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The year has come to it’s conclusion. December 6th marks the anniversary of our being sworn into office for the 168th General Court. I wrote a piece earlier in the month for social media entitled ‘One year down, one to go.’ The full piece can be read on my website. I do not want to repeat that which has already been written but this last session has been a honor to serve in.
This month’s legislative business consisted of preparation for the legislation proposed for the next session. As I wrote about in September’s monthly letter, I sponsored three bills and co-sponsored thirty seven. This is set to be a busy bill session again with a lot of legislation having been filed going into next year. You can look over all the LSRs filed by members on the House website.
The bills I have proposed are set to address the inadequate education funding system, ban hair based discrimination, legalize cannabis, enshrine students’ rights to freedom of speech and association while at school; and a whole bunch of other legislation which aims to address the core issues which our citizens are asking the legislature to address. Housing prices, and tenants rights. Rising property taxes. I could go on. This will be the second year of the legislative session. The term of a member of the House is two years. I have not decided whether or not I will run again, because I refuse to allow myself to start campaigning too early. Therefore I am doing everything I can to maximize my time left under the golden dome, working for the people.
I ran to work, not perpetually campaign.

The primary campaign for President has also started to heat up a bit. Despite the pundits who said that nobody would focus on New Hampshire’s primary, the media has still descended on the State to cover our primary tradition. The President made a sore mistake in not participating in the primary. The entire political debate is being held by the Republicans. The Democrats are not holding debates, or encouraging people to participate in the primary. There is a pseudo-grassroots campaign which is telling people to write-in the President. I say pseudo because it is funded by organizations which lead back to Reid Hoffman, Jeffrey Katzenberg and a whole bunch of the Democratic wealthy elite class. Which has a stranglehold on a party which once represented working people. A new candidate entered the race for the Democratic nomination named Dean Phillips. Which made the total number of serious candidates running for the primary, three.
I endorsed and contracted to work under the employ of, Marianne Williamson. She was the one with a team committed to the New Hampshire primary, the message which actually brought policies to the conversation, and the fire necessary to oppose the looming loss in the general election by whomever the Democrats appoint as their candidate. I believe in universal healthcare insurance, through a single payer system. I believe in addressing pollution, by preventing fracking projects such as Willow, recently approved by the President. I believe in a country where every citizen can get a good education, work one job and pay the bills, live in clean and safe homes, with roads and bridges that are strong and well kept. I believe in the promise of this great country. The people yearn for leaders who speak to a positive vision of the future. Especially in this time of such pain and derision.
Marianne is the candidate on my primary ballot who is seriously and eloquently speaking to her vision. In a way that could win a general election. She isn’t a conventional candidate and these aren’t conventional times. If no other strong, elected official has the guts to stand up and speak to these issues, than we should support the person willing to put themselves on the line to do it. My role on the campaign is as a consultant and surrogate. We have a strong team of people from all across the country working together to spread the word of her candidacy. We ran around the State this month holding events in as many places that would have us. It was a privilege running around with someone so dedicated to a nation that works for all it’s citizens and not just the elite few. Marianne is worth checking out if you have not yet.

Peter Leishman endorsed Dean Phillips, but we both agreed that we need a new nominee if we are going to be competitive nationally.
The House had a holiday party in the middle of the month. Peterborough did it’s annual holiday proceedings, including the lantern walk and Christmas tree lighting in Putnam park. My Mother came to the State House for the first time, and I was able to show her around my stomping grounds of the last year. December marked a strong end to a year of work, hard loses, and strong wins. I am more than ready to come back after the new year and fight for the forty pieces of legislation which I am a sponsor of, do the hard work of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee, and represent the interests of the citizens of the State of New Hampshire on the floor.
It was a quieter December at the house. My Mother has flown the coop to travel to California, and then get onto a cruise ship to start working as an Executive Chef for a boat on the Mississippi. My sister is off at school. Our housemate has flown the coop. Leaving me the one with the empty nest for the next year. I have to be honest, as much as I will miss everybody the prospect of a little peace and quiet is certainly not unwelcome. The Christmas season was still full of family, good food, better conversation and those moments of peace which you do your best to savor knowing the drum beat of the next year is around the corner.
Blessings to all as we usher in the year 2024.
Until next month,