NH Senate Rule Change Allows Avoidance of the People's Business

The doughty Republicans of the NH Senate found a way to avoid dealing with anything that might make them a little uncomfortable - by passing a rule change that allows them to avoid discomfort. A new rule requires a 2/3 vote to introduce or hear certain resolutions.

They are currently using that rule to avoid hearing:

• HCR 1 - urging Congress to fund the development and implementation of a comprehensive health care delivery system to enhance the level of specialty care for New Hampshire’s veterans.
• HCR 2 – requesting Congress to begin the process for a constitutional amendment establishing that human beings, not corporations, are entitled to constitutional rights.
• HJR 1 – directing the joint legislative historical committee to acquire and display a portrait of suffragist Marilla Marks Ricker.

I'm surprised by HCR 1. Given how willing the Republican party is to create veterans, it's rather shocking that they aren't willing to even hear a NON BINDING resolution that addresses taking care of our NH veterans. 

HCR 2 is no surprise. Citizen's United is a golden goose for the GOP. 

HJR 1  is also not a big surprise. We're all more than a little familiar with the kind of contempt that the Republican Party has for women. Given the recent international scandal of Rep. Peter Hansen and the "vagina's" you'd think  that the dunderheads might want to hear this resolution, if only to make women feel a little bit better about them. 

You can use the Senate Roster to find contact information for your senator, and let them know how you feel about this sorry little bit of cowardice.


April 18, 2013 press release:

CONCORD – Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen released the following statement after the Republican Senate Majority refused to allow the introduction of 3 House Resolutions.

“It’s an outrage to the citizens of New Hampshire that the Senate Republican Majority today blocked the introduction of HCR 1, HCR 2, and HJR 1,” said Senator Larsen. ”It sets a bad precedent for the Senate to refuse House Resolutions, regardless of their subject matter. On every bill and resolution passed by the House, the Senate should be holding a public hearing and then vote as a whole on matters passed by our 400 member House of Representatives.”

Earlier this year, despite the objections of Senate Democratic members, the Republican Senate voted to establish a new rule requiring a 2/3rd vote to introduce or hear certain resolutions. This is the first time in the history of the NH Senate that a super majority is required before bills go through the regular process. Three House Resolutions have been caught in this super-majority limbo.

“Today was a sad day in the New Hampshire Senate. These Washington-style tactics are what we have come to expect from Congress, where they regularly block pieces of legislation before they can even get an up or down vote,” said Senator Larsen.  ”But here in New Hampshire, the voters of our state were counting on us in the Senate to debate such important issues as Veteran’s Health Care and a popularly supported reversal of the Citizens United decision. Because of this gag rule, we cannot address Congress on some of the most important issues of our day,” Larsen concluded.

“We were elected to debate the issues before us and we cannot do that if we have a Senate Rule that blocks certain pieces of legislation from being heard unless there is a super-majority vote.”

Below are the titles of the House Resolutions:

• HCR 1 - urging Congress to fund the development and implementation of a comprehensive health care delivery system to enhance the level of specialty care for New Hampshire’s veterans.
• HCR 2 – requesting Congress to begin the process for a constitutional amendment establishing that human beings, not corporations, are entitled to constitutional rights.
• HJR 1 – directing the joint legislative historical committee to acquire and display a portrait of suffragist Marilla Marks Ricker.