Who's interested in a NH law for lobster diving?

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NH State Rep Joe Duarte needs our help……

The bill was referred to the HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE (no idea why) and the Chair of that Committee, Susan Almy of Lebanon, NH voted against the bill. She is going to hope to kill it out of her committee and send it back to the House Floor with a recommendation to kill it. WE NEED DIVERS to contact all the members of the House Ways and Means Committee at this email address and let them know that they are good responsible people who appreciate the environment and respect lobstermen etc etc etc. Make sure (if you send individual emails) you thank them if they voted YES and ask for specific reasons why IF THEY VOTED NO.

Here is the email address that goes to ALL committee people at once. HouseWaysandMeansCommittee@leg.state.nh.us
Here are the specific members and how they voted……

Chairman: Susan Almy(d) NAY susan.almy@comcast.net
V. Chairman: Patricia Lovejoy(d) YEA patty.lovejoy@leg.state.nh.us
Clerk: William Butynski(d) Not voting (took a walk) williambutynski@aol.com
Frank Davis (d) NAY fpdavis@comcast.net
Gilman Shattuck (d) YEA
John Kelley (d) YEA
Mary Cooney (d) YEA
Richard Ames (d) YEA
David Karrick (d) YEA
Thomas Schamberg (d) YEA
Harry Young (d) YEA
Norman Major (r) YEA
Mary Griffin (r) YEA
David Hess (r) YEA
Frank Sapareto (r) YEA
Jordan Ulery (r) YEA
Russell Ober (r) YEA
Patrick Abrami (r) YEA
Gary Azarian (r) Excused
Laurie Sanborn (r) YEA

If you want individual emails for these people….. you can go to this page and click on the individuals name and get their email or mailing address or phone numberHouse of Representatives

 

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Update from Joe Duarte, NH State house rep, primary sponsor of HB259


Update Thursday testified for our bill everything seemed to go well
The floor vote was terrific 303 to 66 both sides of the aisle were on board

Thursday meeting with Ways and means committee was favorable
Since on the floor vote 16 Yes 3 no of the committee members were in our corner
so I felt confident.


Now we need to plan for the Senate and show support from diving community to finish this project

Our Opposition is there in force.

It is crucial for all of us to show up in force and overpower our challengers
So I am asking you to line up our Divers and let them know this is our time
We can not lose our momentum.

We must show strength our Divers Must find the time to do this
I will keep you posted soon as I know the Senate committee

Joe Duarte
NH House

 

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Update from Greg Hill


It appears from the Senate Calendar for next week we are NOT on the agenda at the committee level. Greg contacted the clerk for Chairman Prescott and he honestly didn't know when it was coming up. Stay tuned. In mean time, continue to write/call your NH State Senators to gain their support.




New Hampshire Senate

 

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Lobster Bill hearing date set!! Wed 10:00 AM
The hearing will be in the Legislative Office Building (behind the statehouse) room 101.
Address of State house: State House Plaza 107 N Main St Concord, NH 03301

Please come show support!
Good luck!

 

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Reminder, hearing is tomorrow Wedsnesday. Please show support!!!

Lobster Bill hearing date set!! Wed 10:00 AM
The hearing will be in the Legislative Office Building (behind the statehouse) room 101.
Address of State house: State House Plaza 107 N Main St Concord, NH 03301

Please come show support!
Good luck!

 

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Quick update from those that were present at hearing. Thank You to all that came to show their support. We had good diver turn out


Hearing went well. Same old objections from commercial lobstermen. Exaggerations abound. For the most part the divers that showed up and spoke were able to counter everything they threw at us. Last year, this bill died in committee, this year, we made it past committee. The committee will vote probably after the days hearings but it all depends on the schedules of all the Senators. They might vote first if any of the Senators have additional commitments.


Public is welcome to sit in on meeting but won't take any testimony but they will consider any written testimony sent in this week if any of you forgot anything or didn't write Senators. Those that did, please contact them, thank them for their time today and suggest one or two SHORT thoughts or materials..


Please everyone send another email or call your Senator. Encourage your Senator to pressure the committee to at least bring it to a full vote in the full Senate.

 

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Not good news. Hb259 was voted on in committee in the senate. They recommended to kill it or ITL.( Inexpedient to Legislate)


Senator Prescott was not interested in passing it, No interest at all. The bill still goes to floor but recommendation of 4 to 0 from Committee head is hard to overcome.
Frustrating. Not one of Senators responded to my notes or my offer to meet to discuss.