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The eighth annual Granny D event happened on the 5th of the month. We again walked the six miles from her house to depot square in honor of her over three thousand and two hundred miles of walking she did from January 1st, 1999 to February 29th, 2000. At the ripe age of 88-90 years old. She gave speeches across the country on campaign finance reform, and the importance of fairness in campaigns. She was met by thousands of people across the country, became a media story, and for many, a folk hero. What a blessing to live in a place where civic engagement is so engrained in our people that no matter the generation, we all work for that which we believe.
Jerrianne Boggis gave a speech at the Monadnock Lyceum on the 15th. She runs the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. Which is an organization committed to preserving the history of melanated peoples in the State of New Hampshire’s history, beginning in the 1600s as a Royal province of Great Britain. Everytime Jerriane is given a platform you learn something new. New Hampshire from the very beginning of our history, has had people from all different sorts of backgrounds. Apart of the weave which made the quilt that is New Hampshire. Check out her speech at the Monadnock Lyceum Youtube page.
The parole study committee met on the 10th and the 22nd of the month. We are bringing people in from various parts of the corrections, and court system. From all across the State. Taking account of what each organization does regarding the system of parole, and probation. Conditions given, reasons for recidivism, etc. It is a thorough look into a system which desperately needs it. The Chair of the committee is Senator Becky Whitely from Concord, and my fellow House members are Representative Karen Read and Jennifer Rhodes. We will be meeting through September to formulate a report on what we’ve been charged by the House and Senate to report on. Due to the bill originating in the Senate, our committee is noticed in the Senate calendar. Which releases every other week in July and August, back to weekly in September.
The House and Senate recess wains as September waxes. I have been assigned to our subcommittee on the bail system. The committee retained five of the bills proposed by the House and Senate regarding changes to the bail system. We did this to avoid making rash decisions on a delicate system which has the power to strip citizens of their rights. We do not want to be jailing people because they can’t afford bail, nor do we want a revolving door of offenders. The committee will do it’s best to find a workable compromise to the bills we have before us that works enough for both caucuses.
A return to community. Meeting with constituents and colleagues on potential legislation to be filed during the filing period next month. Discussing the work of the House in the last six months, and what we can do to make it better. I got to meet with students at Saint Ainselms, fly in a bush plane out of Keene with a colleague, witness the grandeur of Acadia national forest with friends - it was a great month of work, summer study, and respite.
What else can we ask for from August?
