NH deserves better
Several weeks ago I attended a webinar that provided an introduction to a new, free voter education tool, NHDeservesBetter.com, that includes information on New Hampshire candidates, the legislative process, bill tracking and much more.
The statistic of greatest interest to me in NHDeservesBetter is the percentage of each individual NH legislator’s votes in the 2026 legislative session that aligned with public testimony, defined as public comment submitted in electronic form and testimony presented at public hearings.
House Majority Leader Osborne’s votes aligned with public testimony 19% of the time; Deputy Majority Leader Sweeney, 18 % of the time; Chair of the Education Policy Committee Noble, 19%; Education Funding Chair Ladd, 17%; Election Law Chair Berry, 18%; HHS & Elderly Affairs Chair Wayne MacDonald, 21%. These people clearly do not represent the priorities, concerns or values of New Hampshire citizens. They have been successful in suppressing the will of the people because there is currently no statute, or resolution, or rule, or ethical guideline that explicitly requires lawmakers to consider public input in their deliberations or to explain their reasons for accepting or rejecting public comment.
Candidates for the legislature on both sides of the aisle may promise potential constituents that, if they are elected, citizens’ voices will be heard in Concord. Wise voters should ask their candidates how, exactly, that will happen.