Reposting here a summary and analysis from Rep. Jason Bedrick.
-Denis

Yesterday, the House met to consider the Governor's veto of two bills (the House voted against overturning either of them) and to consider "emergency" legislation to increase fuel assistance to the needy by $10 million up to $37.5 million. According to the Union
Leader: "Last year, more than 35,300 families qualified for the program. Estimates are that 39,000 families will qualify this year."

While I don't oppose such a program in general, I do oppose how this bill was passed. Once again, the House suspended the rules (with the support of Republican leadership, I'm sad to report) to pass a bill that had no public hearing and no committee vetting. This comes at a time when we're already experiencing a major deficit, part of which we covered with bonding.

And where is the emergency? Did we not know eight months ago that winters in NH are cold? Did we not know then that fuel prices were high? Several months ago, when the House was in session, we were paying $4.00 per gallon for gas. Now we're paying $3.50 per gallon -- why is it a bigger emergency now than then?

Answer: there's an election coming.

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