Press Releases

House Republican Leader Richard Hinch (R-Merrimack) released the following statement in response to remarks delivered by House Democrat Majority Leader Douglas Ley (D-Jaffrey) during the unanimous consent portion of the House proceedings: “I find it highly inappropriate that the House Majority Leader Douglas Ley took advantage of unanimous consent at the end of session to …

House Republican Leader Responds to Remarks Delivered by Democrat Majority Leader Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the New Hampshire House vote to pass HB397, relative to drivers’ licenses for New Hampshire residents who do not possess a social security card. “Democrats in New Hampshire are totally out of touch with our state. HB397 would allow illegal immigrants to obtain …

House Republican Leader Reacts to House Vote Allowing Licensure of Illegal Immigrants Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the New Hampshire House vote to pass SB1-FN, relative to family and medical leave. “Groups representing New Hampshire’s business community spoke up loud and clear in their opposition to this program. Despite this testimony, House Democrats decided to pass their fatally flawed paid …

House Republican Leader Reacts to House Vote on SB1-FN Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the New Hampshire House vote to pass HB109, requiring background checks for commercial firearms sales and HB514, imposing a waiting period between the purchase and delivery of a firearm. “New Hampshire is ranked as one of the safest states in America. The vast …

House Republican Leader Reacts to House Vote on Democrats’ Anti-Gun Legislation Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following the New Hampshire House vote to pass HB560, relative to single-use carryout bags.. The bill would require every store or food service business to “provide reusable plastic or recycled paper bags to customers for no less than 10 cents.” “Businesses and consumers can currently …

House Republican Leader Reacts to House Vote on Plastic Bag Tax Bill Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following the New Hampshire House vote to pass HB558, restricting the distribution of plastic straws. The bill would require every food service business to only provide a plastic straw when explicitly asked for by the customer. “House Democrats just passed a more stringent ban on …

House Republican Leader Reacts to House Vote on Bill to Restrict Plastic Straws Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following the House vote on HB186, establishing a state minimum wage and providing for adjustments to the minimum wage. The bill would establish a state minimum wage of $9.50 per hour in 2020, then raise it incrementally to $12.00 per hour by 2023. “So far …

House Republicans Concerned About Increased Government Mandates on Businesses Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) reacted to the House Ways & Means committee vote of 10-9 to recommend HB632, repealing the education tax credit, ought to pass. “Many Democrats, including the committee chair, have a vendetta against this program that helps less fortunate kids. I don’t understand how a party who claims …

House Republican Leader Reacts to Committee Vote on Bill to Repeal Education Tax Credit Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) reacted to the Criminal Justice & Public Safety committee vote on HB 687, relative to extreme risk protection orders. The committee voted 20-0 to retain HB687 in committee. “Today’s vote in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee is another example of the Democrats’ rushed agenda hitting …

House Republican Leader Reacts to Committee Vote on HB687 Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following the House vote to pass HB611, which changes absentee ballot laws so that anyone could request an absentee ballot for any reason. “The mantra from Democrats is that they want clean and fair elections, but their legislation suggests they only want to remove reasonable …

House Republican Leader Concerned About Efforts to Remove Absentee Ballot Provisions Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the House vote on HB105, and HB 106, which repeal common sense election laws that were recently enacted. HB105 relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters attempts to reverse provisions in law made by SB3 (2017), and HB …

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

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued a statement following the party line vote of the Labor, Industrial Services and Rehabilitation committee passing HB186, establishing a state minimum wage and providing for adjustments to the minimum wage. “At a time when New Hampshire’s economy is humming and we have one of the lowest …

House Republican Leader Reacts to Passage of Job-Killing Minimum Wage Bill Read More »

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Dick Hinch issued a statement following review of the state’s monthly employment report released last week, which continued to show a strong economy and continued declines in the number of people looking for work in New Hampshire. In addition the monthly Revenue Focus report issued today by the Department of …

House Republican Leader Reacts to Positive Employment, Business Tax Data Read More »

CONCORD – House Labor committee chair Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Grantham) forwarded an email (below) containing letters from the US Department of Labor and the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security on Sunday, which both discouraged the committee from considering an amendment to SB16, which would have attempted to pay state unemployment benefits to certain furloughed …

State, Federal Agency Letters Pop Dems’ Balloon on Rushed Amendment to Exploit Shutdown Read More »