Landrigan: Union Busting Bills Will Benefit Democrats

Kevin Landrigan says there was an “overwhelming torrent of opposition” to the “union busting” bills being debated in the House last week. It has invigorated labor, he says, and has increased the chance for Democrats to take back more legislative seats in November.

These anti-union laws aren’t going to become law. Why? Governor John Lynch is going to veto them. He’s  not going to allow the last year of his career to be colored by a lot of anti-labor legislation.

I don’t believe, in the House in particular, there’s going to be the two-thirds majority needed to override that veto … but there’s going to be a lot of debate and another fight on anti-union legislation.

I think it is firing up organized labor. I think that’s important because, with a presidential election, the chance for the pendulum swinging back and for Democrats to take back some legislative seats is going to increase as a result of this anti-union effort.

House Overrides Veto Expanding Use of Deadly Force

The New Hampshire House was in session today for only about 90 minutes but there was plenty of action crammed into the short session. When the dust had cleared, several key votes had taken place.

• The rules were suspended to allow eight new bills to be introduced for the 2011 session (260-97).

• The governor’s veto of SB 88, which expands the right to use deadly force in self-defense, was overridden (251-111). The law goes into effect in 60 days.

• SB 3, making comprehensive changes to the state pension system was tabled (259-104). The items covered by the bill were included in the state budget trailer bill, HB 2, and have already become law.

All hell broke loose when Speaker O’Brien called for the veto override vote after GOP leaders had offered assurances that the votes would not be held today.

A defiant, House Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, said it’s up to him alone to decide when matters come up.

“The chair sets the agenda; it is now on the agenda,” O’Brien declared.

A blow-by-blow account of the session, tweeted from the floor of the State House, follows below the fold.

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Kimball Defies Congressional Delegation Call to Resign

Yesterday, Kevin Landrigan reported the state’s entire GOP congressional delegation — Congressmen Frank Guinta, Charlie Bass and Sen. Kelly Ayotte — along with state House Speaker Bill O’Brien and state Senate President Peter Bragdon, held a conference call Friday to discuss the future of party chair Jack Kimball.

Today, John DiStaso reports the results of that call.

Sources said all five were unanimous that Kimball should go.

O’Brien on Friday afternoon relayed that message to Kimball at a meeting at Kimball’s office in Portsmouth.

Sources said that Kimball told O’Brien he would take the weekend to think about it, and then, after hearing from other party leaders and the grassroots, decided not to step down.

The 36-person GOP Executive Committee meets on September 1 to decide Kimball’s fate. A simple majority vote is required to remove Kimball as party chair.

Speaker O’Brien’s Nakedly Political House Session

Last week Kevin Landrigan described the motivation behind Speaker O’Brien introducing new legislation for the House to consider. No surprise, it’s political: fire up the GOP base and keep pressure on Gov. Lynch.

Today, Landrigan follows up on that point by reminding us that the Senate would also have to agree to take up the bills for them to become law — and Senate Republican leaders seem disinclined to do so.

Unless that posture changes, O’Brien’s leadership can make a lot of noise and provide plenty of cover to its GOP caucus members that they’re all on the job and trying to make corrections on the fly.

But actual results? Right now, it looks as if they may not amount to much.

O’Brien Bends the Rules for Political Advantage (Again)

State House Speaker Bill O’Brien has announced the House will meet on September 14 and October 12 to vote on a series of new bills that were introduced after the deadline for this year’s session.

House rules allow this when there is an “urgent or compelling need or events unforeseen prior to the filing deadline.” The looming $35 million cut in Medicaid reimbursement meets this requirement. Most of the other issues being addressed, like barring incremental payments to women who have children while receiving public assistance, clearly do not.

Kevin Landrigan (paywall) explains the politics:

1) It keeps the GOP base fired up: State Republicans appreciate there are early signs the political pendulum is beginning to swing back in favor of Democrats heading into 2012.

2) It keeps pressure on Gov. John Lynch: The one thing all of these issues have in common is House GOP leaders can use them to paint Lynch as a bad manager, feckless budget cutter or even a liberal in disguise.

Executive Councilor Tries to Rewrite History

Yesterday, Dean Barker documented the Executive Council’s rejection of a two-year $1.8 million Planned Parenthood contract to provide health care services for New Hampshire women.

Steve Trombley, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England CEO, said he will continue to pursue the contract including the possibility of a legal challenge.

“We obviously don’t believe this is a settled issue at this point,” he said. “We intend to challenge this at every level we can possibly challenge it.”

Beyond asking the council to rehear its request, Trombley said the organization is looking into filing a lawsuit.

The likelihood of a court battle (and Planned Parenthood win) may have just increased. In a similar case, a federal judge ruled Friday that Indiana cannot cut off funding for Planned Parenthood clinics.

Indiana is not allowed to cut off Planned Parenthood’s public funding for general health services solely because the organization also provides abortions, a federal judge said Friday in blocking parts of the state’s tough new abortion law.

This may explain why Executive Councilor St. Hilare told Kevin Landrigan that his vote rejecting the contract had nothing to do with the fact that Planned Parenthood performs abortions.

St. Hilare said it wasn’t abortion rights that moved him to turn down the pact. Instead, it was the $250,000 salary for the executive director and the fact that the group isn’t based in New Hampshire.

But soon after the vote, St. Hilare told Dan Gorenstein that was precisely why he voted again the contract.

“Actually funding an agency that performs the actual event is something that I would object to, and I have objected to. That’s why I voted against it.”

The so-called ‘event’ is abortions.

Hilaire and two of the other councilors rejected the $1.8 million dollar federal and state contract because they oppose taxpayer money supporting organizations that provide abortions.

You can listen here:

NH GOP Chair Blasts Veterans Groups

New Hampshire GOP Chair Jack Kimball blasted veterans groups as “fronts for the left wing” after they criticized him for saying the reelection of President Obama would mean American military killed in action died ‘’completely in vain.’’

Kimball said his critics are taking statements he made out of context and they were not in any way a political sleight to veterans.

“I’m proud to be a veteran, and I’m proud of every man and woman who has served this country in the military,” said Kimball in a statement to The Telegraph.

“These groups attacking me are twisting my words and are just fronts for the left wing. I reject left-wing policies, just like I reject this left-wing president. He has been a total failure, and he is taking this country down a path that will ruin us. I don’t want the great American experiment to be weakened by Obama’s radical agenda.”

Tuesday, veterans from VoteVets.org, the Truman National Security Project, and VetPAC condemned Kimball’s statement and demanded he apologize to troops and military families. “He has attempted to trivialize their sacrifices in order to launch a partisan attack on their commander in chief, said Iraq War veteran Ashwin Madia, interim chairman of VoteVets.org.

Kimball’s comments were captured on video while addressing the Hillsborough County Republican Committee Flag Day Picnic on June 12, 2011.

Speaker O’Brien’s Chickens Come Home to Roost

House Speaker O’Brien is angry at Gov. Lynch for not keeping him in the loop and consulting with him about his plan to address the budget deficit for the current fiscal year.

The House leader said he was miffed that Lynch and his budget team showed reporters how they would cope with the shortfall with a plan that includes tapping some dedicated funds.

“I’ve heard dedicated funds is one option; he knows that takes legislative approval,” O’Brien said.

“Where he is going to get this approval where he won’t talk to the house is beyond our ability to understand.”

Gov. Lynch is refusing to “talk to the house?” Here’s a little background.

April 17, 2011: Lynch, the popular four-term Democrat, extended the first olive branch to the first-term House boss, offering to meet in his office on a weekly basis.

The sessions included the House and Senate presiding officers and majority leaders.

But Lynch revealed that O’Brien canceled them more than a month ago.

“He said they weren’t very productive. I don’t know if it was something I said or someone else in the room,’’ Lynch said, half jokingly.

Speaker O’Brien’s Ineffective Threats and Bribes

Kevin Landrigan reveals Speaker O’Brien has more threats and bribes in his arsenal to pressure GOP representatives to change their vote and override Gov. Lynch’s Right-to-Work veto.

The weapons at the speaker’s disposal include the two-year state budget, retirement reform and perhaps appointive spots on key conference committees that will thrash out conflicted bills.

It won’t work, says Landrigan.

Will that be enough to turn the tide? It doesn’t look like it.

Landrigan: ‘Photo ID’ Signs Intimidated Would-Be Voters

During last week’s special election in Hillsborough county, signs were posted at the New Boston polling location reading, “Per pending legislation you will be required to produce a photo ID in order to receive a ballot.”

Writing in The Lobby, Kevin Landrigan calls the incident “an attempt to intimidate voters” and questions whether it was simply a bad idea from town clerk Irene Baudreau or “part of a larger initiative.”

Landrigan interviewed three New Boston voters who confirmed observing potential voters turn away from the polls when they saw the sign.

Charles Koch of New Boston said he saw some chagrined voters spot the sign and walk away.

“This is corruption. The attorney general should be investigating this. This was an obvious attempt to intimidate voters,” he said.

NH House: Where the Lifting Isn’t Heavy

I have utmost respect for the members of New Hampshire’s citizen legislature, who donate their time in the name of public service, while juggling day jobs and family commitments, but still…

Yes, the most popular committee of choice for House members was the Fish and Game panel.

There are two good reasons for this.

First, it’s an obvious favorite for gun and sports enthusiasts; second, few issues are politically partisan and the lifting isn’t heavy.

Landrigan: “White Hot” Race in CD-02

2nd District Congressional candidates Republican Charlie Bass and Democrat Ann Kuster have launched dueling campaign ads. Kevin Landrigan provides the blow by blow account.

Republican congressional nominee Charles Bass’ first ad of the general election campaign seeks to paint Democrat Ann McLane Kuster’s call for a “new approach” in Washington as a prescription for even more liberal policies in Washington.

“Kuster’s new approach? It’s a lot like Obama and Pelosi’s old one…” 

[B]y midday, Kuster had her second ad up pouncing on Bass’ own statement, “I’m hoping to be able to take up where I left off.”

“Wait a second,” the Kuster announcer declared. “Congressman Bass voted to protect tax loopholes for companies shipping jobs overseas and Bush’s tax breaks for oil companies. Bass even voted to deregulate Wall Street, helping create the mess we’re in.”

It didn’t take long for this tight race to get white hot.