Concord — March 27, 2009 — The N.H. House of Representatives yesterday shelved a bill that would have required swimmers in Ossipee Lake and five other large state lakes to wear red caps or face fines while swimming more than 150 ft. from shore. On a vote of 201 to 97, the House ruled that the bill, HB 225, was “inexpedient to legislate.”
The bill, sponsored by Sullivan County legislator Suzanne Gottling, had earlier passed through the Transportation Committee on a vote of 15-0 and appeared headed toward passage until a TV station and state newspaper picked up the story. Lake organization websites, including winnipesaukee.com, quickly followed suit and public comments, almost entirely negative, began to accumulate.
Local Representatives Susan Wiley and Mark McConkey voted with the majority to shelve the bill. Representative John Roberts did not vote, according to the roll call.
Perhaps some legislators should be fined for not wearing their bright red dunce caps?
I’m glad Susan and Mark voted it down, red caps a not the answer.
Good, some common sense.
Now let’s get rid of the ‘Gay’ marriage bill.
You can not regulate “common sense”.