For more information, e-mail me or give a call: 863-5663 (Judy) or 863- 2976 (Phyllis).

Thanks for considering this. You're in for a treat!

I wanted to provide a bit of a recap of the 2011 legislative session before looking ahead.  Much of last year was focused on the state budget - and gun issues too, of course. Since the budget reflects the state’s priorities, that fiscal focus was appropriate - particularly in what continues to be challenging economic times.   Unfortunately, in my opinion, the state chose to look only at one side of the balance sheet: reductions in expenditures.  The state also actually reduced revenues by repealing or reducing a number of fees, including the vehicle registration surcharge as well as the cigarette tax. Despite the stated expectation that reducing this tax would increase sales, the cost from wholesalers has gone up and the revenue to stores (and the state) has come in below expectations.

As a result, funding to any number of areas was impacted.  For example:

• Funds to the state university system were reduced - by approximately 50% - putting NH among the lowest in terms of state support for its universities. 
• Virtually all state agencies saw cuts, including the Department of Transportation, which was required to reduce the number of road miles maintained - in an era of already deteriorating infrastructure.  The reduction in funds to the DOT even threatened the plowing resources.
• Reimbursements to hospitals across the state were cut for the services these hospitals provided to people without insurance.  This, along with unsustainably low Medicaid reimbursement rates, compelled several hospitals not only to reduce their workforces but also to file suit against the state. 

The 2012 legislative session will get underway in January, and I anticipate a number of issues will garner considerable public attention, including proposals for a constitutional amendment to allow for targeted education aid and a repeal of the recently passed same sex marriage law. 

On a personal note, it has been a time of transition and celebration for me this fall.  As you might know, I was married, moved to a new home in Plainfield, and started in a new position at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.  (I don’t imagine the last comes as a surprise in light of the coverage in the Valley News about this change over the past month.)  I believe that this is a unique opportunity to join an organization committed to advancing health care, which, I believe, is an extension of the advocacy in which I have been engaged over the previous five years I have served in the Legislature.

As always, please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

2. Establish a volunteer program to:

A. Provide rides to individual Grantham citizens in need of transportation to a medical appointment or an occasional shopping trip for such things as groceries or prescription drugs, or other errands etc.

B. Offer home care with a family member for a few hours while a caregiver engages in similar activities or simply needs a respite.

Heddy and Ted Fantl, assisted by Ebba McArt, have agreed to coordinate this volunteer activity. They will contact relevant town officials, coordinate and organize the list of volunteers willing to help out and maintain continuity in the program. They will be the only ones who will contact you should you wish to help out. Town Officials will provide only their names as contacts. They, in turn, will draw from a list of volunteers so that no one Democratic volunteer is overly burdened. If you would like to sign up to volunteer for either of the two activities, or if you have any questions, please contact Heddy Fantl at hlfantl@gmail.com.

Robert Katz
Treasurer, Grantham Democratic Town Committee
PO Box 564
Grantham, NH 03753

Make check payable to Grantham Democratic Town Committee, these contributions are not tax deductible.