A judge has ordered the state hand over a description of records it withheld from the state Republic an party.
But Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Richard McNamara declined to reschedule a November 21 hearing before the upcoming election.
The New HampshireGOP filed the first major public records lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan, challenging her administration’s decision to redact and withhold documents related to a controversial staffing contract with Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
http://www.concordmonitor.com/Maggie-Hassan-public-records-lawsuit-5589763
Hassan’s office turned over hundreds of documents, but withheld others, citing executive priviledge. Attorney Chuck Douglas, representing the Republican state party, argued the redactions were too broad and is requesting all records be released.
Hassan is seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte. Hassan’s office called the suit a political stunt.
“The Governor’s Office has been timely and responsive to right-to-know requests in accordance with the state constitution, and we will work with the Department of Justice to submit a Vaughn Index for our office’s documents by the deadline, which is a standard request by the Court,” spokesman William Hinkle said.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock won a $36.5 million state contract in September to oversee psychiatric care at New Hampshire Hospital in Concord. But it came with controversy; nearly a dozen psychaitric staff were forced out of their jobs in July following a labor dispute with the provider.
Douglas’s firm previously represented the group, but no longer does, he has said.