Thread by @NewsNHJ

.@NHHouseofReps Session scheduled to start at 10am, convened shortly after 11.

They're now voting on rules for the election of a new Speaker of the House, but there's problems.

"Put your hazards on if you're unable to vote."

Overhead helicopter circling "A" lot.

#NHPolitics

Now: rules for Speaker race approved 344-8 -- @rennycushing won coin flip to be nominated first.

@mannyfornh makes nomination of Rep. Cushing to be Speaker. "He will always try to find common ground."

#NHPolitics

Rep @rennycushing (D-Hampton) no w accepting nomination to be Speaker.

"Very grateful for the nomination. I recognize that we are in unusual times to say the least."

Notes 350,000 Americans that have perished from #COVID19

#NHPolitics

"For every dollar we spend on education, we spend $1.50 on jails." --@rennycushing

#NHPolitics

Rep. Steven Smith (R-Charlestown) now to nominate Acting Speaker Sherm Packard (R-Londonderry) to be Speaker.

"I don't write speeches. Everyone will be as surprised to hear what I have to say as I am."

#NHPolitics

Rep. Packard accepts nomination while wishing @rennycushing the best on his cancer diagnosis.

"Dick was like a brother to me," he says. "Didn't have time to mourn that I wished I had, but business of state had to move forward."

#NHPolitics

Packard says Democrats want to pass and increase taxes. Honking begins.

"They want to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon taxes."

#NHPolitics

Markedly different from the speech Dick Hinch gave on Dec 2.

Packards acceptance filled with partisan policy initiatives and attacks on Democrat agenda.

#NHPolitics

Paul Smith announces results of Speaker vote.

357 votes cast. 179 needed.

4 scatter, 1 write-in, 150Cushing, 202 for Packard - who is now officially speaker.

#NHPolitics

Packard using gavel used by his father as Senate President - given to him by Gov. Styles Bridges.

Says he knows Dick Hinch is looking down on him, along with his wife of 52 years.

#NHPolitics

Now a division vote to accept the canvass of Gov and Exec Council results as presented by Deputy SoS Scanlan.

331-10, results are accepted

#NHPolitics

Now House to start voting on rules amendments. First - rule 65, to add deadlines to the House rules.

Division vote. 323-10, adopted.
#NHPolitics

Amendment to many house rules sections as passed by Rules Cmte unanimously.

Majority Leader Osborne (R-Auburn) to speak on motion, which simply updates Mason's rules to 2020 version.

Passes 316-4, as @Amtrak Downeaster passes by.

#NHPolitics

House Rule 49 being voted on now. Next up is house rule 67 amendments, which Speaker Packard intends to divide.

There are 6 sections of the amendment.

Some might be contentious.

#NHPolitics

Rule 49 passes 328-4.

Amendment to Rule 67 now coming.

Rep. James Spillane moves to divide the question to divide off section D (allowing remote quorum.)

"There is enough required discussion on Section D alone that it deserves its own debate."

Motion fails 155-183

#NHPolitics

Now, the house votes on all of Rule 67 (sections a through e) - will be first roll call of the session.

Allows for remote quorum and combining of Committees, with other things.

The motion passes 270 to 62

#NHPolitics

House votes on Unanimous Consent rule change by division vote.

Motion fails.

#NHPolitics

Rep Weber proposes rule to allow remote or hybrid sessions, but says she doesn't think House needs the rule to do so.

#NHPolitics

Roll call on the rule amendment.

Steven Smith "if I agree the rule isn't necessary, and premature, and if I believe that both caucuses need to... solve tech issues before we create the rule."

Urges members to vote no.

Motion fails 149-187

#NHPolitics

New rule amendment to 67 to allow house to convene in the state house complex, even if not all in the chamber.

Rep. Horrigan (D-Durham) says rule is too vague.

"Unnecessary and unwise" but notes he'll be one of very few naysayers.

Motion passes 203-129

#NHPolitics

Rep Cushing proposes Amendment to hold Speaker responsible for health of the members staff and guests.

"Speaker shall ensure state house is inclusive and welcoming"

#NHPolitics

Rep Osborne - "if I know that this proposal is a bit on the vague side and lacking in specifics... this proposal is a slap in the face to every speaker"

Roll call! Motion fails 131-188

#NHPolitics

Rep Shurtleff moves to ban firearms and deadly weapons from House chamber.

This will predictably fail. On Organization Day, the House reverted to 17-18 rules to remove this ban.

#NHPolitics

Now Rep Shurtleff is attempting to ban liquor and illicit drugs from the House floor. This amendment failed at the Rule Cmte.

#NHPolitics

Dem Leader @rennycushing now formally objects to finance committee make up (12 GOP, 9 Dems)

Says Dems are "entitled to 10"

#NHPolitics

.@rennycushing motion to reassemble the finance committee in a proper proportion fails.

#NHPolitics

Osborne and Cushing motion to suspend rules for introduction of resolution to condemn violence in #DCProtests

#NHPolitics

The @NHHouseofReps passes motion to suspend rules to introduce resolution condemning violent #DCProtests

"Resolved that the NH House of Representatives condemns all violence in Washington DC"

Motion passes with entire parking lot beeping.

#NHPolitics

Rep Cushing introduces rules suspension motion to allow late drafting of House Bill to ban 'hate speech' in elected officials.

"Our code of ethics does not address specifically hate speech"

#NHPolitics

Rep Hopper (R-Weare) moves rules suspension to allow introduction of House resolution to request @GovChrisSununu to end Emergency Order #76 (Vaccine Database)

"What constitutional amendment will you give up next because of fear"

#NHPolitics

Hopper's motion to suspend rules to introduce the resolution fails 130-140 (needed 2/3rds)

#NHPolitics

Now Rep. Prout introduces rules suspension motion to condemn town of Newfields NH for suppression of the freedom of the press.

#NHPolitics

The motion to suspend rules for late introduction of said Prout resolution to condemn suppression of freedom of press fails 155-120 (didn't reach 2/3rd majority.)

#NHpolitics

Rep. Altschiller now discussing remonstrance filed with SoS.

Moves that 6 members that signed document from the @NHHouseofReps be referred to a subcommittee to determine whether their seats have been vacated by such signing.

#NHPolitics

Speaker Packard declares the motion out of order.

#NHPolitics

Rep. Altschiller challenges the ruling of the chair.

Roll call vote. Sufficiently seconded as signified by honking.

#NHPolitics

Rep. Osborne says "we do not prosecute thought crimes of our members."

Urges to uphold the ruling of the Chair.

Altschiller's challenge fails 157-91

#NHPolitics

House now on third reading motion, just before dark.

#NHPolitics

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