This coming week, two of my bills were heard in their respective committees.

Personal Rapid Transit

I’ve been watching the growing debate over whether to invest your tax dollars in a rail project over in Nashua with great trepidation.   Trains are coming up on their 200th birthday.   The financial viability of passenger rail died about 40 years ago.  Why anyone would want to sink more of your money into a failed system is beyond me.  Smaller, lightweight solar powered systems can be built that suit our needs, and that are self sustaining.  I hope my bill is heard favorably so that we begin dragging NH into the new millenium of transportation technology.  The hearing is on Tuesday.

Employee Protections

On Wednesday, I’ll be before the Labor Committee presenting my bill to reform the unemployment appeals hearings process.  This bill will require that an employer bring some sort of proof (documentation, witnesses, etc.) to prove misconduct at an appeals hearing.  This provision only applies after an employee has been let go, and after they have been denied unemployment compensation.  I realize that despite the departments best efforts, we’re going to get these decisions wrong now and then.  This bill is an attempt to ensure that when we are wrong, the employee gets their checks.