The Sullivan County NH Republican Committee

Author: Rep. Steven Smith

  • They are your kids, not the state’s

    Deputy Majority Leader Statement on Manchester Jane Doe Case Dismissal

    Concord, NH – Deputy Majority Leader Jim Kofalt (R-Wilton) released the following statement after the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed a lawsuit by a Manchester mother whose child was “transitioned” by the Manchester public school system without her knowledge or consent.

    “Earlier today, the New Hampshire Supreme Court decided against every single parent in our state.  By dismissing a case in which a student was “transitioned” in the Manchester public school system without her parent’s knowledge or consent, the courts have sent a clear message that public school officials can keep secrets from parents.  This is just wrong.  This decision underscores our need to expand Education Freedom Accounts, pass a Parental Bill of Rights, and put control back in the hands of parents, where it belongs. If New Hampshire Republicans win a solid majority in November, expect that to happen in 2025.”

  • One Team

    House Republicans and Friends Across New Hampshire,

    As Republicans, it’s important that we remain unified around our core principles, including free markets, education choice, parental rights, and personal freedoms.  While we will certainly not agree with each other 100% of the time, we should remain cognizant of the fact that far-left Democrats have a very different agenda, which threatens our prosperity and liberty.  When GOP candidates endorse far-left candidates, they are indirectly promoting policies like rent control, mandatory background checks for homeschoolers, gender reassignment surgery for children, and abortion up until birth.  They are empowering people who oppose parental rights, school choice, women’s privacy, and equal opportunities for women in sports.Likewise, when infighting among our own party and members occurs, it allows our opponents the opportunity to capitalize on the division. Garrulousness, misrepresentation of facts, and conspiracy theories spread in order to exert influence and smear others’ character does not help us win elections. Instead it gives voters the appearance of Washington style politics where dissension impedes progress. Thousands of activists in our state spend countless hours volunteering for our party; recruiting candidates, holding fundraisers, working the polls, and getting out the vote.  It’s understandably difficult to rally our base around “team GOP” if our elected members make statements that undermine our agenda.  Let’s honor the efforts of those supporters, our fellow GOP candidates, and the voters of New Hampshire by standing unequivocally for the principles outlined in our party platform.Working together as a unified team allows us to pool our strengths and resources, making it easier to achieve the majority. By fostering collaboration and mutual support, we can turn challenges into opportunities and reach our common goals more effectively. To ensure this victory, we must remain united and vigilant, never aiding those who seek to dismantle democracy and undermine our winning agenda.  Today, our goal is to build momentum for Republican wins in November, focusing on the inherent strength of Republican policies and the positive attributes that unite our party.  I ask you to stand with me in that effort. 
    All the best, 

  • It is your money

    Yesterday the Pulse of New Hampshire hosted the 2nd District US Congressional Debate. During the debate, Democratic Candidate, Maggie Goodlander, said that “The Trump tax cuts are a disaster; they have to be repealed. We have to find a way to raise revenue.” It is obvious that “raise revenue” is nothing but masked language for hefty tax increases.

    House Democrats are firmly on record opposing New Hampshire as a truly income tax free state. With the full repeal of the Interest & Dividends tax right around the corner, they are already clamoring for ways to “raise revenue.” They cannot stand the idea of Granite Staters keeping more of their hard earned money. Their actions show the fundamental difference between the two caucuses. House Democrats view each citizen as their own personal piggy bank whose cash can be confiscated at anytime to fund their big government spending fantasies. Meanwhile, they expect the hardworking taxpayers to sit back and accept whatever frivolous and wasteful spending they can dream up. Today and in November, we will hold them accountable for their legislative and fiscal irresponsibility.

    Policy Information:

    The Interest and Dividends income tax is set to be fully repealed on January 1st, making New Hampshire truly income tax free. We are constantly told throughout our lives that one of the most important things that we can do is save money for our retirements. Sadly, the Democrats have never seen a pot of money that they didn’t want to dip their hand into, so they tried several times this year to reinstate the I and D income tax on your retirement savings along with attempting to impose several other new and increased taxes. The Democrats’ words and actions make it clear, they want to raise your taxes on both the state and federal level. 

    This biennium, House Republicans have defeated several attempts by Democrats to raise taxes, including HB192, which would have reinstated the I and D income tax, HB1492, which was a second attempt to reinstate the I and D income tax, HB1254, which was an attempt to tax your next hotel stay, and CACR18, which would have taxed churches and religious organizations. This paired with the fact that 100% of House Democrats voted against the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which would have raised the bar for the legislature to implement new taxes and fees, shows us exactly what their plans are. If the Democrats take control in 2024, they will tax our citizens into oblivion.

  • Listen to the people

    House Republicans and Friends Across New Hampshire,

    Remember, the Democrats who spent the last four years gaslighting you about the President’s obvious mental decline are the same people who are now pushing a candidate who got exactly 129 votes in the 2020 New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Just look at the fact that even after Joe Biden tried to kill the First In the Nation Primary, New Hampshire Democrats continued to enable his attempts to disenfranchise the Granite State, then were among the first people to jump ship and endorse his anointed replacement who got fewer votes than Vermin Supreme and Chris Christie in the 2024 Democratic Primary.

    It is therefore no surprise that Democrats continue to bend the knee to an extreme and radical fringe and refuse to listen to the people. Polls keep coming up with the same results. As Democrats keep running their weird mouths about taxpayer-funded, late-term, on-demand abortion until birth, Republicans are hitting the pavement talking to voters about our plans to continue addressing housing and the cost of living.

    When New Hampshire elects the upcoming Republican supermajority in November, we will continue to cut wasteful spending and eliminate barriers to economic freedom which drive the costs felt by our friends, family, and neighbors every day.
     
    All the best, 

  • House Democrats Stand Against Education Freedom

    House Democrats Stand Against Education Freedom

    Concord, NH – House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) released the following statement after the House voted on HB1665, relative to student eligibility for education freedom accounts and the scholarship organization’s costs of administering the program, extending phase-out grants for education freedom accounts, and revising the definitions of average daily membership in attendance and average daily membership in residence.

    “Today, House Democrats once again showed their true colors by denying countless children the chance to get the best education possible. By opposing the expansion of the wildly successful Education Freedom Account program, they have made it clear that they prioritize institutions over the well-being of our children. HB1665 was a golden opportunity to give over half of our state’s children the flexibility to reach their true potential, but Democrats chose to stand against what is best for kids.”

    “New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program is not just a local success; it is rated as the most effective and popular education choice program in the entire country. Despite this, Democrats have repeatedly attempted to dismantle the program. Giving more Granite State children the opportunity to benefit from EFAs remains one of our top priorities, and we will continue to fight for every student’s right to an education that suits their unique needs.”

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  • NH House Update

    MESSAGE FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER
     House Republicans and Friends Across New Hampshire,

    Democrats and their allies are jubilant after a federal judge struck down the law which protects you, your family, and your children from being discriminated against. Earlier this year, Democrats tried and failed to repeal this law, so it is not a shock that they are so enthralled that they got a federal judge to do the dirty work which they were unable to do themselves.

    If you read below, you will find the excerpt of the law which outlines what teachings are not allowed by New Hampshire’s nondiscrimination law. Let this be a reminder, Democrats are openly celebrating the fact that they can now tell YOUR CHILD that they are inferior to others because of their sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability. 

    Republicans will continue to stand for your freedom from discrimination. And if you are like thousands of other parents in New Hampshire who are tired of their children’s education being marked by such disgraceful content being foisted upon them, I encourage you to click here and see if your child is eligible for an Education Freedom Account, another wildly successful Republican policy which Democrats are desperately seeking to destroy.
     
    All the best, Jason Osborne, House Majority Leader
    What New Hampshire’s Nondiscrimination Law Stated that you Cannot Teach to Children
    I. That people of one age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin, are inherently superior or inferior to people of another age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin;II. That an individual, by virtue of his or her age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;III. That an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin; orIV. That people of one age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin cannot and should not attempt to treat others equally and/or without regard to age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin.
    NH Democrats are Celebrating Teaching Your Children This Material
    Deputy Majority Leader Doucette in NH Journal: It’s Time for House To Pass Cannabis Bill — While We Can
    “It is time the New Hampshire legislature legalized the adult use of recreational cannabis, and this may be the last chance we get for years to do it.The House passed a comprehensive bill to legalize adult use and create a well-regulated marketplace for its cultivation and sale. The Senate did so as well, and subsequently created several changes to our bill. Some changes are a great addition, others are not.What is most worth noting here is that the Senate for the first time in the decades of cannabis legalization arguments voted to pass an approved legalization bill. That in itself is an encouraging fact. Moreover, the governor offered guidance as to what he would sign into law. We all should take note of these two major changes in policy position.”Click here to read the full piece
    Representative Lynn in the Union Leader: HB 396 balances equality, privacy and safety
    “AFTER BEING passed by the House and the Senate, HB 396 is now on its way to Gov. Chris Sununu’s desk. This important legislation amends New Hampshire’s Human Rights Act to permit, but not require, public and private institutions to make classifications based on biological sex in three narrowly tailored and specifically defined circumstances:In the usage of lavatories and locker rooms designed to accommodate multiple persons;In athletic events in a sport or activity in which physical strength, speed, or endurance is generally recognized to give an advantage to males;In the operation of prisons or other institutions to which persons may be committed involuntarily.In these three circumstances, the Legislature found that separating persons based on their biological sex serves the compelling state interests of protecting the privacy rights and physical safety of both transgender persons and others that may be affected by the classification.”
    Click here to read the full piece
    Fish and Game Welcomes an African Delegation
    On Tuesday, 5/28, the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee hosted a seven-member delegation from Africa, representing Cameroon, Morocco, Sierra Leone (x2), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Senegal.

    We welcomed the delegation to the committee with regionally-important treats to sample – maple-glazed, Boston creme, and apple cider donuts and a few maple cookies, procured by Representative Brown.

    The delegation asked the committee a far-ranging array of questions, from how federalism and our representative republic work, how bills become laws in New Hampshire, how we accomplish agreements in our two-party system, to questions on conservation and wildlife management and fishing enforcement.

    Chairman Spillane gifted each member of the delegation a copy of the current volume of F&G laws to bring back to their countries when they departed. The delegation will next be visiting Ohio to talk about Lakes, and then Oregon to discuss the Pacific Ocean.
    Reps on the Radio
    Many of our caucus members have appeared on WFEA with Drew Cline to discuss different pieces of legislation. Click below to hear some of the interviews:

    Rep. Terry Roy says his bill to put people who’ve been committed as a danger to themselves or others on the federal prohibited persons list for gun purchases, and give them a way to get off the list, might not pass this year.

    Rep. Erica Layon says the only option for legalizing marijuana this year is for the House to pass the Senate bill.
    Make Your Voice Heard: Register Your Opinions on Bills
    Step 1: Go online to Gencourt.State.NH.US. A picture of the State House dome will appear. Scroll down. Step 2:  When you see the box that says “Calendars & Meeting Schedules” click House Calendar (PDF). When you click “View PDF File” you will see a copy of the House Calendar. When you scroll through the document, you will see a day-by-day list of the bills that are being held in each committee. Step 3: When you find bills of interest, go back to Gencourt.State.NH.US. To read a bill, scroll down to the box on the left hand side of the screen that says “Current Bills” enter the bill number (Example: HB2, HB136 etc.) and click the magnifying glass. Step 4: When you find the bill that you are looking for, click the bill number in the left hand corner. This will bring you to the bill docket. To read the bill and its amendments, click the version of the bill that you want to read in the box on the left-hand corner. Step 5: Go back to Gencourt.state.nh.us. And scroll down to “Meeting Resources.” To register your opinion on the bill, click the option “House Sign-in Form and Online Testimony Submission.
    Step 6: To view further instructions on how to register your opinion on a bill, click here.
    Click here to have the House Calendar delivered to your inbox every weekClick here to view the latest House Calendar
    the official schedule of House business every week.  
    Staff Question of the Week:
    Who is your favorite Comedian?
     Meg: Larry David
    Jeremy: Dave Chapelle
    Sean: John Mulaney
    Republicans: 200
    Democrats: 193
    Independent: 2