Ernest Bridge
Historical Details
Position on Issues
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Was NH right to raise the gas tax in 2014?
Possible revenue sources: "Tolls on I-93 (Mass Border), Gasoline Tax, Rooms and Meals Tax, Tobacco Tax, Alcoholic Beverage Tax; But gas tax should be 100% dedicated to roads and bridges"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Was NH right to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving?
"New Hampshire should repeal the new law and only ban text messaging."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
Does not support an income and/or sales tax. Possible revenue sources: "Tolls on I-93 (Mass Border), Gasoline Tax, Rooms and Meals Tax, Tobacco Tax, Alcoholic Beverage Tax; But gas tax should be 100% dedicated to roads and bridges"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
Does not support an income and/or sales tax. Possible revenue sources: "Tolls on I-93 (Mass Border), Gasoline Tax, Rooms and Meals Tax, Tobacco Tax, Alcoholic Beverage Tax; But gas tax should be 100% dedicated to roads and bridges"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH authorize one or more casinos?
"I am concerned that 'easy' casino revenue would lead to new spending and government growth."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH continue to base statewide assessments on Common Core standards?
"The adoption of any testing criteria should be decided upon by local school boards."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH decriminalize small amounts of marijuana?
"The possession of small quantities of marijuana should not be a crime."
For| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2015
Voted in favor of 2015 House Bill 572. When residential land is taken through eminent domain for a gas pipeline, HB 572 allows the resident to require the pipeline company to purchase all of the land, not just a part.
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH broaden campaign finance disclosure laws?
"We need full disclosure of the individuals or entities financing political campaigns."
For| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2015
Voted to allow qualifying patients and caregivers to grow medicinal marijuana at home (HB 593)
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH provide more funding for charter schools?
"With appropriate qualifying criteria, I would support increasing state funding to charter schools."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH increase tolls and/or add new toll booths?
Open to considering tolls on I-93 (Mass Border)
Against| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2015
Voted against a minimum wage increase (HB 684)
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Do employees in NH need more legal protections in the workplace?
"Not yet familiar enough to have strong opinion"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH add restrictions on welfare recipients?
Regarding drug tests for welfare recipients: "I support such legislation."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH allow the Northern Pass to proceed with some (not all) of the lines buried?
"I would consider supporting the Northern Pass Project with appropriate modifications to the plan."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH continue to use property taxes instead of a new broad-based tax, such as an income tax?
Does not support an income and/or sales tax. Possible revenue sources: "Tolls on I-93 (Mass Border), Gasoline Tax, Rooms and Meals Tax, Tobacco Tax, Alcoholic Beverage Tax; But gas tax should be 100% dedicated to roads and bridges"
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should New Hampshire continue to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which requires utilities to purchase allowances for every ton of carbon they emit?
"NH should withdraw from RGGI and structure its own energy strategy."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH require car insurance for some or all drivers?
"I believe auto insurance should sometimes be required."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH require labels on some or all genetically modified foods?
"I support appropriate labeling of some GMO foods."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH pass right-to-work legislation?
"Right to Work legislation will create many new jobs in NH."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
State role in economic growth
"Yes, the state should do more. The state should review and roll back excessive regulation"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"'Assault' and other firearms ought to be banned to felons and mentally incompetent."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014
Should NH restrict further wind power development?
"I believe we should move forward with appropriate wind power projects utilizing the present review process."
Voting Record
SB 4 (2015)
Tightens the definition of domicile for the purpose of voting. In particular, the final version of this bill requires a voter to live in New Hampshire at least 10 days before voting.
HB 1696 (2016)
Continues expanded Medicaid eligibility, with some revisions. This bill adds work requirements to eligibility for expanded Medicaid. Additional funding is provided by the insurance premium tax, paid by insurance companies.
HB 1338 (2016)
Allows parents and guardians to opt their students out of the statewide assessment test, and prohibits schools and the state from penalizing students who do not take statewide assessments.
SB 336 (2016)
Removes the phrase "suitable person" from the law governing concealed carry permits, and instead requires law enforcement to issue a permit so long as the person is not prohibited from owning a firearm by state or federal law.
HB 1694 (2016)
Legalizes and taxes marijuana for adults over age twenty-one.
SB 498 (2016)
Reduces the penalty for possessing 1/4 ounce or less of marijuana from a class A to an unspecified misdemeanor.
HB 1480 (2016)
Raises the minimum wage to $8.25 in 2017, $9 in 2018, and $9.50 in 2019.
HB 1374 (2016)
Requires moneys paid into the Renewable Energy Fund to be rebated to ratepayers, rather than spent on other renewable energy projects.
HB 1616 (2016)
Allows a person obtaining a driver's license to choose whether the license complies with the federal Real ID Act of 2005.
HB 1623 (2016)
Prohibits abortion based on genetic abnormality.
SB 576 (2016)
This bill includes many regulations aimed at combating heroin and prescription drug abuse. For example, this bill increases the penalties for abusing fentanyl and provides funding for an upgrade to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
HB 593 (2015)
Permits qualifying patients and registered caregivers to grow medicinal marijuana at home.
SB 113 (2015)
Authorizes two casinos in New Hampshire. One destination casino would pay a $80 million license fee; a smaller casino would pay $40 million to the state. SB 113 also earmarks $25 million in casino profits for distribution to all New Hampshire municipalities.
HB 684 (2015)
Raises the minimum wage to $9.10 in 2016, $11.40 in 2017, and $14.25 in 2018. Starting in 2019, the minimum wage is adjusted according to cost of living.
SB 106 (2015)
Prohibits the sale, use, or possession of synthetic drugs, such as "spice."
HB 136 (2015)
Prohibits tanning facilities from tanning anyone under age 18. At the time of this bill's submission, the law allowed tanning under age 18 with a parent or guardian's consent.
SB 40 (2015)
Includes fetuses as potential victims under murder statutes. The original Senate version of the bill applied to "viable fetuses," meaning the fetus is old enough to survive outside the womb. The House revised the bill to apply to all fetuses eight weeks and older. The House and Senate did not agree on a final version of the bill.
HB 658 (2015)
Right-to-Work bill that prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union.
HB 1 (2015)
2016-2017 state budget bill (part 1). The budget cuts business taxes, restores the Rainy Day Fund, and increases funding for some social services. The budget does not reauthorize Medicaid expansion or include a pay raise negotiated with state employees.
SB 30 (2015)
Extends the use of municipal economic development and revitalization districts to certain unincorporated places.
SB 116 (2015)
Increases the length of time for which a license to carry a concealed firearm is valid, and repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm.
HB 618 (2015)
Decriminalizes possession of 1/2 ounce or less of marijuana, with additional penalties for violators under age twenty-one.
HB 563 (2015)
Adjusts the additional grants for chartered public school pupils based on the Consumer Price Index, and increases the per pupil state funding for charter school students by $1,000.
HB 403 (2015)
Repeals the law establishing a protest-free buffer zone around reproductive health clinics.
SB 101 (2015)
Prohibits the Department of Education and the state Board of Education from implementing the Common Core standards in any school or school district in this state.
SB 179 (2015)
Requires that a voter has lived in the state and county for at least 30 days.
SB 169 (2015)
Forbids the use of EBT cards or cash from EBT cards for alcohol, tobacco, gambling, lottery tickets, tattoos, firearms, or adult entertainment.
