Biographical information:
Name: Andy Peterson
Age: 51
Town: Hillsborough District #3 /Towns of Peterborough, New Ipswich, Greenville and Sharon.
Peterborough native
Family: Married to Kirsten (Brownwood) Peterson, four daughters Jennifer, Anna, Sarah and Ellie
Education: Dartmouth College, BA 1978
Occupation: Co-owner/Broker The Petersons, Inc. Real Estate
Organizational Memberships: New England Board of Higher Education (NH delegate 1998-present) Peterborough Rotary Club (1983-present, President 1991), All Saints Parish (Vestry), Realtors Association (1980-present), Amoskeag Veterans.
Public Service: Served on various town committees including Trustee of Trust Funds (Sharon 1983-85), Peterborough Charter Commission (2006), Former member Peterborough Zoning Board of Adjustment and Peterborough Budget Committee (Chair 1996), NH State Legislator (1996-2002, 2006-present) and NH State Senator District 11 (2002-2004).
Questions:
1. WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE N.H. HOUSE?
I am running for re-election to the NH House to bring concrete proposals to Concord to address the pressing problems facing our state. I am particularly interested to play an active role in finding a sustainable solution to the state’s school funding problem which will help local homeowners by reducing their property taxes.
2. WHAT ARE THE THREE TOP ISSUES FACING STATE GOVERNMENT AND HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THEM?
The three top issues facing New Hampshire’s government today are:
1.) the budget,
2.) the related issue of the failure to deal with state education funding, and 3.) the pressing need to set aside petty political infighting and reason together to forge practical solutions, which must be done to keep the Granite State a place with a singular quality of life and preserve economic opportunity for its citizens.
The current budget, which I voted against this session because it overspent revenues, borrowed to fund current year obligations and included an unconstitutional education funding formula, is now understood to be at least $100 million dollars in deficit. The upcoming budget, due to the impact of a state employee pay raise, increases in contributions to the retirement system, rising health care and energy costs and other factors, is projected to have a considerably larger shortfall.
The budget extended a formula for education funding found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the Londonderry decision of 2006, while local property taxpayers are picking up the tab for new state and federal mandates and ever-increasing costs.
The polarization of opposing viewpoints and political infighting has reached new heights in our legislature, sadly mirroring a national trend. Progress on the most important issues affecting us all in our daily lives is stymied by this approach to governing, and thus we suffer the consequences of failing to deal with our greatest common concerns. We need leaders in our legislature today who understand that to face the great challenges of our time (such as access to affordable health care, a clean environment, and an equitable tax policy which promotes economic opportunity and job growth) we will need to draw on the insight and intelligence of all, regardless of political affiliation, and work together to achieve positive results.
3. What, specifically, should the state do or not do regarding the funding of education?
As lead sponsor of the NH Homestead Plan in the legislature, I am offering a comprehensive and sustainable plan to create a reliable source for state education funding obligations and lower homeowner property taxes, without requiring new taxes such as taxes on income or sales or an expansion of legalized gaming. The plan proposes establishing a low rate statewide property tax subject to a “homestead exemption” applying to the first $150,000 of equalized assessed valuation on primary residences. The plan would not require a constitutional amendment, would be extremely useful (in combination with spending restraint) in eliminating the state’s deficit and would retain and enhance the advantages of New Hampshire’s tax burdens in comparison to surrounding states. The property tax, the largest tax we pay, is particularly difficult to bear for homeowners and tax rates vary widely between towns. To see how the Homestead plan would affect your tax bill view town by town figures online on an interactive chart.
4. How could legislators help residents deal with higher
energy costs?
The legislature recently met and approved an additional $10 million dollars in low income heating assistance aid, in order to ensure residents of ready availability of funds that eventually will arrive from federal sources. But discussions occurring in my household and in those of my neighbors about how to retrofit, conserve, seek alternative sources for winter heating and just plain old ‘how to pay’ oil bills that have increased this year by over 150%, signal that this is a major issue affecting us all as the cold weather approaches this year. Self reliant as we are, it is no surprise that we are seeing our region lead the way in the expanded use of geo-thermal, solar, and pellet stove furnaces to heat personal residences. State government needs to find the most effective ways to promote the use of alternatives sources to foster energy independence.
5. How should the state cope with its projected budget deficit?
Our state budget increased by 17.5% last time around, which I opposed. We must have spending restraint in Concord. But the projected deficit we are facing in the coming year, combined with the current shortfall, cannot be dealt with while maintaining essential services unless we squarely face the education funding side of the budget-in a fashion that does not simply increase local property taxes by up to 20% or more. Thus I feel it is critical that the legislature gets serious about a practical proposal to fund education, such as the homestead plan outlined above.
6. Should State government help people get affordable health care? Why or why not? And, if it should, what kind of help should be provided?
Yes, state government should be involved, as we have been most effectively in the “Healthy Kids” program which I strongly support. Heath Care is a complex issue to tackle, where the ‘devil and the divine’ are very much in the details. The problems local hospitals are facing which result in huge cost escalations for insured fall into two main subgroups, the insufficiency of reimbursement payments for patients covered by Medicaid and the loss from the provision of unpaid emergency care to the uninsured. I feel that a ‘New Hampshire style’ solution to this problem is overdue and that all stakeholders need to participate in a discussion to improve matters. I have been interested in exploring a variant on ideas that have been successful in other states and develop a public-private partnership, managed by a state sponsored non-profit, to provide access to preventative care to the uninsured.
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