Salem Community Patriot 8 - October 22, 2010


More Letters to our Editor


2009-2010 Voting Records for Windham’s Incumbent State


Representatives Might Help You Decide to Vote for on November 2


I was doing some homework on our incumbent 2009 – 2010 State Representatives to try to decide whom I might vote for again in our upcoming November election. I thought I would share some information with you all. I was curious to see how diligent our current Representatives were being about getting up to Concord, NH; being present for every vote while the House of Representatives was in session. The way I look at it, I might not always agree with the way a Representative votes on a particulate bill, but at least I like to know that they are making an effort to get up to Concord and represent me at every vote while the House is in session. I thought that this information might be helpful for you


as you try to decide whom to vote for in the upcoming November 2 election. The first incumbent Representative on the list has missed the most votes; the last Representative on the list has missed the least number of votes. Again, the way I look at it, if you want the job of being a Representative, then you should make the effort to be present for as many of the votes as humanly possible. I am strongly considering not casting my vote for the first six incumbent Representatives due to their high number of absences from the in-session votes. Just my two cents worth; feel free to do with this information as you see fit. • Marilinda Garcia: In 2010, missed 142 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 36 out of 167 House votes


• Anne Priestley: In 2010, missed 86 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 51 out of 167 House votes


• Ronald Belanger: In 2010, missed 59 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 35 out of 167 House votes


• Charles McMahon: In 2010, missed 61 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 10 out of 167 House votes


• Walter Kolodziej: In 2010, missed 55 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 11 out of 167 House votes • Russell Ingram: In 2010, missed 42 out of 244 House


votes; in 2009, missed 8 out of 167 House votes


• Anthony DiFruscia: In 2010, missed 13 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 10 out of 167 House votes


• Robert Elliot: In 2010, missed 14 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, voted 167 times out of 167 House votes


• David Bettencourt: In 2010, missed 8 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 2 out of 167 House votes


• Carolyn Webber: In 2010, voted 244 times out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 10 out of 167 House votes


• Margaret Crisler: In 2010, missed 5 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 3 out of 167 House votes


• Mary Griffin: In 2010, missed 1 out of 244 House votes; in 2009, missed 2 out of 167 House votes


• David Bates: In 2010, voted 244 times out of 244 House votes; in 2009, voted 167 times out of 167 House votes.


Patrick Poore - Windham


Vote for Carolyn Webber for State Representative


Carolyn Webber has been a strong, independent voice for the residents of Windham and Salem. She has been a tireless advocate for the taxpayers of this district while maintaining an impeccable attendance record. Webber has spent her first term in the NH House working on the issues that matter most to working families and proving herself as an effective legislator. Carolyn Webber has a long history of service to the residents of this community. Webber has lived in Windham for over 35 years and most of that time has been spent as a volunteer. She served for six years on the Windham Board of Selectmen, as well as the Board of Adjustment. She has been a volunteer on the Historic District Commission, Depot Advisory Committee, and as a library trustee. Webber is dedicated to serving her community, both here at home as well as in Concord. Personally, I know Carolyn to be caring, trustworthy, and a tireless worker. I know she will continue to be an outstanding State Representative. On November 2, please re-elect Carolyn Webber to the NH House of Representatives.


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Endorsing Carolyn Webber for State Rep


It is with pleasure that I write to endorse the candidacy of Carolyn Webber. My wife and I fully support her re-election to the New Hampshire House and strongly encourage our family, friends, neighbors, and fellow constituents to join us. I have known Carolyn for over 40 years and had the pleasure in the past of serving with her on the Windham Historic District Commission. Carolyn brings an intense passion to her work and is a tireless advocate for the people of our district. She commits to being informed and brings clear thinking and judgment to a very difficult job.


Our country and state continue to struggle with the residual effects of the financial crisis and resulting economic stagnation. Collectively, we have made considerable progress rising from the brink of catastrophic financial collapse. However, much more energy and effort is required to attack the dual problems of employment and sustainable economic growth, as well as the myriad of social and environmental challenges we face. I have confidence in Carolyn’s voice and leadership and look forward to her service in the years to come. Please join us in supporting Carolyn Webber for reelection to the New Hampshire House of Representatives.


Patrick J. Schena - Windham


The Government is All the People


Vote Republican if: You want to go back to eight years of the Bush administration. Can you afford to go to a doctor? Can you afford health insurance? (The Republicans support the insurance companies, not the people. They do not have a conscience. They don’t care if we live or die.)


Do you really think the Republicans are going to get


you a job? They allowed companies to go to China so they could pay cheaper wages. That’s why we have no jobs. They sent Maytag, Fisher Price, and Mattel. Our drugs are made in China, too. They are brainwashing you. They keep repeating the


words jobs, economy, and deficit. The deficit is because of the two wars, not because of President Obama. They want to privatize Social Security and Medicare. It has taken us 70 years to get healthcare. The United States is the only democracy that doesn’t have healthcare. The Republicans decided they would let President Obama fail. There are so many bills being held up in the Senate. They take their salary, though. They also have 100-percent healthcare (their salary is $150,000 or more). President Obama prevented a depression. He deserves


so much credit for saving our country. There no longer is a middle class. Only the poor and only the rich.


Ed Brooks needs to get his facts straight. The stimulus


was used to prevent the loss of teachers, police, and firemen. It was not wasted. Vote Democrat and save our Country.


Carol Skinner - Salem We Deserve Better


This year, as with every year, it is important for voters to find good information to base their candidate choices on. Unfortunately, even local NH politics has fallen into bad habits. The quality of the mailings and ads decreases as we get closer and closer to Election Day. As voters, we need to be smart consumers of information. If something makes you raise your eyebrows, do some research. If it makes your jaw drop, especially arriving the day before the election, you can just toss it in the trash. If it was a valid issue, it would have been brought up long before. We deserve better from our candidates in New Hampshire.


Candidates talk of lower business taxes, no cuts to state aid to towns for stable property taxes, and stable or increased education funding—and maintaining no income and sales tax. You can’t promise tax cuts in a season of decreased revenues and think there will be enough to maintain support to towns (50 percent of the state budget). We deserve better from our candidates— not just words to soothe our wallets. Balancing the next biennial budget will be tough, just like this past one was. And Democrats successfully did it. Yes, stimulus money was used, but that was the intent—spending to support states through the recession. With adjustments to the second year, our budget was balanced, and NH businesses (therefore, state revenue) are doing better than projected, even this past spring. That is why revenues are up and there is a $70 million surplus. Other indicators are showing signs of growth as well, like the new NH unemployment figures out just this morning that show a further drop to 5.5 percent. NH is voted the safest state, the best state to retire or


It’s your turn to choose.


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to raise a child, has one of the lowest tax burdens per resident, and has one of the fastest rates of job growth. Which of these indicators do you want to ‘turn around’ with a change in majority? NH is on the right track with Democratic leadership. The credit rating firms of Fitch, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s all agree, giving NH top ratings. (Assoc. Press, 7/9/2010)


So, go into this next election as informed as you can.


Check out your candidates’ Websites. Then, once they are elected, keep tabs on how they vote. Stay current on the issues and give them feedback—our elected officials deserve better from us, too. Your best vote is an informed vote. Please remember to vote on November 2.


Kristi St. Laurent, Candidate for NH Senate - Windham


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and worked with both Charlie Bass and his opponent Ann Kuster for many years. While I like and respect them both, Charlie is the best candidate for our district. During his previous service as our Congressman, he kept a close connection with his constituents, visiting our town frequently to hear firsthand what our concerns were. His leadership on small business, special education funding, alternative energy, and concern for the environment, combined with his Yankee frugality, make him a good fit for the second district. Annie Kuster is an unabashed liberal whose positions on the issues put her to the left of President Obama. This makes me ask myself, is this the type of representation we need in Congress in such crucial times? No. We need someone who will clean up the mess in Washington and restore fiscal sanity. That’s why I’m voting for Charlie Bass. I hope you’ll join me.


Donna Sytek - Salem Carolyn Webber


for State Representative I am a proud member of New Hampshire’s House of Representatives. I have fought hard to better our communities and our state, and although we are not there yet, so much progress has been made. Don’t fall for misinformation—just look at the facts with me. New Hampshire citizens pay the second lowest taxes in the nation. I have and will continue fighting to protect this. Even the conservative Tax Foundation has New Hampshire as the seventh best state to run a business. We have worked hard to support local businesses here in our state with new tax incentives and great programs. Even when our national economy was unfavorable,


it was my work as a Representative that got our budget balanced. We now have a surplus of $63 million and that is true fiscal responsibility. We have done so without cutting any essential services, putting costs to local communities, or creating new, broad-based taxes. Our economy here in New Hampshire has endured. Our friends, family, and neighbors have weathered these tough conditions, and our state is leading nationally out of the recession. Independent financial rating agencies have even maintained excellent AA bond ratings. I’m ready to go back to work. There is still more to be done for our communities and for our state to keep New Hampshire moving forward. This November, please vote to return me to the House so I can work hard for the people of District 4.


Representative Carolyn Webber - Windham Looming Tax Hikes


In just six months, on January 1, 2011, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and businesses in three great waves. Now remember—$30,000 in 1965 requires $207,000 today to have the same buying power. What is middle class again? On January 1, 2011, here’s what happens ... The First Wave – You


In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted


several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families. These will all expire on January 1, 2011. The top income tax rate on the “rich” will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent. This is also the rate at which two- thirds of small business profits are taxed. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates. The full list of marginal rate hikes is below:


• 10 percent bracket becomes 15 percent • 25 percent bracket becomes 28 percent • 28 percent bracket becomes 31 percent • 33 percent bracket becomes 36 percent • 35 percent bracket becomes39.6 percent The “marriage penalty,” less tax for married couples than singles, will return from the first dollar of income. The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1,000 to $500 per child. Given the $500 credit was from the 1960s, shouldn’t it be $2,000? It certainly pales in relation to costs! The standard deduction for married couples be the same as the single person level. The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut. This year only, there is no death tax—the triple tax on earnings. For those dying on or after January 1, 2011, there is a 55-percent top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes, a business, and a retirement account could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones. Think of the farmers who don’t make much money, but their land, which they purchased years ago, is now worth a lot of money. Their children will have to sell the farm, which may be their livelihood, just to pay the estate tax if they don’t have the cash sitting around to pay the tax. Think about your own family’s assets. Maybe your family owns real estate, or a business that doesn’t make much money, but the building and equipment are worth $1 million. Upon their death, you can inherit the $1 million business tax-free, but if they own a home, stock, cash worth $500K on top of the $1 million business, then you will owe the government $275,000 cash! That’s 55 percent of the value of the assets over $1 million! Do you have that kind of cash sitting around waiting to pay the estate tax? The capital gains tax will rise from 15 percent this


year to 20 percent in 2011. The dividends tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 39.6 percent in 2011. These rates will rise another 3.8 percent in 2013. The Incumbents who delayed voting on this say the “cost” of extending the tax rates we currently have will cost the economy $700 billion. In 2002, when most of these rates became law, there was a brief decrease in tax receipts as a result. However, since 2003, the Government received over $800 billion in increased revenue due to the increased economic activity and the jobs created by small- and medium-sized businesses in particular. The drop in revenue relates to the assault on private sector jobs. This is just the First Wave. Watch for the second and


third waves. The point is—vote out all incumbents and let’s try some democracy for a real change.


Bill Weimar - Salem John Sytek for State Representative


I am John Sytek and I’m a candidate for state representative from Salem and Windham. Some folks may remember me from my previous service as state rep in the ‘90s. Others will know me as a Latin teacher at Salem High for the past 15 years, or as town treasurer since 1997. Additionally, the Salem Historical Society made me a community cable TV “star” when they asked me to host Salem Jeopardy, which is still in reruns. I have met many Salem and Windham residents through my active participation in Salem-Windham Dollars For Scholars over the years. I am running for state representative because I want


to help get our state back on the right track. I recognize that I don’t have all the answers, but I want to work to get state spending under control. As a former trustee of the NH Retirement System, I have a special concern about the unfunded liabilities of the pension system. As a former small business owner, I want to reduce the regulatory and tax burden the state places on all businesses. As a homeowner, I want to prevent the downshifting of state responsibilities that puts pressure on property taxes.


I promise to listen carefully, work diligently, and vote


conservatively. I ask for your vote on November 2. John Sytek - Salem


www.PeterArsenaultDMD.com


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