House Panel Supports 'Right To Work'
Bill Would Let Employees Decide Whether To Join Labor Unions
On Tuesday, the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee recommended passage of Senate Bill 61, which would prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join a labor union. The 11-9 vote along party lines would make New Hampshire the only Right-To-Work state in the region.
During prior public comment on the bill, there were 10 people speaking in favor and 61 against, while 222 signed in support and 1,703 signed in opposition to the bill.
The bill now heads to the full House for a vote.
Different Budget Priorities
The House Finance Committee on Monday made significant changes to Governor Chris Sununu’s proposed budget, eliminating 314 positions in the Department of Health and Human Services which already is coping with hundreds of unfilled healthcare positions. The reductions are projected to save $50 million over two years.
The committee also eliminated water treatment grants and money from several other areas, such as mental health services for military personnel and safety and internet projects for schools. It would replace much of that with federal money approved in the American Rescue Plan which will provide about $1.5 billion to state and local government.
It added $11 million to the university and community college systems to bring funding to the current level, and tapped $100 million in general fund money in place of money collected through the statewide education property tax for one year.
The committee will meet today to vote on the final amendments the Legislative Budget Assistant and Office of Legislative Services make based on Monday’s decisions.
Community Gardens In Bristol
The Town of Bristol, in partnership with Lakes Region Board of Realtors®, the Pasquaney Garden Club, Minot-Sleeper Library, and the Bristol Sustainability Committee, is providing free raised-bed gardens at the north end of Kelley Park.
Open to members of the community who apply for a garden plot, the program will provide everything they need to get started, including lessons by master gardeners on what to plant, when and how to grow and care for what is planted, and how and when to harvest what is grown. Lisa Ford from the University of New Hampshire Extension Service will provide cooking lessons with new recipes to use what is grown.
Seeds will be provided from Minot-Sleeper Library’s seed library, along with donated tools like hand shovels and gardening gloves.
Bristol’s community gardens are made possible by many community members, including Shaun Lagueux of New England Forestry, Hiltz Excavating, and Kevin LaCasse of New England Family Housing.
Applications for garden plots are available at Bristol Community Services, at 24 Pleasant Street; Tapply-Thompson Community Center, 30 North Main Street.; and the Land Use Office at the Bristol Town Hall, 5 School Street.
Those wishing to donate tools to the program may call the Minot-Sleeper Library at 603-744-3352 or email minotsleeperlibrary@gmail.com.
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