HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN BILL AIMED AT INCREASING EQUITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – February 24, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 199 – 156 to support HB 498, legislation that creates a mechanism to pay bail commissioners in New Hampshire. Representative David Meuse (D-Portsmouth) released the following statement:

“This legislation is a direct product of the work of the bipartisan committee to study the payment of bail commissioners in New Hampshire. Bail commissioners work tirelessly to aid our criminal justice system, appearing at all hours of the day and night and in all weather conditions to do their job, often without a reliable assurance of payment. This legislation will require the court system to pay the bail commissioners fee if the offender is indigent and cannot afford it, ensuring that bail commissioners expect a payment each time they show up to do their job. This bill is an important measure in increasing equity in our criminal justice system from beginning to end.”

DEMOCRATIC LEADERS RESPOND TO FEDERAL COURT RULING

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Following the ruling by a U.S. District Court Judge that the House Speaker’s refusal to provide remote accommodations for House Members with disabilities is protected by legislative immunity, Democratic Leader Representative Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) and Deputy Democratic Leader David Cote (D-Nashua) released the following statement:

“While today’s ruling is a setback, history will judge New Hampshire House Democrats favorably for standing for public health and democracy during this pandemic,” said Representative Renny Cushing (D-Hampton). “Unfortunately, this case has exposed the callous indifference of House Republican leadership toward our most vulnerable members during the COVID-19 crisis that has taken the lives of a half a million Americans.”

“This suit was rejected on the narrow claim of legislative immunity. We have never had any desire to disrupt the function of the House. After months of being stonewalled by the Speaker’s Office and House Republicans, we filed this suit to make sure that every single duly elected member of the House, Democrat or Republican, has the ability to represent their constituents without reasonable fear of the health and safety of themselves and their communities.

All this ruling means is that the Speaker is solely to blame for active and obvious exclusion of members of the House. As we teach our children, just because you can do something does not mean you should. The Speaker, with support from his Republican Majority, could pass any number of absurd rules that would prohibit specific members from participating. I think that the role of the Speaker should be to protect the rights of every single member to freely represent their constituents.”

Representative David Cote (D-Nashua) added, “The continuing failure of the Speaker to provide a remote option for those of us whose health is significantly at risk in large gatherings such as a house session, remains a blot on the institution of the House.”

DEMOCRATIC LEADER CUSHING ANNOUNCES FULL LEADERSHIP TEAM

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, House Democratic Leader Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) announced the full House Democratic leadership team for the 2021-2022 legislative session.

Leadership Team

Democratic Leader Renny Cushing

Deputy Democratic Leader David Cote

Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Karen Ebel

Democratic Policy Leader Marjorie Smith

Democratic Floor Leader Manny Espitia

Deputy Democratic Floor Leader Patricia Cornell

Parliamentarian Lucy Weber

Deputy Parliamentarian Tim Smith

Senior Assistant Democratic Leaders

Representative Charlotte DiLorenzo

Representative Marjorie Porter

Representative Linda Tanner

Representative Matt Wilhelm

Assistant Democratic Leaders

Representative Paul Berch

Representative Jeff Salloway

Representative Gaby Grossman

Representative Israel Piedra

Representative Katherine Rogers

Representative Josh Query

Assistant Democratic Floor Leaders

Representative Debra Altschiller

Representative Ben Baroody

Representative Jane Beaulieu

Representative Michael Cahill

Representative Jackie Chretien

Representative Erica Connors

Representative Connie Lane

Representative Dennis Malloy

Representative Latha Mangipudi

Representative Rebecca McWilliams

Representative Rosemarie Rung

Speaker Emeritus Steve Shurtleff

Dean of the Caucus (Dean of the House) Laura Pantelakos

###