This year’s gay marriage debate gets underway Jan. 20 with public hearings in Concord on two measures: a veto of last year’s law legalizing same-sex marriage, and a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.

“Legislators in New Hampshire are not going to take away rights from people,” predicts Rep. Jim Splaine (D-Portsmouth). He spearheaded what he calls the “marriage equality” law that took effect Jan. 1, allowing homosexual couples in New Hampshire to marry.

“All … this law has done is allow more people to commit to one another to share their love and caring, and that’s a good thing,” Splaine says.

A Constitutional amendment defining marriage as strictly heterosexual was stopped in the House twice in the last four years. CACR 34 was voted down 207-125 in 2006, and CACR 1 was voted down 233-124.

motorcycle helmets, loud pipes, emissions

A classic Granite State debate on motorcycles will rumble again this year. House Bill 1162 would require all motorcycle riders to wear protective headgear. Current law only requires those under 18 to wear helmets.

“I’ve been told General John Stark does not support the helmet law,” says Rep. Judith Day (D-North Hampton), who is sponsoring the bill. She laughs and says she’s not sure how the Revolutionary War hero (who died in 1822 after coining the phrase “live free or die”) found out about the bill.

“I do believe that government sometimes saves us from ourselves,” Day says. She does not believe people have the right to ride without a helmet on public roads. “I think when people are willing to take that risk, they don’t understand the risk.”

Day cites the various costs taxpayers incur when unprotected riders suffer serious injuries from accidents: hospitalization, adaptive equipment, vocational re-education. “But I don’t think everything’s always about money,” she says.

When she pictures someone putting on a helmet, she thinks, “I’m glad I’m doing this bill, because you can’t even imagine what it would be like if you had a head injury.” Day’s former job in special education included some work with adults with head injuries. A leg injury can usually be fixed, she says, but she calls a head injury a “different kettle of fish.”

She doesn’t buy arguments that helmets are uncomfortable and prevent hearing. If they really inhibit hearing to a dangerous degree, she reasons, the many people who do wear helmets would take them off. “If anyone can’t hear, that would be from the loud pipes,” she says, laughing.

Day, an ardent opponent of what she considers excessive motorcycle noise, has also sponsored House Bill 1261 to get New Hampshire motorcycle inspections to comply with federal EPA emissions standards. She thinks that would also include noise controls.

Public hearings on both bills will be held Jan. 28 with the House Transportation Committee.

saying “no” to immunizations

On a health care note, House Bill 1555 would allow students to refuse immunizations on personal grounds. Current exemptions apply only to health reasons or religious beliefs.

Sponsored by Rep. Mark McConkey (R-Freedom), HB 1555 adds “conscientious objection” to reasons why families may decline immunizations or vaccinations for their children.

The House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs Committee will hold its public hearing on HB 1555 on Jan. 28.

no unemployment tax for self-employed

One small business owner in Hampton got a rude awakening last year when she closed her business: As a self-employed person, she was not eligible for unemployment compensation, even though she had always paid unemployment taxes on her own wages.

She was under the impression that the taxes she paid were being set aside for her somewhere, but in reality they were just going into one big pot, explains Rep. Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton). The business owner approached Stiles about the matter, and Stiles filed House Bill 1509.

The legislation would not create unemployment compensation for self-employed individuals, according to Stiles, but it would give them the option of not paying the tax.

The bill’s fiscal note, based on figures from the Department of Employment Security, estimates that state revenues would go down by almost $16 million in the next two years if the law passes.

“I’m sure when it gets to (the Finance Committee) it will be zapped,” Stiles says. “But I still think it’s worth getting heard and being discussed.”

The House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1509 on Jan. 28.

State of the State

The House and Senate will take Jan. 20 off from their Wednesday sessions, when they meet in full, to work on bills in committee. The Senate will then meet briefly on Jan. 21 before a joint session with the House for Gov. John Lynch’s State of the State address at 11:00 a.m.

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