Republicans limp into the next session of the New Hampshire Legislature in the minority where it will become vital for them to stick together. A strong united front (In the NH House) will do more to peel off the necessary Democrat votes than the bevy of Republican aisle crossers we’ve been plagued with these past few years. To both slow, stop, or kill legislation and to prevent veto overrides.
(No, they will stop nothing of the Democrat Agenda in the State Senate.)
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Both will be extremely difficult. The Democrat BORG do not brook dissenters in their ranks. But the secretary of state vote – the only truly secret ballot – tells us there are roughly two-score potential aisle-crosses on the left who might be persuaded.
I’m not holding my breath.
In the absence of secrecy, Democrat Leadership will do what it has done in the past. Bully, intimidate, pressure, and even threaten it’s own caucus. Few, if any, will defect. But the Republicans need Leaders to get a sense of what their own caucus is thinking as well as looking to the left to find supporters in Committee who might offer assistance.
To these ends, Republican House Leadership has released a list of his first appointments.
Deputy House Republican Leader – Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry)
House Republican Floor Leader – Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry)
Senior Republican Advisor – Rep. Steve Smith (R-Charlestown)
Republican Policy Leader – Rep. Kim Rice (R-Hudson)
Republican Policy Leader – Rep. Jason Osborne (R-Auburn)
Deputy Republican Floor Leader – Rep. Jeanine Notter (R-Merrimack)
How do they rate?
Using just HRA scores, here’s where these Leaders stand with regard to past voting history in support of the Party Platform and NH Constitution. These scores are for the 2018 legisaltive session.
74.7 % Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry)
98.8% Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry)
74.2% Rep. Steve Smith (R-Charlestown)
92.2% Rep. Kim Rice (R-Hudson)
97.0% Rep. Jason Osborne (R-Auburn)
100% Rep. Jeanine Notter (R-Merrimack)
I’d call it an above average start. Here’s what Minority Leader Hinch thinks.
“These individuals represent a broad spectrum of our caucus, and each bring many years of legislative, personal, and professional experience to our team,” Rep. Hinch said of the appointees. “We will continue building the list of people who will be helping us organize the caucus, working with members, and formulating our message as part of the Republican leadership team.
If you’d like any input on that message feel free to spend some time at GraniteGrok. Or, ask. We’re more than happy to give you the conservative opinion on just about anything even when you didn’t ask for it.
