Tomorrow, the New Hampshire House will vote on a bill that would give its members a nice winter handout — free passes for a local ski area.
House Bill 0514 reads, “An act permitting members of the general court to receive ski passes for Cannon Mountain ski area.”
According to a local TV station, WMUR9, supporters argue that “lawmakers have open access to state parks which promotes awareness of the locations,” and that “skiing at Cannon doesn’t add cost to the ski area.”
Cannon Mountain ski resort has not been part of the discussion. The bill’s sponsors never contacted the resort in regards to legislating free passes for lawmakers. “We have no opinion,” a manager at Cannon told Red Alert. “We want nothing to do with it.”
Over the course of a winter, 125,000 to 150,000 people visit the Cannon Mountain ski resort. A full-day adult lift ticket to the ski resort costs $70. A season pass costs $785. The New Hampshire House of Representatives has 400 members, amounting to $314,000 in season passes.
A majority of the Legislative Administration Committee is recommending that the House kill it when it comes to vote.
