Republican Review | Volume 4 Issue 14 | March 8, 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN LEADER DICK HINCH
House Republicans & Friends Across New Hampshire,
The House will meet next Thursday, March 14th at 1:00 p.m. The House will also meet on Wednesday, March 20th, and Thursday, March 21st if necessary, which is the deadline for action on House bills not in a second committee. Important to note is that we might also meet on Tuesday, March 19th, if there are a significant number of bills to get through before the deadline. We will know more after the Thursday session.
House Republicans, keep in mind that there will be a Republican caucus on Thursday, March 14th at 11:00 a.m. in Rooms 301-303, LOB.
The House had it’s only session day on Thursday and the Democrats used that time to push their radical agenda on Granite Staters. House Democrats have always preached the need for clean and fair elections. So it’s puzzling that they voted to repeal common sense election laws enacted just last year (SB3& HB1264). They followed this up by supporting a bill that allows anyone to vote by absentee ballot. Given the recent controversy in North Carolina regarding absentee ballots, I’m shocked my colleagues across the aisle would vote for this.
In committee this past week, House Democrats continued to rush through their ill-advised agenda. The Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services passed the Senate’s version of their Family Leave Income Tax Program and a job-killing 65% increase in the state’s minimum wage. However, we did have a significant victory in the Labor committee. The Democratic Chairman attempted to attach a partisan amendment to a common sense bill, SB16. This amendment would have required the State of New Hampshire to pay unemployment benefits to federal workers affected by a government shutdown. Luckily he decided to scrap his amendment after strong push back from New Hampshire DES, the US Department of Labor, and Republicans on the committee.
Please note, there will be no House business scheduled for Tuesday, March 12th, Town Meeting Day; however, the State House Complex will remain open.
All the best,
Dick Hinch, House Republican Leader
Click here to view the latest House Calendar
HB 2 is now available!
HB2, the budget trailer bill, is now available online. Please use the links below to view the index or the full bill. This is the governor’s version of the bill, which Democrats are sure to change.
You can find other budget documents on the Legislative Budget Assistant Office’s website.
Budget Bills Get Hearings, Go On The Road
HB1 and HB2 will have public hearings on Monday, March 11 in two locations away from Concord.
Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, 56 Mount Vernon Street, Milford
Monday, March 11 5:00 p.m.
HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021; HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
Lakes Region Community College, Academic Commons, 379 Belmont Road (Route 106), Laconia
Monday, March 11 5:00 p.m.
HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021; HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
Then, on Monday, March 18th, they will have public hearings in Representatives Hall.
FINANCE, Representatives Hall, SH
Monday, March 18 1:00 p.m.
HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021. HB 2-FN-A, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
State, Federal Agency Letters Pop Dems’ Balloon on Rushed Amendment to Exploit Shutdown
CONCORD – House Labor committee chair Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Grantham) forwarded an email containing letters from the US Department of Labor and the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security on Sunday, which both discouraged the committee from considering an amendment to SB16, which would have attempted to pay state unemployment benefits to certain furloughed federal workers due to the amendment’s conflicts with federal law.
SB16 is scheduled for a continued executive session on Wednesday, March 6, where Sullivan, after reviewing the letters, has instructed his committee members to, “vote down the amendment.”
House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement relative to the guidance from the state and federal agencies, and Rep. Sullivan’s change of heart on the amendment:
“For the last month, House Democrats have been pushing forward with this ill-advised idea despite repeated warnings. I’m thankful that the chairman has apparently taken the advice from the state and federal agencies, and will not put our state in danger of being in conflict with federal law, or unnecessarily draining the unemployment insurance trust fund.
Rep. Hinch first criticized the proposal the process after the amendment was circulated to Labor committee members. In a statement, on February 22, he said in part:
“They tried to slip SB16 in under the radar so they could attach an ill-advised amendment to it dealing with authorizing unemployment benefits to federal employees affected by the recent government shutdown. Despite written communication from the federal government and repeated public comments advising against this provision from our own Department of Employment Security, House Democrats moved forward with a bad idea. They are doing a great job finding avenues to exploit the shutdown for political gain, and they seem to be willing to disregard customary processes and common sense as they charge down this road. Their lack of forethought on this issue resulted in the committee needing to recess the executive session and delay action on this bill due to the volume of problems uncovered in the amendment. Haste makes waste.”
Background: SB16 was introduced into the House on January 31st, the same day it was passed by the Senate. The bill originally dealt with the date for certain federal systems of data exchange. The amendment, which was distributed to the House Labor committee during the week of February 11, and discussed at executive session on the bill on February 21, sought to modify eligibility requirements such that those federal workers who were required to work without pay could receive state unemployment benefits. If the worker receives back pay, the worker would be required to pay back the benefits they received in a “reasonable time,” a parameter which was undefined.
Attachments:
Letter from NH Department of Unemployment Security to Chairman Sullivan
Letter from US Department of Labor to Commissioner George Copadis
Copy of Rep. Sullivan amendment to SB16
House Republican Leader Reacts to Positive Employment, Business Tax Data
House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following review of the state’s monthly employment report released last week, which continued to show a strong economy and continued declines in the number of people looking for work in New Hampshire. In addition the monthly Revenue Focus report issued today by the Department of Administrative Services showed that business tax revenue continues to outperform estimates.
“In the midst of continued positive data on our state’s economy, Democrats in Concord are prepared to turn their backs on promises that we made to job creators on taxes, and regulations,” Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) said. “Make no mistake about it, our economy is benefiting from the positive effects of business tax reform championed by Republicans over the last 2 to 4 years. Rather than charge ahead with our current law that is producing positive results, we’re seeing efforts to repeal those business tax rate reductions, institute a new capital gains tax, mandate artificially high wages, and implement a flawed family leave program that will be funded by a ‘tax on wages’. The bottom line is that Democrats are willing to risk stalling our economy to grow government.”
According to the February revenue report, “Business Taxes for February totaled $24.2 million, which were $8.0 million (49.4%) above plan. YTD business tax collections are above plan by $151.2 million (48.3%) and $101.5 million (28.0%) above the prior year.”
According to the jobs report looking at January, “Seasonally adjusted estimates for January 2019 placed the number of employed residents at 746,270, an increase of 1,040 from the previous month and an increase of 8,520 from January 2018. The number of unemployed residents decreased by 70 over-the-month to 18,310. This was 1,910 fewer unemployed than in January 2018. From December 2018 to January 2019, the total labor force increased by 970 to 764,580. This was an increase of 6,610 from January 2018.”
House Republican Leader Reacts to Passage of Job-Killing Minimum Wage Bill
CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the party line vote of the Labor, Industrial Services and Rehabilitation committee passing HB186, establishing a state minimum wage and providing for adjustments to the minimum wage.
“At a time when New Hampshire’s economy is humming and we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Nation, why House Democrats are so eager to increase the cost of doing business in New Hampshire is beyond me,” Hinch said. “A government mandated wage increase of 65% will have a profound negative impact on New Hampshire’s small and medium sized business community. It only encourages employers to cut jobs, cut hours, and pass the increase cost onto the consumer. New Hampshire business owners deserve better.”
“Republicans have spent the last few years focused on creating the economic conditions for business to thrive to ensure everyone has the opportunity to earn a decent wage. Our small business owners know what it takes to attract, retain, and reward employees, and government should stop interfering,” said Hinch. “Republicans are committed to opposing this job-killing mandate on the House floor.”
House Republicans Disapprove of Democrats Plastic Bag, Straw Restriction Bills
CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued statements on 2 sets of bills which had public hearings Wednesday dealing with restrictions on plastic bags, straws, and other plastics.
House Commerce Committee:
HB 560-FN, relative to single-use carryout bags
HB 558-FN, restricting the distribution of plastic straws
“Democrats don’t appear to trust businesses or consumers to make responsible decisions on their own. They would rather rely on government imposed restrictions and fines to get their desired outcome. Bags and straws are not the enemy, nanny-state regulations like these bills are.”
House Municipal & County Committee:
HB 102, relative to municipal ordinances regarding the use of plastics.
HB 559, enabling municipalities to ban single-use sources of plastic pollution.
“Small businesses turned out in droves to oppose these bills. They may be enabling legislation, but they can potentially disable a business’s ability to make decisions that best suit them and their consumers.”
House Republicans Oppose Repeal of Common Sense Election Laws
CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the House vote on HB105, and HB 106, which repeal common sense election laws that were recently enacted.
HB105 relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters attempts to reverse provisions in law made by SB3 (2017), and HB 106, relative to the terms “resident,” “inhabitant,” “residence,” and “residency”, seeks to reverse changes in law made by HB1264 (2018).
HB105 passed by a vote of 209-155.
HB106 passed by a vote of 213-154.
“The mantra from Democrats is that they want clean and fair elections, but their legislation suggests they only want to remove reasonable provisions of our laws that provide for cleaner and fairer elections. I am deeply disappointed that Democrats did not see through the conspiracies, misleading information, and classic fear mongering perpetuated by proponents of these bills,” said Hinch. “HB106 seeks to repeal common sense legislation that the State just enacted in 2018. Just this past July, the NH Supreme Court issued an advisory opinion on HB1264 stating there is nothing unconstitutional about requiring individuals to make a choice as to where they are residents.”
“Similarly, HB105 seeks to repeal much of what the State passed in SB3. In a state where numerous elections have been decided by just a handful of votes, it is important to make sure that every ballot cast by an eligible voter is counted, and the domicile loophole is closed.” “HB1264 and SB3 did not make us any different from our neighboring states. In this past election, there were no reports of any voters being disenfranchised by the new requirements. In fact, voter turnout in college towns made records. We will continue to fight to prevent these bills from repealing our existing laws, and I trust my colleagues will agree that any person who casts a ballot in our state are subjected to the same rules.”
House Republican Leader Concerned About Efforts to Remove Absentee Ballot Provisions
CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following the House vote to pass HB611, which changes absentee ballot laws so that anyone could request an absentee ballot for any reason.
“The mantra from Democrats is that they want clean and fair elections, but their legislation suggests they only want to remove reasonable provisions from our laws that provide for cleaner and fairer elections,” Rep. Dick Hinch said. “Now is the wrong time to be considering this law. Just recently North Carolina’s State Board of Elections ordered a new election in the state’s ninth congressional district. This was after fraud was uncovered by way of tampering with absentee ballots. We believe our absentee ballot laws are fine the way they are and believe this bill will put the integrity of our elections at risk and undermine the election process.” HB611 passed by a majority vote of 198-163.
House Session Bills Preview
Most of the bills on the regular calendar are carry-overs from the past session. Not to be overlooked is the Democrats’ minimum wage proposal outlined below:
Title: establishing a state minimum wage and providing for adjustments to the minimum wage.
Bill Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billtext.aspx?sy=2019&txtFormat=amend&id=2019-0723H
Committee Recommendation: OTP/A
Committee vote: 12-7
Republican Vote: Republicans on the committee unanimously opposed OTP/A
Minority Committee Report:
Rep. Jonathan Mackie for the Minority of Labor. The minority believes this bill sets up a minimum wage based on age which might be unconstitutional age discrimination. It also is unnecessary as the state is already subject to federal minimum wage law. The state would be better served by continuing to have wages set by the free market. As the free market is serving us well with our booming economy and low unemployment, this government manipulation of wages is unnecessary.
2019 HOUSE DEADLINES
Thursday, March 14, 2019, noon Last day to report all HBs not in a second committee, except budget bills
Thursday, March 21, 2019 Last day to act on HBs not in a second committee, except budget bills
Thursday, March 28, 2019, noon Last day to report House Bills, except budget bills, Last day to report list of retained HBs
Thursday, April 4, 2019 Last day to report budget bills, Last day to act on House Bills, except budget bills
Thursday, April 11, 2019 BUDGET CROSSOVER – Last day to act on budget bills
Thursday, May 2, 2019, noon Last day to report Senate Bills going to a second committee
Thursday, May 9, 2019 Last day to act on SBs going to a second committee
Thursday, May 30, 2019, noon Last day to report all remaining SBs, Last day to report list of retained SBs
Thursday, June 6, 2019 Last day to act on SBs
Thursday, June 13, 2019 Last day to form Committees of Conference
Thursday, June 20, 2019 Last day to sign Committee of Conference reports (4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, June 27, 2019 Last day to act on Committee of Conference reports
NH HOUSE STATS
Republicans: 167
Democrats: 233