduction of government and for the growth of freedom in New Hampshire.

We certainly understand the emotion and contentiousness of certain issues and will continue to use discretion when considering public comment thereon. Our support or opposition on future bills will continue to be based on a number of factors, including the impact on liberty, the cost of the legislation to taxpayers, and the clarity of the liberty principle involved. The Board feels that no issue involving the restriction or regulation of New Hampshire citizens’ liberties is inherently a “Don’t Touch” issue. However, in some cases, where the principle of liberty can be argued for or against the legislative proposal, the Board will remain neutral.

It is on these case-by-case circumstances that the decision to take a position is to be entrusted to the discretion of the Board. Therefore, the Board has decided, by unanimous vote, to not have a formal “Don’t Touch Issues” policy at this time.

As for the issues discussed at the DTI summit, the Board has reached the following conclusions:

Abortion – The Board recognizes that there are two conflicting pro-liberty arguments on this issue.

1. Women own their own bodies and have the fundamental right to make decisions about them; any attempt to prohibit that freedom is anti-liberty.
2. A developing human in the womb is an individual with the same rights as its mother that may not be infringed without due process of law or in self-defense.

Accordingly, the NHLA will not take an official position on proposed legislation that would:

• Prohibit, limit, expand or increase a woman’s ability to have an abortion.
• Establish rights for developing humans in the womb.

However, legislation tangential to these two positions, including changes to the amount of government regulations on abortion, further licensing, fees, etc. on clinics that provide abortions, or the use of government funds (taxpayer money) to pay for abortions, may be supported or opposed depending on how they advance or reduce liberty.

Marriage – The Board recognizes that adults have the free, inalienable right to contract with one another without government interference and any attempt from the state to further regulate, limit, or prohibit this fundamental right is anti-liberty. Therefore, it is the NHLA’s position on the subject of marriage to remove all government regulations, licensing, fees, etc. from the institution of marriage and leave it to the discretion of individuals, their families, and faiths.

Death Penalty – The Board recognizes that there are two, conflicting pro-liberty arguments on this issue.

1. People have the right to be secure in their community from extremely violent, duly convicted persons of heinous crimes and the death penalty could be considered an extension of self-defense.
2. The state has no right to take a life.

Accordingly, the NHLA will not take an official position on proposed legislation that would:

• Repeal the death penalty.
• Focus almost exclusively on expanding the death penalty.

However, legislation tangential to these two positions, such as a larger crime bill in which the death penalty is just a small part of the underlying legislation, or expansion of the number and types of crimes punishable by the death penalty, may be supported or opposed depending on how they advance or reduce liberty.

Assisted Suicide – The Board recognizes that adults have the fundamental right to make decisions regarding their own bodies whether it be smoking, drinking alcohol, eating trans fats, buckling a seatbelt, wearing a helmet, or choosing to end their pain and suffering from a terminal condition by the request of medication that would enable them to control the time, place, and manner of their inevitable death. Therefore, it is the NHLA’s position on this issue to continue supporting proposed legislation that protects individuals’ rights based on the core principle of self-ownership.

Illegal Immigration and Right To Work – The Board has concluded that bills containing these issues will be treated just like any other bill.

Liberty Dinner

This year’s Liberty Dinner will be held on Sunday, July 11 at The Chateau Restaurant, 201 Hanover Street, Manchester, N.H. (map).

We will be awarding the Legislator of the Year and Activist of the Year, as well as unveiling our annual Liberty Ratings legislative scorecard. There will be a silent auction fund-raiser, and more.

Dinner will be from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and the keynote speaker will be Harvard economist and author Jeffrey Miron. Miron is Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics at Harvard University and a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute. His area of expertise is the economics of libertarianism, and has recently published a book entitled “Libertarianism from A to Z.” To learn more, visit his website at http://jeffreymiron.com/.

The VIP Reception will be from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to chat with some of our liberty loving Reps, while enjoying appetizers and a cash bar.

Prices are:

• $38 Dinner ($35 for Full or Lifetime Members).
• $12 VIP Reception ($10 for Full or Lifetime Members) – Proceeds will go to the NHLA PAC.

To purchase tickets, go to http://www.nhliberty.org/dinner2010 or mail your check to New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, P.O. Box 4241, Manchester, N.H. 03108-4241. Be sure to note that it is for the Liberty Dinner.

This is a popular event, and seating is limited, so please book your tickets soon.

Board Elections Results

Congratulations to Steve Villee who was re-elected to the NHLA Board of Directors as Treasurer and to Keith Ammon who was elected as Membership Director. Welcome!

The Board would like to thank former Membership Director Michelle Levell for her years of valued service to the organization and wish her the best with her new endeavor “NH Families for Education” – http://www.nhfamiliesforeducation.org/.

Candidate Training Session

The next candidate/campaign training session will be Saturday, August 14th at 2:00 pm at The Draft in Concord. This session is part of a continuing series presented by former State Representative Don Gorman.

R.S.V.P. to chair@nhliberty.org if interested.

PorcFest 2010

Come join the NHLA at this year’s Porcupine Freedom Festival being held on June 24–27 at Roger’s Campground and Motel in beautiful Lancaster, N.H. Many new and exciting things are scheduled for this four-day event. For more information, go to http://freestateproject.org/festival.

The NHLA will be giving a presentation on Friday, June 25 from 10:00AM to noon on how to advance liberty in New Hampshire by working within the state legislative system.

The Board is now scheduling volunteers to man the NHLA table at PorcFest. If interested, please email Mark at chair@nhliberty.org.

Nominations for Activist of the Year

The Board is soliciting nominations for this year’s Activist of the Year award. Any member who knows of someone who has been very active in promoting liberty in New Hampshire may email your nomination to chair@nhliberty.org. The deadline for nominations is midnight June 9th.

CNHT 12th Annual Reunion Picnic

The Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers’ 12th Annual Reunion Picnic is Saturday, July 10 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm at the Hillsborough American Legion #59, 538 West Main Street, Hillsborough, N.H. Cost is $15 per person, free for children 12 and under.

This is a great opportunity to talk with the candidates running for NH House, NH Senate, and Governor, as well as US House and US Senate. Be sure to ask NH candidates if they have taken the CNHT Pledge.

For more information, please go to: http://www.cnht.org/picnic2010.php. The CNHT Pledge can be found here: http://www.cnht.org/images/pledge.jpg.

Liberty Books

Jim Dodson of Liberty Books in Concord (75 Allison Street) hosts NHLA’s monthly Board meetings. Please visit this treasure-filled store for books on history, economics, and politics, as well as an unrivaled collection of graphic novels and comic books. You may also visit Jim on the web at http://www.libertybooksnh.net/.

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Help support the NHLA by making all your Amazon purchases through the NHLA–Amazon.com affiliate program at http://amazon.nhliberty.org/.