Michael Liberty
Running for: NH Executive Council District 2
Completed our 2024 Executive Council Candidate Survey
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?
"The Education Freedom Account Program diverts funds away from our public schools and our neediest kids. There is also insufficient oversight of the program, which is where the Council's role in the program primarily lies."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"Decisions about abortion care are fundamentally personal and any restriction on a woman's access to abortion is a violation of her personal freedom and a risk to her health. Moreover, until legislation is changed, I will fight any Attorney General that questions the judgement of a doctor who determines that an abortion was medically necessary."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Decisions about abortion care are fundamentally personal and any restriction on a woman's access to abortion is a violation of her personal freedom and a risk to her health. Moreover, until legislation is changed, I will fight any Attorney General that questions the judgement of a doctor who determines that an abortion was medically necessary."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Tax policy is not the purview of the Executive Council. However, the bulk of Granite Staters' tax burden is Federal, and the role of an Executive Councilor is to make sure we are taking advantage of every possible Federal program so we can fund critical services (e.g. Medicaid) without increasing the (often regressive) state and local level tax burden of Granite Staters."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Tax policy is not the purview of the Executive Council. However, the bulk of Granite Staters' tax burden is Federal, and the role of an Executive Councilor is to make sure we are taking advantage of every possible Federal program so we can fund critical services (e.g. Medicaid) without increasing the (often regressive) state and local level tax burden of Granite Staters."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Tax policy is not the purview of the Executive Council. However, the bulk of Granite Staters' tax burden is Federal, and the role of an Executive Councilor is to make sure we are taking advantage of every possible Federal program so we can fund critical services (e.g. Medicaid) without increasing the (often regressive) state and local level tax burden of Granite Staters."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"Tax policy is not the purview of the Executive Council. However, the bulk of Granite Staters' tax burden is Federal, and the role of an Executive Councilor is to make sure we are taking advantage of every possible Federal program so we can fund critical services (e.g. Medicaid) without increasing the (often regressive) state and local level tax burden of Granite Staters."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"I believe clean energy abundance is possible in our lifetimes, and I will support nominees to the Department of Energy and Public Utilities Commission who share that philosophy."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?
"This is not a matter that comes before the Executive Council. However, I would want every nominee that comes before the Council who has an influence over our elections to believe deeply in the right to vote."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support state contracts with faith-based organizations?
"While supporting contracts that best suit the needs of New Hampshire, I will evaluate those contracts to ensure we respect religious freedom and separation between church and state."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support state contracts with Planned Parenthood?
"I support Planned Parenthood and the critical healthcare services they provided to the people of New Hampshire under the New Hampshire Family Planning Program, and I support the reinstatement of those contracts."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Housing Affordability is the biggest economic crisis facing New Hampshire, and our only way out of it is to build more housing. Therefore, I believe communities that make local zoning changes to promote housing construction should receive priority infrastructure funding from the state, particularly via the Ten-Year Transportation plan."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?
"This is not a matter that comes before the Executive Council. However, I would support such an increase."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"Decisions about abortion care are fundamentally personal and any restriction on a woman's access to abortion is a violation of her personal freedom and a risk to her health. Moreover, until legislation is changed, I will fight any Attorney General that questions the judgement of a doctor who determines that an abortion was medically necessary."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should a nominee’s political beliefs be an important factor when deciding on a judicial or executive branch appointment?
"To the extent that those political beliefs will influence how they perform their job, then yes. For example, I would not want someone who did not believe in women's reproductive rights to serve as the Commissioner of HHS or someone who subscribes to a fetal personhood legal theory to serve as Attorney General or Supreme Court Justice."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"On the Executive Council, I will push the State to do more to communicate existing childcare funding available to the public as well as reduce administrative burdens in accessing those programs. I will also push state agencies to pursue all federal program funds available to our state for childcare."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?
"This is not the purview of the Executive Council. However, the New Hampshire Supreme Court found in Claremont School District v Governor of New Hampshire that the State is obligated to provide a constitutionally adequate education to every child and to guarantee adequate funding for this education. To meet that obligation, we need comprehensive school funding reform."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"This is not a matter that comes before the Executive Council. However, I believe home cannabis use and growth should be permitted and that cannabis distribution should be allowed under a well-regulated and taxed system. I'm confident that distribution could either be a state-run model or private retail locations."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"This is not a matter that comes before the Executive Council. However, I believe home cannabis use and growth should be permitted and that cannabis distribution should be allowed under a well-regulated and taxed system. I'm confident that distribution could either be a state-run model or private retail locations."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"This is not a matter that comes before the Executive Council. However, I believe home cannabis use and growth should be permitted and that cannabis distribution should be allowed under a well-regulated and taxed system. I'm confident that distribution could either be a state-run model or private retail locations."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Minimum wage laws are not the purview of the Executive Council. However, I believe it is critical to ensure the State is choosing contractors that pay fair/livable wages, and I do not believe the current minimum wage is a livable wage."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Are you open to approving no-bid state contracts?
"I am generally opposed to no-bid state contracts but will always evaluate whether or not the circumstances make it the best option for Granite Staters. For example, there was a no-bid contract that was passed for mobile vaccination units during the COVID-19 pandemic. I think circumstances warranted that decision."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Decisions about abortion care are fundamentally personal and any restriction on a woman's access to abortion is a violation of her personal freedom and a risk to her health. Moreover, until legislation is changed, I will fight any Attorney General that questions the judgement of a doctor who determines that an abortion was medically necessary."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"I am not in favor of ceding local control of our law enforcement priorities to the Federal Government. New Hampshire law enforcement should always decide when, where, and how to cooperate with Federal Authorities within the bounds of Federal Law."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"This is not a matter that comes before the Executive Council. However, I support common sense gun laws."
