Early in my legislative career, I was sent to a leadership training with other legislators from around the country. One thing we focused on was ethics in leadership. There was a long discussion about the ethics of the “pocket veto,” the power of the committee chair to deny hearings on bills he or she doesn’t like. The pocket veto gives the majority great power over what bills are heard and brought before the full legislature for a vote. It effectively kills the bill before any votes are taken. When the instructor asked me to explain how we did things in NH I was proud to say this was not a concern in the Granite State. Our rules require every bill must have a public hearing, so the people can make their voices heard.

Other states allow citizens to vote on ballot initiatives, changes to laws the people, not the legislature, want. In NH, we do not allow ballot initiatives. It’s always been argued that with our very large citizen legislature, we can ask our local reps to file a bill for us. As all bills must have a hearing, the public has a chance to advocate directly for the changes they want. That’s why I am very disturbed to hear the current majority leader has filed an amendment to the rules to institute a pocket veto in NH and allow committees to determine which bills they will hear. In NH, the people’s voices should be heard. I urge my former colleagues and my current representatives to vote no on the amendment to Rule 44. Please contact your reps too.

Marjorie Porter

Hillsboro