Answers to Important Questions
Who are the other people representing Portsmouth up at the State House?
Robin Vogt (Ward 1 and Newington), Rebecca McBeath (Ward 2), Joan Hamblet (Ward 3), Gerry Ward (Ward 4), Ned Raynolds (Wards 2, 3, 4), and Kate Murray (Ward 5 and New Castle), and me (Wards 1, 5, Newington, and New Castle), all represent Portsmouth in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Sen. Rebecca Perkins-Kwoka represents Portsmouth and surrounding communities in the state Senate.Is there a way to watch in-person sessions of the legislature without traveling all the way to Concord?
Yes. You can watch a livestream of the legislature on days when bills are debated and voted on by visiting the General Court website and selecting the date/time House Session link at the top of the page. You can also access and share livestreams and recordings on both sessions and committee hearings on the NH House of Representatives YouTube page.Is there a way to show support for or to oppose a bill without traveling all the way to Concord?
Yes. You can do either—and provide any thoughts you want to share—by using the House Sign-in Form and Online Testimony Submission form.
How many state representatives does it take to pass a bill?
If all 400 members show up, it takes 201 votes to pass a bill and 267 to pass a Constitutional amendment. But on most days, health reasons, business commitments, car trouble, weather disasters, child care issues, and other assorted calamities major and minor keep some from attending. On days when legislators are absent, a simple majority determines the fate of a bill. In the event of a tie, the Speaker of the House casts a vote to break the tie. On days when legislators are ill or plan to be absent, they are required to notify the House Clerk’s office. If they do, the absence will be recorded as “excused”. If they don’t, it will be recorded as “unexcused”.What happens after the House passes a bill?
After the House passes a bill, the Senate must pass it too. Sometimes the Senate passes the House bill with no changes, but this is rare. Often the House and Senate will pass two different versions of the same bill. Since both bodies must agree to the exactly the same language, either one body must “concur with” (agree to) the other body’s changes, or a Committee of Conference is set up for both sides to hash out their differences. If they do, the bill goes back to both the Senate and the House for final approval. If it passes both bodies, the governor can then choose to sign it into law, to allow it to become law without a signature, or to veto the bill. A veto effectively kills the bill unless two-thirds of the members in attendance vote to override it.So how many state representatives does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Easy. One to hold the bulb in the dark and wait for the other 399 to create precise directions specifying exactly how the process should take place, to define the type of bulb to be used, and to determine whether the person screwing in the bulb should be properly licensed by the state of NH. They may also decide to set up a commission to study the benefits of working in a well-lit room versus in the dark. At some point, with majority agreement and the approval of the governor—most likely in January of the following year—the lightbulb will get screwed in.Sometimes the votes look very confusing. In a newspaper interview I read that you’re supporting a bill. Then a few days later I read you voted “No” when it came up for a vote. How can you vote “No” for a bill that you’re for? This makes no sense to me. (This is also why I think you’re all pirates.)
Yep. This is confusing. But it helps to keep in mind that what legislators actually vote on is the committee recommendation regarding a bill—not on the actual bill itself. If the committee that conducts a hearing on the bill votes to approve the bill, legislators in the House will be asked if they agree with the committee’s recommendation to pass the bill. A “Yes” vote means they agree with the committee that the bill “Ought to Pass”. A “No” vote means they don’t. On the other hand, if the committee recommends killing a bill, legislators will be asked to agree (or disagree) with the recommendation to classify the bill as “Inexpedient to Legislate”. If a majority votes “Yes” (agreeing with the committee’s recommendation to kill the bill), the bill dies. But if the full legislature votes “No” (disagreeing with the committee recommendation), the committee’s recommendation is overturned. When this happens, a motion is typically made to re-vote on the bill with a recommendation of “Ought to Pass”. This time, a “Yes” vote becomes a vote to pass the bill. Still confused? Don’t worry. You’re not alone.What happens if a legislator votes the wrong way by mistake?
Legislators can ask the House Clerk to make a correction in the official record, but often the roll call votes accessible online are not corrected. Legislators originally voting with the majority can also request a reconsideration. If the full House votes to approve reconsidering the bill, a new vote can take place. Once a bill has been reconsidered, it can’t be voted on again in the same session until it comes back from the Senate. If a vote to make a bill “Inexpedient to Legislate” passes—and is affirmed in reconsideration—the bill dies for the rest of the session. The moral of the story? Just pay attention and always make sure you’re pressing the right button.What happens when a bill is “retained”?
When a bill is retained in the first year of the two year session, the originating House committee may do additional work on it over the summer to improve it in ways that address testimony obtained during hearings or concerns expressed by legislators. The committee must decide whether to change or “amend” the bill, or to make a recommendation on it without any changes. Once the committee votes on a recommendation, the bill moves on to a vote in the full House the following year.Do state legislators make a lot of money?
A few may—but only via winning lottery tickets, separate investments, or other jobs. At a princely salary of $100/year (before taxes), members of the NH House are actually the lowest paid legislators in the United States. While this saves the state money, it also effectively reduces the pool of potential legislators to financially independent retirees, scions of wealthy families, business owners with workers who can step in for them while they serve, students balancing classes with service, and employees of organizations with very understanding bosses and unlimited time off. There are people who say that this is the price for having a “citizen legislature”. But because it doesn’t allow the vast majority of citizens who vote and pay taxes to serve without taking a huge hit to their income, it’s not as democratic (in the “democracy” sense of the word) as it sounds.What about perks? You guys must have awesome perks!
Legislators also get an eZPass for use in NH toll booths, free first-come first-serve parking in Concord’s rickety Legislative Parking Garage, and mileage for their travel back and forth to Concord. They are also eligible to participate in the state employee dental and medical plans, but must pay the full cost of all premiums themselves. This is because legislators aren’t eligible for the health insurance subsidy the state offers to employees. Additionally, legislators get a special license plate (that we have to pay for) and free entry into state parks. On a scale of “Meh…” to “Awesome!”, these perks are closer to the “Meh…” side of the chart. But it’s not really a job you do for the perks or the money.
Have a general question?
Feel free to contact me directly on issues that are time sensitive. But if you have a question about how something works that doesn’t require an immediate answer, use the form below. And thanks in advance for your question!