Rep. Elect Kathy Lauer-Rago has the following going into newspapers in the upcoming week, so I thought I would post it here beforehand.
To the Residents of Franklin and Hill,
Thank you so much for your vote and support on November 2nd. I will do my very best to represent Franklin and Hill with excellence.
I do not take this responsibility lightly and will work hard to bring common sense values back to the Statehouse as I represent you.
If there is any issue you wish to discuss with me please know that I am always available. You can contact me by email at kathyrago4nh@yahoo.com, my website atwww.kathyrago4nh.webs.com or the contact information below.
Thank you again. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!
Kathy Lauer-Rago
Representative - Elect
53 Maple Square
Franklin, NH
934-8223
Showing posts with label TEA Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TEA Party. Show all posts
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Lauer-Rago's New Website
Kathy Lauer-Rago, who's running for State Representative, has a new website up:
http://www.kathyrago4nh.webs.com/
Check it out.
http://www.kathyrago4nh.webs.com/
Check it out.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Budget Passes Again
No surprise there -- the whole thing was basically to just correct an oversight made the first time. And again, Mayor Ken Merrifield tried to veto the measure, which again was overridden. His stance being that the City Council really didn't have the authority to override the cap under the circumstances.
Just remember to vote out the members up for re-election this year, and keep the motivation for the TEA Party alive and well in Franklin.
Budget Committee meetings are coming up starting this month. Like I said last time, there's talk of the council overriding the cap again, so make sure you go to the meetings to see what's going on.
Just remember to vote out the members up for re-election this year, and keep the motivation for the TEA Party alive and well in Franklin.
Budget Committee meetings are coming up starting this month. Like I said last time, there's talk of the council overriding the cap again, so make sure you go to the meetings to see what's going on.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Budget Is Getting Voted On AGAIN
City Council had voted in this budget last summer, but they have to vote on it again because they didn't advertise the budget amounts as required by law, so they have to do it again.
March 22nd, 6:30PM. Public input is encouraged.
I'm planning on being there. Make sure you are, too.
March 22nd, 6:30PM. Public input is encouraged.
I'm planning on being there. Make sure you are, too.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Candidate Info: Jeffrey Whitney
He is running for the Ward 3 seat. Here is the letter he sent out to his constituents.
You can contact Whitney at WhitneyforFranklin@yahoo.com or at 934-9173.
My name is Jeff Whitney and I am running for City Council in Ward 3 and I ask for your vote on October 6th. I moved to Franklin six years ago because I thought this was a great place to raise my son -- and also because of Franklin’s long-standing Tax Cap.
I believe that city government should have to apply the same principles to its budget that we apply to our personal budgets. Our municipality should operate within its means. That’s what the Tax Cap accomplishes --- It forces our elected officials to be fiscally responsible without overburdening the taxpayer.
During the recent budget deliberations, the City Council decided to break the Tax Cap….even while a hundred citizens like me stood up and voiced their opposition. The Council DID NOT listen. In fact, when the City Council was presented with a petition one month later to reconsider the tax over-ride, they still DID NOT listen!
Enough is enough!
You can contact Whitney at WhitneyforFranklin@yahoo.com or at 934-9173.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Election is October 6th
Who are YOU going to vote for?
The scorecard:
Mayor
Ken Merrifield -- considered an up and comer in the Republican Party and current mayor. Defended the tax cap earlier this year by vetoing the current budget twice, while the city council overrode him.
Clayton Gassett -- former mayor and City Council member. Not convinced of the "effectiveness" of the tax cap.
Our Support: Ken Merrifield, because of his undying defense of the tax cap.
Ward 1
Bob Sharon -- Current city council member. Wasn't at the two meetings where they were discussing this because of health issues.
Robert Morin, Jr., Marty Russo, Rosemary Mellon -- I don't know enough about them. Anyone know?
Our Support: Bob Sharon. After having talked with him briefly awhile back, I know that he wouldn't have voted for this if he had been able to make it to the meeting.
Ward 2
Glen Feener -- current city councilman. Was the only city councilman to vote against the current budget.
Brian Boynton -- Don't know much about him, either.
Our Support: Glen Feener
Ward 3
Current city councilman Jeffrey Rabinowitz isn't running again (he voted for the budget this year), so who will try to take his place?
Scott Clarenbach -- retired former Fire Chief for Franklin.
Jeffrey Whitney -- Again, don't know much about him -- can anyone fill in the gaps?
Our Money: Anyone but Rabinowitz. I don't know enough about either of these candidates to make a determination either way at this point.
The scorecard:
Mayor
Ken Merrifield -- considered an up and comer in the Republican Party and current mayor. Defended the tax cap earlier this year by vetoing the current budget twice, while the city council overrode him.
Clayton Gassett -- former mayor and City Council member. Not convinced of the "effectiveness" of the tax cap.
Our Support: Ken Merrifield, because of his undying defense of the tax cap.
Ward 1
Bob Sharon -- Current city council member. Wasn't at the two meetings where they were discussing this because of health issues.
Robert Morin, Jr., Marty Russo, Rosemary Mellon -- I don't know enough about them. Anyone know?
Our Support: Bob Sharon. After having talked with him briefly awhile back, I know that he wouldn't have voted for this if he had been able to make it to the meeting.
Ward 2
Glen Feener -- current city councilman. Was the only city councilman to vote against the current budget.
Brian Boynton -- Don't know much about him, either.
Our Support: Glen Feener
Ward 3
Current city councilman Jeffrey Rabinowitz isn't running again (he voted for the budget this year), so who will try to take his place?
Scott Clarenbach -- retired former Fire Chief for Franklin.
Jeffrey Whitney -- Again, don't know much about him -- can anyone fill in the gaps?
Our Money: Anyone but Rabinowitz. I don't know enough about either of these candidates to make a determination either way at this point.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
This is Actually a Pretty Good Idea...
What do people think?
In Northern Colorado, Rep. Betsy Markey (D) is refusing to give out any schedule in regards to holding a town meeting for her constituents to get together and talk with her about the health care bill. So some people got together and decided to hold their own town meeting regardless of whether she shows or not. They sent out the invitation to her. And they plan on having an empty chair there in case she does show.
Considering that our own representatives are refusing to hold town meetings, I think this would be a great idea.
In Northern Colorado, Rep. Betsy Markey (D) is refusing to give out any schedule in regards to holding a town meeting for her constituents to get together and talk with her about the health care bill. So some people got together and decided to hold their own town meeting regardless of whether she shows or not. They sent out the invitation to her. And they plan on having an empty chair there in case she does show.
Considering that our own representatives are refusing to hold town meetings, I think this would be a great idea.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Petition Brought to City Council
Sorry I didn't get this in sooner -- busy week for school! Plus I have an assignment that I have to get done by tonight, so I wanted to make sure this got posted now.
There was a city council meeting this week. And the Citizen was there.
Petition calls for review of Franklin budget
Because of school I completely flaked on going to the meeting myself. But read the article to get an idea of what happened.
There was a city council meeting this week. And the Citizen was there.
Petition calls for review of Franklin budget
Because of school I completely flaked on going to the meeting myself. But read the article to get an idea of what happened.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sununu and the Charge To The Congress
I had the good fortune to be able to go to a house party last night where former Governor and now chair of the NH Republican Party John H. Sununu was speaking. Hubby and Christopher came along with me (although not for long -- Christopher started getting fussy, so hubby left early to bring him home while I stayed behind). My son has now met more politicians by the age of 1 than I ever have in my lifetime. :-)
Anyway, there was a purpose to Sununu's appearance last night: to get the GOP energized. The goal for next year: to get the Democrats out of the governorship and the congress and give the state back to the people.
I'm just going to repeat the talking points that Sununu pointed out.
1) Since Sununu has been out of office int he mid 1990s, the Pew Charitable Trusts has been giving increasingly bad grades to New Hanpshire's Quality of state services, going frrom a C in 1999 to a D+ in 2008.
2) Spending has increased under the Democrats in charge. This year, despite Governor Lynch touting spending cuts, the budget actually includes 6 to 10% increases in addition to the 17.5% increase in last year's budget. Other states have managed to decrease their budgets by 5% over the last two budget cycles.
3) 38 new and increased taxes and fees are included in the budget, including taxes on small business (LLC Tax), campsite tax and gambling winnings as well as increased taxes on tobacco, vehicle registration fees, condo and land sales fees, boat registration fees, and business profit tax expansion.
4) In addition, more taxes may be coming down the pipline, including a new tax on mortgage refinancing, income tax on capital gains, estate tax, sales tax on entertainment, and increases of the gas tax and business enterprise tax.
5) The New Hampshire Retirement System for state employees (which includes teachers, firefighters, police, municipal and general state employees) has built up a huge unfunded liability leaving employee's retirement security in question. Since 1996, it has grown to a total unfunded liability of $7 billion. The towns are responsible for 30 to 35% of the burden and will have to pay the balance from local property taxes.
6) The local Democrats are counting on one time stimulus money to pay for this, but they are also trying to take money from the Joint Underwriters Association (JUA), a private malpractice fund owned by doctors, to the tune of $110 million to pay for this, too. The deficit not covered by revenues in this budget total $500 million.
We should expect responsibility at the local level, and we should expect it at the state level. Although this blog will be working on getting out the issues within Franklin, we shouldn't forget the fact that the state level is screwed up, as well, and we should work towards getting the word out that way.
Anyway, there was a purpose to Sununu's appearance last night: to get the GOP energized. The goal for next year: to get the Democrats out of the governorship and the congress and give the state back to the people.
I'm just going to repeat the talking points that Sununu pointed out.
1) Since Sununu has been out of office int he mid 1990s, the Pew Charitable Trusts has been giving increasingly bad grades to New Hanpshire's Quality of state services, going frrom a C in 1999 to a D+ in 2008.
2) Spending has increased under the Democrats in charge. This year, despite Governor Lynch touting spending cuts, the budget actually includes 6 to 10% increases in addition to the 17.5% increase in last year's budget. Other states have managed to decrease their budgets by 5% over the last two budget cycles.
3) 38 new and increased taxes and fees are included in the budget, including taxes on small business (LLC Tax), campsite tax and gambling winnings as well as increased taxes on tobacco, vehicle registration fees, condo and land sales fees, boat registration fees, and business profit tax expansion.
4) In addition, more taxes may be coming down the pipline, including a new tax on mortgage refinancing, income tax on capital gains, estate tax, sales tax on entertainment, and increases of the gas tax and business enterprise tax.
5) The New Hampshire Retirement System for state employees (which includes teachers, firefighters, police, municipal and general state employees) has built up a huge unfunded liability leaving employee's retirement security in question. Since 1996, it has grown to a total unfunded liability of $7 billion. The towns are responsible for 30 to 35% of the burden and will have to pay the balance from local property taxes.
6) The local Democrats are counting on one time stimulus money to pay for this, but they are also trying to take money from the Joint Underwriters Association (JUA), a private malpractice fund owned by doctors, to the tune of $110 million to pay for this, too. The deficit not covered by revenues in this budget total $500 million.
We should expect responsibility at the local level, and we should expect it at the state level. Although this blog will be working on getting out the issues within Franklin, we shouldn't forget the fact that the state level is screwed up, as well, and we should work towards getting the word out that way.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Waiting for Video And Some Other Thoughts
I am waiting for video of Mayor Ken Merrifield's appearance on 2 Joes Live out of Manchester. Once that is up, I will be posting about it.
In the meantime, this site has now been mentioned by the generous guys at Granite Grok (whose show Meet The New Press I've been on twice, and headed for a third time at the next Blogapalooza once that's scheduled). They mention this blog as another group starting up. That wasn't the original intention, but it could work that way if we have enough people interested in the city to do so. And we are also on the blogroll of the NH Tea Party Coalition. Thanks, guys!
Here is my appearance last week on Meet The New Press where we talked about the Franklin city councilor's decision to override the mayor's veto: Part 1 and Part 2.
In the meantime, this site has now been mentioned by the generous guys at Granite Grok (whose show Meet The New Press I've been on twice, and headed for a third time at the next Blogapalooza once that's scheduled). They mention this blog as another group starting up. That wasn't the original intention, but it could work that way if we have enough people interested in the city to do so. And we are also on the blogroll of the NH Tea Party Coalition. Thanks, guys!
Here is my appearance last week on Meet The New Press where we talked about the Franklin city councilor's decision to override the mayor's veto: Part 1 and Part 2.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to the second offshoot from ConChrist!
As most of you know, I'm from Franklin, NH. It's a nice enough city, albeit a little barren these days. One of the benefits of living in Franklin is that the city has a tax cap. For those of you who don't know what that is, a tax cap means that the city can not raise taxes above the cost of living. It's been in place for the past 20 years. Until this year.
Last Monday, the city councilors voted to ignore the tax cap in order to correct a revenue mistake -- the projected amount of money wasn't coming in. So in order to correct the mistake, instead of cutting the budget to make up for the shortfall, they decided to break the cap for the first time in 20 years.
At this point this rests fully on the shoulders of the city councilmen who voted for this -- the only ones on the panel that night that voted against it were Ward 2 councilor Glen Feener (my councilor), and Mayor Ken Merrifield, who vetoed the budget twice, and even tried to offer solutions to avoid the cap being broken.
One of the items they decided to cut: money to the Community Action Program, which runs most of the assistance programs in the city, which is where my husband and I go for WIC, food pantry, and fuel assistance. (considering that Franklin currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the city right now, wouldn't it be a good idea to fund THAT program?) Another program they cut funds to: Franklin Business Industrial and Development Corporation, which is in charge of bringing businesses in to Franklin.
What they didn't cut: 10 computer workstations, totaling $23,000. The first payment on a mandatory $850,000 recycling center for the city over 7 years. Four vacant positions for $316,000. An office cleaning contract for $80,000.
And I don't even know currently what's in the school budget, but judging from this it's scary.
Anyway, the point of this separate blog is to dissect issues within Franklin. Right now it's how it pertains to the budget, but also other matters as they come up that are of importance to the city. Because a TEA Party isn't all about taxes. It's about smart budgeting, and knowing where to spend the money where it's needed and hold off on things that aren't.
Believe me, I will be keeping a closer eye on this.
As most of you know, I'm from Franklin, NH. It's a nice enough city, albeit a little barren these days. One of the benefits of living in Franklin is that the city has a tax cap. For those of you who don't know what that is, a tax cap means that the city can not raise taxes above the cost of living. It's been in place for the past 20 years. Until this year.
Last Monday, the city councilors voted to ignore the tax cap in order to correct a revenue mistake -- the projected amount of money wasn't coming in. So in order to correct the mistake, instead of cutting the budget to make up for the shortfall, they decided to break the cap for the first time in 20 years.
At this point this rests fully on the shoulders of the city councilmen who voted for this -- the only ones on the panel that night that voted against it were Ward 2 councilor Glen Feener (my councilor), and Mayor Ken Merrifield, who vetoed the budget twice, and even tried to offer solutions to avoid the cap being broken.
One of the items they decided to cut: money to the Community Action Program, which runs most of the assistance programs in the city, which is where my husband and I go for WIC, food pantry, and fuel assistance. (considering that Franklin currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the city right now, wouldn't it be a good idea to fund THAT program?) Another program they cut funds to: Franklin Business Industrial and Development Corporation, which is in charge of bringing businesses in to Franklin.
What they didn't cut: 10 computer workstations, totaling $23,000. The first payment on a mandatory $850,000 recycling center for the city over 7 years. Four vacant positions for $316,000. An office cleaning contract for $80,000.
And I don't even know currently what's in the school budget, but judging from this it's scary.
Anyway, the point of this separate blog is to dissect issues within Franklin. Right now it's how it pertains to the budget, but also other matters as they come up that are of importance to the city. Because a TEA Party isn't all about taxes. It's about smart budgeting, and knowing where to spend the money where it's needed and hold off on things that aren't.
Believe me, I will be keeping a closer eye on this.
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