Short Session Day Is a Short Dan Itse Column

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Rep. Daniel C. Itse, R-Fremont

State Rep. Dan Itse, R-Fremont, provides a Republican perspective to what’s going on in the legislature each week for InDepthNH.org readers. An engineer, Itse has represented Rockingham County since 2001.

By Rep. Dan Itse, R-Fremont

The Feb. 9 Session was a critical day.

First, it was the day of the governors’ budget address.  That meant that it could not be postponed regardless of the weather.

Second, it was the day that constitutional carry hit the floor.  The weather meant that attendance would be low.  On any given day the attendance is 85% to 90% (340 to 360).  Attendance is important.  There must be 201 in attendance to conduct business.

If there are less than 2/3, approximately 264 right now, 2/3 of those present and voting are required to approve any action.  The first vote of the day totaled 279, putting us perilously close to the 2/3 threshold.  When the vote for SB12, constitutional carry, came up, there were 297 in the room.  SB12 passed 200 to 97.  Now it is off to enrolled Bills and then the governor’s desk.

Then came the governor’s address.  We recessed briefly, while additional seats were brought in the room for the Senators and Executive Councilors.  The Joint Session was convened, and then the Executive Councilors were brought in.

Finally, Gov. Chris Sununu arrived.  His speech was mixed.  Most of it fit the Republican platform. However, there were distinct moments such as funding full-day kindergarten when the standing ovation and applause were from Democrats.

The next item increasing charter school funding brought the Republicans to their feet.  Increasing funding for the Department of Children, Youth and Families was another item that didn’t play well with Republicans, immediately followed by increasing support for the disabled did.

A short day is a short column.

Dan

 

Hon. Daniel C. Itse

New Hampshire State Representative,

Rockingham County, District 10, Fremont

(603) 642-9403

There is no difference between tyranny at the point of a gun or a knife and tyranny at the point of a pen; especially when that pen is backed by the power of the sword.