InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/series/distant-dome/page/15)
Garry Rayno
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.
New Hampshire will not be leaving the United States and establishing itself as a nation any time soon.
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.
Although it has existed for years and occasionally makes headlines when an academic says something many people find offensive, there are many instances including here in New Hampshire of lawmakers or politicians trying to rein it in.
This is an election year, but the only race that appears to be drawing a lot of attention is the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate held by Democrat Maggie Hassan.