-
Due to some carpooling confusion it looks like I won't be arriving at session today until after the governor's "State of the State" address... oh well, no huge loss! The voting portion of session is what matters, anyways... #NHPolitics
-
ok I’m here now; will be doing my usual livetweet thread again starting here. Reminders that I only put the #NHPolitics hashtag at the top of the thread to save on typing and characters, and that I skip tweeting voice votes that go by too quickly for me to catch
-
I should try taking typing lessons again sometime; I’ve probably picked up some bad habits since I last took them that I need to unlearn, and I could do with improving my WPM…
-
we’re getting started now
-
first bill under discussion: HB1587, about compensation from the state retirement system. It'd fix some overtime issues, so, sounds good!
-
if HB1587 passes, it'll go to the Finance Committee next
-
oh wait missed the HB1587 results... HB1590 ITL-ed, though. Next: HB1536 from HHS, which would expand Medicaid to include certain postpartum health care services. Expanding Medicaid is good, so, let's not table this.
-
HB1536 is tabled along part lines; boo. Republicans oppose people getting the health care services they need.
-
next: HB1578, to expand CHIP to include more people. Motion is to table.
-
HB1578 is tabled along party lines; more evidence that Republicans are anti-healthcare
-
next: HB1604, one of those anti-vax bills masquerading as a "medical freedom" bill (i.e., letting the freedom of anti-vaxxers to be jerks trump everyone's else's freedom to stay healthy and free from infection)
-
this is a misinterpretation of the idea of inalienable rights
-
freedom of conscience applies to beliefs, it doesn't give you justification to harm people based on those beliefs
-
tie vote!
-
unfortunately the Speaker gets to break ties... oh well...
-
oh wait that was just the amendment to HB1604; maybe we'll manage to get someone back from the bathroom or hall for the vote on the full bill...
-
if a decision affects other people (like choosing whether to vax or not), it's not a "personal" decision, but a public one. Your individual autonomy doesn't extend to the germs you're spreading.
-
HB1604 passes as amended by two votes... if only we'd had a few more Dems here...
-
anyways it's lunchtime now... it's nice out, so I think I'll go for a walk...
-
ok back from lunch; current bill is HB1609, which would add several common-sense exceptions to the post-24-week abortion bill that the GOP snuck into the budget (i.e. exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomalies, etc.), and also removes the ultrasound requirement.
-
There's a GOP amendment that strips out the rape, incest, & fetal anomalies exceptions, meaning that the only part of the bill left would be the part removing the ultrasound requirement.
-
amendment is bad; hopefully we can pass the full bill unamended instead
-
hey we killed the amendment by 2 votes! Phew! And of course the GOP immediately moves to table...
-
another tie vote! Speaker Packard exercises his right to break ties again, so, the bill gets tabled... he fully owns this ban now.
-
Next: HB1207... uh wait, huh? Oh right, that's because we special-ordered HB1662 to yesterday... anyways, HB1207 gives employees time off to vote, which is a good idea. Let's make it easier to vote!
-
oops, missed the results on that... uh, next is a motion to remove HB1609 from the table? Which one was that again?
-
oh wait duh it's the one we just did: @cooljeanius/1494373829321367554
-
Maybe someone came back from somewhere?
-
Motion to remove it from the table passes by 3 votes; I guess someone *did* come back from somewhere...
-
HB1609 passes! It goes on to the Finance Committee next...
-
next bill: HB1538, which would require prevailing wages on state-funded public works projects. Rep. Abramson is... actually on the right side of this? He's so hard to predict...
-
HB1538 is ITL-ed; no prevailing wages for NH workers. Next is HB1586, the Wentworth Cheswell portrait bill. It passed out of Leg. Admin unanimously, but couldn't go on the consent calendar due to having a Fiscal Note.
-
HB1586 passes easily by voice vote; onto the bill out of my committee: HB1665, a municipal disaster relief fund.
-
HB1665 passes easily on voice vote, too.
-
Next: bills out of ST&E, starting with HB1419, which would establish a New Hampshire civilian climate corps advisory committee. Seems like a good idea to me!
-
HB1419 was tabled; now is HB1506, for a revolving clean energy accelerator fund
-
More tabling... Republicans keep killing things that would help mitigate the climate crisis...
-
Now: HB1601, about funding the @NHSaves program.
-
table table table
-
Republicans are anti-energy-efficiency
-
(HB1621 is another energy efficiency bill)
-
We have an infinite table, apparently... anyways this bill on 5G (HB1644) seems interesting; not sure on it yet...
-
I'm kinda surprised we can still put bills to interim study at this point; I thought we didn't have enough time left in the term for those...
-
it's stupid that we're not allowed to record our own videos, IMO
-
I voted "yes" to put HB1644 to interim study; we need more time and info before we can make an informed decision
-
motion to put HB1644 to interim study passes
-
next: HB1100, to change the penalties for driving without a license. Torn on this because I'm anti-car and want fewer people to drive, but the points that existing penalties are too stiff and don't fit the crime are valid points...
-
HB1208 wants to repeal driver education requirements. That's a bad idea; I'd prefer ITL-ing it, but I guess tabling it also works to kill it...
-
ok good we tabled HB1208; next is HB1461, increasing penalties for littering. This is the last bill on the regular calendar; after this are bills removed from the consent calendar.
-
HB1461 passes on voice vote; onto bills removed from the consent calendar. First is HB1176, which would reduce the penalty for sex work within one's own home. I believe that #SexWorkIsWork and support full decrim, and believe this bill would be a good step towards it.
-
Solidarity with sex workers; it's quite disappointing to see such bipartisan disdain for them.
-
Motion to ITL HB1176 passes by a wide margin; I was one of the few (20-something) votes against killing it. Oh well...
-
Next: HB1340, relative to the definition of "domestic violence". Rep. Abramson seems to be using it as a vehicle to complain about gun laws; blech. Let's ITL this, as the committee did unanimously.
-
Up now: HB1392, to reduce penalties for non-violent drug offenses. I support ending the drug war and thus oppose the motion to ITL this.
-
...looks like we skipped HB1276? Anyways, we're on CACR30 now; we ITL-ed it...
-
Now: HB1262, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Pine Tree Riot. It came out of committee with a 15-2 vote of ITL, and I agree with that.
-
Good grief, Rep. Burt calling for a roll call on this is ridiculous
-
these bills removed from consent are all going the way you'd expect
-
Now: HB1642, relative to lead testing in children. Rep. Blasek is really going all-in on her anti-health stance...
-
Next: HB1654... which... I'm not seeing in my notes?
-
Next: HB1397, which came out of my committee unanimously. I'm not sure why Rep. Ammon removed this from consent?
-
oh he's just nitpicking about a drafting error where the title failed to get updated with the amendment to it
-
so it's just the amendment he's complaining about, not the underlying bill...
-
meh, I don't really have strong feelings about either the amendment or the underlying bill, but Rep. Ammon really should have raised these complaints earlier instead of blindsiding us with them now...
-
wow they actually killed the amendment! First time pulling something from consent has worked today! So, uh... I guess I oppose the bill now?
-
bill passes unamended... meh, feels weird to be treating Rockingham County differently, but, eh, whatever...
-
Now: HB1040, a study commission for highway stuff. Pulled from consent to correct the vote count in the calendar. At least, that's all I thought it was; now there's a motion to table, though...
-
Last bill for the day: HB1656, establishing a road usage registration fee. Not sure why Rep. Somssich removed it from consent?
-
oh wait it was unanimous to kill it, not to pass it, so, by removing it from consent, he's trying to save it, not kill it...
-
apparently the study committee from the previous bill was meant as a substitute for this one
-
(I still voted against tabling it though)
-
ok time for the third reading motion; that means we're closing up...
-
eh... Tony... you don't really need to do this as a unanimous consent speech; the email was fine as it is.
-
Well, now I guess I know what the upcoming news cycle will be about...
-
Look, I have my own complaints with the party, but I don't think the extra ammo that Republicans would get from voicing them is worth it. Criticisms of the Democratic Party should only be done in ways that Republicans can't benefit from.
-
anyways, time to head home...