House Republican leaders, led by Majority Leader Jason Osborne, proposed a rule change allowing committees to table legislation by a 75 percent supermajority vote to speed the legislative process, NH Journal reported. The proposal drew opposition from some activists on the right.
House Republican leaders are proposing a rule change giving committees the power to table legislation using a supermajority vote.
NH Journal
NH Journal set out the context of New Hampshire’s unusually large body.
New Hampshire has the largest all-volunteer legislature in the Western world.
NH Journal
One problem is the State House mandate that every bill must receive a public hearing, even fringe legislation with little support.
NH Journal
Deputy Majority Leader Joe Sweeney called the debate overblown, NH Journal reported, and defended the change.
This rule would rarely get used, and even if it is, no bill will become law in New Hampshire without multiple public hearings – the highlight of our volunteer legislature.
NH Journal
Supporters noted tabling bills in committee is standard practice in most legislatures. Cornerstone Action was among the groups opposing the proposal.
Cornerstone Action led the pushback from the right, NH Journal reported.
On Monday, Cornerstone Action released a statement condemning the proposed rule change, labeling it as “an attack on bills heard in committees that often lack fair representation on certain issues.”
NH Journal
Read the full story at NH Journal.
