We learned that “State House South” (AKA Manchester Doubletree Expo Center) was this week’s House Chamber destination to accomplish the “work of the people.”
Hopefully, when the next House session meets we can finally seat our representatives in their rightful places in the newly, and beautifully, renovated Reps Hall in Concord. Otherwise, their seat number is just a number on their license plate.
We learned that Wednesday’s session gave us the opportunity to pass many great bills and get rid of a lot of trash bills contained in the consent calendar – all with Bi-partisan support! Here’s a sampling: Things like school mandates on how much time to eat ones lunch (HB1058), teaching labor history (HB1144) and giving a pubic assistance stipends to legislators (HB1486), got tossed … but we gave the thumbs up to allowing tuition waivers in the university system for children of veterans who have died (HB1575), expediting background checks for healthcare workers (HB1659) and allowing military service members and spouses quick and easy licensure in various fields when relocating to NH (HB1653).
Another win was House concurrence with the Senate on HB95. Now it is off to the Governor for his signature. This means raw milk ice cream can be sold by our farmers in NH in 6 oz. containers with proper labeling. Yum!
We learned that the NH House doesn’t want NH to become China as they passed a bill prohibiting banks and businesses from using social credit scores (HB1469) – a roll call vote was taken (Ought To Pass as Amended 187-168). You guessed it – our House Democrat friends voted NO on that one.
We learned that NH has taken the next step in legalizing cannabis (HB1598) and most say it is “high time” (wink). This legislation would have NH selling cannabis products much like alcohol, in state-run stores, and tax-free. Revenue from this would be used to fund drug rehab/education programs, plus offset the Statewide Education Property Tax. The vote was 235-119. Now it’s off to the finance committee for financial scrutiny.
We learned that the House Democrat assault on Education Freedom Accounts (HB1516) was killed 181-174. This highly popular program instituted by the budget bill last year gives students new educational options. 1,800 students are now getting instruction suited to their needs. It is a shame that it has become a priority by House Democrats to kill, dismantle and otherwise eliminate something that truly is “for the kids.”
We learned that ranked choice voting (HB1482) was voted down 205-149 by traditional voting methods, and the effort to perform a forensic audit on the 2020 election was tabled 273-76 by votes that could not be “mailed in”.
We learned that numbers matter to prevent bad bills from passing. One such bill came at the end of Wednesday, when a bill that would have made the state pay more towards pensions for one class of employees in the retirement system and not another (HB1417) had originally been killed with a 173-172 vote. Then someone called for a reconsideration vote, and after 4 parliamentary votes the bill passed 182-169. Now, its fate will be up to the Finance committee. Hopefully, it will be retired there.
We learned that Thursday brought it’s own bag of tricks. We started off the day with the Governor presenting his “State of the State” address which highlighted all of the successes of the 2021 legislative year and how well NH was doing as compared to other states in the nation. He did not quite finish his speech though because Rep. Ralph Boehm (R-Litchfield) collapsed on the concrete floor, hitting his head (which was audibly heard). Luckily, we had many House Reps who are medics and EMT’s that rushed to his aid prior to the arrival of additional EMT’s and an ambulance. We hear Rep. Boehm is doing well, but we continue to keep him in our prayers.
We learned again that numbers matter as we tied a vote to pass HB1604 – including state medical facilities in statute providing medical freedom via exemptions that include conscientious objection. The vote was 173-173 and the speaker broke the tie vote by voting to pass the amendment on the bill. The amended bill then passed 176-174. That’s a win for medical freedom in NH.
We learned that again, numbers matter, as another tie vote occurred. A bill (HB1609) that guts the fetal protection act (the legislation that was passed last year) failed to garner votes for the amendment that would have clarified and saved the ultrasound requirement. The vote was close 175 YES-177 NO and the amendment failed. The next move was to table the bill entirely, and that vote came out 176-176 with the speaker again breaking the tie. So the bill was tabled. Then, later on, Rep. Weber (D-Walpole) removed the bill from the table with a 178-175 vote and subsequently passed the bill which removed the ultrasound requirement (among other things) 179-174. This now goes to the Finance Committee, and hopefully, this bill will get aborted there.
We learned that NH may be establishing a municipal road and bridge disaster relief fund, for communities that suffer damages from natural disasters. HB1665 was passed unanimously by voice vote, and hopefully will go on through finance and beyond to allow a mechanism for the state to help towns that suffer major infrastructure damage as a result of natural disasters. Here’s hoping the road to passage doesn’t get washed out.
We learned that in the interest of time many bills which had Inexpedient To Legislate (ITL) recommendations from their committees were just being tabled. This prompted Rep. Marjorie Smith (D – Durham) to ask the Speaker, “How many bills can sit on the table before it collapses?” Turns out there is no limit. The Table is quite large. One of those tabled bills was HB1208, so it looks like parents will still not be able to teach their own kids how to drive in NH and have it count as driver’s education.
Finally, We learned that at the end of the day, Unanimous Consent (where legislators may speak to their House colleagues about a topic) can be pretty entertaining. Tony Labranche (I-Amherst) began to give a speech about why he left the Democratic party. Of course, Democrats tried to shut him down, but Republicans wanted to have him continue and hear what he had to say by a vote of 199-70. What he had to say was very revealing. Apparently, the party is tyrannical and doesn’t even follow its own constitution… they won’t let anyone speak, or lend ideas. Everyone is just given marching orders and basically told to shut up and sit down and do as they are told. Rep. Labranche also said that, “The Democratic Party, ironically, is the least Democratic organization I’ve ever been a part of”. NH Dem Party leader Ray Buckley was skewered by Rep. Labranche who gave us some truthful criticism and insight on the NHDP. It was a great way to end the day.
