By Julie Huss [email protected] – Jun 26, 2016
LONDONDERRY — Legislators offered a look at the state’s business Friday, including what’s coming up in the next year and what issues are at the top of the Statehouse’s agenda.
The Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual legislative breakfast forum at Londonderry Country Club.
State legislators representing towns across Southern New Hampshire — along with business leaders and town officials — joined together to hear updates from a panel of fellow lawmakers.
They included Rep. Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett; Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro; Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead; and Rep. Robert Introne, R-Londonderry.
Chamber President Will Stewart said although the organization remains nonpartisan on state legislation and issues, it’s important to hear from lawmakers in Concord to receive updates on business and bills that affect the area.
“We are nonpartisan but we do like to hold political events to give the business community a chance to interact with legislators,” Stewart said.
Stewart noted that this year was the first time the Chamber became involved in legislative policy, saying the organization may take a position on a business-related issue or bill.
Stewart introduced the panel of speakers and said the group has a lot of experience and knowledge while working on state committees dealing with energy, transportation and technology.
Bradley, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the big issues so far this year fall into into two categories — heroin and “everything else.”
That “everything else,” Bradley noted, includes work on the state’s energy concerns and finding new resources to handle New Hampshire’s power needs.
