NH House In Session

Obstruction and Rancor for 3 days in the NH House

In my view, the divisiveness in our national politics is being reflected right here in New Hampshire with a House and Senate that frequently votes along party lines. This is unfortunate and bad for making good public policy. Now serving my fourth term I believe this session may likely be historic in how obstruction and manipulation of the process is winning the day.

The Majority leadership decided to severely limit our session days because it claims it cannot find space in NH large enough for the body to meet while practicing social distancing and that there are no specific rules of conduct to accommodate those who feel meeting in public will cause serious health problems.

Fortunately our NH Supreme Court has weighed in on meeting accommodations and has directed a lower court to re-look at that decision by the leadership that shuts out over two dozen legislators from attending House sessions. With that decision I’m hopeful all legislators can execute their sworn duties to represent their constituents; however a lot of damage has been done to the state of NH and its citizens working under these conditions. In the three-day marathon House session that ended on April 9, 2021 there were no votes taken on 73 bills, many of which were sponsored and supported by Democrats.

The broad and aggressive moves by the Majority to rig our sessions to kill so many bills without discussion, debate, or votes is unprecedented. Last term when we were pushed up to a deadline, the Democratic Majority showed leadership and a commitment to the institution by staying until 4 in the morning to finish the people’s business. This Majority showed that they have no interest in transparency or the legitimate functioning of this body.

We were forced to end business due to a contractual obligation with the facility and vendors helping with sound and logistics. Running out of time to act on these bills effectively kills them for the year since today was the deadline.

As evidence of the obstruction, the Speaker took the unusual step of listing the bills recommended ITL (inexpedient to legislate) at the end of the calendar, instead of the normal alphabetical-by-committee order, which meant they would be the last to be acted on. Instead of having the courage to debate these bills on the floor and let the full House vote on the outcome, it appears that the Majority party deliberately organized the debate schedule to arrive at this outcome.

Not only did we run out of time to meet the Friday April 9, 2021 deadline on deciding on these 73 bills, but also many that were voted on in my opinion, simply were not ready to be brought forth, regardless of the committee recommendation. Because our normal committee and legislative processes were shortened, delayed or outright cancelled there was a huge disservice to our NH citizens and to those who brought forth bills in good faith.

There were many newly introduced bills in the dozens brought before us that I felt needed more information, more investigation or more deliberation and I voted as I saw fit, trying to understand what the consequences of passage or rejection may mean. Defeated bills can be brought back for further study and examination and many usually show up again.

I split my votes on bills that had serious consideration. I supported a bill brought by the Majority speaker to expand the rooms and meals tax to companies that provide a car sharing platform and I rejected a bill brought by a Republican colleague on the Ways and Means Committee to allow historic horse racing in this state. Both bills did pass.

I also consistently voted against bills that I believe would have raised your property taxes.

This is but a first step in the legislative process. The bills that were voted on will now go the Senate and those that didn’t get a vote by the April 9 deadline are dead for this year.

Another unfortunate precedent that was set by this legislature’s leadership is the time honored tradition that every bill introduced gets a vote by the entire House. I’m sad that we seem to have abandoned that commitment in the interest blatant party politics.