Salem has a 13 for 9 primary, the second largest (after Derry) of all towns. Sadly not a single one of the candidates has an excellent voting record. Four have records that are average, neither bad nor good. One has a mediocre-poor record, and one has a terrible record.
Doucette, Janigian, Sweeney, and Vandecasteele are midstream Republicans – their scores are right around the middle of the pack. John Sytek’s record has been mediocre to poor. 80% of Republicans have scored better. But his record is not nearly as bad as Betty Gay’s.
We want to thank Spec Bowers for this Op-Ed. Please direct yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
In the 2019-2020 biennium, Gay voted with Democrats against Republicans 88 times, which ranked her 2nd (behind only Dan Wolf) as the worst Republican of the term. In 2017-18, she voted wrong 76 times, which was worse than 92% of all Republicans. Her 2021-22 term was better but still worse than 87% of Republicans.
Here are some highlights (lowlights?) of her career.
Bad votes by Gay, Betty (R, Salem)
Parental Control
voted FOR restricting parental choice ( 2021 HB251 )
Cost of Living
voted AGAINST lower energy rates ( 2018 HB592 )
voted AGAINST reducing electric rates ( 2019 HB477 )
voted FOR an income tax ( 2018 HB628, 2018 HB628 )
voted FOR higher rooms tax ( 2018 HB1609 )
Constitutional Rights
voted AGAINST repealing a never-used and unconstitutional infringement on free speech ( 2019 HB124 )
voted AGAINST right to keep and bear arms ( 2021 SB141, 2021 SB141 )
voted FOR confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens without any due process ( 2019 HB696, 2019 HB696 )
voted FOR restricting property rights ( 2021 HB177, 2021 HB177 )
Other
voted AGAINST allowing schools to display the national and state mottos ( 2021 HB69 )
voted AGAINST prohibiting sex change surgery for minors ( 2018 HB1532 )
voted FOR banning plastic straws ( 2020 HB1472 )
voted FOR banning styrofoam cups ( 2020 HB1564
On all of these votes at least 80% – in most cases more than 90% – of Republicans voted the other way.
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