Suzy Colt
Running for: NH House Coos County District 04
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?
"In the olden days, if people wanted their children to go to private, religious schools, or be home-schooled they would without hesitation pay for it themselves. This is a government hand out and the money is not managed properly. 10% of taxpayer's money is going to a for-profit company which is mis-managing the money. That is a terrible waste of taxpayer's money and is taking money away from the public-school system, in which the state is constitutionally required to provide an adequate education through fair and equitable taxes. There needs to be greater thought given to this issue and more guardrails imposed to ensure that the money is spent wisely, if the program is to continue at all."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"In light of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the resulting schizophrenic state laws imposing disparate bans all over the country, I will do everything in my power to preserve an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy in New Hampshire. I would vote to approve a constitutional amendment to preserve an individual's right to choose, which is central to their liberty and dignity, and will stop any efforts to further curtail a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"In light of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the resulting schizophrenic state laws imposing disparate bans all over the country, I will do everything in my power to preserve an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy in New Hampshire. I would vote to approve a constitutional amendment to preserve an individual's right to choose, which is central to their liberty and dignity, and will stop any efforts to further curtail a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"NH places too much emphasis on property tax to fund public education. I cannot rule out any sensible, equitable, and hopefully bi-partisan supported funding source as we try to solve the education funding problem."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"NH places too much emphasis on property taxes to fund public education. I cannot rule out any sensible, equitable, and hopefully bi-partisan supported funding source as we try to solve the education funding problem."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"NH places too much emphasis on property tax to fund public education. I cannot rule out any sensible, equitable, and hopefully bi-partisan supported funding source, such as raising business taxes, as we try to solve the education funding problem."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"NH places too much emphasis on property tax to fund public education. I cannot rule out any sensible, equitable, and hopefully bi-partisan supported funding source, such as implementing a capital gains tax that mostly impacts the wealthy, as we try to solve the education funding problem."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"I would work to create an infrastructure bill that would install solar panels on top of everyone's house, regardless of income, as long as there is access to plenty of sun. That initiative would provide jobs, support businesses, and lower the electric rates for all and would be a win, win situation for people's pocketbooks and lower our dependence on fossil fuels, which will reduce the effects of climate change. I would also like to see better use of recycling options that is more coordinated across town lines instead of the patchwork recycling centers that exists today. Many towns charge for throwing away your trash, so recycling would save money and reduce the need to use the pay-as-you-throw bags. I would also promote a bill that would ban the use of single-use plastic carry-out bags, similar to the ban passed in Maine that took effect in 2021."
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?
"The New Hampshire voting system is run very efficiently from the local to the state level and has done so historically. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. These efforts to impose barriers to voting are unnecessary and very likely unconstitutional"
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Zoning laws are determined by local control, but the state could encourage, with financial incentives, ways to assist towns or municipalities. Smarter zoning and land use regulations need to be adopted to enable developers to design and build affordable housing around self-sustaining communities. Incentives and tax breaks could also be offered to build affordable housing that is environmentally friendly and designed in such a way to reduce the need to use cars because all essential services, food, entertainment, and healthcare are nearby. For those who still cannot afford rent, Section 8 needs to be expanded and bans on 'source of income discrimination' should be imposed."
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?
"If you have expended money to invest in energy saving and climate protecting technology, you should not have the benefits of that investment curtailed by a huge for-profit corporation like the electric companies."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"In light of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the resulting schizophrenic state laws imposing disparate bans all over the country, I will do everything in my power to preserve an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy in New Hampshire. I would vote to approve a constitutional amendment to preserve an individual's right to choose, which is central to their liberty and dignity, and will stop any efforts to further curtail a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the state increase funding for child care providers?
"It is rare that a family can exist on one income, so childcare has become a necessary item in a family's budget. The current cost of childcare is strangling struggling families. If the state is going to keep or encourage young families to stay or come to NH, it has to address the burdensome cost of childcare."
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?
"There are several court cases pending which are litigating this issue and the state is currently losing all of those cases. The current form of public-school funding is unconstitutional and disproportionately impacts towns with lower property values. The legislature needs to step up to fix this problem and I will make this a priority because a strong public education system will ensure the existence of a strong democracy. As a basic principle public education should be responsive to the needs of young people and should encourage a strong collaboration between parents, teachers and administration. High-quality teachers must be recruited, developed, monitored, and retained to engage each and every child to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally in a positive and innovative learning environment. It should include in-depth learning and high standards in an equitable way that guarantees opportunities and stellar outcomes for everyone. Achieving these goals will produce students that society is proud to send out in the world to become the next leaders, innovators, and contributing members of society. A level playing field does not exist to ensure that all those goals are achieved. The property poor towns cannot hire enough teachers or pay their teachers enough to do their job adequately, while property rich towns can, and they often recruit the lower paid teachers away from the poorer district. It should not depend upon what town you live in on whether you get a good education. Fixing the funding issue will solve this problem once and for all."
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?
"We need to legalize marijuana and allow the free market to sustain it and tax it appropriately so that the state can use that money wisely to address the major problems facing the state, like education funding."
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?
"We need to legalize marijuana and allow the free market to sustain it and tax it appropriately so that the state can use that money wisely to address the major problems facing the state, like education funding."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"We need to legalize marijuana and allow the free market to sustain it and tax it appropriately so that the state can use that money wisely to address the major problems facing the state, like education funding."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"The imposition of a minimum wage is a way to ensure no person is locked in servitude unjustly. The current minimum wage is $7.25 is tantamount to unjust servitude and in order to send a message that we do not condone that behavior, we must raise the minimum wage to ensure a livable existence for all people."
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?
"I am totally in favor of the state becoming a sanctuary state where we will take care of people who are being denied their constitutional right to bodily autonomy."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"In light of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the resulting schizophrenic state laws imposing disparate bans all over the country, I will do everything in my power to preserve an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy in New Hampshire. I would vote to approve a constitutional amendment to preserve an individual's right to choose, which is central to their liberty and dignity, and will stop any efforts to further curtail a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
"We are a country of immigrants, most of whom are here legally. Mandating local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement would inadvertently encourage racial profiling that is either overt or implicit and that puts everyone in a lose/lose situation. It is thanks to the welcoming of asylum seekers and new Americans to New Hampshire that we are finally chipping away at the notoriety of being a predominantly White state. Adding to the mosaic of diversity in New Hampshire enhances society and I would encourage the state and its non-governmental partners to welcome as many new Americans as the communities can accommodate. One area of legislation that I would promote is an increase in access to language interpreters to assist new Americans."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"On too many occasions, we have woken up to the news of another mass shooting at a school, other public venue, or religious institution. Since 1995, there have been an average of 45,000 gun-deaths per year. How can a civilized society accept such senseless death, especially of young children who are our future? There are a few common-sense gun safety measures that need to be passed to reduce the epidemic gun violence that exists today, like universal background checks, assault weapon ban, limit number of bullets in clips, raise minimum age to 21, and a red flag law."
