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How They Voted: Military-style Vehicles, Fetal Homicide, Licensing Abortion Clinics

Among the bills considered earlier this week by the legislature were proposals dealing with licensing outpatient abortion facilities; preventing communities from purchasing military-style vehicles and allowing more serious charges if a fetus dies as the result of a homicide.

Here is how North Country representatives voted:

LICENSING OUTPATIENT ABORTION FACILITIES

Only three of the eleven North Country reps voted against killing a bill that would have required licensing outpatient abortion facilities.

The House’s Health, Human Service and Elderly Affairs Committee had unanimously recommended that House Bill 1501be voted inexpedient to legislate.

On Thursday, the House voted on whether to endorse the inexpedient-to-legislate recommendation, which would, in effect, kill the bill.

It was killed by a 211 – 86 vote.

The North Country reps voting not to kill the bill were:

Ralph Doolan, Littleton, Republican

Leon Rideout, Lancaster, Republican

Herb Richardson, Lancaster, Republican

The North Country reps voting to kill the bill were:

Brad Bailey, Monroe, Republican

Gary Coulombe, Berlin Democrat

Robert Theberge, Berlin, Democrat

Susan Ford, Easton, Democrat

Marcia Hammon, Whitefield, Democrat

Linda Massimilla, Littleton, Democrat

Wayne Moynihan, Dummer, Democrat

William Hatch, Gorham, Democrat

The North Country reps not voting were:

Rebecca Brown, Sugar Hill, Democrat

Larry Enman, Errol, Democrat

Larry Rappaport , Colebrook, Republican

Edmond Gionet, Lincoln, Republican

Yvonne Thomas, Berlin, Democrat

BANNING PURCHASE OF MILITARY-STYLE VEHICLES

Six of thirteen representatives from the North Country voted against killing a bill aimed at banning communities from purchasing military-style vehicles (which do not have military-style weapons) such as the BearCat owned by Keene.

The bill was proposed by Rep. J.R. Hoell, a Republican from Dunbarton. The bill would prevent communities from buying military hardware.

According to The Concord Monitor Hoell was worried about the police becoming increasingly militarized.

Police have defended such purchases as offering invaluable protection in dangerous situations.

The House voted 195 – 138 to kill the bill, House Bill 1307.

North Country representatives voting to kill the bill and prevent the ban were:

Susan Ford, Easton, Democrat

Marcia Hammon, Whitefield, Democrat

William Hatch, Gorham, Democrat

Linda Massimilla, Littleton, Democrat

Wayne Moynihan, Dummer, Democrat

Robert Theberge, Berlin, Democrat

Yvonne Thomas, Berlin, Democrat

North Country representatives voting against killing the bill were:

Brad Bailey, Monroe, Republican

Ralph Doolan, Littleton, Republican

Rebecca Brown, Sugar Hill, Democrat

Edmond Gionet, Lincoln, Republican

Leon Rideout, Lancaster, Republican

Herb Richardson, Lancaster, Republican

North Country representatives not voting were:

Gary Coulombe, Berlin Democrat

Larry Enman, Errol,  Democrat

Larry Rappaport , Colebrook, Republican

FETAL HOMICIDE BILL

All nine of the North Country representatives voting favored a bill that would allow judges to hand out stronger sentences when a fetus dies as the result of a homicide.

Supporters argued the stricter penalties should be limited to cases where the mother dies, but critics said the fetus’ death should be a crime if the mother lives, the Associated Press reported.

State Rep. Leon Rideout, a Republican from Lancaster, filed the bill after his daughter lost her baby as the result of a traffic accident, according to The Associated Press.

Under current law, if an assault results in a miscarriage or stillbirth and the mother survives, a judge can sentence the assailant to up to 15 years in prison, the A.P. said.

The bill would allow enhanced sentences to the homicide statute for crimes resulting in the mother’s death. In the case of second degree murder, which is punishable by life in prison, the judge would have to state he or she had considered the miscarriage or stillbirth in deciding on a sentence.

It now goes to the Senate.

Here are the North Country reps who voted in favor of the bill and stronger penalites:

Brad Bailey, Monroe, Republican

Susan Ford, Easton, Democrat

Marcia Hammon, Whitefield, Democrat

William Hatch, Gorham, Democrat

Linda Massimilla, Littleton, Democrat

Wayne Moynihan, Dummer, Democrat

Leon Rideout, Lancaster, Republican

Herb Richardson, Lancaster, Republican

Ralph Doolan, Littleton, Republican

North Country reps who did not vote were:

Rebecca Brown, Sugar Hill, Democrat

Gary Coulombe, Berlin, Democrat

Larry Enman, Errol,  Democrat

Edmond Gionet, Lincoln, Republican

Larry Rappaport , Colebrook, Republican

Robert Theberge, Berlin, Democrat

Yvonne Thomas, Berlin, Democrat

FOR VOTES ON OTHER ISSUES GO HERE.

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