Back to the Budget
by State Senator Jeb Bradley
American icon Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” For New Hampshire legislators and voters overwhelmed with the on-going debate over same sex marriage, Yogi’s words ring true.
A little history. Two years ago New Hampshire approved civil unions — designed to insure that same sex couples had the same rights and obligations as heterosexual couples under New Hampshire law. Supporters of civil unions (the ardent proponents of same sex marriage today) claimed then, that civil unions would resolve discrimination issues for same sex couples. That was then!
Fast forward to this legislative session. Same sex marriage legislation was introduced in the House, and initially defeated by 1 vote, then reconsidered and passed by 7 votes. In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee recommended killing the bill. But after an amendment was introduced at the last minute, a Senator changed positions, and suddenly it passed 13-11. Had the vote been 12-12 as expected, same sex legislation would have failed. For the record, I voted in opposition to same sex marriage.
Nail-biting votes are only the beginning of this legislation’s problems. Now the actual wording has become a huge issue. First, an amendment was added (without a public hearing) to unrelated legislation to provide protection from litigation to religious institutions unwilling to marry same sex couples. That did not satisfy Governor Lynch. He proposed further language to protect individuals associated with religious institutions from litigation who are unwilling to marry same sex couples. That language was added to yet a third piece of legislation again without a public hearing. This sailed through the Senate 14-10 but faltered in the House, losing by two votes 186 to 188.
Even veteran observers in Concord are shaking their heads about this chaotic and unprecedented legislative process. Get a block away from the State House and people’s heads are spinning over legislative maneuverings, endless votes, and the Legislature hijacked by one issue.
Meanwhile for most New Hampshire citizens—Rome is burning. I recently had a very extensive conversation with voters in the Special Election in Senate District 3. Whether in their yards, on their back porches, or seated at their kitchen tables, I listened to their concerns. Voters told me repeatedly they lay awake at night worried about finding a job, keeping a job, providing for their families, and paying their mortgages. They are further terrified about budget deficits: deficits of trillions of dollars as far as the eye can see in Washington and hundreds of millions of dollars in Concord. And people are fearful that with these budget deficits only one thing can happen: taxes will soar.
