Regardless of what anyone's personal opinions are on the reasons for or effectiveness of HB162, at the end of the day, it will (or at least should) come down to what NH's citizens want for their lake. This is why NHRBA is working feverishly to try to get "Out of Staters" to start "Encouraging any and all NH residents to contact their reps."
(see
http://www.nhbassfederation.com/mess...s.asp?iMsg=447)
So it is more important than ever that we, the vast majority of NH's citizens, also contact our reps and senators to make sure they feel our overwhelming support for this bill too. Although NHRBA representatives claim that the majority opinion is not that important and should not decide this issue when they post here, they are clearly recognizing the criticality of this factor elsewhere when they say things like "the consistent message I get from the reps are (sic) that they need to hear from the consituents, NH residents, paper letters are the best". and "We have a serious concern in the Moultonboro area, those residents should really contact Rep Patten and voice their concern, I feel she might be speaking on the house floor. Her address is: 46 Patten Hill Rd., Moultonborough, NH 03254-2657"
The legislature will start to debate this issue right after the holidays and it might come to a vote very quickly thereafter. So let's please all take Custie's advice too and write to our reps (and senators) to voice our opinions as well, especially Rep Patten. As Custie says...write a letter, not an email. And when you stop by the post office to send out those last few Christmas cards, invest in a big roll of stamps so you can write to every rep and senator statewide. All 400 reps and all 24 senators. It will be well worth the time and effort. Keep in mind that what the opponents lack in population, they have in dollars, and they will likely be threatening to hold back campaign contributions. So if you have ever contributed to or supported a campaign, make sure you mention that so they will know we are not just voters.
Your legislators' street addresses can be found at;
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/
All the others can be found at;
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/h...rs/default.asp
Make sure the letters are individually signed.
Set aside a day over the coming holidays for this, you know these opponents who have been recruited by these "out of staters" will.
In the end, our dominance in numbers will prevail over their dominance in volume, money, and intimidation.
PS: If your hand gets tired or you are running low on stamps, don't waste time on Rep Whalley, whose family sells high-speed watercraft, and who (of course) is the most active rep in Concord lobbying against this bill.