Perhaps Rep Varney should be called a “Republican Rep David Cote” as he seemingly aspires to be like him, but I chose the word “placeholder” for now. We’d like to think that Team Red has higher standards for conduct, especially seeing that we’re quick to criticize the Dems who receive unflattering attention from WMUR and its ilk.
While illness, bad weather, family deaths, and work schedule conflicts can and do happen to lots of reps, what should be the threshold for bad attendance? You decide, especially if you’re a voter in Belknap County’s District 7, which includes red Alton and Barnstead, because Rep Varney seems to think that he is worthy of representing you for another term! He was elected in 2014, and I haven’t looked at his attendance in the previous 5 terms, but I took a close look at this one in particular. I will also add that he is not on any committees.
I’ve heard that Rep Varney comes from a popular family that’s liked locally, but what’s the point of sending him to Concord when he’s not doing the People’s Work? Butts-in-seats matter more often than one might think. Just look at all the good bills over the years that died by INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT because the enemy camp and its Uniparty allies had the numbers in Reps Hall. Indefinite postponement, I’ll point out, is considerably worse than an ordinary death in odd-numbered years because it’s like a court dismissal with prejudice. Reincarnation from either chamber is blocked until after the next election.
There have been 301 roll call votes in the House this season to date. Some of them were housekeeping-related; some were on amendments. Any incumbent rep’s record can be viewed on NH.gov, but let’s look more closely at Rep. Varney’s. It appears that the whole House met 15 times in 2026: twice in January, 3 times in February, 4 times in March (crossover time), twice in April, 3 times in May, and once in June. A no-show on a crossover day or a long day voting on Senate bills is worse than an ordinary absence.
Then there’s the act of “taking a walk.” While a rep might be in the restroom at the moment, it’s often a willful act of cowardice when s/he votes on all other bills that day but a specific one. It appears that Rep Varney took a walk for Vote #40 on January 8 for an amendment on HB392 (directing the dissolution of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Health Access and the Department of Environmental Services’ functions for environmental justice). He participated in the subsequent vote, which was another amendment vote for the same bill. Restroom break? Maybe. Maybe not, but his constituents deserve to know.
The other interesting day is May 14. Vote #254, an amendment on SB409 (relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer and relative to liability of governmental units). This is the inverse of taking a walk because Vote #254 was the first vote of the day, and he did not participate in Vote #255, which is recorded as “not excused.” Votes #256-282, also on May 14, are recorded as excused. Did he show up for just one vote and then leave? My understanding of the difference between excused and not excused is akin to HR calling an employee’s absence “scheduled” or “unscheduled.” Calling in sick(or for any other reason) is unscheduled as opposed to signing up for paid time off in advance.
Let’s look at the rest of Rep Varney’s record because he only participated in 22 of the 301 roll call votes, and his 7.3% participation is isolated to just 3 dates. He voted 13 times on January 7, 8 times on January 8, and once on May 14. Of his 279 absences, there appears to be an oscillation between excused and not excused. Let’s look at them.
- January 7: Votes #1-2 Excused, Vote #16 Not Excused, Votes #17-31 Excused
- January 8: Vote #40 Not Excused, Votes #45-50 Excused
- February 5: Votes #51-62 Excused
- February 12: Votes #63-82 Excused
- February 19: Votes #83-99 Not Excused
- March 5: Votes #100-132 Excused
- March 11: Votes #133-188 Excused
- March 12: Votes #189-217 Excused
- March 26: Votes #218-229 Not Excused
- April 9: Votes #230-235 Not Excused
- April 23: Votes #236-247 Not Excused
- May 7: Votes #248-253 Excused
- May 14: Vote #255 Not Excused, Votes #256-282 Excused
- May 21: Votes #283-291 Not Excused
- June 4: Votes #292-301 Not Excused
Rep Varney’s constituents might consider asking him if he plans to show up for Veto Day.
If they’re willing to ask loaded questions, I would suggest the following: “Are you going to get yourself excused on Veto Day or just not show up because the 2/3 votes aren’t there?”
