By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD — House Republicans voted down an attempt to give Merrimack some say over a proposed ICE detention center planned for the community.

House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, made a motion Thursday to suspend House rules to allow the late drafting and introduction of legislation addressing the proposed ICE detention facility in Merrimack, which was confirmed earlier this week, to help protect the community and provide more transparency.

The bill would give cities and towns the opportunity to choose whether such a facility is located in their community. Simpson said such a facility like the one ICE is proposing in Merrimack in an unused warehouse would change the character of the town and remove a commercial property from the tax rolls.

But House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, opposed the request saying the immigration enforcement operation has been ramping up for the past year and indeed was foreseen.

He said the House has voted to support and assist all federal immigration operations in the state.

He blamed former president Joe Biden for the problem and made disparaging remarks about his mental acuity. Osborne claimed 11 million immigrants entered the country imperiling public safety.

The motion failed to meet the required two-thirds majority needed to pass 162-187.

After the vote Simpson said, “That vote does not erase a basic truth. Merrimack residents, and people in every New Hampshire community, deserve transparency and a real voice before an ICE detention facility is placed in their town.”

Under the proposed bill, the host community to an ICE detention center would hold a public hearing and the governing body of the town would vote whether to approve the facility.

The board or council would have to vote yes before the state could issue permits, licenses, approvals or authorizations. 

“Decisions that change a town forever should not be made behind closed doors.” Simpson said. “We will continue to stand with Granite Staters and demand transparency, accountability, and respect for local communities and all Granite Staters.”

Housing

While polls show state residents’ biggest concern is housing and Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said it is one of her highest priorities, the House Thursday voted down a series of bills that would have provided state funds to enhance projects to provide workforce housing and additional living units all agree are needed to address the state’s housing crisis.

House Bill 1196 would eliminate the state’s housing champion designation and its grant program which helped to enhance local investments in housing projects.

Rep. Karen Hegner, D-Manchester, said her city used the grant money from the voluntary program to help pay for utility and safety upgrades, and other infrastructure which is often a barrier to more housing units.

She said towns like Manchester, Salem and Rochester did exactly what they were supposed to do, but now with the elimination of the program the state is breaking its promise.

Other towns that sought and received the designation will receive no benefit at all, Hegner noted.

But Rep. Joe Alexander, R-Goffstown, said other communities like Concord did not expand housing units year over year under the program and used some of the money for a purpose other than housing.

The bill to eliminate the program passed on a 185-166 vote. 

House Bill 1661 would have expanded the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority’s housing heroes program to assist “essential workers,” such as first responders and health care workers, with down payments for home purchases.

The bill sought $750,000 for this fiscal year and $1.5 million next fiscal year. The program originally used COVID relief and rescue money, but was not funded in this biennium’s budget.

The bill was killed on a 179-166 vote.

The House also voted down House Bill 1405 which would have expanded the housing finance authority’s affordable housing guarantee program. The vote was 186-162.

The Republican controlled House also voted down House Bill 1612, which would have prohibited the use of price-fixing websites, algorithms, or other software by landlords to set rent rates on a 198-147 vote, and killed House Resolution 30, which would have found that planning, zoning, and related regulations have been and should continue to be the responsibility of municipal government on a 259-81 vote.

EFA Expansion

The House approved House Bill 1832, which would add students of active military personnel to the priority guidelines for the Education Freedom Account program. 

Students in priority status are exempt from the enrollment cap of 10,000 students this school year. Currently there are 10,510 students in the program.

Rep. Peggy Balboni, D-Rye Beach, said before the program is expanded again, there needs to be more oversight and accountability for the program that is already $13 million over budget this school year.

The legislative oversight committee has failed to do its job, she said, and lawmakers are still waiting for a mandatory audit and for follow-ups on compliance reports.

Before the program is expanded, she said they owe it to every taxpayer and family already enrolled to be sure the system in place is transparent, efficient and equitable.

Supporters said few children would be involved and they owe it to military personnel to take care of their children’s education. The House voted 189-164 to approve the bill.

World Economic Forum

The House approved House Bill 1448, which prohibits the use of World Economic Forum materials within state curriculum.

Supporters said the organization is the opposite of what the United States stands for and should not be in any public school curriculum.

Opponents said the bill would limit information available to students, including those in the Model UN program, and make it more difficult to teach children how to judge information and think critically.

The bill passed on a 184-167 vote.

Redistricting Commission

On a 189-164 vote the House killed House Bill 1487 which would have established a bipartisan redistricting commission to redraw the state and federal political boundaries for the state.

While opponents said the state constitution gives lawmakers the sole authority to draw the boundaries, opponents said independent commissions are widely popular with voters and are a fair and transparent way to ensure one party’s voters are not disenfranchised through gerrymandering where politicians pick their voters, instead of voters picking their representative.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.