The last Thursday in March is the New Hampshire House’s deadline to act on all the House bills, resolutions, etc.
These House session days are usually jammed packed with bills and often there are many twists and turns, but yesterday was one for the record books.
The Republican-led House was busy throwing out the State Constitution (and angering local election officials in the process), cutting legal assistance for the poor, voting to have NH take over Medicare (ending Medicare as we know it), usurping local control, inserting state government between women and doctors, and voting to raise energy costs.
Please share this with friends, neighbors, and co-workers…
House Republicans Throw Out the State Constitution
Local officials in communities that would lose representation under the O’Brien plan weren’t happy with the unannounced House vote Wednesday to override Gov. John Lynch’s veto on the unconstitutional redistricting plan.
Republican Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas:
“For the biggest city in the state to lose two of its reps – it’s just not right. I was under the impression that our delegation was standing together on this, but it looks like some of them may have become distracted.”
Pelham Town Administrator Tom Gaydos:
“Totally disappointed by it, the selectmen will be disappointed by it as well. The community has put its opposition to this plan in writing.”“We all know how things get done at this level, especially in New Hampshire. The Average Joe meets his or her rep at the supermarket, and asks them about this issue, or that program, or how they voted on something. We have one rep who lives here. Rep. Lynne Ober and her husband, Russ, from Hudson have visited, but that’s it. The other reps – I wouldn’t know it if I bumped into them on the street.”
Litchfield Town Administrator Jason Hoch:
“I was disappointed to hear of it. Geographically, Litchfield and Manchester may be close to each other, but as far as population, demographics and other traits – they couldn’t be further apart. It’s disappointing, to say the least.”
House Democrats’ statement:
“Several Republican State Representatives have offered plans that would have complied with the New Hampshire Constitution and federal requirements, and House Democrats supported those plans – because this should not be a partisan issue.”
House Republicans Cut Legal Assistance for the Poor
After passing their GOP budget last year that eliminated $1.74 million in state support for New Hampshire Legal Assistance, an organization that provides advice and legal services to 10,000 low-income and elderly residents per year, 10% of them veterans.
Yesterday, they passed HB 1395, although this seems like just another attack on the Supreme Court, it actually cuts about $150,000 from the legal services for the poor, Rep. Richardson explains it well in his minority report on the bill.
Democratic Floor Leader Gary Richardson:
“This bill seeks to revoke rules issued by the Supreme Court relating to interest on a lawyer’s escrow account containing funds received on behalf of clients for short periods of time. The interest on these accounts is not traceable to a particular client because the funds are only held for very short periods of time in a commingled account on behalf of multiple clients. (Any client funds that are held in an individual account are the property of the client and must be segregated for the benefit of the client who is entitled to the funds.) The interest that is earned on these commingled accounts is paid to a public foundation and used to provide legal services for the poor and other public services related to the practices of law…”
House Republicans Voted to End Medicare as We Know It
This reckless plan would cut health care for tens of thousands of seniors and vulnerable New Hampshire residents. Even the non-partisan Committee on Aging came out against this bill.
Russ Armstrong, Chair of the NH Committee on Aging wrote an op-ed in this Sunday:
“All protections and oversight for seniors under Medicare and Medicaid would be eliminated. The New Hampshire Legislature could terminate any medical services or privatize them at additional cost to seniors”“The State Committee on Aging does not lightly take strong positions on pending legislation. However, HB 1560 is so egregious and potentially dangerous to the future of senior health care that we adamantly oppose the bill. Seniors should be aware of the threats to their health care and encourage their legislators to oppose this bill. Remember: Seniors vote!”
House Republicans Usurped Local Control
For several years, the Merrimack Valley School District has implemented the International Baccalaureate program which emphasizes mastering academic material such as math, history and science. Only recently has there been an issue with the program as some Republican State Representatives raised concerns about it having a foreign origin.
During a recent local district budget meeting the voters voted to keep the IB program by nearly 70%.
So you have to ask yourself, why would the NH House feel that they know better than local voters?
House Republicans Voted to get between Women and their Doctors
House Republicans continued their attacks on women – whether it’s repealing contraception coverage, defunding basic preventive health care services for thousands of New Hampshire women, or now interfering with the doctor-patient relationship…it just doesn’t end!
Here’s an excerpt of my comments:
“Women are smart and thoughtful, and they take great care in making all their medical decisions. Women don’t need the legislature butting into the process. If the legislature wants to start controlling all of aspects of our health care, when will the House Republicans pass a bill that mandates that men have to wait 24 hours before they can have a vasectomy or have Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction? House Bill 1659 is a dangerous bill that inserts government into the doctor and patient relationship. This is a clear violation of the woman’s rights and the physicians’ responsibilities.”
And one of my favorite lines of day, courtesy of Rep. Stephen Shurtleff:
“The bill contains criminal penalties and disciplinary measures against our medical professionals. This bill replaces the Physicians’ Desk Reference with the New Hampshire Criminal Code.”
House Republicans vote to Raise Energy Costs
After the vote to repeal New Hampshire’s regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI) Rep. Naida Kaen, Democratic Policy Leader on the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, issued the following statement:
“The repeal of NH’s participation in the RGGI program is foolhardy and rash. Repealing RGGI means that New Hampshire ratepayers will still pay the premium for the program but will receive none of the benefits.”“This is a job killing bill!…Withdrawal from the program will harm citizens, businesses and the environment.”
Please check out our facebook page and follow me on Twitter @TerieNorelli for House Session updates.
