This is an email I sent to the whole NH House. I met with the Speaker yesterday and the clerk. This motion will take place early in the day. Please email your state representative and ask them to support the motion.
Good evening,
As many of you know, the People have been asking us legislators to get to the root of the problems and fix them when it comes to DCYF and Family Court.
The current special committees have laid ground work for this, yet there seems to be pressure on them to only utilize some of the tools they possess but not others, and to only analyze some of the issues, but not others. Certain actions that would procure needed information are highly discouraged, and consequences may result if one digs too deep. The policies on these committees is to listen to the people, gather information about issues with the laws, and recommend legislation to fix those laws, but do not name names of those perpetrating abuse against the people.
It is true there are serious systems issues, as well as constitutional issues, that the special committees are looking into and working on bringing legislation for, and I commend that for that work.
However, there are also allegations of personnel issues, conflicts of interest, even racketeering, and outright repeated abuse by specific officials. Such claims have been brought up repeatedly over the years in testimony before various committees on these matters, yet the problems remain, more victims are made each year, and they are told not to name names.
No one from DCYF has been questioned by the Special Committee on DCYF, and only one family court judge was questioned by the Special Committee on Family Court.
The legislature is a check on the other two branches of government. We are the Peoples’ branch. Given the number of lawsuits resulting from failures of the state to protect children, and the short time children have to live out their childhoods, we cannot spend any more time only hacking at the branches of this thorny bush without also working on digging up the rotten root.
It is not only our job to hear grievances and make bills to change statute for the future in hopes it fixes the policy problems.
We also are the Grand Inquest of the State.
Where repeated offenses are occurring against the People, namely children, at the hands of our State government, and where lawsuit after lawsuit results in damages awarded but no substantive changes in the policies or personnel involved, the legislature has a duty to investigate, utilizing every tool it has to get to the root of the problem.
Therefore, this Thursday, before regular business and after the introductory ceremonies, there will be a motion to suspend House Rules in order for the House to appoint a Special Investigative Committee with full powers of investigation, including subpoena power, for the purpose of investigating allegations of maladministration concerning the state of New Hampshire, its political subdivisions, and its contractors, in the handling of child abuse and neglect cases, divorce cases, child support, domestic violence, and juvenile justice. The committee shall issue a report of findings by November 1, 2024, with recommendations for remedy, up to and including whether to recommend articles of impeachment for the next legislature.
Again, please support the motion to suspend the rules to form this committee. There are representatives willing and able to serve on it and do this work. If you want to keep children safe, good families whole, and stop the abuse, support the motion.
If you won’t support it, I ask that you please vote against any motion to table, so that I may at least speak to the motion. I know we have a lot of business to get through, and I will not talk for an excessive amount of time, but I do want the body to know the harm done and why real investigation is needed. What you hear may shock you.
Respectfully,
Leah P. Cushman, RN BSN
State Representative
Hillsborough County District 28- Weare
New Hampshire General Court”
