Guest post by Phyllis Woods, RNC Committeewoman from NH in rebuttal to Tony Soltani (his letter after the jump):
This week a group of friends and supporters gathered at the home of a State Rep in Amherst to celebrate the sixtieth birthday of the Speaker of the House, Bill O’Brien. Many State Reps were there to express their appreciation for his outstanding leadership as well as his friendship with the members of the House.
As a representative of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee I would also like extend my thanks for the leadership and influence he has shown to the State Committee. In the summer of 2007, Representative O’Brien was one of the first people to come forward to endorse my candidacy for the role of National Committeewoman and my election was due in part to his efforts on my behalf. Earlier this year he endorsed and nominated our current State party Chairman. In addition to that O’Brien has worked on our state bylaws committee as well as lending his considerable time and talents to the role of Chairman of the Platform Committee. Under his capable leadership the committee crafted the most comprehensive and conservative platform we have ever had.
After being elected as Speaker of the House he set about to put into place the provisions and the goals embodied in that platform, a platform that he and Republican members of the House ran on in the election in November of last year. The perseverance, tenacity, and courage that he has brought to the effort to fulfill that promise and execute the very agenda that he, as well as other Republican candidates laid out in their campaign, has been nothing short of remarkable. It speaks to his determination and his integrity. That Bill O’Brien is a man of sterling character and a man of his word is beyond question.
We are fortunate beyond our greatest expectations to be blessed with Bill O’Brien at the helm of our ship of state. Republicans throughout the state recognize with pride that he is the most powerful political figure in New Hampshire. This is not a title or a mantle that rests comfortably on O’Brien, he is a very humble and modest man who doesn’t take himself too seriously. He possesses the unique combination of talents and skills and the perfect temperament that are needed in a leader at this time. I recall speaking to him over the last two years about the fact that people were urging him to run for Speaker. It was not an easy decision for him. He really didn’t want to take on that role or responsibility and all the personal time, effort, and sacrifice it would entail for both him and his family. He eventually realized, after much personal reflection and consideration of the input and advice of many who knew what he was capable of, that he was the one person who had the experience, insight, and talent to lead our legislature and our party.
I found it only slightly surprising, knowing Bill’s sense of humor which has served him well in this role, that he has hung a picture of Purgatory Falls in the Speaker’s office. He took on this role knowing full well what slings and arrows would befall a leader of principle and character. He is wise beyond his sixty years in understanding human nature but he made the commitment to this role because of his love for our state and his sincere belief that we needed to return to a more responsible fiscal policy and remove impediments to business growth and prosperity. He believes in the power of business owners and individuals to make decisions in their own and the state’s best interests without unnecessary government intervention. He treats others, and especially members of the House, with respect, courtesy, and consideration and while he doesn’t forget his friends, he is fair, open-minded and welcoming to all.
There is little, if any, personal benefit to be gained from taking on this voluntary position…
…The cost in personal time, work, and effort are difficult to comprehend if you have not personally experienced all that it entails. Beyond thankless, his role is to be the point person for countless attacks and assaults, from members of both parties on occasion. So on behalf of the State party and all New Hampshire Republicans and citizens of our state, I’d like to publicly thank Speaker O’Brien for his tireless efforts on our behalf, for his perseverance to principle, and for his courageous leadership.
In a letter endorsing my candidacy for Committeewoman, O’Brien wrote: “Today we need a more engaged and vigorous form of leadership. We need confident, articulate, and inclusive party leaders.” Certainly he could have been writing about himself. Speaker O’Brien is arguably the most capable, smart, dedicated, and courageous Speaker of the House in recent memory. We owe him our gratitude and appreciation for his tireless and selfless service to our state.
Phyllis Woods
National Committeewoman for NH
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Letter in the Concord Monitor by Tony Soltani
For the New Hampshire Legislature to work well, we, the representatives, must congregate, debate new ideas, welcome dissent, listen carefully, study the issues and arrive at conclusions. The founders of this state knew that a static and intolerant government without room for dissent would not serve the people well. They called it "slavish" and "absurd."
But for their vision, only white Protestant men could vote or be elected, women would still be chattel, children would have no rights and the political earth would still be flat.
We can disagree and debate without being disagreeable. Unfortunately, the House has lost its way amid tyranny of the majority. The rules, intended to ensure open and fair debate, are often disregarded and, even more often, blatantly broken. Dissent is not tolerated. The art of persuasion has been replaced with brute intimidation, petty retaliation and open bullying.
I have seen more elected representatives ejected from the rostrum during the 16 weeks of House Speaker Bill O’Brien’s administration than I have in 16 prior years put together.
The interruptions and the rulings of the chair often have no basis in our rules. The question is no longer whether the representatives are in order or acting within the rules.
The operative factor is whether they follow the O’Brien manifesto or they choose to dissent and wish to be heard.
Not long ago, a Democratic colleague was speaking and was ruled out of order by the speaker. I challenged the ruling. The rules were clear. The member was allowed to speak. Finally, O’Brien relented.
Not to my surprise, the following week, O’Brien introduced a new rule, heretofore unknown, that would have given him the ability and power to do what he wanted to do the prior week, and thereby legally snuff my colleagues, Democrat or Republican, who dare disagree with him.
The House is in shambles. We are operating not as a free and democratic body but under a self-anointed dictatorship. We are ordered away from the rostrum for no recognized reason. Our motions are disregarded.
Our points of order, parliamentary inquiries, or questions to the chair are ignored or, worse yet, encountered by an insult.
As I watch the proceedings, I am often reminded of Billy Bulger presiding over the Massachusetts Senate. This is all the more ironic since O’Brien ran on the platform of "bottom up" legislation.
He promised that there would be no pressure exerted and that input would be welcome from all. He has left a trail of promises broken and rights trampled.
No political body is a full meritocracy. But the New Hampshire House is now a system of complete tyranny. You must carry water or else.
You must go along with the edicts if you wish to remain in His Majesty’s favor. Once in a great while, if you absolutely cannot vote the O’Brien way, you might beg His Majesty’s leave to "take a walk." (Abstention from a vote for those present is not permitted).
A few weeks back, O’Brien openly announced to the media, the public and members of the House that a veto override vote on the highly contentious "right to work" legislation would be taken on a date certain.
We had a nearly full attendance. People from both sides, along with the media showed up, having relied on the speaker’s word. Without so much as any explanation His Majesty pulled the vote off the docket and has kept it in his hip pocket for over a month.
The speaker speaks for the House. He has tainted the honor of the House by making false announcements on our behalf. That is not my way, the New Hampshire way, nor the Republican way.
As a colleague of mine, a retired Army colonel, told the entire House, fancy license plates, special seating, important-sounding titles and designated parking do not seduce some of us.
Acts of bullying, threats of reseating or removal from committee do not scare us. There are those of us who shall continue to do our job as the people have elected us to do. We act within the law.
I hope that those who know me know that I am not easily seduced nor threatened. I shall carry out my office and uphold my oath as I have done consistently.
(State Rep. Tony Soltani is a Republican from Epsom.)
Note from Skip: that would be RINO Republican from Epsom.