NH candidates for governor split on seat belt law

CONCORD, N.H.—Democratic Gov. John Lynch believes wearing seat belts saves lives, but isn't sure a mandatory seat belt law for adults will work -- a hot topic for years in a state that doesn't require adults to be belted.

"I am not convinced a state law will increase seat belt usage," Lynch said in response to an Associated Press survey on government's role in citizens' lives. Lynch, of Hopkinton, is seeking his third term as governor.

New Hampshire requires children up to age 18 to wear restraints, but is the only state without a similar requirement for adults. The House narrowly passed a bill to require seat belt usage by adults last year, but the Senate killed it. New Hampshire relies instead on education and voluntary usage.

Republican state Sen. Joe Kenney, who voted against the seat belt bill, criticized Lynch for not telling lawmakers his position while they were debating the issue.

"Personally, I believe you should wear a safety belt in a vehicle, however, I do not believe a law needs to be written to mandate it for adults," added Kenney, who is unopposed for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

Democrat Katy Forry, who is challenging Lynch in the Sept. 9 primary, not only supports mandatory seat belt usage, but also believes New Hampshire should require vehicles to be covered by insurance, another strongly debated issue in the Statehouse in years past.

New Hampshire doesn't require drivers to carry auto insurance. If they are at fault in an accident, they could be required to post a bond or cash equal to the damages.

Both Democrats said they support abortion rights.

"I do not believe government should interfere in decisions that are best made by women, their families and their health care providers," said Lynch.

Forry, a retired teacher from Jaffrey, said she would trust the woman, not government, "no matter what age she is" to make a decision about abortion.

Kenney harshly criticized Lynch for signing a law repealing a parental notification a law that would have required parents to be notified when their minor daughters sought abortions. The law never was enforced; a federal judge declared it unconstitutional because it lacked a provision to forgo notification in emergencies where the health of the mother is at stake.

Amendments to the law that would have granted some form of health exception in emergencies failed in both the House and Senate.

"Instead of fixing it, the liberal majority in Concord led by Governor Lynch took the opportunity to eliminate it. They have now created a situation where girls who are seeking abortion(s) will come across the border to ... have abortions," said Kenney. "It was one of the worst decisions that a sitting New Hampshire governor has ever made."

Lynch said he believes parents should be involved in the decisions, but that isn't always possible "and the health and safety of young women must not be jeopardized in those cases."

"I think we should continue to look for ways to encourage adult involvement and support, where possible, in these cases," he said.

The three also differ on government's role in granting legal rights to gays.

Last year, Lynch signed a civil unions law granting gay couples the same rights and responsibilities of married couples in all aspects but name.

The law has clear limits. Gay couples acquire substantial new state protections ranging from important health benefits to the ability to inherit without a will. But they are treated legally as two unmarried adults in most states and don't qualify for federal benefits enjoyed by married couples, such as Social Security or veterans survivor benefits.

"Dating back to the Abolitionist movement, we in New Hampshire have a long, proud history of taking the lead in opposing discrimination," Lynch told The AP. "People in committed relationships should not have to worry about visiting a loved one in a hospital, or whether their loved ones will inherit their estate, or the many other legal protections so many of us take for granted."

Forry said she would sign a gay marriage law and believes federal law eventually will recognize gay unions.

Kenney criticized the law for giving more rights to gay couples than to unmarried heterosexual couples living together.

"I believe marriage is between a man and a woman," added Kenney. "Under the 1996 (federal) Defense of Marriage Act, states do not have to treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state."

The three candidates would continue to fight implementation of the federal Real ID Act, which requires new security measures for state-issued driver's licenses. Some believe the law is tantamount to creating a national identification card and database.

"If the national database is breached and identities are stolen, the government should be held liable to make citizens' lives whole again," said Forry.

The three also said radio frequency identification chips -- RFID chips -- which are used to track goods could infringe on consumer privacy and warrant government regulation, but they differed on their approaches. Lynch and Forry prefer for Congress to act first.

Kenney believes New Hampshire should protect its citizens.

"New Hampshire consumers need to be notified in some form whether or not a product contains an electronic device and given the option to ensure that it has been deactivated upon purchase," said Kenney of Wakefield.

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On the net:

Lynch: http://www.lynchcommittee.com/

Kenney: http://www.draftkenney.com/

Forry's mailing address: Forry for Governor, P.O. Box 464, Jaffrey, N.H. 03452