Chris Sununu, Governor Groomer, is in trouble. His favorability has been collapsing in recent months, but it’s worse than he realizes. I don’t know many Republicans who like him much anymore, and now he’s decided to piss off parents across the spectrum.
Not a good idea.
And the genuinely amusing thing about it is that if Sununu does veto this bill, it is to appease the left, and wouldn’t losing re-election be the best way to do just that?
We’re talking about HB1431. A simple piece of legislation that Mr. Sununu has promised to veto. But the bill does not do anything discriminatory but does clarify that the kids belong to the parents and the parents have rights in that relationship that the state should not deny.
The general court finds that it is a fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children. The general court further finds that important information relating to a minor child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposefully, from his or her parent, including information relating to the minor’s education. The general court further finds it is necessary to establish a consistent mechanism for parents to be notified of information relating to the health, education, and well-being of their minor children.
HB1431 ““would give parents the final word on their child’s health, education, and welfare.” That’s the opposition’s position, by the way. The one Sununu is backing. That’s not your job it belongs to the state and you don’t need to be involved?
We’re talking about people’s kids, and by promising to veto HB1431, Governor Groomer is telling those parents (and there are a lot of them) to f**k off. Parents who might tell Governor Groomer to f**k off in November. And it’s not a stretch to suggest that.
Moderates are not all that indifferent to a real Democrat in the governor’s office, and neither are actual Democrats. And I think this is a straw that breaks a lot of camels’ backs.
I don’t want a Democrat governor, but all the projections suggest Republicans will keep the majority in the New Hampshire Legislature after November. If we take the Legislature we’ll probably hold the Executive Council (EC) as well. And Sununu?
If you can live with the stalemate for two years (GOP Legislature and EC with a Dem Governor), this is your chance to jettison governor Groomer.
And at this point, given the collapsing polls, Sununu may need them more than they need him.
Vetoing HB1431 is the final straw for many and if so, Sununu loses in November, and many Republicans who would never say it out loud will be happy to see him go so they can replace him with a real Republican in 2024.
Or, assuming it passes both chambers again (this week), and that looks likely, Chris could just leave it and let it become law without his signature. That might save him. Or perhaps Governor Groomer knows this and he’s working overtime to keep it from getting to his desk at all.
We’ll know soon enough but until then, contact your State Representatives and your State Senator and urge them to vote for HB1431. And sign the letter to Gov. Sununu asking him to sign the bill or allow HB1431 to become law.
If you missed it, Skip, Mike, and I talked about this at some length in the most recent episode of GrokTALK! that aired yesterday.
