Subject: [big campaign] NH RELEASE: GSP Applauds NH House Standing Up for Employee Protections During HB 357 Committee of Conference
From: Aniello Alioto <[email-masked]>
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:28:08 -0400
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

Friends - this was a major victory for us yesterday and another major blow
we organized against an ALEC initiative in The Granite State. Many, many
thanks to our siblings in the labor movement for the rapid response
assistance!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: *Zandra Rice-Hawkins*
Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2013

*For Immediate Release*
Tuesday, June 18, 2013

*Media Contact*
Zandra Rice Hawkins, (603) 892-2150

*Granite State Progress Applauds NH House Standing Up for Employee
Protections During HB 357 Committee of Conference*
*
Jeb Bradley and the American Payroll Association would have moved New
Hampshire workers over to fee-laden payroll cards*

Concord, NH – Granite State Progress applauds the New Hampshire House – and
specifically, State Representatives Andy White, Chuck Weed, Doug Ley and
Michael Cahill – for standing strong to protect workers and small
businesses in New Hampshire during the Committee of Conference on HB 357
today.

The New Hampshire House previously voted SB 100, abolishing paper paycheck
options, inexpedient to legislate by a strong bi-partisan vote of 235-93.
In response, the Senate added the same policy to a pro-worker bill, HB 357,
which would have prohibited an employer from using credit history in
employment decisions.

“We were disappointed to see the Senate use a pro-active, worker’s rights
bill as a vehicle for a policy that would undoubtedly hurt middle and lower
income families,” said Zandra Rice Hawkins, director of Granite State
Progress. “Granite State Progress applauds the House decision to non-concur
on the bill rather than allow Jeb Bradley to abolish paper paycheck options
in New Hampshire and push employees without bank accounts over to payroll
cards with few to no consumer protections. This special interest
legislation would have come at a cost to New Hampshire families and small
businesses.”

Passing legislation that abolishes paper paychecks or otherwise forces
workers over to fee-laden payroll cards follows a dangerous pattern
supported by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Senator Jeb
Bradley has been the prime sponsor of such legislation in recent years,
going so far as to mislead committee members and fellow legislators about
the use of the cards. During the COC today, Bradley attempted to tell
conferees that workers would not be charged payroll card fees if they used
nationally branded cards, which is not true.

Representing the Senate for the COC were Senators Jeb Bradley, Andy
Sanborn, and Andrew Hosmer.

###

*More on Payroll Cards*
Payroll cards act as a form of debit cards, often carrying a brand such as
Visa or Mastercard, and are used as such – right down to the fees for
withdrawals, payments and balance checks. In committee, the NH Department
of Labor testified that fees associated with payroll cards may come at a
cost to employees, and noted that not all cards are the same and that each
card has its own rules. Examples of payroll withdrawal caps and fees can be
pages long, and include things like a $5 fee for a balance print-out.
Corporations like Visa have been eager to transition workers to payroll
cards to collect more fees from the transactions, including transaction
fees charged at local businesses who accept the cards for payment. At an
ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force meeting in
2011, a lobbyist from Visa brought forward a resolution in support of
payroll cards.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, allows corporate
special interests to sit next to legislators and draft legislation that
specifically benefits their bottom line, often at the expense of everyday
Granite Staters.

*Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that
addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State
Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to
provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to
critical community problems. Press releases and other information available
online at www.GraniteStateProgress.org.*

-- 
Zandra Rice Hawkins
Executive Director
Granite State Progress
Office: (603) 225.2471
Mobile: (603) 892.2150
[email-masked] <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
[email-masked]');>

Friend us on Facebook! <https://www.facebook.com/granite.progress>
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-- 
Aniello Alioto
National Political Director
[email-masked]

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