Hillsborough Districts FDC 1, 3, 4 and 38 NEWS D1: Antrim, Hillsborough, and Windsor QUARTERLY D3: Bennington, Hancock, and Summer 2020 Greenfield D4: Francestown, Lyndeborough, Wilton, and Greenville

D38: All ten towns listed above. THE HOUSE MOVES FORWARD The House concluded its work for 2020 on June 30 and sent more than thirty omnibus bills to the Governor for his signature. Without much Republican help, the House supported frontline workers and businesses dealing with a crippling pandemic, lowered the cost of insulin and other drugs, and kept government functions funded.

HB 1162 - increases equity and safeguards for NH children and families. Passed 209-119 HB 1558 - assures students have access to special education and behavioral health resources. Passed 201-129 HB 705 - supports victims of sexual assault and crimes. Passed 254-75 HB 1280 - reduces insulin costs to $30/month, requires insurance coverage of epi-pens, and allows drug importation from Canada. Passed 225-104 HB 250 - establishes a dental benefit under the state Medicare program. Passed 205-124 HB 1217 - requires law enforcement officers to report misconduct by other officers. Passed 255-74 HB 1240 - provides protection for victims of sexual assault by those in a position of authority in the NH State Representatives education system. Passed 257-68 - Marjorie Porter, D1 - Dem HB 578 and others - supports healthcare providers ([email protected]) and long-term care facilities. Passed 282-43 - , D1 - Rep HB 1266 and HB 1672 - gives voters the ability to ([email protected]) vote without risk to their physical health. Passed 221-101 - , D3 - Dem HB 466 - increases net metering capacity in NH. ([email protected]) Passed 201-120 - , D4 - Dem HB 731 - increases the state’s minimum wage ([email protected]) gradually to $12/hour by January 2023. Passed - , D4 - Dem 199-124 ([email protected]) - , D38 - Dem Additionally, by a 199-108 margin, the House passed ([email protected]) and agreed to the independent Fact Finder’s report that would end the stalemate between the Governor - Jim Bosman, D38 - Dem and seven different state employee unions. Although ([email protected]) the report was issued over seven months ago, our State Employees have been without a contract for almost two years. FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 2 FROM THE CHAIR happens to be one of Sununu’s generous campaign contributors. Patronage in the Age of Our best response to Trump’s mind-boggling COVID is unforgivable. divisive rants inciting Culture Wars, delivered against the backdrops of Mt. Rushmore and The TAKE ACTION - Please, reach out and speak White House during July 4th celebrations, would to your friends, your family, your neighbors. be to serve him with an Eviction Notice from Make sure that they understand what is at stake 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on November 3rd. in this year’s NH and national elections. Make sure they know how to register to vote and Trump’s loyal supporter, the ever-popular Chris obtain an absentee ballot. Help 18-year-olds and Sununu, who plans to greet him at the Pease first-time voters register. Let them know why Airport MAGA rally on July 11th, also needs to the only decision they need to make once they be ushered out the Governor’s Mansion. have a ballot is whether to vote from the bottom Governor “SAY-NO-NO” vetoed 57 bills last year up, or from the top down of the Democratic that our democratically elected representatives candidates’ column. wrote and championed. Many of these bills were passed with bi-partisan support, and all would WORK FOR AND SUPPORT the NH State have effected positive change for working Democratic Candidates running in the families in our state. An increase in minimum September 8th Primary and the November 3rd wage, the establishment of paid family and General Election to represent Francestown: medical leave, and countless bills supporting a Executive Council D5 - Deborah Pignatelli (I) clean environment should not have been killed State Senate D8 - Jenn Alford Teaster off with his Veto Pen. House Rep D4 - Jennifer Bernet (I) House Rep D4 - Kermit Williams (I) With more than $3.5 million in TV ads already House Rep D38 - Jim Bosman (I) purchased by the Republican Governors House Rep D38 - Stephanie Hyland Association, and a public relations effort Use your social media platforms to support covering up his early resistance to the 200 these candidates. elected NH officials who wrote to urge him to institute the stay-at-home orders of Vermont To volunteer for training and participation in and Massachusetts, and his total lack of Virtual Door Knocks, Phone Banking, and Letter transparency and collaboration with elected Writing, contact our area’s NHDP organizer, Democrats regarding the disbursement of Sophie Maher, who will be coordinating the Federal Covid-19 funds, Sununu will continue to campaign activities and outreach of the claim credit as a competent COVID-19 “Hero”. candidates. [email protected] tel: (603) 738-7459 THE FACTS - NH is now blowing through the early predictability models for summer-time PUT UP YARD SIGNS: Contact Eric COVID deaths; we were late to formulate a life- Rasmussen, [email protected] if you are preserving strategy for nursing homes; and the willing to let the FDC install candidate yard state unemployment insurance system still signs on your property. struggles to keep up with claims as the Governor refuses to improve and update its antiquated DONATE: Please be as generous as you can systems. Rather than giving grants to financially and make donations directly to our candidates. squeezed NH non-profit hospitals and putting OR over 1000 furloughed hospital workers back in Write a single check to the Democratic Victory their jobs, Sununu’s newly created “Hospital Fund, a 527 PAC that will distribute the money Fund” recently awarded one of its largest grants to the candidates and will financially assist to a private, for-profit corporation that also FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 3 Town Democratic Committees within D38 with FROM THE REPS their organizing activities. MARJORIE PORTER - NH REP, D1 Mail to: Democratic Victory Fund Election season is upon us, and with it, those 271 Ferson Road infernal political signs. Francestown, NH 03043 As soon as we file to put our names on the EXPRESS YOUR APPRECIATION AND ballot, we receive a packet from the Secretary of GRATITUDE: Unfortunately, House Rep Chris State that includes election laws pertaining to Balch (D38) is not able to run for re-election candidates. There is a section about what is and this year, due to family circumstances. Over the is not legal in terms of where we can put our past two years he has thoughtfully served his signs. constituents with dedication, wisdom, good humor, and kindness. His leadership on So you know, we are NOT allowed to put our environmental issues and spirit of generosity signs on public property—not at the dump, not will be missed in Concord. Please join me in on school grounds, not at the library or town thanking Chris for standing with us and for us. offices. You can email your thanks to [email protected] They are not to be affixed to traffic sign or reflector posts. Stay healthy. Stay strong. They CAN go on public rights of way—along the - Sue Jonas, Chair roadside, for example. Unless you are the road Francestown Democratic Committee crew, it is against the law for you to move them. However, and this is a big however, if someone puts a sign in the right of way that crosses YOUR property, you CAN remove it. In the middle of a global Some candidates are careful to follow these pandemic, Gov Sununu is laws, and some are not. welcoming a trump rally Personally, I won’t vote for a person who wants with no mask or social to make laws for me to follow but won’t follow distancing requirements. the laws themself. Just sayin’. The absolutely best place for our signs is on the property of people who support us. Won’t you please consider hosting one of our signs in your yard? We will be ever so grateful!

- Marjorie Porter Municipal and County Government FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 4

DAN PICKERING - NH REP, D3 CHRIS BALCH - NH REP, D38

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Emergency Activism – Most Important Today Powers I rejoiced upon learning that, in the last week, We all know by now that the pandemic is real. two pipelines have been “killed.” One was the Our governor has received a lot of credit for his Atlantic Coast Pipeline, discontinued when the use of emergency powers to slow down the company seeking to build it recognized that the consequences. He is impressive on TV, responds costs of delays were making the project no to viewers’ questions, listens to health experts. longer financially viable. The other, the Dakota Granite Staters, for the most part, have been Access Pipeline, was forced to halt operations willing to follow his guidelines. But I challenge when a federal judge vacated environmental the reader: Is it OK with you that the governor permits approved by executive order, and a takes advantage of his emergency powers to second judge then ordered the cessation of use enrich himself by awarding no bid contracts to and draining of the pipeline within thirty days political allies and granting himself a raise? Is it while new environmental impact studies (EIS) OK with you that he opposes an independent were completed. In both of these cases it was redistricting commission to end the consistent pressure of the will of the people gerrymandering? Is it OK with you that last year that resulted in victory. he vetoed 57 bills that your duly-elected senators and representatives worked hard to Today’s news focuses on racial injustice, on the pass? Is it OK with you that he has been an resurgence of Coronavirus in states reopening enthusiastic supporter of Trump from the too early, on the mask/no mask rift, on beginning? immigration injustices, and, barely on the radar, climate change. On June 30th our state legislators passed these significant bills: to establish an independent The majority of people in the United States have redistricting commission, to insure your right to a conscience. Many understand on a vote absentee, to reduce the cost of prescription compassionate level that this country was partly drugs, to secure support for providers and long- founded on slavery. We understand that Black term care facilities impacted by Covid-19, to ban Lives Matter. When we hear the stories of a police chokeholds, and to establish a more mistreated people, we come to care on a level reasonable minimum wage. where detachment is no longer possible. Where even looking upon statues of leaders who owned Please monitor the responses of our governor slaves causes a troubled conscience. over the next four months before you decide that you are willing to accept the good, the bad, We understand on a compassionate level that and the ugly! Clue: He will be claiming that the this country was partly founded on genocide. state of New Hampshire is broke after That the First Nations People inhabiting these rewarding political allies and preserving tax lands were despised, their husbands, wives, breaks for corporations that don’t need them to mothers, fathers and children brutalized and survive. murdered so that their land could be taken.

- Dan Pickering, Hancock As human beings we do not enjoy feelings of Transportation Committee guilt. As human beings, we want always to feel as if things are improving. Yet today, most of us see the direction of the nation as a backward slide into more division, racism, destruction of resources, and less hope. FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 5

JEN BERNET - NH REP, D4 So, what to do? While we are bombarded from The last day of the House Session saw the all sides with outrage after outrage, it is passage of many important bills. HB 1280 is a important to pick ONE thing that you will focus package of bills that will lower the cost of on and be a part of working on. Pick one thing prescription drugs, most notably insulin. HB you care about, and join forces with others who 705 is a group of bills that will bring justice for care for the same. Work faithfully to advance survivors of sexual abuse and assault. HB 1645 your cause for good, and have faith that others is a package of criminal justice reform bills, are doing the same for other causes. including outlawing private prisons, banning the use of chokeholds by law enforcement and If the resolute pressure of a relatively small the good Samaritan bill I sponsored granting number of people can force the cancellation and medical amnesty for reporting alcohol shutdown of pipelines controlled by multi- poisoning for underaged people. billion dollar industrialists, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. We passed HB 250, providing dental benefits to nearly 100,000 adults who subscribe to NH Be staunch. Be true. Be unified. Medicaid. This bill builds on the bill I sponsored, and the Governor signed, allowing Be an activist. for an adult Medicaid dental benefit. Hopefully the Governor will sign this bill, providing dental - Chris Balch, Wilton care to people that will save money in the long Science, Technology, Energy Committee run by preventing abscesses and other complications of untreated dental conditions.

The last day of session also brought something that greatly saddened and disturbed me. At the end of his floor speech asking colleagues to vote in favor of HB 1645, Criminal Justice Committee Chair said “Black Lives Matter”. A group of Republican representatives booed at this. It was reported in the press. Speaker Shurtleff was also disturbed Trainings: by this and expressed his disapproval in a • Digital Door Knocking Training: Saturday, July speech at the close of session. The leader of the 18th from 11:00am-12:00pm, and House Republican caucus and the Republican 2:00-3:00pm https://www.mobilize.us/ members who did not boo said nothing. nhdp_events/event/285677/https:// Governor , the highest Republican www.mobilize.us/nhdp_events/event/285677/ office holder in the state, said nothing. This, to • Tuesday Digital Door-Knocking Training: Tuesdays 5:00-6:00pm https:// me, says everything. www.mobilize.us/nhdp_events/event/281334/ • Wednesday ThruTalk (Dialer) Training: We need to keep and build on our Democratic Wednesdays 5:00-6:00pm https:// majorities in the NH House and Senate and www.mobilize.us/nhdp_events/event/281722/ Executive Council as well as electing a • Thursday Digital Door-Knocking Training: Democratic Governor. Thank you for your Thursdays 5:00-6:00pm https:// www.mobilize.us/nhdp_events/event/281333/ support. • Saturday ThruTalk (Dialer) Training: Saturdays 12:00-1:00pm https://www.mobilize.us/ - Jen Bernet, Wilton nhdp_events/event/281723/ Legislative Administration Committee FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 6 JIM BOSMAN - NH REP, D38 As we endure the course of COVID-19, it is important to continue to gather information on COVID-19 has had a profound impact on how it is spreading, identify individuals who are underserved communities in New Hampshire at risk and become infected, and effectively treat and other states. Individuals facing socio- and prevent the disease. economic obstacles experience higher death rates, severe outcomes for those infected with We must ensure that our under-resourced and the virus, sicker caregivers, and exacerbated diverse populations of children and vulnerable mental health issues. communities receive the support and services they deserve. It remains the responsibility of the Individuals from minority groups comprise a Legislature and the Governor to build an large portion of the services industry and economic recovery that lifts all Granite Staters frontline workers. According to the NH equitably. Department of Health and Human Services, racial or ethnic minority communities account - Jim Bosman, Francestown for about 26% of the COVID-19 infections, 21% Fish & Game and Marine Resources Committee of the hospitalizations, and 10% of the deaths while making up only 10% of the population. Persons in long-term care facilities account for NEW 2020 CANDIDATES 82% of the total deaths in NH. STEPHANIE HYLAND - NH REP, D38 Across the country, the majority of nursing assistants in long-term care homes are people of My name is Stephanie Hyland and color. Seventy-five percent of all frontline I own a home in the heart of workers, including people working in Francestown with my husband, healthcare, transit, trucking, and grocery, are Andy. As a former teacher and from minority backgrounds with greater risk of business owner, I am committed exposure to the virus. Nationwide, healthcare to shaping District 38 into a workers make up 26% of the infections and 8% competitive and sustainable place of the hospitalizations. to put down roots.

High unemployment resulting from layoffs and Since teaching in a variety of educational furloughs has led to widespread loss of environments, I have found there is a lack of insurance and poor health outcomes. Over forty routine mental and emotional support for our percent of workers earning less than $40,000 a children. I will work to expand the 10-Year year have lost their jobs since March. Initial Mental Health Plan and advocate for our local efforts by the state to halt evictions, expedite mental health centers to be points of access for access to unemployment benefits, and childcare all community members. for essential workers have ended or will end soon. Along with support services and Medicaid Expansion, another focus for my candidacy is to Many people with mental health disorders or change the unsustainable property tax structure substance addictions have lost their jobs during that is hurting homeowners and not efficiently the pandemic and cannot afford rent at recovery funding our schools. Students’ academics are houses. Rental assistance is essential to keeping suffering due to inadequate state funding, which these businesses open. To date, six recovery is one of the reasons our new families are houses in New Hampshire have closed. moving elsewhere. It is in these areas I hope to use my experience as a special education teacher and mental health advocate to support young families as State Representative. FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 7

actions that will benefit the citizens of New - Stephanie Hyland, Francestown Hampshire. Candidate for NH Rep, D38 As a candidate for state representative in HD1, SUSIE WHITE - NH REP, DISTRICT 1 my goal is to create the space for those This 4th of July, the 244th discussions and bring light to both sides’ birthday of this experiment in concerns. Perhaps we can begin to focus more democratic self-governance, I’ve on what brings us together - the needs of our been thinking about the growing constituents - and less on what divides us. economic, cultural and political divisions in our country, and I’m - Susie White, Hillsborough heartbroken. As a country, we are so much Candidate for NH Rep, D1 better than the darkness and fear predicted by the President at Mount Rushmore. Those four HEIDI’S TAKEAWAY great Presidents - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt - committed themselves There is not much point in itemizing, or even to the creation and perpetuation of our mentioning, the president’s words, actions, democracy known as the United States of failures, illegalities that have proved him daily America. The current President is committed to unfit to be president and daily damaging to our instilling fear and inciting division among our country. It’s now the common knowledge that citizens. he is a reckless, destructive force unleashed on the world. Like Mark Antony, we have witnessed Both at the federal and state levels, the political an evil doer incite “Domestic fury and fierce divide has never been wider. Each side pursues civil strife … cry ‘Havoc’ and let slip the dogs of its agenda and, in the end, very little is war.” accomplished. At the state level, who benefits from this division? Certainly not the citizens of Now we must turn all our attention and efforts New Hampshire, the people our representatives to the election in November. Our candidate, Joe are elected to serve. These divisions must be Biden, has so much more to offer than defeating healed for the state and the country to conquer the current president by winning the election. this pandemic, eliminate systemic racism, and We are incredibly lucky to have Joe Biden. Just develop an economy that enables those willing think what he can do for our country. A true, to work for it to achieve the American dream. blessedly seasoned Democrat, he can swiftly bring rationality, order, and policies that meet As a Massachusetts certified mediator, I the needs of our very complicated and varied volunteered at our local district court on small population. A man of conscience, heart, and claims day. Nearly all cases I mediated settled. judgment, a man who has shown a capacity to When small claims cases were done, I was grow politically, a man who has worked assigned landlord-tenant disputes, and finally effectively with all sorts of Congressional and eviction cases. Within a couple of months of Administrative colleagues, Joe Biden promises my becoming a volunteer, judges began asking if to be the leader we so badly need. Furthermore, I was available for eviction-case mediation. I of all the highly competent Democratic recall that hardly any cases had to be returned candidates during the primary campaign to the judge without settlement or with partial season, he alone has expertise in foreign policy. settlement. Our allies – formerly so loyal, strong, and secure in their relations with us – now regard us with I mention my mediation background because I bafflement and distrust. Our foes – formerly believe we need to create the space for having duly guarded and respectful – now regard us as conversations involving all sides that lead to a nation of diminished, even negligible FDC News Quarterly - Summer 2020 Page 8 importance. We are not safe at home when our BECOME A SUSTAINER alliances are weak, and our enemies disparage We are grateful to all donors to your local us. Joe Biden can set our relations to rights Democratic committees. Your contributions go quickly. far to supporting candidates who, when elected, will work for all of us. We are especially grateful Ever since our country was founded in the late to those who have become sustainers, that is, eighteenth century, romantic thinking has been people who make a regular contribution (the part of the American spirit. Romantic thinking amount is their choice) every month. Do join has its advantages, encouraging ideals, them. To be a sustainer is a joyful, satisfying act, aspirations, and belief in renewal. It also has its well worth your generous effort. liabilities, leading people to believe that we have always been and deserve to be an innocent Send your donations to: people, naturally good, capable of perfection. We never were innocent: slavery in the South Hillsborough Democratic Committee ℅ Gil Shattuck and the hideous crimes committed in the name 571 Center St of religion by Puritans of the North have rooted Hillsborough, NH 03244 us in the same moral quandaries shared by people the world over and have challenged us Antrim Town Democratic Committee PO Box 617 steadily and sincerely to repent and improve. Antrim, NH 03440

Our candidate is not a perfect person. I know no Hancock Town Democratic Committee one who is a perfect person. It is foolish to PO Box 232 Hancock, NH 03449 expect perfection of anyone. Our candidate is an exemplary person. He is unfailingly decent, Greenfield Democratic Committee good-natured, knowledgeable, mature, and PO Box 6 qualified in every way to lead us. We need him. Greenfield, NH 03047 This is no time to be complacent. We need a Bennington Democratic Committee leader who gives evidence of having had an c/o David McKenzie education; who has the intelligence and 131 Gillis Hill Rd Bennington, NH 03442 common sense to respect scientists (whether about diseases or climate change.) Indeed, it is Francestown Democratic Committee incumbent on us to vote, of course, but, ℅ Jim Bosman beginning now, to broadcast our enthusiastic 243 Journeys End Rd Francestown, NH 03043 support for and faith in Joe Biden. Lyndeborough Democrats - Heidi Dawidoff ℅ Sally Curran 954 Mountain Rd Lyndeborough, NH 03082

Greenville Democratic Committee ℅ Hillsborough County DC P.O. Box 659 Milford, NH 03055

Town of Wilton Democratic Committee ℅ John Zavgren 16 W End Hwy Wilton, NH 03086