Roadblock Republicans, State Senate Edition

by: Dean Barker

Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 19:42:11 PM EST

SB300 will provide assistance for families struggling to pay their electricity bills this winter.  Given that we are in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, you'd think that this would be something easy to get going quickly, particularly since we are knee deep in cold winter temperatures.

But fast tracking it requires a 2/3 majority, and that would require the assistance of a political party that actually cares about the people it serves:

The Senate will not be able to vote until next week on a bill providing immediate assistance to families struggling to pay their electric bills because of the decision by Senate Republicans to block the vote today on procedural grounds.

"Senate Bill 300 would provide critical aid to many struggling families this winter and I am dismayed that my Republican colleagues are willing to let 8,000 families languish on the electric assistance waitlist," said Senator Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter). "This delay - one that puts process before people - may prevent final action on this bill for a month."

..."Our constituents care about action. If you don't think a week makes a difference to those in need, you've never lived in poverty," said Senator Kathleen Sgambati (D-Tilton).

(Full release below the fold)

The Senate will not be able to vote until next week on a bill providing immediate assistance to families struggling to pay their electric bills because of the decision by Senate Republicans to block the vote today on procedural grounds.

"Senate Bill 300 would provide critical aid to many struggling families this winter and I am dismayed that my Republican colleagues are willing to let 8,000 families languish on the electric assistance waitlist," said Senator Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter). "This delay - one that puts process before people - may prevent final action on this bill for a month."

While Democrats supported moving forward with the legislation, Republicans objected to the fast-track. They argued for a more formal public hearing process despite the fact that the Senate did hold a three-hour informational meeting earlier this week, where many people testified.

"Our constituents care about action. If you don't think a week makes a difference to those in need, you've never lived in poverty," said Senator Kathleen Sgambati (D-Tilton).

Senate Bill 300 would temporarily boost funding for the state's Electric Assistance Program by redirecting a small portion of the funds currently directed to energy efficiency. Both of the programs involved are funded with a small surcharge on ratepayers' electric bills and overseen by the state's Public Utilities Commission. The change would not affect what anyone pays for electricity.

The proposal calls for redirecting about $5 million over the next 18 months to help families on a waiting list who've qualified for aid through applications to their local community action agencies.

Hassan noted that federal stimulus money is contributing about $23 million for weatherization efforts in New Hampshire - a more than 10-fold boost over what the state was spending previously. An additional $17 million has been distributed for energy efficiency through participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

"I am disappointed that a minority of senators were able to use the rules to delay action on this critical legislation. Unfortunately, the process has been used to slow down our efforts to get help to those in need," said Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord).

The vote was 14-9 along party lines but the motion to allow for a fast-track required a two-third supermajority.