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Here's my story on what happened today: https://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-House-Republican-caucus-COVID-19-outbreak-prompts-anger-from-Democrats-37566965
Worth noting: Underlying all of this is a profound breakdown in trust and communication between the two parties, dating back to at least February.
Cannot overstate how much relations have deteriorated. #nhpolitics
Worth noting: Underlying all of this is a profound breakdown in trust and communication between the two parties, dating back to at least February.
Cannot overstate how much relations have deteriorated. #nhpolitics
A quick review:
In February, Democratic Speaker Steve Shurtleff issued reprimands against handful GOP members who refused to take anti-harassment trainings. The move prompted passionate speeches on the floor. Republicans from Hinch on down were furious. #nhpolitics
In February, Democratic Speaker Steve Shurtleff issued reprimands against handful GOP members who refused to take anti-harassment trainings. The move prompted passionate speeches on the floor. Republicans from Hinch on down were furious. #nhpolitics
In March, the House had a session that went until *4 AM,* just as the COVID pandemic was reaching New Hampshire, and well after the House should have stopped meeting inside.
Why? GOP said it was b/c reprimands ate too much time. Dems said GOP should extend deadline. #nhpolitics
Why? GOP said it was b/c reprimands ate too much time. Dems said GOP should extend deadline. #nhpolitics
Both sides, squeezed by a deadline and unable to compromise on health measures, barrelled ahead into an all-night session. Bitterness followed. Then the virus hit and the State House shut down. #nhpolitics
In June, the House returned to take up legislation after a lengthy COVID-prompted hiatus. Dozens of bills, many bipartisan, were up for a vote.
But the end of June deadline needed to be lifted to move ahead. GOP members blocked 2/3 threshold to do so. https://www.concordmonitor.com/N-H-House-meets-outside-State-House-for-second-time-in-history-34718593
But the end of June deadline needed to be lifted to move ahead. GOP members blocked 2/3 threshold to do so. https://www.concordmonitor.com/N-H-House-meets-outside-State-House-for-second-time-in-history-34718593
To Republicans, Democratic committee heads had steamed ahead on their bills without input from minority members. Democrats pushed back and said there had been no outreach.
Either way, most House bills died. No one was happy. #nhpolitics
Either way, most House bills died. No one was happy. #nhpolitics
This was the same day a small faction of Republican members took aim at @GovChrisSununu with a resolution to strip back his emergency COVID powers. Tensions were high. #nhpolitics
By September, Veto Day, the bitterness had fully calcified for some. Near the end of the day, during a speech from a Democrat in defense of kneeling during the national anthem, GOP representatives stormed out, threw masks on the floor and shouted at the Speaker. #nhpolitics
Speaker Shurtleff, for his part, excoriated certain members who had been sitting near a stash of empty beer cans midway through the session.
When I would ask reps "how did we get here," all accused the others of not communicating. But most people had stopped trying. #nhpolitics
When I would ask reps "how did we get here," all accused the others of not communicating. But most people had stopped trying. #nhpolitics
Speaking personally: Every session in the UNH Whittemore center this summer, I went in optimistic about democracy in the time of pandemic. And every time I left demoralized and dizzy. #nhpolitics
So as a reporter, I'm not surprised about the breakdown in trust that has led to the GOP not revealing positive COVID cases and the Democrats avoiding a session.
But it's not a great start to the next session, and here's hoping it improves soon. #nhpolitics
But it's not a great start to the next session, and here's hoping it improves soon. #nhpolitics
