InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/series/distant-dome/)
Garry Rayno
At the public hearings on the bills, last week, the only person to speak in favor of the new maps was the prime sponsor of both bills, Sen. James Gray, R-Rochester, who chairs the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee and the Senate Special Committee on Redistricting.
But while one business tax is producing significant revenue surpluses and the other is producing less than budget writers anticipated and that is important.
The 206-member Republican caucus has shown remarkable discipline this session, holding together to push through legislation that — until this term — has failed.
Redrawing the state’s boundaries for the Congressional, Executive Council, state Senate and state House seats is a political process, but it should not be a millstone on the balance of power.
The latest surprise is a new parking garage for lawmakers, really just House members, because the Senators all have prime parking spots.
Politics today is not policies, ideas and open discussions, but soundbites, promoting the brand and demonizing the opposition.
This term the problems began before the House could hold its first session day, with the death of elected House Speaker Dick Hinch from COVID-19.
Public school officials must feel like they are living in Lewis Carroll’s tale “Alice in Wonderland” hearing the Mad Hatter pontificate.
You can pass resolutions, express your opinion at public hearings and before legislative committees, birddog the lawmakers making the decisions, but you cannot stop the majority party from giving itself every advantage it can to retain power when it redraws political boundaries.
State (Republican) politicians were falling over each other last week to seize credit for revenue projections for the biennium showing a $283.8 million surplus.