CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today New Hampshire House Republicans held an anti-vaccination press conference outside the State House. Speakers included Speaker Sherman Packard, Deputy Speaker Steven Smith and Speaker Pro Tempore Kim Rice. In response, House Democratic Leader Rep. Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) released the following statement:
“Today’s political stunt was shameful but no surprise. This is the same House GOP that attempted to hide a super spreader event from the public last November and spent tax dollars refunding businesses that were fined for ignoring the Governor’s safety guidelines. From the start of the pandemic, NH Republicans have been working overtime to mislead the public, feed into conspiracy theories, and disrupt common sense efforts to slow the spread of COVID.
Vaccination is our path out of the pandemic. While Democrats are working to keep the economy open, Republicans are doing everything they can to force us back into lockdown. The Speaker’s rants about vaccines today were nothing more than an attempt to fuel flames of discontent and directly conflicts with his message to the House that he “wished he had a list” of members who were vaccinated.
Today’s antics were so extreme that longtime Republican Representative Bill Marsh changed party affiliation because he ‘cannot not stand idly by while extremists reject reasonable the precautions of vaccines and masks.’ We welcome Representative Marsh to the Democratic Caucus where common sense prevails.”