REPUBLICANS REJECT REMOTE ACCESS TO HOUSE SESSIONS YET AGAIN

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, for the third time, the House Republican majority rejected an amendment to House Rules that would explicitly allow members remote access to House Sessions. Representative Lucy Weber (D-Walpole) released the following statement:

“The rest of the world has adapted to zoom quite well, but House Republicans continue to claim they are incapable of meeting through video technology. The practical result of this Republican obstruction is that thousands of Granite Staters are disenfranchised because their elected representatives cannot attend in person during this pandemic.”

“People with disabilities should not have fewer rights than those who seek to exploit them. Instead of working to provide reasonable access to members with disabilities, Speaker Packard and the Republican majority has spent the last two months conjuring excuses to justify why they cannot. The New Hampshire Senate, Executive Council, Court system, schools, and countless businesses have all adapted to meeting remotely. This vote shows, again, that the only reason we do not have any remote access to house sessions is because the Republican Majority does not want to allow it.”

HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCK BILL TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES AND SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the New Hampshire House, on a motion made by Republican Majority Leader Jason Osborne, voted 189-168 to block HB 274, a bill aimed at relieving the tax burden of Granite Staters by requiring the state to pay 5% of the retirement system contributions of political subdivision employers in the New Hampshire Retirement System. Following the vote, Representative Jeff Goley (D-Manchester), Ranking Member on House Executive Departments and Administration Committee, released the following statement:

“The vote today to deny our municipal employees, firefighters, law enforcement and teachers the promise of reimbursement that the State of New Hampshire made to them decades ago is especially disturbing given their sacrifice over the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly placed these frontline workers under serious health risk and has simultaneously increased the municipal tax burden on property taxpayers. This bill would have decreased local property taxes and begun to repair the state’s broken promise to these essential workers, a win-win for everyone. In voting down this legislation, Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are out of touch with the needs of working Granite Staters. “

HOUSE REPUBLICANS DISREGARD WIDESPREAD SUPPORT TO BLOCK INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to reject House Bill 121, which would establish an independent redistricting commission in New Hampshire. Following the vote Representative Marjorie Smith (D-Durham) released the following statement:

“The voters of New Hampshire deserve to pick their representatives, not the other way around. Governor Sununu has rejected efforts to take politics out of the redistricting process for years, thwarting the will of voters who overwhelmingly support an independent process. This legislation would have prevented political gerrymandering, assuring fair representation for Granite Staters. It is disappointing that Governor Sununu and the new Republican majority is again denying fair representation to their constituents.”