Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Todays article on SB-27....2/23/11

Rusty · 03-02-2011, 06:19 AM

So we are "hen-pecked old people with nothing better to do"!!!!

I was trying to stay out of this but Mr. Flannery has forced me back into it. Why would he say something like that about well respected people of the Lakes Region?

This article is in today's LDS:

New Lakes Region senator's vote seen as pivotal in fight over boat speed limits on the Broads

By Michael Kitch
Mar 02, 2011 12:00 am

CONCORD —As the Senate Transportation Committee considers a bill to lift the speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, freshman Senator Jim Forsythe (R-Strafford), who represents the waterfront municipalities of Belknap County, finds himself at the center of a dispute that has roiled the Legislature for the past six years.

Last year, after five years of debate, the Legislature enacted legislation limiting speeds to 45 miles per hour in daylight and 30 mph. after dark This year, the controversy was rekindled when, at the request of Safe Boaters of New Hampshire (SBONH) , a bill — Senate Bill 27 — was introduced to replace the specific speed limits with the standard of "reasonable and prudent."

Before the bill reached the committee SBONH agreed to change the proposed legislation to maintain the speed limits everywhere but the Broads, the expanse of open water in the center of the lake, where the "prima facie" limit would be 55 mph. But, when the committee heard the bill last week the Winnipesaukee Family Alliance for Boating Safety (WinnFABs) and its allies steadfastly resisted any change to the speed limits.

Last week, following the hearing, Bob Flannery of SBONH e-mailed the group's supporters to inform them they faced two problems. First, he said that they were outnumbered by "the WinnFABs people, who he described as "mostly a bunch of hen-pecked old people with nothing better to do."
Second, he said that the Senate Transportation Committee was deadlocked two-to-two with Senator Jim Rausch (R-Derry), the chairman, and Senator David Boutin (R-Hooksett) is favor of the change and Senators Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton) and Molly Kelly (D-Keene) against, leaving Forsythe the swing vote. "WinnFABs knows this," Flannery said. "They are specifically targeting him RIGHT NOW! I have seen the e-mail!" He called on his supporters to contact Forsythe by e-mail or cell phone and urge him to support SB-27.

Meanwhile, when the Laconia City Council met this week Warren Hutchins, a staunch advocate of speed limits who spoke against SB 27 before the committee, asked the councilors to voice their opposition to the bill and , in particular, to inform Forsythe of their position.

For his part, Forsythe was not showing his hand. He said that he was unable to attend the entire committee hearing and intended to review all the testimony presented. Forsythe, who is aligned with the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, said that he regarded SB-27 as "pro-freedom bill." However, in the next breath, he acknowledged that a significant share of his constituents, favored the speed limits.

Both Senators Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith) and Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), whose districts border Lake Winnipesaukee, are firmly in favor of retaining the speed limits enacted last year and opposed to SB-27.
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03-02-2011, 06:19 AM	#28
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,028 Thanks: 603 Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts	So we are "*hen-pecked old people with nothing better to do"!!!! I was trying to stay out of this but Mr. Flannery has forced me back into it. Why would he say something like that about well respected people of the Lakes Region? This article is in today's LDS: New Lakes Region senator's vote seen as pivotal in fight over boat speed limits on the Broads* By Michael Kitch Mar 02, 2011 12:00 am CONCORD —As the Senate Transportation Committee considers a bill to lift the speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, freshman Senator Jim Forsythe (R-Strafford), who represents the waterfront municipalities of Belknap County, finds himself at the center of a dispute that has roiled the Legislature for the past six years. Last year, after five years of debate, the Legislature enacted legislation limiting speeds to 45 miles per hour in daylight and 30 mph. after dark This year, the controversy was rekindled when, at the request of Safe Boaters of New Hampshire (SBONH) , a bill — Senate Bill 27 — was introduced to replace the specific speed limits with the standard of "reasonable and prudent." Before the bill reached the committee SBONH agreed to change the proposed legislation to maintain the speed limits everywhere but the Broads, the expanse of open water in the center of the lake, where the "prima facie" limit would be 55 mph. But, when the committee heard the bill last week the Winnipesaukee Family Alliance for Boating Safety (WinnFABs) and its allies steadfastly resisted any change to the speed limits. Last week, following the hearing, Bob Flannery of SBONH e-mailed the group's supporters to inform them they faced two problems. First, he said that they were outnumbered by "the WinnFABs people, who he described as "mostly a bunch of hen-pecked old people with nothing better to do." Second, he said that the Senate Transportation Committee was deadlocked two-to-two with Senator Jim Rausch (R-Derry), the chairman, and Senator David Boutin (R-Hooksett) is favor of the change and Senators Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton) and Molly Kelly (D-Keene) against, leaving Forsythe the swing vote. "WinnFABs knows this," Flannery said. "They are specifically targeting him RIGHT NOW! I have seen the e-mail!" He called on his supporters to contact Forsythe by e-mail or cell phone and urge him to support SB-27. Meanwhile, when the Laconia City Council met this week Warren Hutchins, a staunch advocate of speed limits who spoke against SB 27 before the committee, asked the councilors to voice their opposition to the bill and , in particular, to inform Forsythe of their position. For his part, Forsythe was not showing his hand. He said that he was unable to attend the entire committee hearing and intended to review all the testimony presented. Forsythe, who is aligned with the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, said that he regarded SB-27 as "pro-freedom bill." However, in the next breath, he acknowledged that a significant share of his constituents, favored the speed limits. Both Senators Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith) and Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), whose districts border Lake Winnipesaukee, are firmly in favor of retaining the speed limits enacted last year and opposed to SB-27. .