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.”