Mack Leathurby

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?

"Like most people, I am opposed to abortion except when there are circumstances that affect mental and physical health of the pregnant woman tho it is not up to to me to decide what a woman can do with her own body."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire ban abortion after 24 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?

When asked about banning abortion after 20 weeks gestation on our 2018 survey, Leathurby wrote, "Like most people, I am opposed to abortion except when there are circumstances that affect mental and physical health of the pregnant woman tho it is not up to to me to decide what a woman can do with her own body."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH pursue expanded commuter rail?

"I support expanded commuter rail."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH limit terms for elected officials?

"In my opinion a bigger issue is the money involved with elections. Let's take big money out of play and lets insure we set up an electorial environment where good people can be elected as good leaders not by power grabs that are play out with money from special interests can buy power."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH increase funding for heroin treatment programs?

"The real issue is the opiate crisis... drug addiction is a health crisis and a criminal culture that is about money and politics. Lets's legalize Hemp including pain killer derivatives to replace opiates for many people to manage pain issues without becoming addicted to high toxic drugs that are killing our friends and families."

2018

"NH tax structures need to include lower property taxes and NH has opportunities to add new revenues from such areas as by legalizing hemp. The tax structure should be balanced better for our citizens while keep our income and sales taxes as per our traditions and a new holistic approach for taxes in NH that creates a balanced lifestyle for low-middle income families is in need of debate and analysis."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?

"Our property taxes are too high already; NH has the highest property tax rates vs all other states with only NJ having a high per capita property tax burden. We have opportunities including enabling the cultivation and usage of Hemp that could be used as revenue growth to help offset both local and state property taxes. No one wants to pay more taxes unless they see a return on their investment or taxes offset certain living expensive. There is no doubt that NH will need to rebalance our tax system to make the high tax burden lower for home owners if our citizens are to be able to buy new homes. There is a need for property taxes to be adjusted lower to meet the demands for new homes to many different citizen segments including Millennials, the elderly and low-middle income families."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire extend the renewable portfolio standard past 2025, requiring public utilities to obtain more than 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources?

When asked a similar question on our 2018 survey Leathurby wrote, "The good news is that the cost of renewable energy is becoming more cost effective at this time. NH should take the special interest lobby from our manipulation of new energy initiatives that are becoming cost effective alternatives. to the private utility companies that are driving NH to high rates for our electricity, heat, water, gas and more. We need to balance incentives to drive the change to renewables with the cost need to set up cost effective infrastructure."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH legalize the recreational use of marijuana?

"All States and the entire country of Canada have legalized Marijuana now so it's time for NH to address this issue as NH will need to manage legalized marijuana coming across our borders... in my opinion, the more important aspect is to legalize hemp and that means to legalize plants without active THC amounts. There are many Hemp products that can be derived with great benefits to our citizens including non 'get high' stimulating foods, clothing and toweling, canvas (the word canvas itself is derived from Canabis), ropes, and even building materials. For example, Canada is now making car bodies from Hemp compounds. Hemp is an inexpensive product to grow, using less water than crops like cotton. In 2018, the Mt Vernon estate of President Washington was authorized to grow hemp again; hemp was an important crop for our founding fathers including Jefferson, Madison and the patriots that established our country. The derivatives of hemp including oils such as CBD oil are useful for many peopele. Formulas that don't get you high and are even child safe have been approved in most high population states and even by the Federal government as medicines that aid in such things as epilepsy, cancer management and other ailments. Medicinal marijuana is important for many people and indeed pain killer derivatives can be substituted for opiates for many people with out the side effects and death causing attributes of opiates. Furthermore recreational marijuana is a means to add revenues to our state that could offset such things as high property taxes we have in NH. The State of Colorado has a 5 year track record with legal hemp and marijuanna the state is seeing significant revenues as sales approach 2 Billion dollars in that state."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Was New Hampshire right to continue expanded Medicaid eligibility, using the traditional Medicaid system of managed care instead of private insurance?

"There is a need to address this issue in a bigger way. A real healthcare fix is ready for prime support. Enough of this whole mess is enough! The system is nearly broke tho here is good news about healthcare for American and NH citizens. Time has come to fix our broken health care system from the historically dysfunctional mess it is in. A viable, cost-effective healthcare system for the NH and the US can be integrated for all - rich and poor alike. As such a system can be put in place efficiently in the near term. And why will this happen you say? Americans are fed up, 'mad as hell' and they aren't gonna take this broken healthcare mess anymore! The root of the mess is mostly political in nature and the next several elections are likely to change the course for US healthcare. We should be optimistic that the tyranny of the minority and morally bankrupt few who control and manipulate the current mess is about to end. Today most American citizens know what is practical to demand for their healthcare... NO MORE patient rejections due to pre-existing condions. NO more 'go twist in the wind' insurance policy lies, distortions, or hidden fine print. NO MORE bankruptcy and loss of your life savings due to an acute medical issue. NO more rip off medical bills' that feed corporate executive bank accounts for selfish interests. Most people want the majority of healthcare monies to be paid directly to the providers - doctors, nurses, care givers and wholesale prescription medicine markets - not big corporate entities feeding corporate interests. Now the bad news. To accomplish this goal, Americans will have to stop the dysfunctional leadership enabling our broken healthcare system. And this dysfunctional system has deep roots of dark interests for a select few who will continue to lie, cheat and steal wherever possible to maintain power and big monies. Americans should 'vote the bums' outta office. Too many politicos are sabotaging viable cost effective healthcare solutions and those politicains need to go and we must enable real leaders to execute the systems. There is a lot of consensus about next steps to put viable models that work well in place. And that will drive the voters and people in the US to take actions in the near term."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH do more to enforce federal immigration laws?

"The system is broken and needs to be overhauled to continue to vet immigrants while finding a balance to enable new immigrants that can add good ideas and actions to our great country. WE are a nation founded on immigrants. We do not need big brother to step on people who are doing good for our country."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire increase subsidies and tax credits for business investment?

"There is a need for the right balance of business taxes. We must not make our taxes too high to turn away businesses from out state, yet we need to create infrastructure that is right for business to thrive. There is a need to stimulate small businesses efforts to continue to grow more jobs and create higher wages for our workers."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Is police brutality an issue in NH?

"Our police do a great job here in NH and like any situation that involves people, there areas for improvement for some individuals in their roles related to supervision and law enforcement. It is important for us to support our local and state police and also hold everyone accountable to do the right thing which means proper education and vetting to insure the right people are put in the right roles."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

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?

"More than ever, NH needs to participate to do the right things that will not contribute further to the climate change crisis. There are more things to account for than just greenhouse gases tho that is an important to get right and participate in."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire maintain the renewable portfolio standard, which requires public utilities in New Hampshire to obtain a certain percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources (25% by 2025)?

"The good news is that the cost of renewable energy is becoming more cost effective at this time. NH should take the special interest lobby from our manipulation of new energy initiatives that are becoming cost effective alternatives. to the private utility companies that are driving NH to high rates for our electricity, heat, water, gas and more. We need to balance incentives to drive the change to renewables with the cost need to set up cost effective infrastructure."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire government do more to increase the supply of affordable housing?

"New Hampshire government should do more to increase the supply of affordable housing."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH continue to administer statewide standards-based student assessments?

"I support New Hampshire continuing to administer statewide standards-based student assessments."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"Protect the 2nd Amendment with Commonsense Initiatives including closing the background checks."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should New Hampshire allocate tax revenues for private and home schooling costs?

"There should not be any impediment of our public education funding. Private schooling and home schooling will need to be supported without adding new taxation for our citizens to pay."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2018

Should NH impose strict residency requirements on registering to vote?

"We are a Democratic Republic and voting is a key constitutional right for qualified citizens. All citizens should be allowed to vote where they are living at the time of the election and voter suppression is not appropriate."