Press Releases

House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) announced Tuesday that House Republicans have been largely boxed out of discussions on planning and scheduling for the upcoming House session, and setting policy priorities at the House committee level. “Back in March, the Speaker set up a bipartisan committee to work on planning for the continuity of House …

Speaker, House Democrats Largely Exclude Republican Input on Policy, Process Amid Crisis Read More »

House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) called on Democrat Speaker Steve Shurtleff (D-Concord) to scrap a proposed plan to purchase electronic voting equipment costing possibly “in excess of $200,000” for when the House reconvenes on June 11th, and seek to be reimbursed by CARES Act funds for that cost. “I agree that the House should …

House Republican Leader Objects to Proposed Technology Cost Related to Reconvening Legislature Read More »

House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement in response to a letter signed by Democrats members of the House to Governor Sununu demanding that he issue an emergency order requiring all citizens to wear face masks when in public. “CDC and public health guidance we currently have in place are reasonable. New Hampshire …

House Republicans Question Democrats’ Mandatory Mask Order Request Read More »

House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued the following statement relative to Governor Sununu’s call for Democrat legislative leadership to repeal business tax rate hikes should the state’s revenues fall below a trigger point currently prescribed in law. Democrats in the legislature insisted on establishing a trigger mechanism into the state budget so that if state revenues fell, …

House Republicans Call on Democrats to Support Repeal of Prospective Business Tax Hikes Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) and Republican member of the House Election Law committee, Rep. Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien (R-Derry) issued statements following the passage of HB 1665,  establishing an independent redistricting commission. The bill passed by a vote of 203-121. “This is yet another legislative concept that for the most part resembles legislation …

House Republicans Oppose Redistricting Re-Do Read More »

Concord, NH – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) and Republican member of the House Election Law committee, Rep. Barbara Griffin (R-Goffstown) issued statements following the passage of HB1279 and HB1653, which repeal common sense election laws. HB1279 passed by a vote of 189-133. HB1653 passed by a vote of 191-129. “As the saying goes, …

House Republicans Reject Repeal of Common Sense Election Laws Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the passage of HB 1564, prohibiting the use of polystyrene foam.  “Democrats’ various bans on so-called one-time-use materials, such as polystyrene, are leading us down a road with less and less options for businesses and consumers. At what point will we have to …

House Republicans Support Consumer Choice, Reject Polystyrene Ban Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) and Republican Member of the Commerce Committee, Rep. Mark Warden (R-Manchester), issued statements following the passage of HB 1472, restricting the distribution of plastic straws. The bill passed by a vote of 197-135. “The day has come when Democrats in state government want to regulate how you …

House Republicans Oppose Democrats’ Second Attempt at Straw Restriction Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the House votes to defeat HB1652, including ski area ticket sales under the meals and rooms tax, and HB1492, establishing a tax on the retail sale of certain electronic devices. “Although these proposals failed, folks need to realize that this is just the …

House Republicans Highlight Extreme, Failed Democrat Tax Proposals Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the House vote on HB1379, requiring a background check for commercial firearms sales. The bill passed by a vote of 196-152. 100% of Republicans voted in opposition to the bill, along with 11 Democrats. “This is the second time this term that we …

House Republicans Decry Democrats’ Broken Record on Failed Gun Legislation Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following Governor Sununu’s State of the State Address today. “The governor laid out a compelling case as to why New Hampshire stands out from its neighbors, and why we shouldn’t look to adopt high-tax, high-regulation policies like our neighbors,” Hinch said. “New Hampshire has …

House Republicans Share Governor Sununu’s Vision for New Hampshire Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued statements relative to a series of bills that have hearings before the House Commerce committee on Thursday. HB 1194, establishing a surcharge for certain single use plastics.  “This is just another effort by Democrats to force businesses to nickel and dime consumers,” Hinch said, ”Last year …

House Republicans: Democrats’ Plastics Bills A Slippery Slope Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement relative to the public hearing on HB1492, a Democrat sponsored bill which establishes a tax on the retail sale of certain electronic devices. The bill, as introduced, would impose a 4.3% sales tax on a long list of items including: Television sets and related …

House Republicans Shocked by Electronic Device Sales Tax Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) and Fiscal Committee member Rep. Lynne Ober (R-Hudson) issued statements following the denial of a request by the Department of Justice for additional funds to cover litigation costs. The Joint Fiscal Committee voted along party lines to give the department less than half of its original request, …

House Republicans Concerned About Politically Motivated Cuts to DOJ Litigation Request Read More »