Updates

Ranked choice voting makes it possible for people to vote for the candidates they truly believe in, including third-party alternatives without fear of “wasting their vote” or worse—having two good candidates cancel each other out in a three way election, opening the door for a third candidate to win election with a small plurality and nothing close to an actual majority.

The death penalty. Gun violence prevention. Cannabis legalization. Criminal justice reform. In February and March, all of these critical issues will be debated in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Here’s a quick overview of some of the more controversial bills we’ll be considering and information on how you can make your voice heard.

On Tuesday at 10am, I’ll be testifying for HB-202—a bill I’m cosponsoring with Rep. Peter Somssich that would require presidential candidates to disclose their previous 5 years of federal income tax returns as a condition for appearing on the ballot.

Last week the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee started public hearings on the 29 (and counting) bills that will come before it this session. This week we started voting on them.

Following the legislature can be a challenge even for the most engaged citizens. While the New Hampshire news media generally does a good job covering the most controversial legislation, over 800 bills are expected to be considered in this session. This makes it easy for many important bills and debates to slip through the cracks. Here’s how you can get the information you need.

On Wednesday January 2, I was part of a majority of members of the New Hampshire House who voted against making every day “take your guns to work day” for state legislators. We also voted to make sexual harassment training mandatory for legislators and staff. 

When the House meets on January 2nd for the first time in 2019, several important rules changes will be up for consideration, including one that would reinstate a ban on carrying deadly weapons while in the House Chamber, anterooms, cloakrooms, or House gallery.

“It’s one thing to have a bump in the road and be in between jobs for a little while; it’s another thing to be prevented from doing the only thing you know how to do.”

This was the scene outside Kittery Trading Post earlier this month on a cold December morning: Santa with a sidearm and an AR-15 waving to puzzled people entering the store, some toting small children.