Upper Valley businesses join opposition to ‘divisive topics’ bill
Modified: 5/2/2021 6:05:02 PM
WEST LEBANON About a dozen Upper Valley institutions, including Dartmouth College, have signed a letter urging New Hampshire lawmakers to reject legislation that critics say would ban businesses, schools and state contractors from teaching about systemic racism.
The measure, which is included in the budget approved last month by the New Hampshire House, would ban the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts,” including the belief that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.”
It also would prohibit teaching that the United States is “fundamentally racist or sexist,” and that any person, by virtue of their race or sex, is “inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive.”
New Hampshire is not developing or requiring “vaccine passports, documents that show you were vaccinated against COVID-19, but a proposed legislative measure would prohibit state government from requiring people to receive the vaccine.
The measure also would prohibit the state from entering into any contract or distributing taxpayer money to any business that would require a so-called passport, or would in any way discriminate against someone who refuses to receive the vaccine.
“Vaccine passports could discriminate against people flying, traveling, trying to get a job, or even something as simple as going to the supermarket, Rep. Tim Baxter, R-Seabrook, its sponsor, testified before the House Committee on Executive Departments and Administration on Tuesday.
By KATHY McCORMACKApril 27, 2021 GMT
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) New Hampshire is not developing or requiring “vaccine passports,” documents that show you were vaccinated against COVID-19, but a proposed legislative measure would prohibit state government from requiring people to receive the vaccine or possess the passport.
The measure also would prohibit the state from entering into any contract or distributing taxpayer money to any business that would require the passport, or would in any way discriminate against someone who refuses to receive the vaccine.
“Vaccine passports could discriminate against people flying, traveling, trying to get a job, or even something as simple as going to the supermarket,” Rep. Tim Baxter, R-Seabrook, its sponsor, testified before the House Committee on Executive Departments and Administration on Tuesday.
NH Democratic Senators: We strongly oppose HB 544
NH Senators Sue Prentiss, Becky Whitley, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka
As freshman state senators, we feel compelled to express our strong opposition to House Bill 544. The language of HB 544 seeks to ban state agencies, K-12 schools, public colleges and universities, and state contractors from teaching certain “divisive concepts” like race and sex.
What this actually means is that discussions about systemic racism, gender inequality, and other important aspects of our country s history will be muzzled under the guise of neutrality and equality. But this is doublespeak. This bill perpetuates and codifies a culture of silence, inaction, unequal treatment, and oppression - and creates even more division in our state.
Our Turn: HB 544 codifies a culture of silence concordmonitor.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from concordmonitor.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.