NH State Representative Steven Smith

Reopening – Fact and Fiction

There has been, understandably, a rise in frustration with the restrictions we are living under. Unfortunately, this has led to social media conjecture being regurgitated as fact. The biggest whopper I saw this past week was “Florida and Georgia opened with zero problems”. This is not even close to being true. Most states are doing what we are doing, figuring out responsible steps to get reopened that are appropriate for our state. What works for NYC is probably not going to be necessary here. You can get a broad view of the state of states at Governors perform balancing act to reopen US as nationwide Covid-19 death toll inches toward 90,000

This was the case concentration looks like nationwide, and why we are being cautious.

~ Steve

UNH Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Safeguarding Animal and Public Health in State, Region

As the world continues to focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Hampshire should not let its guard down about additional diseases of potential importance to the state and nation. Pathologists and personnel at the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire continue to safeguard animal and public health by delivering essential services to the state and region. The lab provides timely diagnosis of animal diseases and remains on constant lookout for emerging and foreign animal diseases that could further threaten agriculture or public health. Read more at https://colsa.unh.edu/nhaes/article/2020/05/nhvdl

Economic Re-Opening Task Force

• Monday, May 18,  1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
• Call-In Information: 1-800-356-8278 or 1-857-444-0744
• Pin: 194499 or 600744

Click to access covid-19-update-05172020.pdf

Contact

I have received some messaging via Facebook. Please do not do that. First, they are too difficult to track for complying with RSA 91-A. Second, if we haven’t corresponded before, your message may be filtered and I may never see it. Email is the best way. If I receive multiple questions on the same topic, I can send the answer to everyone at once.

• Steve – nhfirst@gmail.com or 603-826-5940

Churches

I received some inquiries about why the “government closed churches”. I’m not sure how this rumor got started, but it is not true. The government did not close churches. They are, however, under the large gathering restriction. They can hold services with 10 people in attendance and stream the service. If a church has 100 members, the church can hold 10 services, 10 people at a time, etc. There are restrictions and inconveniences, but there are options. Personally, I think that a formula for attendee density should be arrived at. Ten people in St. Patrick’s Cathedral is different than 10 people at the Congregational Church. We’ll get there. ~ Steve

Businesses

Plans to reopen NH are being conducted not by the Governor’s staff, but through meetings with stakeholders of the various industries. There is a lot of public sentiment either way on how to proceed, but the truth is that plans are being made in conjunction with the business owners. They have a wide range of sentiments ranging from “let us open now” to “we’re not ready yet and need safe harbor rules in place”. If you are in business and want to participate, let me know or begin dialing in to the GOFERR meetings. There also other commissions that I can connect you with. ~ Steve

County Budget

Budget review is happening now. To hear for yourself, you can join in a variety of ways

Sullivan County, NH Board of Commissioners Business Meeting and EFC session.

Monday, May 18, 2020, 12:00 PM

Open to public through Zoom

• Phone 1-312-626-6799
• Webinar ID 914 0997 6740
• Passcode 731655

GOFERR Meeting of the Legislative Advisory Board

Monday, May 18, 1:00 PM

• Call-in: 800-356-8278
• PIN: 389388

Anyone having difficulties connecting to the conference should call: 603-271-7840

Pursuant to RSA 91-A:2, this meeting is open to the public.

https://www.goferr.nh.gov/

GOFERR Stakeholder Advisory Board

Tuesday, MAY 19. 1:00 PM

Meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Board

• Call-in: 800-356-8278
• PIN: 194655

Pursuant to RSA 91-A:2, this meeting is open to the public.

https://www.goferr.nh.gov/

WMUR: Employment official Richard Lavers answers questions

Deputy New Hampshire Employment Security Commissioner Richard Lavers answered questions from viewers during News 9 at 5:30.

• Link: Part 1
• Link: Part 2
• Link: Part 3

Union Leader: Closely watched model now predicts more NH deaths 

“An independent health research center has sharply increased its predictions for deaths in New Hampshire, as the Granite State experiences its worst run of COVID-19 deaths.

Granite State deaths could run about 10 a day the rest of May and could go as high as 16, according to May 12 projections from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. That is up significantly from last Friday, when the center projected an upper range of seven daily deaths.”

Link: Closely watched model now predicts more NH deaths

Click to access covid-19-update-05162020.pdf

 

Governor Sununu announced $595 million in new funding commitments for areas and industries across New Hampshire affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of an initial $400 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to provide emergency financial relief to New Hampshire small for-profit businesses due to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19.  However, in order to provide the most effective relief as quickly as possible, New Hampshire small businesses desiring to obtain relief will first be required to provide information concerning their possible COVID-19-related lost revenues and receipt of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans or any other federal relief.  This information will be used to determine appropriate relief criteria and amounts to meet the needs of eligible small businesses, including whether the initial $400 million is appropriate or needs to be changed.  In order to be eligible, a business must have its principal place of business in New Hampshire and must have generated less than $20 million in revenue during the 2019 tax year.  In addition, healthcare, childcare, and agriculture businesses will not be eligible for the program, as those businesses are or will be addressed through other programs.

To get more details go to: https://www.goferr.nh.gov/covid-expenditures/main-street-relief-fund

• Healthcare Relief Fund: $50 M
• Non-Profit Relief Fund: $60 M
• Child Care: $25 M
• Main Street Relief Fund: $400 M
• Farm and Food: $15 M
• Public Higher Education Relief Fund: $15 M
• Business Finance Authority Safe Harbor Forgivable Loans: $30 M

The presentation can be found at the link below

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/goferr-roadmap.pdf

Governor Sununu signed Executive Order 2020-09, which is the third extension of the State of Emergency declared in Executive Order 2020-04.

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/2020-09.pdf

GOFERR Meeting of the Legislative Advisory Board

• Monday, May 18, 1:00 PM
• Call-in: 800-356-8278
• PIN: 389388

Anyone having difficulties connecting to the conference should call: 603-271-7840

Pursuant to RSA 91-A:2, this meeting is open to the public.

https://www.goferr.nh.gov/

GOFERR Stakeholder Advisory Board

Tuesday, MAY 19. Meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Board

• 1:00 PM
• Call-in: 800-356-8278
• PIN: 194655

Pursuant to RSA 91-A:2, this meeting is open to the public.

https://www.goferr.nh.gov/

WMUR: Conway holds town election with absentee, drive-thru voting

“A first-of-its-kind town election day took place Tuesday in Conway. To comply with COVID-19 guidelines, town officials successfully got about 1,000 people to vote absentee. Drive-thru voting was also available for the few hundred people who showed up at the polls.”

Link: Conway holds town election with absentee, drive-thru voting