Smokers, gamblers and mercury addicts will want to pay attention to the state Legislature this week. Casino gambling, raising the tobacco tax and reducing mercury levels in the state are just some of the items on the agenda in Concord.

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee will discuss Rep. Edmund Gionet's (R-Lincoln) bill to permit casino gambling in the state. Under HB 685, a private casino-resort could be built in the North Country.

The state would profit from revenue generated by the casino; more jobs would be created in the area, and the region's flagging tourism industry would get a much-needed boost, Gionet said.

"There's a pretty good traffic flow up here, and ... these people have got a lot of money and time and they're anxious to spend it," Gionet told The Wire in an earlier interview.

Also on Feb. 16, the House State Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee will take a look at HB 333, Rep. Dick Marple's (R-Hooksett) bill that "affirms the rights of the people of this state to choose their political status in human society."

The bill is a response to a Congressional Act passed in 1871 that allowed the U.S. government status as a corporation within the borders of Washington, D.C. This act created a corporate form of government that has no jurisdiction outside of Washington, D.C. and trampled the rights of "sovereign citizens," he said.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, it's a tobacco double-header as the House Ways and Means Committee looks at HB 563 and HB 535, both calling for an increase in the state tobacco tax. The difference between the bills is the final destination of the revenue. HB 563 doesn't specify how much the increase would be; however, the rate would be 25 percent less than the lowest cigarette tax rate of any neighboring states. Half of the increase would be earmarked for the education trust fund. Meanwhile, HB 535 would increase cigarette prices by $1.27 a pack, with $3 million of annual tobacco tax revenues going to the tobacco use prevention fund.

On Friday, Feb. 18, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will discuss HB 673, which would make it a felony to knowingly transmit HIV or hepatitis to another person. Rep. Lee Slocum (R-Amherst) is sponsoring the bill.

"There are these predators out there that we hear about that we need to protect people against," he said.

Slocum drafted the bill after seeing a segment on "The O'Reilly Factor" about other states that have passed similar laws.

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Environment and Agriculture Committee will look at HB 371, which would ban the disposal of mercury-added products in landfills and at solid waste transfer stations.

Rep. James Phinizy (D-Acworth) is sponsoring the bill. Mercury pollution is a severe problem in the state, he said, one that affects the environment and public health as well as state revenues. Mercury can seep into lakes and streams and poison fish and other wildlife. The state Department of Environmental Services has issued a fish consumption advisory due to mercury contamination found in the state's inland freshwater fish.

"If these people come to the state...and see signs that say, 'Once you've caught the fish, don't eat it,'" the state will be hit with severe revenue reduction, Phinizy said.

"You're dealing with potential people not wanting to bother and come up here and hunt fish."

Also that day, the Legislative Administration Committee will look at HB 288, Rep. David Currier's (R-Henniker) bill that would establish a commission to examine bringing Killington, Vt., into New Hampshire. Killington voted to secede from Vermont last spring, citing an unreasonably high tax burden coupled with a lack of services from the state. Killington officials approached Currier to get the process rolling in New Hampshire. But don't expect Killington to become a province of New Hampshire any time soon; even if Currier's bill passes, each state's Legislature, along with Congress, must approve the secession.

All meetings are open to the public. For a full calendar, visit the Legislature's Web site at http://gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/.