Extremists are currently in control of New Hampshire Republican policy-making. Here are the results. Is this what you want in New Hampshire?
■New Hampshire’s first abortion ban in modern history. Abortion is the only medical procedure subject to criminalization for health professionals. There are no exceptions for rape and incest. And Republicans have a bill ready for the next legislative session that prohibits abortion as early as six weeks.
■Republican climate change deniers sit on energy committees and have blocked debate on 13 bills to combat climate change and increase energy efficiency.
■Teachers are threatened with fines and loss of license for teaching the whole truth of American history, both our successes and failures.
■A notarized form is no longer required for religious exemption from school vaccinations.
■Public dollars (taxes) now totaling more than $14 million will be siphoned from state funds meant for public education. Instead, these millions will be spent on vouchers used for tuition at religious and private schools.
■Republicans tabled a bill that prohibited discrimination by religious and private schools that receive taxpayer funding in the voucher program.
■Republican Executive Councilors voted four times to defund three health care centers that provide cancer screening, annual exams, birth control, STD testing and education on safe sex for over 17,000 citizens. They also rejected $27 million in federal funds for support of COVID vaccination efforts.
■Anyone may lawfully enter school property with a gun, open carry or concealed.
■New Hampshire law enforcement officers are prohibited from enforcing federal gun safety laws.
We want a change in direction. Your vote for Democrats is a vote for a modern New Hampshire that stands for women’s health and reproductive rights, quality public education, freedom from discrimination, a clean energy future, strong public health policy and sensible gun laws. We support all local, state, federal and county Democratic candidates in the November election.
The Plainfield Democratic Committee
Amy Lappin, Ron Eberhardt, Michelle Feller-Kopman, Lynn Freeman, Evan Oxenham, Lee Oxenham, Judy Ptak, Laura Steel, Sandy Steel, Dave Taylor, Sue Taylor
Men have done a remarkable job of shifting responsibility for the consequences of sexual intercourse, consensual or not, onto women. If pregnancy results, the man may simply walk away smiling with male pride. The woman remains behind and responsible.
In many states, the woman is under a binding legal obligation to see her pregnancy through to birth and to raise the child. This burden is not socially or religiously imposed. It is imposed by law. The legal burden falls completely on the woman. “It is a shame that (rape) happens, but there’s an opportunity for that (13 year old) woman, no matter how young or old she is, to make a determination about what she’s going to do to help that life be a productive human being.” (Ohio State Rep. Schmidt). The man has no such “opportunity.” The man is outside these statutory schemes.
If a physician wants to help, if a friend or family member wants to help a pregnant woman get to a state where abortion is legal, these Good Samaritans face criminal and financial liability. The woman stands alone.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost of raising a child to age 18 in 2022 will be $272,049. This cost is the mother’s “opportunity.”
In Mississippi, the home of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Speaker of the House killed a proposal to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. Twelve months was too expensive, too generous for both mother and the child. The mother has full opportunity and responsibility for the entirety of the child’s life. Why give her more?
How did we, women and men, come to this? “I care about the children who are forced into adulthood because of laws made up by a legislature full of men so they can take a victory lap and feel good about it.” (South Carolina Sen. Shealy)
Doug Moore
Sharon
Re-elect Cinde Warmington
New Hampshire’s Executive Council has a crucial role in our state, but not many Granite Staters know the power these five elected officials wield in regards to access to health care.
The Executive Council is an elected group of five people, each representing approximately 20% of New Hampshire’s population. These five councilors vote on all federal and state contracts over $10,000, vote on the governor’s nominations of judges, and vote on the governor’s appointments of commissioners and department heads. Councilors are elected every two years, at the same time as the governor, meaning all five are up for re-election this year.
This year’s redistricting process changed Plainfield’s Executive Council district from District One (represented by Councilor Joe Kenney since 2021) to District 2 (represented by Councilor Cinde Warmington since 2021). Councilor Kenney repeatedly voted against funding reproductive health providers Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Equality Health Center, and Lovering Health Center. He’s voted four times in the past year to reject their contracts and jeopardize access to birth control, STI testing, cancer screenings, and more for low-income and uninsured Granite Staters in the New Hampshire Family Planning Program.
Councilor Warmington is a reproductive and sexual health access champion! She has been the sole vote in support of family planning funding for reproductive health centers four times and has used her voice to educate and advocate for reproductive rights. I’m urging you to vote to re-elect Councilor Warmington to represent us in District Two this election cycle!
Fiona Greenough
Meriden