BUCKING OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT, HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCK PAID SICK TIME BILL

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, House Republicans blocked House Bill 590, legislation that would ensure access to paid sick time for New Hampshire workers. After the vote, Representative Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) released the following statement:

“Granite Staters have overwhelmingly supported programs that expand access to paid sick time and paid family and medical leave for years. House Bill 590 would ensure that all workers in the state have access to paid sick days. We have known for a while, and the pandemic has made even clearer, that it is beneficial for everyone if sick employees stay home.

While access to paid sick and safe days reduces employee turnover and protects the income and jobs of survivors of domestic violence, we know that over thirty percent of the workforce in New Hampshire lack access to even a single paid sick day. Increasing access to paid sick days has wide, bipartisan support among the people of this state and it is a shame that the Republican House decided to act against the will of our constituents today.”

HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASS BILL INNAPPROPRIATELY INTRUDING ON PERSONAL MEDICAL DESCISIONS

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 625, legislation aimed at intervening in medical procedures and criminalizing abortions. Following the vote Representative Marjorie Smith (D-Durham), released the following statement:

“There is not a medical professional in this state who would not do everything they could to take care of a fetus that was born and able to live on its own. It is not the place of the legislature to intervene in these especially sensitive issues. We should respect our citizen’s personal privacy and allow them to make these decisions with consultation with their medical professionals if they so choose. Today’s vote is a step towards the legislature inappropriately and dangerously inserting itself into a decision that should be made exclusively between a person and their doctor, not between a person and their government.”

FLEXING THEIR CRUELTY, HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCK VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION BILL FOR THE ENTIRE TERM

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 195-158 to indefinitely postpone vulnerable adults in New Hampshire protection from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Representative Renny Cushing (D-Hampton), House Democratic Leader and Prime Sponsor, released the following statement:

“Today was the third time in as many years that a perfectly good bill that would protect vulnerable adult Granite Staters was hijacked by false partisan narratives around firearms. The testimony over the past several years on this legislation is clear, we need to do a better job protecting vulnerable people from financial and physical exploitation and abuse. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated situations of abuse for many people throughout New Hampshire and our constituents need the timely support this bill could have provided. House Republicans again decided to ignore the overwhelming and heart wrenching public testimony in support of this bill from elderly and disabled members of our state.

It is apparent that House Republicans are intent on disenfranchising vulnerable Granite Staters for political gain with their repeated mischaracterization of this positive legislation. Instead of just voting this bill down, they took to rare step of banning similar legislation to be reintroduced during the second year of the biennium.”