Re-elect Peter Bixby to the NH House 2016
I write to announce my campaign for re-election to the New Hampshire House of Representatives. For the past two terms I have had the honor of representing Strafford County District 17 (Dover wards 5&6, Somersworth ward 2) and would like to have the opportunity to continue to serve.
As a member of the Democratic caucus, I have consistently supported the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan (NHHPP) and will continue to do so. This program uses Federal funds and contributions from health care providers to enable low income residents to buy private health care. You may have heard that some providers are pulling out of the Obamacare exchange. While that is an issue in some states, the way we designed the NHHPP provides incentives for insurers to stay, so New Hampshire remains well covered. There are currently over 50,000 New Hampshire residents who have health insurance thanks to the NHHPP and more than 20,000 additional residents have used the program in the past, and thanks to their improved employment, no longer need it. Contrary to claims of Republican opponents, the NHHPP is not a trap to keep people in poverty; instead, it is a bridge to help them escape it.
The NHHPP is also important in fighting our state's opiate addiction crisis. Whether brought on by bad personal decisions, or circumstances beyond personal control, opioid addiction is almost impossible to escape without help. But New Hampshire does not have enough treatment facilities, which are typically privately run. If patients can't pay for care, providers can't afford to set up more practices here. The insurance supported by the NHHPP is required to cover drug addiction treatment. Because a coalition of Democrats and more pragmatic Republicans passed a two year extension for the NHHPP this year, there is some incentive for providers, but what we really need is permanent authorization. If re-elected, I will fight for that.
This past term, I joined Democrats in pushing for more support for renewable energy and energy conservation. Utilities are required to contribute to funds to support these projects, but the House Republican approach was to divert all of the money from these funds in order to fill a hole in the budget. The worst of the diversion was blocked by the Senate, but the Republican majority still managed to severely limit the money available for energy conservation and renewable energy. In the coming term, I will strongly support renewable energy and energy conservation legislation.
I also plan to continue my support for local agriculture, school funding, fair and open elections, decriminalization of marijuana, fair wages, and government efficiency. Good government is thrifty, not stingy.
As a member of the Democratic caucus, I have consistently supported the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan (NHHPP) and will continue to do so. This program uses Federal funds and contributions from health care providers to enable low income residents to buy private health care. You may have heard that some providers are pulling out of the Obamacare exchange. While that is an issue in some states, the way we designed the NHHPP provides incentives for insurers to stay, so New Hampshire remains well covered. There are currently over 50,000 New Hampshire residents who have health insurance thanks to the NHHPP and more than 20,000 additional residents have used the program in the past, and thanks to their improved employment, no longer need it. Contrary to claims of Republican opponents, the NHHPP is not a trap to keep people in poverty; instead, it is a bridge to help them escape it.
The NHHPP is also important in fighting our state's opiate addiction crisis. Whether brought on by bad personal decisions, or circumstances beyond personal control, opioid addiction is almost impossible to escape without help. But New Hampshire does not have enough treatment facilities, which are typically privately run. If patients can't pay for care, providers can't afford to set up more practices here. The insurance supported by the NHHPP is required to cover drug addiction treatment. Because a coalition of Democrats and more pragmatic Republicans passed a two year extension for the NHHPP this year, there is some incentive for providers, but what we really need is permanent authorization. If re-elected, I will fight for that.
This past term, I joined Democrats in pushing for more support for renewable energy and energy conservation. Utilities are required to contribute to funds to support these projects, but the House Republican approach was to divert all of the money from these funds in order to fill a hole in the budget. The worst of the diversion was blocked by the Senate, but the Republican majority still managed to severely limit the money available for energy conservation and renewable energy. In the coming term, I will strongly support renewable energy and energy conservation legislation.
I also plan to continue my support for local agriculture, school funding, fair and open elections, decriminalization of marijuana, fair wages, and government efficiency. Good government is thrifty, not stingy.