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ICYMI: House Speaker O'Brien's Petty Vindictiveness

by: William Tucker

Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 06:00:00 AM EST

Stories of House Speaker O'Brien's threats and intimidation are commonplace, but the latest example of his petty vindictiveness, described in the Portsmouth Herald, is a new low — even for O'Brien.

Last week, Republican state Rep. Timothy Copeland voted against the three bills promoted by the GOP House leadership that would reduce or eliminate gun regulations. Afterwards, the former law enforcement officer received a message from Speaker O'Brien that his seat on the House floor — which he received due to an injury sustained in the line of duty — had been moved from the aisle to the middle of the row.

Copeland has a back injury from his time in law enforcement and he needs to get up from his seat from time to time, he said. As a result, he filled out a medical card last year and was given an aisle seat.
Copeland said he received a communication from O'Brien a few days ago, informing him that his seat was moved. Copeland said no explanation was given for the move, but he feels it was in retaliation for him voting against the party on the gun bills the House was debating.

"He (O'Brien) thinks I should be working for the party, but I pledged my allegiance to the people," he said. "He's not happy with my philosophy or my voting record."

William Tucker :: ICYMI: House Speaker O'Brien's Petty Vindictiveness

Tags: Bill O'Brien, Tim Copeland, NH House, (All Tags)

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ICYMI: House Speaker O'Brien's Petty Vindictiveness | 4 comments

so much more than petty vindictiveness (4.00 / 4)

it is a window in on his soul....this story needs to be made into an ad, not later, but now. The way to inform voters is to do often and early. At the end of the year it is a pile on and a blur, but following the pathetic Republican primary that ranged from "pious baloney" to "I like to be able to fire people" to attacking Huntsman for serving his country we need to let folks know that the attacks you saw with the Republican battle for President pale in comparison to the destructive, petty, soulless leader that the new Republican majority in this State has chosen to define NH's future.

by: political chowder @ Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 13:13:46 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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a pattern and practice...pickuppatriots wrote this in January 2011 (4.00 / 4)

You are sitting on a bus and a little old lady sporting a cane gets on and you immediately get up and give her your seat. Sounds normal. Sounds compassionate. Sounds like how your mother raised you. Well in the world of Speaker O'Brien that is not how one treats a fellow human being. Let me explain.

Republican Representative Tony Soltani got reelected this year for his fifth term. In 2006 he was very ill and for a period of time ended up in a coma. Long and short of it, one of his permanent injuries following his long recovery are non functioning nerves in the upper left region of his leg which makes it impossible to lift his leg...he can walk but manipulating the leg beyond walking is difficult to impossible. Upon getting reelected after a brief election hiatus, Representative Soltani informed Pam Tucker the Deputy Speaker of the House of his physical challenges hoping to get a seat assignment that would make his limited mobility less of a problem. Deputy Speaker Tucker, armed with this information and in consultation with the Speaker, assigned Tony to Seat number 3-83 also known as the dog house seat. It has been known for decades as the worst, most inaccessible seat in the House. HMMMMMM.
At least 18 fellow representatives, including many aisle seat occupants, contacted Speaker O'Brien on Tony's behalf to offer to change their seat with him. The Speaker refused. After much push back on the new Republican leadership, the Speaker reluctantly offered Tony a new seat assignment. Where? Seat number 3-106, the fourth seat in from the aisle. The three seats he is forced to climb over are held by freshman Republicans. Better seating? Maybe. Still a struggle? Absolutely. What is O'Brien's point? Go figure. This behavior SMELLS.

by: political chowder @ Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 14:44:14 PM UTC

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