Open Thread - NH House Edits Permanent Record - Granite Grok

Open Thread – NH House Edits Permanent Record

Pencil erasing editing redactingAt the start of yesterday morning’s program NH House Rep. Frank Edelblut shared a story with us about leadership editing the permanent House record.

They removed part of an opening prayer from the final record that included the phrase “the born and the unborn.” Praying for the born and unborn is, according to someone, a bit too controversial to leave in the historical record. My concern, and the point of our discussion was is that really something the people want the political leadership to control?

What is to keep them from editing out more important bits whenever they see fit or changing the words of legislators to advance some private agenda?

I know nothing John Snow about what is traditional, typical, or permitted, so please feel free to add your input on any aspect of this debate in the pursuit of our shared enlightenment.

Update: While posting this to facebook I discovered (thank you, Susan Olsen) that there is an article on the editing question in the Concord Monitor this morning. (I didn’t have any digital fish to wrap so why would I even look?)

On Feb. 4, guest chaplain Dr. Peter Chamberland delivered the House opening prayer. “Lord, through every situation, that you would protect our children through the great drug crisis that goes across our state, both those that are born and the unborn, that you would watch over them,” said Chamberland, pastor of the Granite State Baptist Church in Concord.

The phrase “born and the unborn,” which alludes to bigger debates on conception and abortion, was not printed in the journal. Neither was Chamberland’s reference to “Your son.”

Such remarks are often edited, Smith said. Had a guest chaplain prayed for Planned Parenthood, Smith said he would have removed the reference too.

Member speeches the House votes to print in the permanent journal are traditionally “cleaned up,” to remove the “ums” or “ahs,” Smith said. Some members said Thursday any changes to printed remarks should be reviewed and okayed by their speaker.

There you have it. Or do you? Thoughts?

One more update. It may not be leadership who is involved in the specific change so I amended the headline but left the reference to their potential to meddle in the body of the text.

>