The Monitor editorial about Senate Bill 324 attempts to accomplish through deception and falsehood that which could not be done in our legislative process.
SB 324 has been exhaustively reviewed by no less than seven committees, subcommittees and committees of conference in the New Hampshire House and Senate. It was drafted with the assistance of our Department of Resources and Economic Development and was opposed strongly at every level by elected representatives who offered the very same false statements presented by the Monitor in an attempt to protect the special interests they are representing.
SB 324 does two things.
First, it re-establishes the right of due process granted to every town in New Hampshire for federal takings of land, but stripped from the towns within the proposed boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest by federal decree in the early 20th century. Since then, 19 small towns have ceased to exist because of federal “management” of the WMNF.
Second, it ensures that New Hampshire remains in the hands of the people, businesses and institutions that are New Hampshire, and that our forests and lands do not continue to be taken by federal agencies on missions that damage the economic interests of our people, our businesses and our communities.
The exaggerations made in the editorial are seriously misinformed, and as is always the case when facts do not support a position, use of fear and unfounded warnings of disastrous consequences are touted in an attempt to sway public opinion.
SB 324 is good legislation that responsibly balances New Hampshire’s interests against an increasingly aggressive federal government that continues to acquire our lands and forests, taking control and/or ownership away from New Hampshire citizens and businesses.
It is disingenuous that the Monitor should cry out that “the sky is falling” because our elected representatives have carefully scrutinized and then passed legislation that responsibly protects the interests and property rights of our people, businesses and communities.
(Bob Giuda lives in Warren.)