“By their own admission, leaders of the Republican Revolution of 1994 think their greatest mistake was overlooking the power of the veto. They gave the impression they were somehow in charge when they weren’t…” ~Sen. Mitch McConnell
I join with other citizens in expressing my humblest gratitutude to the New Hampshire House and Senate for overriding Governor Lynch’s veto of House Bill 329. The Parental Notification Bill has been an epic power struggle between the Progressives and the Conservatives. Many of us patiently waited to see the final result. To those lawmakers who supported New Hampshire families, I say “Thank You!”
Parental Notification is very important to families across the Granite State. Governor Lynch knew this and recognized this in his veto message when he stated, ” I support parental notification and parental involvement in a minor’s decision to seek an abortion.(my emphasis) The decision whether to complete a pregnancy or seek an abortion is a serious and life-changing one for any pregnant woman. Minors need and benefit from the support and guidance of their parents…” Yet Governor Lynch struck down the bill for want of exceptions for Rape, Incest and abuse, despite an included mother’s health exception and a judicial bypass function to the notification requirement. New Hampshire had a parental notification law which was truck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003. Yet, instead of fixing that law, the Democrats took power and did away with it…legilsation that John Lynch signed. In final analysis, the word, “Machiavellian” comes to mind when asked to summarize Lynch and his veto in one word.
With the veto override of HB329, it is now clear to Lynch, if not for any Democrat, that his power to veto is never certain. Likewise, to Republicans that his ability to sustain a veto is still formidable, despite a Republican majority.
Despite the overarching sweep of this veto override, it cannot be left unstated that thirteen Republican House members and two Senators stuck with Governor Lynch on a keystone family issue. State Reps, David Babson, Julie Brown, Frank Case, Richard Drisko, Stephanie Eaton, Carolyn Gargasz, Ken Gould, John Hunt, David Kidder, Priscilla Lockwood, Irene Messier, Alida Milham, and Paul Simard were the House defectors. Senators Bob Odell and Nancy Stiles defected for the Senate. Without a look at their voting record I could not qualify calling them RINO’s. But let’s be clear: Their votes were clearly RINO votes. And while elections rarely turn on one single event or adverse vote, votes like this should be instructive to the people they elect the world view and lens through which they view their constituents.
I am not going to try and predict what the future holds when they run to regain their seats. In many cases such a vote may have no impact at all. But to be certain, parental notification will be an issue these house and senate members will have to revisit. Primaries have been held for lesser reasons.
And to my fellow Republicans, there is no time for gloating. There have been several vetoes from this governor and this is the first veto override. There is no inevitability within the majority.
