In a political climate that increasingly rewards sensationalism over substance, political discussion is dominated by talk of building walls and using bathrooms.
While it is easy to get the impression that politics is all about posturing, attacking and one-upping the other side, New Hampshire’s House Democratic legislators have made significant achievements at the state level by taking a different approach, and it began the very first day we convened in December 2014.
At that time, House Democrats had a choice. As the minority party facing the prospect of former speaker Bill O’Brien returning to the helm, we could have simply allowed Republicans to re-instate him and spent the next two years criticizing them for it. O’Brien’s previous term had been so divisive and embarrassing that allowing a repeat performance would have all but assured a divided Republican Party and strong Democratic performance in the next election.
House Democrats instead chose to back Rep. Shawn Jasper for speaker, and we did so for one reason: because we could not allow the harm that another O’Brien term would bring New Hampshire if we could prevent it.
This principle of putting people over politics, standing strong for principles with an eye on building consensus when possible, has guided House Democratic members ever since. Our approach has led to many legislative accomplishments this term, accomplishments that would not have been achieved by playing politics as usual.
At the top of that list is the extension of New Hampshire’s Medicaid expansion program, which leverages federal funds to provide health care to 50,000 low-income Granite Staters and substance abuse services to thousands who were previously ineligible. Instead of allowing ourselves to get bogged down over sponsorship, we worked across the aisle to craft a proposal that could garner the necessary votes to reach the governor’s desk.
The significant bills that Democrats have led in passing this term – increasing the penalty for selling the deadly opioid fentanyl, banning harmful synthetic drugs like “spice,” increasing funding for domestic violence prevention, raising the cap on net metering, to name a few – show how effective state lawmakers can be by putting politics aside and working for the greater good.
In fact, our biggest challenge this term has been finding Republicans who are willing to work on bipartisan solutions to the issues facing New Hampshire.
Despite Granite Staters believing, by a 3-to-1 margin, that local and state government should be spending more to combat the opioid crisis (WMUR Granite State poll, March 2016), over half of our House Republican colleagues pledged to the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity organization that they would cut state programs and oppose any continuation of Medicaid expansion. With so many members boxing themselves into such a rigid position, finding Republican legislators willing to consider New Hampshire’s needs first has often been a difficult task.
On partisan issues pushed by the Republican majority, strong Democratic opposition provided Gov. Hassan with the confidence that a veto would be sustained. Proposals to make New Hampshire a “right to work” state, to repeal the concealed carry permit requirement, and to restrict people who move from voting for 30 days were all defeated by sustained gubernatorial vetoes.
It doesn’t appear that Republican attitudes will be changing anytime soon.
Just recently, former Republican Rep. Spec Bowers published an op-ed chastising his former Republican colleagues for having the audacity to vote “with” Democrats on some issues. The aforementioned Americans for Prosperity group has promised to campaign against the few House Republicans who voted to continue Medicaid expansion. Attitudes like these produce constant gridlock in Washington and turn people off from the political process.
New Hampshire House Democrats believe that our pragmatic approach of putting the people of New Hampshire first, standing for our principles and building consensus when possible is the most effective way to govern.
Our constituents don’t want to see constant spin and partisan attacks; they want a government that works for them. New Hampshire House Democrats will continue building on our record of working together to do what’s right for our state.
(Rep. Steve Shurtleff of Penacook is the Democratic leader in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.)