Pubdate: Wed, 01 Apr 2009
Source: Citizen, The (Laconia, NH)
Copyright: 2009 Geo. J. Foster Company
Contact: http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=SERVICES0113
Website: http://www.citizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1408
Author: Gail Ober
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

HOW THEY VOTED: LOCAL REPS DIFFER ON ISSUES

Turbulent Budget Season Sparks Interest In Voting Record

As the 161st General Court winds its way through one of  the more 
difficult budget seasons it has seen in a  number of years, local 
legislators have also grappled  with some bills that have generated 
controversy,  elicited laughter and brought a record number of 
comments from their constituents.

"Oh boy, what a season," said Alida Millham, a veteran  Republican 
legislator from Gilford.

Millham said the two bills that generated the most  feedback from her 
constituents were the Gay Marriage  Bill (HB 436) and the so-called 
Bathroom Bill (HB 415)  that proposes adding transgendered citizens 
to state  anti-discrimination laws.

"I got a ton on both sides," said Millham, who broke  ranks with the 
GOP by voting for gay marriage but held  with a 'no' vote on the Bathroom Bill.

"I understand both sides," Millham said, adding that  her 'aye' vote 
on gay marriage "didn't come easily."

"I have struggled with this for a very long time and I  voted for 
what I think is justice and fairness," she  said.

As to the transgendered legislation, Millham said she  "didn't think 
it was necessary" and she thought the  proponents "didn't do a good 
job presenting it."

"I've always been pro-choice," she continued, adding  that she takes 
her lumps from the party for that.

"Although I'd like parents to be involved at every  level, there are 
some times when this just isn't  possible," she said.

For second-term Franklin Democrat Leigh Webb, voting  against 
legalizing medical marijuana and against  repealing the death penalty 
was a break from his party.

"Absolutely not," Webb said when asked about medical  marijuana. "As 
long as we do not have a legal  distribution process, somehow, 
somewhere, somebody will  sell this stuff illegally.

"Passing a state law against federal law is just plain wrong."

Voting not to repeal the death penalty came a little  harder for him.

"I voted 'no' because I hear time and time again from  law 
enforcement that it is a deterrent, and I support  that position," Webb said.

Webb said the vote on the Gay Marriage Bill was  "probably one of the 
most interesting moments I've  spent in the legislature during my 
brief tenure."

Five votes, including the first one where the measure  actually 
failed by one vote, were needed before the  measure ultimately passed 
by seven votes.

For newcomer Peter Bolster, a Republican from Alton,  the first days 
in the general court have been "very  interesting, to say the least."

Bolster voted with the majority of his party on most  bills, but as 
an evangelical pastor said he had to vote  to repeal the death penalty.

"My basic belief is to bring everybody to salvation.  Executing a 
person means I am not only condemning them  to death, but to hell," 
Bolster said, allowing he  understands that many conservatives do 
support the  death penalty, but for him, he can't.

He said his vote against the medical marijuana bill was  because 
there hasn't been enough scientific research  done at the federal 
level by the Food and Drug  Administration.

"Until that happens, and there is scientific proof of  its medicinal 
value, I will vote against it," Bolster  said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom