CONCORD – House Majority Leader Richard “Dick” Hinch (R-Merrimack) offered the following statement relative to the defeat of the committee of conference report on SB485, establishing a state grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in addressing the opioid crisis, and relative to the health care premium contribution for retired state employees. The committee of conference report failed in the House by a 159-160 vote on Wednesday. A procedural vote to reconsider that vote was also defeated 157-187, with a majority of House Democrats voting against revisiting the issue.
“Had the governor put any amount of effort into getting members of her own party to support this very important piece of legislation, it would have passed and reached her desk for signature, “ said Rep. Hinch. “Retiree health care shortfalls would have been addressed, and law enforcement would have had additional resources to fight our state’s drug crisis.”
“When 107 out of 146 members of her own party voted against reconsideration of SB485, Gov. Hassan has only herself to blame for its failure,” Hinch continued. “If the governor would have done her job and participated in the policy discussion these last few weeks, rather than spend time out of state for campaign purposes, she would have a bill to sign. Due to the governor’s lack of leadership and neglect of her basic responsibilities, law enforcement will not have the additional resources prescribed in this legislation.”