My first conversation with Keene Senator Thomas Eaton

[FTL_Ian]

I had a six minute conversation with Keene Senator Tom Eaton today.  Very nice guy.  We talked about the smoking ban first.

He feels like this was a core issue to his constituency, and felt like he had to vote for the ban in order to have a chance at winning in 2006.  Apparantly his seat was held by a democrat for decades prior to him.  I expressed my displeasure at his lack of principle on this.  He bemoaned the Keene Sentinel ripping him up all the time, and I asked if he'd seen the KFP.  He had not, so I told him it was competition for the Sentinel, and he might want to take a look at it.

Next we discussed the REAL ID opt-out.  He said he'd likely vote for it, but that he can't say for sure as he has not read it.  He asked if I had, and I mentioned I have not, but said that I rely on the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance as I don't have time to read legislation.

He said he looks forward to meeting me in NH.  Nice guy.  I think I'll keep his cel phone number handy for the future.

[Dave Ridley]

probably not a bad idea for ALL of us to read the bill

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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT prohibiting New Hampshire from participating in a national identification card system.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Prohibition Against Participation in National Identification System. The general court finds that the public policy established by Congress in the Real ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, is contrary and repugnant to Articles 1 through 10 of the New Hampshire constitution as well as Amendments 4 though 10 of the Constitution for the United States of America. Therefore, the state of New Hampshire shall not participate in a national identification card system; nor shall the department of safety amend the procedures for applying for a driver?s license under RSA 263 or an identification card under RSA 260:21.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

[SocialDemocrat]

Tom Eaton did catch heck from some local Republican stalwarts who were disappointed in his pro-smoking ban vote. One told me he had voice disapproval to Tom personally.

TE is in a difficult place in Cheshire County, which, like the Sea Coast region, tends to be a bit more liberal then the rest of New Hampshire.



Here's a humorous exchange I had with Tom Eaton. He was hosting a visit by Presidential hopeful Gov Mitt Romney a few weeks back at the Keene Country Club. I was one of the first to arrive, and the only Democrat present. I asked Tom where I should sit. He pointed out the back of the ballroom, to a coat closet and cheerfully said "there!

[Russell Kanning]

Nothing like a principled man who votes according to the constitution and his conscience.

[Russell Kanning]

It must really suck to have a liberal paper speak badly about you ..... how can a man handle that kind of pressure?

[citizen_142002]

I heard Eaton speak at the Keene Memorial Day ceremony. What he said was admirable enough. He said that the best way we can pay tribute to those who have died overseas, if to be vigilant in defending the freedoms which they died to protect.

Of course he had just voted in favor of RealID a week or so before.

Let's just say, I did feel he was living up to his own speech.