Statements Of Support For HB 436 And The Governor's Language

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:10:52 AM EDT

Governor John Lynch took a big step last week in coming down on the side of marriage equality.  He will sign House Bill 436 if we put into another part of state law an additional and clearer protection of the independence and freedom of religious organizations and Churches.  His language follows some wording of Connecticut's marriage equality legislation, as well as Vermont.  

The language will appear as an amendment onto House Bill 73, which will come in from the Senate.  We'll see it in final form after the Senate Judiciary Committee considers it tomorrow, but it follows the wording that the Governor requested last week.  I have included his news release, and the draft language being offered by Senator Deb Reynolds.  

I have added comments about HB 436, and the Governor's requested language, from our friends of marriage equality.  We can put this issue behind us, successfully, by supporting HB 73 as amended.  This is about, and for, our young people of New Hampshire -- for our future.

HB 436 - Marriage Equality: The Best Public Hearing Ever!

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 20:11:07 PM EDT

I left Portsmouth driving West with the bright early Springtime sun to my back at 6:12 AM.  I wanted to arrive in time for a 7:15 AM rally in front of the State House that was to be held by opponents of House Bill 436, the full marriage equality bill.  

It was a nice ride.  I hit some traffic, and got to Concord a little late at about 7:30 AM.  After parking at the Legislators' parking garage, I turned a corner and saw the signs:  "Marriage:  1 Man - 1 Woman", and assorted variations of the theme of how gays and lesbians are out to destroy marriage, and that God doesn't condone gay marriage.  

The "Granny D. Bill" Passes The New Hampshire House And Senate

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 18:31:01 PM EDT

House Bill 794 creates a seven-member group which will consider public funding options of certain campaigns in New Hampshire -- possibly Governor, State Senate, and Governor's Council.  So, this legislation could eventually dramatically affect for the good the way that democracy is exercised in our state.

After a public hearing early last year the bill was sent to a House Election Law Subcommittee which I chaired.  There I saw first-hand the enthusiasm for the concept of this bill that Granny D and others brought to her cause as we held a dozen work sessions on the bill.

The Subcommittee even met with Maine State Representatives to learn more about how public funding of certain campaigns works in that state.  Altogether, we had over 35 hours of discussion on this bill in the Legislature. HB 794 passed the House on January 16th on a roll call of 199 to 121.

I have dubbed House Bill 794 as "THE GRANNY D BILL," because this is her cause.  She walked across America in support of "clean elections."  In light of the ever-increasing costs of running for public office and the reliance on personal wealth or extensive fundraising in order to run for public office, this bill seeks to allow for a different approach to funding campaigns for potential candidates without such financial sources.

Legislation similar to the original version of HB 794 was almost passed by the 2000 Legislature.  A bill creating public financing of campaigns passed the State Senate that year, and came within 28 votes of passage in the then-Republican controlled House after a lengthy discussion.   GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN was prepared to sign the bill.

The people on the bipartisan Commission created by HB 794 will dedicate dedicate themselves in the next few months to the task of identifying alternative ways to fund state campaigns.  The  Commission will examine potential revenue sources for funding and develop recommendations to the legislative session of 2009.

This Commission, under the directives of the bill, may consider voluntary contributions, in-kind donations of services, and other means to generate revenue.  The Commission will include not more than three members of a political party.   No Commission members can currently hold elective office.   Two appointments are to be made by the House Speaker, two by the Senate President, two by the Governor, and one by the Secretary of State.  The Commission will report back by December 1, 2008, in time for legislative action in 2009.  

Some twelve states already have "clean election" laws at one level or another, with Maine, Arizona, and Connecticut having statewide versions affecting most elected offices.  This concept has been publicly endorsed by leaders and people who have run for "higher office" from both parties:  former GOVERNOR WALTER PETERSON, former Gubernatorial candidate JIM RUBINS, former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee JOHN RAUH, former Gubernatorial nominee PAUL McEACHERN and former State Senators CLIF BELOW and RICK TROMBLY, among others.  

In addition, SECRETARY OF STATE BILL GARDNER has been a strong advocate of the legislation and the public funding concept.  A number of other long-time supporters of the Granny D cause who have worked with her for the past decade also contributed to the success of the legislation to this point. Representatives of the League of Women Voters, NH Citizens Alliance, Americans for Campaign Reform, Public Action for Clean Elections, and Veterans for Peace NH have also supported the legislation.

I think the Commission will do its job well, and that it will come up with inventive, innovative ways to implement the concept here "The New Hampshire Way."  

House Bill 794 was cosponsored by Representatives PETER ALLEN, BETTY HALL, DANA HILLIARD, BARBARA RICHARDSON, SENATOR JACKIE CILLEY, and myself.   Several members of the House Election Law Committee worked especially hard on making the bill succeed, including DAVID PIERCE, who prepared the amendment creating the Commission, CLAUDIA CHASE and CHUCK WEED, who were on the Subcommittee which I chaired, along with David Pierce and Betty Hall and went to a number of meetings on the bill, and COMMITTEE CHAIR JANE CLEMONS, who helped in passage on the House Floor.

But this one really is a great victory for Granny D -- who repeatedly would tell us this isn't "about her," it's not even "about us," it's about our children, and our future.  

She's right.
 

The "Granny D Bill" Passes The House, Commission To Study Public Funding Of NH Campaigns

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 00:05:49 AM EST

The legislation, House Bill 794, has gone through a thorough review during the past year.  After a public hearing last March it was sent to a House Election Law Subcommittee which I chaired.  We held a dozen worksessions on the bill.  The Subcommittee even met with Maine State Representatives to learn more about how public funding of certain campaigns works in that state.  

House Bill 794 is dubbed "THE GRANNY D BILL," because this is her cause.  She walked across America in support of "clean elections."  In light of the ever-increasing costs of running for public office and the reliance on personal wealth or extensive fundraising in order to run for public office, this bill seeks to allow for a different approach to funding campaigns for potential candidates without such financial sources.

Legislation similar to the original version of HB 794 was almost passed by the 2000 Legislature.  A bill creating public financing of campaigns passed the State Senate that year, and came within 28 votes of passage in the House after a lengthy discussion.   GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN was prepared to sign the bill.

Under this legislation, a bipartisan Commission of seven public members will be created to dedicate themselves to the task of identifying alternative ways to fund state campaigns.  The commission will examine potential revenue sources for funding and develop recommendations to the legislative session of 2009.

This Commission, under the directives of the bill, may consider voluntary contributions, in-kind donations of services, and other means to generate revenue.  The Commission would include not more than three members of a political party.   No Commission members would currently hold elective office.   Two appointments would be made by the House Speaker, two by the Senate President, two by the Governor, and one by the Secretary of State.  The Commission would report back by December 1, 2008, in time for legislative action in 2009.  

Some twelve states already have "clean election" laws.  This concept has been publicly endorsed by leaders and people who have run for "higher office" from both parties:  former GOVERNOR WALTER PETERSON, former Gubernatorial candidate JIM RUBINS, former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee JOHN RAUH, former Gubernatorial nominee PAUL McEACHERN and former State Senators CLIF BELOW and RICK TROMBLY, among others.  I think the Commission will do its job well, and that it will come up with inventive, innovative ways to implement the concept there "The New Hampshire Way."  

The original version of House Bill 794 was cosponsored by Representatives PETER ALLEN, BETTY HALL, DANA HILLIARD, BARBARA RICHARDSON, SENATOR JACKIE CILLEY, and myself.   Several members of the House Election Law Committee worked especially hard on making the bill succeed, including DAVID PIERCE, who prepared the amendment creating the Commission, CLAUDIA CHASE and CHUCK WEED,who were on the Subcommittee along with David Pierce and Betty Hall and went to a number of meetings on the bill, and COMMITTEE CHAIR JANE CLEMONS, who helped in passage on the House Floor.

But this one was really a great victory for Granny D -- who repeatedly would tell us this isn't "about her," it's not even "about us," it's about our children, and our future.  

She's right.  Now it's onto the State Senate.  

Legislative Issues: Voting Rights II UPDATE

by: Nicholas Gunn

Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 23:16:24 PM EDT

A few months ago I wrote a diary talking about some legislation this session dealing with voting rights in New Hampshire. 

Last Year the NH Legislature passed a bill, HB 1556, that would have created a relationship between claiming domicile in NH for voting purposes, and New Hampshire's motor vehicle laws.  If Governor Lynch had not vetoed this legislation, any College Student who registered to vote and didn't reregister their car in NH and get a NH Drivers License within 60 days would have been guilty of perjury, and subject to jail time.

Well, things couldn't be more different with our newly blue legislature:

Enter Freshman State Representative David Pierce.  He's proposing two bills that would make it clear on voter registration forms what the Secretary of State already says is true: anyone who lives in New Hampshire most of the time may claim domicile here for purposes of voting.  HB 132 makes it clear "A person's claim of domicile for voting purposes shall not be conclusive of the person's residence for any other legal purpose."  HB 133 removes the misleading language from the voter registration forms that can be used to intimidate eligible voters.

I'm happy to report that both HB 132 and HB 133 passed the House.  They were also Voted `Ought to Pass' in the Senate Election Laws and Internal Affairs Committee, and will come to a floor vote on Wednesday. 

I spoke with Rep. Pierce again, and he thinks it is likely that both bills will pass the Senate.  The Governor vetoed HB 1556 last year, so it is likely that he will sign Rep. Pierce's legislation.  Given recent events, however, you can never be too sure.  Why don't you email him and ask him to support the bills.

NH Historic First: Civil Unions Would Help Equality

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sat Mar 24, 2007 at 08:47:50 AM EDT

The House Judiciary Committee voted in a very bipartisan 15-5 vote to approve House Bill 437.  Some real stars on the Committee speaking for the bill included Chair David Cote of Nashua, Gail Morrison of Sanbornton, and Bette Lasky of Nashua. 

If it passes on the House floor this coming week and is approved by the State Senate, it would be historic in another way:  this would be the very first time that a state has adopted legal unions for same-gendered couples without any threat of court action first.  New Hampshire would join Vermont, Connecticut, and New Jersey as the only states with civil unions.  California has a fairly extensive domestic relationships law, but comes short of formal unions for same-gendered couples.  Massachusetts allows marriage for its gay and lesbian citizens, but that was court mandated and hasn't been vetoed by their legislature. 

Our action in favor of equality contrasts positively to the 27 states where constitutional amendments have been adopted prohibiting same-gendered relationships.  New Hampshire is also one of just 20 states protecting sexual orientation as part of our civil rights law; in some 30 states one can still be fired, or denied housing or services, just because of being gay.

It's not finalized yet, of course.  The State Senate would have to vote favorably if the House approves the bill.  And we can expect a tough floor fight in the House. 

And Governor John Lynch hasn't said he will allow civil unions to become law, with or without his signature.  I'm confident he will, however, because from my knowing him since the early 1970s, I've always found him to be an inherently fair person.  While he has stated he would veto gay marriage, he has indicated he will consider something else, and that he is opposed to discrimination against our tens of thousands of gay and lesbian citizens.  Now he can deliver. 

Civil unions isn't marriage, with the word.  While it provides all the same rights, obligations, and responsibilities of marriage, it isn't marriage.  That fight has to continue, and I'll be joining others on that effort.  Another bill was approved by the Judiciary Committee that would create a serious study and analysis about marriage for gays and lesbians. 

Progress on equality, however, occurs step by step.  We've come so far because of the hard work and sacrifices of so many so far.  Civil unions is a positive step.  If one has a 20 foot pond to jump over, it sure helps if there's a stepping stone in the middle.

HB 437 is sponsored by Somersworth State Representative Dana Hilliard and myself, but working hard for its passage have been most of the openly gay members of the House:  Marlene DeChane of Barrington, Ed Butler of Harts Location, David Pierce of Etna, as well as Gail Morrison.  Most were at the all-day hearing on the bill a couple of weeks ago, and the 6 hour Committee voting session, joined by former State Representative Ray Buckley.  Former State Senator Rick Trombly has worked hard on this and other equality issues as well. 

The adventure continues...

Legislative Issues: Voting Rights

by: Nicholas Gunn

Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 03:23:47 AM EST

"The right to vote is a fundamental right.  The government should not be trying to find ways to make it more difficult to vote, we should be trying to make it easier." Rep. David Pierce, D-Hanover

The right to vote is the most important right in a Democracy; the right to a say in your own governance.  Throughout American History there have been changes in exactly who is allowed to vote, but always in the direction of giving more people a say in our governance.

Recently, however, there has been a disturbing trend in making it more difficult to vote.  Some states are requiring new identification requirements that complicate the process of registering, while many candidates have included voter suppression tactics as a part of their campaign.  New Hampshire has not been immune from this trend, and I'm not referring to our ex-congressman Charlie Bass.

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