April 29th was not only the first day I served in the New Hampshire Senate but also the first day of what promises to be a long hot spring and summer in the Senate Chamber.

The New Hampshire House has certainly raised the temperature for voters by focusing on divisive social issues rather than concentrating on what is on the minds of most people: the economy.

Job losses continue to mount, the unemployment rate in New Hampshire is at the highest level it has been in many years, and small businesses are struggling to survive. 

It is against this backdrop that the House recently voted to repeal the death penalty for people who kill police officers, mandated the use of seatbelts, passed legislation that purports to protect transgender individuals from discrimination, and passed legislation allowing same-sex marriage.

The House also passed a budget that continues to increase spending while raising taxes on the hospitality industry (a jobs killer for the Mount Washington Valley and Lakes Region), and raising taxes on gas, cigarettes, gambling winnings, and insurance premiums. Still desperate for revenue, legislators also voted for a new death tax and a tax on capital gains--a killer for New Hampshire families. However, all of these taxes and spending hikes have been overshadowed by the previously mentioned social legislation.

Sylvia Larson, the Democratic President of the New Hampshire Senate, has recognized--correctly in my view--that these four divisive social issues should receive a fair hearing and a vote by the full Senate before consideration of the budget. Thus, April 29th saw the temperature rising in Concord.

The first debate was on the transgender bill (HB-415) often referred to as the ‘bathroom bill’ by the media.  Despite several angry speeches on the Senate floor that claimed a media frenzy against this legislation, and that the legislation is necessary because pervasive discrimination exists against transgender people; nevertheless every senator voted to kill this bill. I always believed that existing laws protect against discrimination and voted against this unnecessary legislation.

Pieces of legislation to repeal the death penalty (HB-556) and require the use of seat belts (HB-383) were both laid upon the table. Tabling a bill essentially is a strategy to avoid making a tough vote that can have political ramifications.  I joined with all the Republicans voting against tabling these bills. Whether you support or oppose the death penalty or mandatory seatbelts, elected officials must lead and be held accountable, rather than shirking responsibility and hiding behind a strategy that allows them to avoid voting on a controversial issue.   

Same sex marriage (HB-436) proved to be the day’s most controversial debate and it survived despite several twists and turns. With 24 members, New Hampshire has the smallest State Senate in the United States. Therefore, observers closely track the positions each individual senator commits to.  Going into the debate on same sex marriage, all 10 Republicans, myself included, committed to oppose passage as did 2 Democrats. 12 no votes means a tie and failure of legislation.  

But a last minute amendment was secretly circulated by Democrats and, according to observers was intensely lobbied for by the chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Committee.  Suddenly this secret amendment was cast as a compromise even though it unilaterally allows same sex marriage. As a result, one of the two Democrats committed to oppose same sex marriage recanted, and the 13th vote for passage materialized.

Opponents of same sex marriage were stunned and angered as promises made turned into promises betrayed. Now as the heat rises, this controversial legislation lands right in the middle of Governor Lynch’s desk. The Governor has previously indicated very clearly that he opposes same sex marriage.  Unfortunately for the Governor, his only option if he wants to keep his commitment is to veto the legislation.

Should the Governor stand his ground on same sex marriage, he also would send a clear and strong message to members of his own party.  They have spent the entire winter increasing spending, raising numerous taxes, and ignoring state promises for funding school construction which will dramatically raise property taxes. If Governor Lynch vetoes same sex marriage he will unambiguously tell fellow Democrats: enough is enough and that it is time to start focusing on voters' primary concern – the economy.  Governor Lynch can deliver that message – or voters will continue to do so in elections, special or not.