Bruce MacMahon for State Representative
Rockingham District 10 - Brentwood
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Help
me work to keep New Hampshire prosperous and free by bringing back common
sense ideas and solutions that work in the best interest of The People. |
State Government (click here to return to the Home Page)
New Hampshire is blessed
with one of the most representative legislative bodies in the world. The fact
that our lawmakers are volunteering their service to the people of New
Hampshire is something of which we should be immensely proud. The benefits of this
type of state government are many. First and foremost among them is that we
are not beholden to career politicians more concerned about keeping their
state jobs with their pensions and benefits than they are about representing
the needs of their constituents. When service to one’s
self or to outside special interest groups takes precedent over service to
the people, representative government is lost and with it our right to be
self-governed. Such a representative
government also serves to put the lawmakers on equal footing with the people
who voted them into office. Too often, we hear stories about politicians
invoking special privileges are carving out exemptions in legislation that benefit
them personally, while infringing on the rights (and savings accounts) of the
People. Of course, having a
voluntary legislature is not without its downsides, an example of which is
that it becomes difficult or unrealistic for some people to run for office,
despite their desire to do so. Despite New Hampshire’s
small size, relative to other much larger states, it can still be a
considerable task to drive to and from Concord from the North Country, or to
make multiple trips to the Capitol Building, while caring for one’s children,
working a day job, or running a business. To address this issue, I
would like the see the state explore the possibility of setting up an
internet-based system, using existing technology, through which legislators
could attend, and participate in hearings and legislative sessions from a
remote location. There’s no reason why a person shouldn’t be able to serve
his constituents, while at the same time, working to provide for his or her
family. Likewise, the taxpayers could
keep an eye on their elected official as committee hearings and legislative
sessions are broadcast live and archived for future on-line viewing. Giving people more
options and easier accessibility to the legislative process will result in
more New Hampshire residents getting involved in their state government and
keep the state government more responsive and accountable to the needs of the
people. The residents and
businesses of Brentwood deserve such accountability from their state
representative in Concord. They need to know that their representative voice
in the State House truly has Brentwood’s (and New Hampshire’s) best interests
at heart, and isn’t going to Concord simply to put on a blindfold and play
Follow the Leader. One thing you will never
see me do, while representing the people of Brentwood in the State
Legislature, is cast a vote for a fiscally irresponsible, unconstitutional,
or otherwise meaningless piece of legislation, and then attempt to
rationalize my actions to the voters by invoking the old “But, lots of other
states are doing it, why shouldn’t we?” routine. I will stand by each and
every vote I cast. If I vote for or against a bill, it will be on principle,
not politics. You will never see me try to backpedal away from a vote by
claiming I believed one thing, but voted to the contrary as some kind of
symbolic, yet meaningless gesture. I simply don’t care for that kind of
game. You, the voters, deserve
better. I will see to it that
New Hampshire once again becomes the state other states will seek to emulate
as we make our way out of this economic downturn and bring real economic
growth and prosperity back to the Granite State. ~ Bruce |
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