InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/tag/sherman-packard/)
House Speaker Sherman Packard and Deputy Speaker Steve Smith held an “invitation only” press conference Wednesday regarding former Republican Rep. Troy Merner, who allegedly served the entire last House session after moving out of Lancaster and the district he was elected to represent.
The Lancaster selectmen filled former chairman Troy Merner’s seat with Kathy Lavoie, the woman who blew the whistle on Merner for moving out of Lancaster and continuing to serve on the selectboard, and as Coos County District 1 state Representative, which ultimately led to him resigning from both.
Former longtime New Hampshire lawmaker Peter Hoe Burling wants to know what the House Speaker and Attorney General knew about former Republican Rep. Troy Merner not living in the Coos County district he represented. And he wants to know when they knew it.
“Given its importance, I feel it was appropriate for Rep. Sanborn to resign as Chair of the Commission to Study the Effect of Recent Changes Made to the Charitable Gaming Laws at this time, so there will be no distractions from the good work they intend to do.”
The motion to indefinitely postpone, which prevents a similar or identical bill from coming up again before the current term ends in December 2024, was approved on a 196-190 vote.
The voluntary, two-hour workshop was about equally divided between Republicans and Democrats who were urged to avoid divisive labels when talking with those who do not share their view, listen to opposing views and acknowledge them by stating them back to the person, look for ways to find commonality in spite of divergent opinions.
On the bipartisan makeup of the Committees this term, Speaker Packard said, “I would like to thank the following Members who accepted the additional role of Chair or Vice Chair on our House Standing Committees.”
The Supreme Court’s special master has proposed moving five towns in the Lakes Region and Mount Washington Valley to equalize the state’s two congressional districts.
In a split decision, the 1st Circuit Court remanded the appeal by disabled House Democrats seeking remote participation back to the U.S. District Court in Concord for further consideration.