Today at Fiscal: Rep. Jess Edwards, R-Auburn, is requesting to hold up $3 million in federal funding to 13 critical access hospitals due to concerns that some hospitals are requiring vaccines for employees.

Says funding should be targeted to hospitals w/o mandates. #NHPolitics Edwards appears to have support from Rep. Ken Weyler, R-Kingston, the chairman of the committee.

But other GOP members disagree. Sens. Morse and Giuda say $ should be approved now but legislature should consider additional laws restricting hospitals in future. #NHPolitics

Carson adds ultrasound requirement is not "anti-woman" arguing it will give women more info.

"How is that anti-woman?" she says. "In fact, I think is probably empowering women to take control over their bodies and their lives."

#NHPolitics Sen. Giuda now mounting defense of business tax cuts.

Says that Democrats wrongly argued in 2019 that low biz taxes would hurt revenues.

"We're now well past that point of time and we are running a $25 million a month surplus, because of those tax cuts," he says. #NHPolitics

The NH Senate votes to approve House Bill 1, 14-10.

Vote follows lengthy discussion over whether Senate Democrats' vision for education funding wld require an income tax. Sen. Jay Kahn says no, but that redistribution between wealthier and poorer towns is necessary. #NHPolitics Senate now discussing House Bill 2, the policy bill.

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, in a return to the Senate floor, starts out by attacking business tax cuts.

“Nobody, not one person at our budget hearing, requested a reduction in business taxes," he says. #NHPolitics

One more thread about this photo that's been circulating. This *is* House Republican Leader Dick Hinch in an indoor maskless meeting with top GOP reps. It *was* taken in the McIntyre ski area lodge (see right photo).

But this was not the Nov. 20 spreader event. #nhpolitics This photo was taken at a different event and originally posted to Twitter on Nov. 9.

Per a GOP official, the pictured event was a post-election victory party.

The Nov. 20 event being investigated by DHHS was the caucus speaker election. Both took place indoors. #nhpolitics

Here's my story on what happened today: concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-…

Worth noting: Underlying all of this is a profound breakdown in trust and communication between the two parties, dating back to at least February.

Cannot overstate how much relations have deteriorated. #nhpolitics A quick review:

In February, Democratic Speaker Steve Shurtleff issued reprimands against handful GOP members who refused to take anti-harassment trainings. The move prompted passionate speeches on the floor. Republicans from Hinch on down were furious. #nhpolitics

New: @GovChrisSununu announces that standardized testing will not take place in NH.

Dept of Ed is working with College Board to allow students to take SATs in the summer, amid other arrangements, Sununu says. #nhpolitics @GovChrisSununu ALSO: Sununu announces that New Hampshire will be expanding the minimum weekly state benefit for unemployment.

It's been at $32 a week for over a decade. For a limited period, it will be $168.

That will be supplemented by federal funds via the new stimulus. #nhpolitics