HB 144, prohibiting the state, counties, towns, and cities from implementing programs of, expending money for, receiving funding from, or contracting with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.
MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS.
Rep. Syndi G White for the Majority of Municipal and County Government: The International Council for Local Initiatives (ICLEI) is a U.N. sponsored organization which helps promote sustainability, climate protection, and clean energy initiatives for towns, cities and counties who choose to join. ICLEI supports local governments by providing technical assistance and training, events, software and networking opportunities.
In NH, four municipalities (Wolfeboro, Nashua, Keene and Portsmouth) are members. Supporters of this bill testified that ICLEI (also known as Agenda 21) is impacting property rights, ruining farms and forcing people to live in “smart zones”. They inferred that ICLEI reaches further into areas of education, religion and mind-control. However, NH towns and cities who have membership in ICLEI have not experienced any of these perceived threats or negative impacts. Opponents of this bill cite the importance of keeping the decision whether or not to join ICLEI, or any such organization, at the local level. The issue for the committee in deciding to ITL was indeed one of local control. This bill would strip municipalities of their decision-making ability to join an organization which they feel provides services, advice, and solutions to some of the 21st century challenges they are facing. Vote 14-3.
Rep. James E Coffey for the Minority of Municipal and County Government: The constitution of the united States prohibits states from entering into any compact or agreement with a foreign power without prior approval by congress. The towns, cities and counties are political subdivisions of the state and therefore cannot enter into any compact or agreement with a foreign power. The international council of legislative environmental initiatives known as ICLEI, has 84 foreign states among it’s membership. The u.S. Congress has not authorized states, counties, or municipal governments permission to join ICLEI.
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/caljourns/calendars/2013/HC_11.pdf
