Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Chaos today! Attached PR House Democrats Respond to Today’s House Session #nhhouse #nhpolitics #RTWvoteneedednow
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Eileen Kelly October 12, 2011 603-271-2136
House Democrats Respond to Today’s House Session CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – The New Hampshire House of Representatives met today for the purpose of passing several fast-tracked bills introduced in September. “This is a colossal waste of time, energy and taxpayers’ money to deal with issues that could be dealt with by other means. To call the House into session knowing that the Senate has no intention of meeting before January is a frivolous notion,” stated Representative Terie Norelli, the House Democratic Leader. “There are unworkable timelines contained in several of the bills and legislation that is done hastily and at the last minute could create significant problems down the road.” “HB 652 deals with the state’s Medicaid managed care program, an incredibly complex program serving our most vulnerable residents. HB 652 takes the responsibility for managing the transition and complete redesign of our state’s $2.6 billion Medicaid program away from the Department of Health & Human Services. Moreover, it gives them 3 days from today to analyze, plan and issue an RFP by October 15th for all Medicaid populations,” Representative Cindy Rosenwald of Nashua stated. “It’s unreasonable to think that this amount of work can be done in three days. A more reasonable solution is to have the department continue the work it has already started on the program.” “SB 198 began in the Senate as a technical correction to the budget. However, a non-germane amendment dealing with marital masters was attached to the bill. There are retained bills that could be used to deal with the marital masters’ issue. Since the Senate President has stated several times to the House Speaker and in a letter dated September 26, 2011 to the House Finance Committee that the Senate does not intend to come back into session before January, the original bill is in essence held hostage by this amendment,” stated Representative Randy Foose of New London, the Democratic Policy Leader on the House Finance Committee. “The state budget will continue to lose millions of dollars, already at 2 million, the longer it takes to fix the oversight.” Rep. Norelli continued, “Overall, by co-coordinating with the Senate these issues could have been dealt with more efficiently. Our focus should be on jobs for our citizens and not wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money.”
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Eileen Kelly Senior Legislative Assistant New Hampshire House of Representatives State House, Room 307 Concord, New Hampshire 03301 603 271 2136
Press release highlighting @nhrepserlin comments Preserving Separation of Powers #nhhouse #nhpolitics. PR attached
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Eileen Kelly October 12, 2011 603-271-2136
Representative Chris Serlin’s Statement on HR 13: Repudiating the NH Supreme Court’s Unanimous Decision Preserving Separation of Powers Concord, NH - Representative Chris Serlin of Portsmouth issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to chastise the NH Supreme Court ruling in Opinion of the Justices, 162 N.H. 160 (2011), which confirmed the traditional independence of the Attorney General and the Executive branch. HR 13 came to a vote on the House floor today and passed 258 – 112.
“The inability of House Republicans to accept the unanimous ruling in Opinion of the Justices, 162 N.H. 160 (2011) is hardly surprising, as they have resisted the Constitutional restraints to their power every step of the way on this issue.
Over 30 former attorneys general and assistant attorneys general warned that HB 89 was unconstitutional, but House Republicans wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. After the question was sent to the NH Supreme Court and a unanimous ruling in opposition to HB 89 was rendered, House Republicans still won’t take “no” for an answer.
Apparently they would rather stand on an island of denial with this resolution than simply admit that they do not have the power to control the office of the Attorney General. This exercise is a colossal waste of time and taxpayer money.”
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Eileen Kelly Senior Legislative Assistant New Hampshire House of Representatives State House, Room 307 Concord, New Hampshire 03301 603 271 2136
