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Sununu ignores citizens’ will

By Tess George - Greater Nashua Rights and Democracy | Oct 31, 2020

Seventy-nine headstones, each one representing a bill passed by both the NH House and Senate were set up in front of City Hall last Saturday by Greater Nashua Rights and Democracy to highlight the record number of bills vetoed by Governor Sununu. Until his term, the record for 2 years was thirteen.

These seventy-nine vetoes represent Governor Sununu’s total disregard for our elected officials and our democracy. Each one of these bills went through the extended process required to pass a bill into law. A legislator drafted the bill, hearings were held, citizens testified, lawmakers did research, and finally a vote was held. Seventy-nine times, our elected officials went through this process and passed a bill. Seventy-nine times, our Governor disregarded all of that and ruled by veto.

At the display, which spread across the entire front of City Hall, several lawmakers expressed their anger and frustration. Representative Fran Nutter-Upham pointed out that Governor Sununu wastes lawmakers’ time and citizens’ money. She noted the number of hours lawmakers heard testimony, the hours of lost work and the miles traveled when citizens testify, the hours of deliberation and voting, all wasted, not because the lawmakers couldn’t do their job and pass legislation, but because the Governor ignores the people’s will and refuses to allow it to pass.

This isn’t about the laws themselves; it’s about a lack of respect for the democratic process. It’s acceptable and probably desirable that citizens disagree on policy. It’s not acceptable for one man to act as a king and enforce his will in opposition to the will of duly elected legislators.

Vote for democracy on November 3, and vote Governor Sununu out. Dan Feltes knows the difference between governing and ruling, and he’ll be a much fairer governor.

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