NH State Representative Steven Smith

Someone asked me what we’ve accomplished over the last two years.  The list is pretty extensive.  I’ll post about individual bills that are off the radar, but still significant.  In the meanwhile, here are some big picture highlights:

• Economy and Jobs: Our labor force is at its largest point ever with nearly 10,000 more people working today than at any time since the start of the recession in 2008. The legislature passed 80 bills reducing business and consumer regulatory burdens, creating a more business friendly atmosphere and helping businesses create jobs.
• State Budget: Passed a budget 11% smaller than the prior budget, reducing spending by over $1.2 billion and general fund spending by $536 million, or 18% without raising taxes or fees.
• Education Funding: Passed an education funding formula that maintains existing levels of aid to communities and allows additional targeted aid to needy cities and towns.
• High Taxes: Eliminated or repealed numerous taxes and fees that were increased or enacted by the previous Democratic majority.
• Quality of Education: Established an education credit to be used by students to defray the educational expenses of attending an independent school, increasing competition in education and allowing students to pursue educational opportunities that may have been otherwise unavailable

I’ll be at the Charlestown Selectboard meeting this week, and I’ll be in Lempster and Washington next week.  Click the “Events” tab in the black bar to see my schedule.  If you want me to come out and talk to you, give me a call.

The Upper Valley-Lake Sunapee Planning Commission is holding a Hazardous Waste and Unwanted Medicine Collection in our area, in partnership with local police departments. This collection is free for residents of Goshen and Lempster, and Washington (other area residents may bring materials to the collections but will have to pay a fee).

 The collections will be held from 9 am – noon, at the Sunapee Highway Garage on Route 11 on Saturday, August 18th, and at the Claremont DPW Garage on Grandview Street on Saturday, September 15th.

You can bring your unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications (including veterinary medicine) as follows:

• Medicines in their original containers
• Leave labels on medicine
• Black out patient’s name only
• Do NOT bring sharps or needles (EpiPens are OK)

 Hazardous materials include:

From the Home -Rechargeable and button batteries, oven cleaners, floor and metal polishes, rug and upholstery cleaners, photo chemicals, chemistry sets, drain and toilet cleaners, spot removers

From the Workbench – Oil paint, stains, varnishes, wood preservatives, paint strippers, paint thinners, adhesives.  (No latex paint.)

From the Garden – Pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides), chemical fertilizers, weed killers, moth balls, flea control products.

From the Garage – Fuel, gasoline, kerosene, antifreeze, engine degreaser, brake fluid, car wax, polishes, driveway sealer, roofing tar, swimming pool chemicals.

 If you have an item and you are not sure if it is hazardous, read the label. If there are cautionary statements that read: CAUTION, DANGER, HAZARD or WARNING then any waste should be treated as hazardous waste. Do not bring latex paint, fluorescent bulbs, motor oil or medical waste (aside from unwanted medications as listed above).

Let me know if I can assist in any way, or provide more information,

Steve

Representative Steven Smith

PO Box 624, Charlestown, NH 03603        603-826-5996

nhfirst@gmail.com