House Democrats typically show a united front in public. But a press conference last week revealed cracks in that facade, indicative of a deeper rift growing among the Democratic caucus.
Rep. Steve Shurtleff announced in Concord on Tuesday that he plans to run for House Speaker, and more than 40 Democrats stood behind him in solidarity.
Almost as many sat on the other side of the podium and watched, unwilling to throw their public support behind the current Democratic House leader.
“I am not supporting Shurtleff at this time,” said Rep. Peter Leishman, a Peterborough Democrat, after the press conference. “It’s early, and I understand there are other candidates in our caucus that have expressed interest.”
None has yet come forward. But some Democrats say they’re frustrated with their leaders because they haven’t set a clear agenda this session, and the caucus hasn’t pushed hard enough for liberal ideals in the Republican-controlled House.
Several Democratic bills aimed at gun control and raising minimum wages died with little fanfare or attention this year. And overall, the House Democratic caucus has largely stayed out of the limelight this session, as House Republicans have duked it out publicly over policy and leadership disputes.
Shurtleff says the session has been about defense, over offense. “Mostly we have been trying to stop some of the far right legislation we have seen,” he said.
House Democrats have taken a number of key votes as a united group. They voted unanimously to pass Medicaid expansion out of the chamber, and the group was key in installing Republican Shawn Jasper as Speaker of the House over competitor Bill O’Brien.
But other issues have proven divisive.
Democrats split over a recent bill to eliminate free midweek skiing for seniors at Cannon Mountain. While 91 Democrats opposed the bill, and several spoke out against it on the floor, 46 voted for the legislation, including Shurtleff and other members of Democratic leadership.
Some representatives say the group’s agenda isn’t clear.
“I don’t always know what the priorities are,” said Democratic Rep. Renny Cushing, who is backing criminal justice reforms and marijuana decriminalization bills this year.
Democrats agree that Shurtleff is a nice guy. But it’s not clear whether that sentiment would propel him to victory as House Speaker if Democrats take control of the chamber in November.
Jasper said Shurtleff’s early announcement is likely designed to quiet any opposition.
“I am sure he has announced because that would help, from his perspective, limiting the amount of candidates on that side,” he said.
Not enough aisle seats
The House made headlines last week when the Valley News reported Rep. Ernie Bridge, an 80-year-old Republican with a lung problem, was told he couldn’t bring needed medical equipment onto the floor.
Bridge, of Unity, now says the whole issue was a miscommunication, which was “quickly and completely resolved as soon as House leadership became aware.”
But the issue is illustrative of a potentially bigger trend, an aging state Legislature. New Hampshire lawmakers are on average 66 years old.
House Speaker Jasper says special medical requests are quite common, and there are only so many aisle seats to accommodate people.
“We have a lot more people who say they are handicapped now than we ever had before,” said Jasper, a Hudson Republican. “We had to spend more time this year dealing with that issue than certainly we did 20 years ago.”
The Legislature has a part-time nurse, who works in the basement of the State House on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the session.
As the 2016 election approaches and residents start filing to run as representatives, Jasper says they should consider all aspects of the job – such as lots of walking between committee rooms.
“I would never suggest someone wouldn’t run because of physical disability, but that is something they should think of and work on before hand so it doesn’t become a problem for them or for anyone,” he said.
No longer named?
Republican Kyle Tasker may have left the Legislature after being arrested on drug and attempted sexual exploitation charges, but his bills live on – for now.
Lawmakers are working to get Tasker’s name off a piece of legislation that sets guidelines around the use of police-worn body cameras. Tasker filed the bill last year, and it has passed the House.
“There’s some concern about the perception of passing legislation that has the name of someone who resigned from the House after he was arrested for a crime against a minor,” said Cushing, also a sponsor of the bill.