From the Concord Monitor, 9/8/2009

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by elchase

We're not talking about a "new" law anymore. We are talking about the status quo. The SL is the law and the question now is "Why let a law that is working so well sunset?". That is a huge difference over challenging the enactment of a new law.


You have it backwards. Where is the relevant data that justifies sunseting a law? The people who fought for the law are loving it.. why would the legislature let a working law sunset in an election year? Why would they abandon their constituents...who vote... and side with a small fraction ...who don't vote? Imagine someone is killed the summer after they sunset this law after two years of incident-free boating...imagine the outrage. What legislator is going to take that chance?

I'm not talking about a new law, I'm referring to an existing law. As written, the law will sunset after the 2010 season unless there is DATA that justifies extending the law. Data does not include perceptions of safety or warm fuzzy feelings.

What would happen if there was an accident on the lake next year? They say that implementing speed limits on other lakes have been successful. Try a quick search for Candlewood lake in CT, a lake with a SL that had a fatal accident last July. There's some relevant DATA.

Originally Posted by elchase

But you guys say that the MP is not bothering with it. Where is the money being wasted? Make up your minds.

Money is wasted when state representatives propose unnecessary amendments to a bill, when that money and time would be better spent dealing with the economy, unemployment, and budget shortfalls; not some feel good legislation.