Issues

Building a 21st Century Economy

Maggie understands that the key to preserving New Hampshire's quality of life is to build a 21st century economy. In order to do this, she helped increase the minimum wage for the first time in ten years, worked to renovate the Seacoast School of Technology, established a job training fund, and passed a research and development tax credit to bring and keep new and good paying jobs to New Hampshire. She also made it a priority this past year to increase access to quality, affordable health care for small businesses and expand unemployment benefits to adult part-time workers.
Protecting Our Rights
Maggie worked with Governor Lynch to protect the rights of all New Hampshire citizens. She voted to reject our state’s participation in the federal Real ID program, to repeal an unconstitutional law infringing on a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health decisions, and to establish civil unions for same sex couples.
Demanding a Balanced Budget and Government that Delivers Value
As chairwoman of the Capital Budget Committee, Maggie knows that smart, effective, fiscally disciplined government is essential to our state’s economy. That’s why she worked with Governor Lynch to balance the budget, protect New Hampshire’s “Rainy Day Fund”, and make wise investments in our state’s future. Maggie does not support a sales or income tax.

Looking ahead, Maggie knows that New Hampshire’s leaders will need to find innovative ways to help government deliver better value to its citizens. After hearing that the Department of Corrections was requesting 30 million dollars for new prison space, Maggie established a commission that is determining how best to manage and monitor nonviolent offenders and how best to provide treatment to those with substance abuse or mental illness, so that expensive and unnecessary incarceration can be avoided.
Investing in Education
Maggie knows that in order to maintain a vibrant economy, we must invest in our youth. That's why Maggie worked with Governor Lynch to resolve our state's education funding crisis without a sales or income tax. In addition to defining an adequate education, she helped make sure that all of New Hampshire's children will have the opportunity to go to kindergarten. She also supported Governor Lynch's initiative to make sure that more of our young people will graduate from high school by raising the drop out age to 18 and providing more alternative education opportunities for those who do not thrive in the traditional classroom setting.
Protecting our Health
We are all concerned about our own health and the ability of our healthcare system to provide quality, cost effective care to everyone who needs it. That's why Maggie co-sponsored legislation in 2007 to ban smoking in restaurants and lounges to promote a healthier, safer work environment. She has taken a multi-pronged approach to improving health insurance coverage and health care delivery, taking steps to make health care more accessible by extending government sponsored insurance to an additional 10,000 children. She also helped extend state regulated private insurance to a family’s adult children under the age of 26, and to a covered individual’s ex-spouse after divorce. Maggie was also a co-sponsor of critical legislation to make health care more affordable for small businesses, allowing them to receive discounts when their employees participate in wellness programs.

Maggie also serves on Governor Lynch’s Citizens Healthcare Initiative, a working group of private and public sector leaders who are focusing on long term improvements to our healthcare system. Her special focus within this group is to help ensure that New Hampshire’s medical providers transition to electronic prescribing and electronic medical records to improve the quality of care and reduce costs.
Preserving our Environment and Investing in Alternative Energy
New Hampshire's natural beauty is one of our greatest resources. That's why Maggie supported legislation this past session to fully fund the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, ban the burning of toxic construction and demolition debris, and ban the burning and disposal of mercury in landfills.

Maggie knows that in order to compete in today's global economy, we need to get serious about alternative energy. That's why as vice-chair of the Energy, Environment, and Economic Development Committee, she pushed hard for our state to join 9 others in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ("RGGI") which will help us reduce carbon emissions and increase our investment in alternative energy and conversation.

Maggie also supported a bill that will provide cash incentives to homeowners who invest in alternative energy and cosponsored legislation to help homeowners who develop their own energy systems to work with electric distributors to sell excess energy to the grid.
Strengthening Public Safety
Maggie knows that the most important thing for you and your family is your safety. That’s why she sponsored the death benefit bill for families of law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty, voted to modernize and strengthen our state laws protecting children from online predators, and voted for more state troopers to protect our highways. Maggie also sponsored legislation to ensure that state employees injured in the course of performing dangerous law enforcement duties continue their salary while the extent of their disability is being determined.
Maintaining and Upgrading Our Infrastructure
Maggie believes that an important part of maintaining a vibrant economy and public safety is to improve our roads and bridges. She sponsored a 10-year transportation plan this past session that will do just that. This bill sets realistic goals for transportation improvements over the next ten years and will measure the plan’s progress every two years. One of the many improvements included in this bill will be repairing the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth.
Fighting for Consumer Protection
Making New Hampshire a better place to live is another one of Maggie’s top priorities. That’s why she supported a bill making it harder for scam artists to take advantage of families facing foreclosure. It’s also why she voted to pass a bill placing an interest cap on payday lending to help consumers from falling into a “debt trap” when they are in need of short-term loans. In addition, Maggie worked with Governor Lynch to license all mortgage originators to ensure that individuals developing mortgage agreements follow national standards and fulfill their obligation to consumers.
Honoring Our Veterans and Protecting Our Seniors
As chairwoman of the Veteran’s Employment Issues Commission and daughter of a World War II veteran, it is very important to Maggie to honor those who serve. That’s why she worked hard to find a way to create a POW memorial in Meredith, New Hampshire and voted to eliminate the fee for a veteran’s license plate.

Maggie also worked with Governor Lynch to stabilize the public retirement system. Now our state and local communities can live up to their promises – within their budgets – and reward our police officers, fire fighters, and teachers with the pensions they’ve earned and were promised.