The House, Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Rep. Barbara Comtois (R - Belk 7)Mister Speaker, thank you very much for this. Fellow representatives, I'm here again and this was going to be part of my first speech. My first concern with this bill is that there are policies in there that have not been vetted by this chamber. I know that some policies in the budget were heard in the chamber and passed with bipartisan support, however, those same policies were changed and put into HB 4 as it would not have passed this chamber as it caters to multimillion-dollar organizations and their lobbyist who represent them, not the people of this great state. I have heard from both sides of the aisle well we can try. Key word there is try to fix it. When does this chamber knowingly pass bad legislation agreed by both Democrats and Republicans? Is this the best we can do for New Hampshire? This is what is done in Washington and should not become practice here in New Hampshire. Please press the red button and vote no on HB 4 so that the citizens of this state will be better served. Thank you, Mister Speaker and representatives.

Speaker ShurtleffRep. Comtois, do you yield to a question? Rep. Horn, you may inquire.

Rep. Werner Horn (R - Merr 3)Thank you, Mister Speaker and thank you to the member for taking my question. Is there policy in HB 4 that has never had a public hearing in the House and was knocked down in the Senate?

Rep. Barbara Comtois (R - Belk 7)There is policy in this HB 4 that has never had a chance to...The particular policy I'm referring to has never had a second hearing in the House. It was changed with definitions and numbers and you know we had hearings in our committee and a lot of people showed up and took time off from work against this and yet when it was finalized the only way this particular policy can get passed is by being attached to this trailer bill and it is not right that we do not have a chance to vet that. We don't know what fiscal note it may have. We do not know a lot of things and there are other policies from what I understand that are in this bill that have never had a hearing in this House too. Is this what we do for our constituents? Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 4. The Chair recognizes Rep. Abramson to speak against the motion.

Rep. Max Abramson (R - Rock 40)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Now I get to read the other part. All public funds are taken from the taxpayer whether it is federal, state, county or local spending. Every single dollar to pay for all of this comes from the same place. It comes from the taxpayers. We need to stop playing this game of three card monte with the public's money. Local funds for local problems are better kept at the local level, not funneled through state and federal bureaucracy. At the local level, you can help people struggling with addiction, illiteracy, mental illness, homelessness, lack of job skills and the other issues that are being addressed in the state budget because you know the person and their background. You know if they've been through alcohol or drug treatment before. You know if they are facing emotional problems or issues at home. No one size fits all government bureaucracy and when we handle problems down at the local level, not at the state level, we are able to learn from the successes and failures of our neighboring towns and cities and from towns and cities across the country. For this reason I am pressing the red button and asking other members to do so.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 4. The Chair recognizes Rep. Burt to speak in opposition.

Rep. John Burt (R - Hills 39)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, with the past two votes I would like to try something different. Apparently, Mister Speaker, it doesn't look like I'm going to change many votes today. So, would it be okay Mister Speaker if I shut up and go back to my seat and press the very warn out yet very bright red button? Thank you, Mister Speaker.

Speaker ShurtleffThe House will be in order. The question before the House is the recommendation that HB 4 Ought to Pass. The Chair recognizes the member from Concord for a repeat appearance, Rep. Wallner, to speak in support.

Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D - Merr 10)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Members of the House, HB 4 is often referred to as the trailer bill and it contains the policy that goes along with the budget. Like its counterpart, HB 3, HB also represents a true compromise budget. You just received a briefing from the Legislative Budget Assistant that details what is in the budget. This compromise accomplishes a great deal and it will bring meaningful relief to our cities, our towns, our departments and most of all, our citizens. I urge you to vote yes on HB 4.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 4. Are you ready for the question? A roll call has been requested. Is that significantly seconded? It is significantly seconded. This will be a roll call vote. Members will kindly take their seats. The question before the House is the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 4. The Chair recognizes Rep. Verville for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Kevin Verville (R - Rock 2)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, if I have been in possession, if I know that I have been in possession of this bill for less than 24 hours and have not had the opportunity to fully digest it. And, Mister Speaker, if I know that the people that I represent have also not had the opportunity to read through and understand this proposed bill so that they could give feedback to their elected representatives. And, Mister Speaker, if I know that I do not want to pass this bill to find out what's in it, would I now vote no on HB 4?

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 4. The Chair recognizes the member from Concord, Rep. Wallner, for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D - Merr 10)Thank you, Mister Speaker. If I know that HB 4 represents a true compromise budget. And, if I know that this budget will provide meaningful relief for our Granite Staters, would I now press the green button and vote yes to this budget? Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThis will be a roll call vote. The question before the House is the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 4. If you are in favor, you'll press the green button. If you are opposed, you'll press the red button. Voting stations will be open for 30 seconds. Have all members present had an opportunity to vote? The House will be attentive to the state of the vote. With 316 members voting Yea and 40 Nay, the motion carries. GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1-A By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on June 28, 2019, I have vetoed House Bill 1, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, and House Bill 2, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures. New Hampshire has built a thriving economy that is the envy of the Northeast, a result of our 2017 efforts to lower the tax burden on employers and engage in smart regulatory reform. In addition, my first budget exhibited disciplined fiscal restraint by using targeted, one-time investments for the state's most pressing needs. The legislature's proposed budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 reverses this winning formula in a manner that both threatens the state's economic growth and leaves the next legislature with a massive fiscal deficit. This budget takes us down the wrong path, and the people of New Hampshire will never support it. Four years ago, New Hampshire had the highest business taxes in New England and a stagnate economy. The Legislature began the process of providing tax relief by lowering the burden on our employers in a measured process. This had an immediate impact on our economy. Employers thrived and created jobs. Since we began our commitment to lifting the burden on business, almost 27,000 more New Hampshire residents - our friends and neighbors - are working. The most in state history. Today, the biggest concern of our employers is that they simply cannot find enough people to fill the many open positions. At the same time, the state has reversed a trend of watching young people leave the state. These young professionals are moving to New Hampshire because of the career opportunities, quality of life, and strong public schools. This budget would reverse that success. Most notably, it would hurt our family-run small businesses, the lifeblood of our economy, with an immediate, and retroactive, 12.5% tax increase. This would have a chilling effect on entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting a new business or adding new employees. We need to continue to send a clear message that our state is on the side of these hard-working small business owners who give opportunities for thousands to find the career of their dreams. In addition to imposing job killing tax increases, House Bills 1 & 2 would set up the next Legislature for fiscal instability by delivering them a budget that is structurally unbalanced. In the second fiscal year of this budget, spending exceeds revenues by $93.4 million, driven by Education Trust Fund expenditures that overspend by $81.5 million. Signing a budget with this massive deficit would force the next legislature to choose between massive tax increases or major spending cuts. We have been here before and we know all too well how it turned out. When crafting the budget in 2009, policymakers built in a massive structural deficit and gambled on unrealistic expectations for future revenues. The results were nothing short of catastrophic, and the next legislature was forced to cut critical programs and layoff state employees. I will not put our State in that position again. New Hampshire families know they must live within their means and they have every right to expect their government to do the same. Unlike Washington, our state does not and should never pass unbalanced budgets. Taking out a big mortgage with a one-time bonus from work would be a terrible decision, but that is precisely what this budget does. Creating a budget with a structural deficit to expand funding streams to municipalities is a recipe for pulling the rug out from underneath these communities in the coming years. When future legislatures need to restore budgetary order, that same funding will be the first to be cut. This is in sharp contrast with the pragmatic approach of the last two years, during which time we used surplus funds to make one-time investments to assist local governments in solving their most-pressing problems, such as road and school infrastructure. As Governor, my job is to represent the 1.35 million people of this state, and I must consider the long-term consequences of anything as critical to New Hampshire as our state budget. By putting our booming economy at risk and by building spending expectations that are unsustainable, this budget relies on bad financial management practices and therefore, I cannot support it. I stand ready to work with the Legislature to develop a budget that keeps our state on our current successful path. There is no reason to wait. My door is open - let's get this done. For the reasons stated above, I have vetoed House Bill 1 and House Bill 2. Respectfully submitted, Christopher T. Sununu, Governor The question being, notwithstanding the Governor's veto, shall HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, become law? Pursuant to the New Hampshire Constitution, Part II, Article 44, a roll call, requiring a two-thirds vote of the House for approval, was taken. YEAS 204 - NAYS 151 YEAS - 204

Rep. John Burt (R - Hills 39)Thank you, Mister Speaker. So I think I'm allowed to speak on the budget and anything else on this so I will continue. What I know of the budget, I don't like it so I'm voting no. Again, I've been corrected. There is not new taxes, they were fee increases. My old State of Vermont loves that. They love raising fees because they can go back to their constituents and say that there is no tax increase. Well, you have seen what happened to Vermont. It hasn't been very well for them. They are basically bankrupt in my eyes. Mister Speaker, again I did sign that pledge with American For Prosperity and I guess what disturbs me Mister Speaker is you know we have had many you know I've said it you know that taxation is theft and everything else you know it just a hair over 24 hours that we've had this budget, I mean how can we process it? How can we go back to our constituents and say this is what's in it? You know this is just steamrolling ahead. The other thing I want to bring up Mister Speaker is in the Concord Monitor they did a nice letter, a news story. It said House and Senate lawmakers reach budget deal with the Governor. It was very well written. They did a good job on it. What they wrote in there is it said the proposed budget would keep the current business profit tax at 7.7% through 2020 calendar year, a concession from Democrats who wanted to return to the 7.9. So that's a good thing, but the problem Mister Speaker is it's tied to money. If we reach a certain goal, we get the tax cut. If it doesn't reach a certain goal, the tax cut doesn't go through. So what happens is businesses go huh, what should we do? They aren't going to invest if they don't know. When we started giving the tax cuts, that's when the business profits tax started to increase a lot in this state because businesses were investing in New Hampshire and I want to keep that going. Now, I have to be honest, I read as much as I could and I hope that I'm speaking you know somewhat on target with this next section and it's the appeals board for, let me get it here, where did it go, housing appeals board legislation. I did get an email from Lisa Wilson of North Hampton. She is against it so when I read it, it kind of made sense. It's going to remove local control from Goffstown, Weare and Deering that I represent and from your town. I don't think this is the way to do it. Now, I know that there are some towns from what I understand you know just won't let any building to go on. But is this, is this the way to do it? I don't know because I don't think this ever had a hearing. Now, lastly Mister Speaker, and Mister Speaker I'm sure I'm going to upset somebody and I apologize up front but I'm going to say it and hopefully I won't get gaveled again, but there's money in here for Planned Parenthood. With that said, Planned Parenthood does abortions. I'm against abortions. God is against abortion. You know, he's not going to look favorable on us in whatever the time comes and he comes back down for us. You know we can't go down this path Mister Speaker. You know, if you want to have abortions, you know, it's legal. It's legal in this country, but don't do it with tax dollars.

Speaker ShurtleffWill the member suspend for just a moment? I want to bring to the members attention. I think you are aware, but in case you're not, it's my understanding that there is no money in our state budget for abortions pursuant to the Hyde Amendment. I just want to make that clear to the member.

Rep. John Burt (R - Hills 39)Yes, thank you, Mister Speaker. I know the Hyde Amendment is there. What I look at is that you know when I told somebody in the Governor's office that there is $3.5 million that are going to go to family planning and you know I am not against that, and I said it goes to Planned Parenthood. He goes, "No, only $1.3 million of that is going to go to Planned Parenthood. I don't know if that is the exact number because bottom line is, we just go this budget 24 hours ago. So what I'm looking at is they are going to receive money. Now, do they give that money away through donations, which probably won't come to me or will it go to abortions? I don't, you know, nobody knows because that's the milliondollar question is if it goes to Planned Parenthood, they can use it. Yes, they have to use it for something else, but that money that they could use for a secretary, you know. Okay, so they are going to take that secretary money. Now they got this money and they are going to use it for the secretary and now they are going to use it for abortion. And, Mister Speaker, you know I just can't stand for that so I am voting no on this and just as I did with the suspension of the rules. Again, you know, God is not going to look favorable on us, Mister Speaker and I need to make sure that everybody understands that so please vote red on this budget. Thank you, Mister Speaker.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is on HB 3. The motion is Ought to Pass. The Chair recognizes the member from Concord, Rep. Wallner to speak in support of the report.

Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D - Merr 10)Thank you, Mister Speaker. I rise to support HB 3. HB 3 represents the numbers in the budget that make the budget work. Like its counterpart, HB 4, HB 3 also represents a true compromise budget. You just received a briefing from the Legislative Budget Assistant that details what is in this budget. The compromise accomplishes a great deal and will bring meaningful relief to our cities, our towns, our departments and most of all the New Hampshire citizens. I urge you to vote yes and support this compromised budget. Thank you, Mister Speaker.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is on the passage of HB 3. Are you ready for the question? A roll call has been requested. Is that sufficiently seconded. It is sufficiently seconded. This will be a roll call vote. Members will kindly take their seats. The question before the House is on the passage of HB 3. The Chair recognizes Rep. Verville for a parliamentary inquiry. Representative Verville: Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, if I received a copy of these bills less than 24 hours ago and that few of us have actually had the time to thoroughly read through them, let alone understand them. And, Mister Speaker, if I know that my constituents have not had the same opportunity to read those bills to see what's in them and then reach out to their elected representatives for input as well as the stakeholders, Mister Speaker, would I now vote no on HB3?

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is on the motion to approve HB 3. The Chair recognizes the member Concord, Rep. Wallner, for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D - Merr 10)Thank you, Mister Speaker. If I know that HB 3 represents a true compromise budget. And if I know that this budget will provide meaningful relief to Granite Staters, would I now press the green button and vote yes on this compromised budget?

Speaker ShurtleffThis will be a roll call vote. The question before the House is on the motion of Ought to Pass on HB 3. If you are in favor, you'll press the green button. If you are opposed, you'll press the red button. Voting stations will be open for 30 seconds. Have all members present had an opportunity to vote? The House will be attentive to the state of the vote. With 327 voting Yea and 29 voting Nay, the motion carries.