Photo from nh1
This
is GOP State Rep. Ernie Bridge. Ernie, at the age of 80, is a freshman
legislator from Unity, NH. He represents the towns of Newport and Unity. Bridge
serves on the House Environment and Agriculture Committee.
Representative
Bridge was diagnosed with a lung problem in January. He is required to use an
oxygen concentrator 24 hours a day. NHPR story. He's been told by the House
Sergeant-at-Arms that he can't bring the concentrator to his assigned seat,
because it would block the emergency routes for other legislators.
Bridge
hasn't exactly been a forceful self-advocate. He's responded to this by staying
home.
From
the Valley News:
This fairly common device has been deemed a safety hazard by
House Speaker Shawn Jasper, because, according to spokesman Jim Rivers, the
equipment could block the route of House members to the exits in the event of
an emergency — such as, we suppose, an exchange of gunfire among
members, who are, after all, allowed by House rules to carry concealed
firearms while they go about their legislative business.
Yes, that's right. NH legislators can have guns on the House
floor - but this guy can't have an oxygen concentrator. It speaks volumes about
the priorities of the NH Republican Party.
What about a seat on the aisle? No dice. Those are
reserved for committee chairs and other legislative heavyweights, rather than
first-termers like Bridge, even though it appears from a seating chart that
Representatives Hall has about 90 of them. In any case, Rivers decreed that Bridge’s
equipment also would unduly obstruct the aisle.
This, too, speaks volumes about the House Republicans. Not a one
of his Republican brethren will give up their "entitled" seats to an
elderly man with a health condition.
