Peter Petrigno
Serving as: NH House Hillsborough County District 43
Completed our 2024 State 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?
"I am a product of Catholic school education K-12. I taught in a Catholic high school for 19 years, later followed by 21 years in New Hampshire public schools. Today I have a grandchild who attends a private school. I know full well the strengths and struggles of public, private, and religious schools. Before considering school vouchers, the state must first meet its CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION to adequately fund public schools. The courts have ruled on this a number of times. Instead the legislature enacted 'Education Freedom Accounts' which has given public dollars mostly to families whose children were already being home schooled or attending private and religious schools with few students leaving their public schools as a result. With millions of dollars allocated, EFAs has been a budget buster. More so, school vouchers shift limited state resources away from public schools. To make up the difference, local property taxes will have to increase. Our property taxes are already among the very highest in the nation. Meanwhile, the cost of education shifts from the state to parents. Proponents frame their plan as 'choice' but what choice do most parents really have, especially low income families, when they have to come up with the big difference in tuition? The state must step-up and support adequacy funding for education - for ALL our students. "
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"Reproductive rights is a matter of one's personal freedom and individual decision in which the government has no business regulating. Less than 1% of abortions occur in the third trimester, beyond 24 weeks, and are often the result of complications which endanger the mother's life or because of severe fetal anomaly. Most often it is a highly emotional and painful decision in consultation with health providers."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Reproductive rights is a matter of one's personal freedom and individual decision in which the government has no business regulating. Less than 1% of abortions occur in the third trimester, beyond 24 weeks, and are often the result of complications which endanger the mother's life or because of severe fetal anomaly. Most often it is a highly emotional and painful decision in consultation with health providers."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"I don't want my taxes going up any more than the next person. There is no need for an income tax or a sales tax in New Hampshire. Instead, we just have to stop reducing our limited revenue sources in the form of tax cuts to investors and out of state corporations and apply that revenue to address our high property taxes. "
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Sales taxes are regressive. They adversely impact low-income households since folks have to spend a higher proportion of their budgets on taxed consumable goods. "
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"New Hampshire already has the second lowest business tax rate in New England. According to the N.H. Fiscal Policy Institute, since 2016 business tax reductions have led to a loss of state revenue upwards to $729 million. These lost dollars could have been shifted to our municipalities and schools to offset our very high property taxes. "
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"New Hampshire does not have a capital gains tax. Instead the state has a tax on interest and dividends which has been steadily reduced the last few years and soon will be eliminated. The resulting loss of millions of dollars could have been directed to our municipalities and schools to help address our very high property taxes. Not addressed in this survey is the Meals and Room tax which was reduced by 0.5 percent in 2021, an unnecessary decrease which only saves hotel and restaurant patrons, many of them out of state tourists, 1 cent on every $2.00 spent. The result has been the loss of millions in revenue which could have been shifted to our municipalities and schools to mitigate our very high property taxes. Property taxes are unfair to individuals and families on fixed incomes. They adversely impact homeowners and renters. Renters, including small business owners, are impacted as high property taxes result in higher rents. "
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"For"
For| 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?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"The housing shortage in New Hampshire is a critical issue which can be addressed in part with zoning changes to promote more development, especially along transportation corridors. New Hampshire is the second-oldest state in the nation with 20% of our population age 65 and older. Affordable housing is essential to attracting young individuals and families to stabilize our communities, grow our economy, and sustain our future. "
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?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"Reproductive rights is a matter of one's personal freedom and individual decision in which the government has no business regulating. Less than 1% of abortions occur in the third trimester, beyond 24 weeks, and are often the result of complications which endanger the mother's life or because of severe fetal anomaly. Most often it is a highly emotional and painful decision in consultation with health providers."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"Many families today depend on two incomes. Quality child care is essential for them. It promotes workforce participation while giving parents peace of mind. It is in New Hampshire's best interest to support child care to assist families and promote a strong economy. "
Against| 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?
"New Hampshire ranks dead last in state funding for public education. Reliance on local property taxes cannot be sustained, especially for individuals and families on fixed incomes. It's an unfair system riddled with inequities and inadequate funding. The courts have ruled a number of times that New Hampshire must meet its constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education, yet our legislature has continued to fail in doing so. "
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?
"For"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"For"
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"Undecided"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"The minimum wage in New Hampshire is $7.25 an hour. While few workers earn that rate, even with a few dollars more, New Hampshire workers fall short compared to every other New England state. There is no 'advantage' in New Hampshire for workers. Low wages are a contributing factor to why so many of our residents commute to jobs out of state. According to New Hampshire Employment Security, 15.07% (106,338) of New Hampshire residents commute out of state for work, mostly to the Boston area. I support a gradual increase in the minimum wage and making it comparable to other states in our region. "
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add legal protections for residents of other states who travel here for health care related to abortion or gender transition?
"The idea that any state would restrict the movement of its citizens is unfathomable and strikes at the core of personal liberty and freedom. How can anyone say they support freedom and then support the restriction of one's freedom to travel?"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"Very few abortions occur after 24 weeks gestation. When they do, they are extreme cases involving medical complications, the life of the mother, or fetal anomalies. Such matters are highly emotional and personal. They must be decided by the woman in consultation with her doctor. Government should not be involved in making such decisions. "
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"Federal officials are responsible for immigration enforcement. This is something our police do not want. Local law officers are opposed to the idea of immigration enforcement as it complicates their mission to 'serve and protect.' Good police work is built on community trust. Immigration enforcement only hampers the police to protect our communities from harmful criminal activities. "
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"In 2008, the United States Supreme Court ruling in Heller vs. the District of Columbia reaffirmed the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. However, the conservative majority also ruled that guns and gun ownership would continue to be regulated. Just as individuals have the right to bear arms for self-defense, the public also has the right to defend itself from individuals who are a danger to the public health and safety. Criminal background checks, waiting periods, and restrictions on those with severe mental health issues, have the potential to save lives. They are at best, an inconvenience to responsible gun owners, but not a violation of their rights. Responsible gun owners support measures to limit the misuse of the 2nd Amendment. "
