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NH lawmakers meet virtually, in parking lot

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AdvertisementState Senate, House take different approaches amid pandemicNH lawmakers meet virtually, in parking lotState Senate, House take different approaches amid pandemicHide TranscriptShow TranscriptTHE PROCEEDINGS. MIKE C: IN A UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PARKING LOT, 400 MEMBERS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTING FROM THEIR CARS AS THE LEGISLATURE CONVENES IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY. &gt;&gt; PLEASE PUT YOUR HAZARDS ON AS WELL IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VOTE. MIKE C: THE SESSION WAS DELAYED , AS SOME OF THE LOGISTICS HAD TO BE WORKED OUT. REP. SMITH: THE STRANGE AND BIZARRE THING THAT WE’RE DOING TODAY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT YOUR NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATORS WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES AND WORK HARD FOR YOU. MIKE C: DEMOCRATS UPSET THAT HOUSE VOTED AGAINST MOVING TO REMOTE SESSION REP. CUSHING: AND I THINK IT’S KIND OF A SIDE SHOW. IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT WHEN WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC THAT THE HOUSE OPTED NOT TO MEET REMOTELY LIKE EVERY OTHER AGENCY, LIKE EVERY OTHER BUSINESS IS FORCED TO DO, AND INSTEAD, WE’RE SPENDING TIME CATERING TO PEOPLE WHO DENY THAT THE PANDEMIC EXISTS. MIKE C: THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE DID MEET VIRTUALLY. SENATE PRESIDENT CHUCK MORSE SAYING THERE WAS A LOT OF CLERICAL WORK DONE AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT’S NOT CLEAR HOW LONG THE VIRTUAL SESSIONS WILL LAST. SEN. MORSE: WE NEED TO GET GOING. I THINK THE PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO DEBATE ALL THIS LEGISLATION. THERE’S 300 BILLS IN THE SENATE. WE’RE GONNA START ON MONDAY. WE WANT TO START TO GET BACK TO WORK IN NH AND THAT’S WHAdvertisementNH lawmakers meet virtually, in parking lotState Senate, House take different approaches amid pandemicThe New Hampshire Legislature convened Wednesday with a virtual meeting in the Senate and a drive-in session in the House.&gt;&gt; Download the free WMUR appIn a University of New Hampshire parking lot, 400 members of the House of Representatives voted from their cars as the legislature convened in an unprecedented way in the middle of a pandemic.The session was delayed as some of the logistics had to be worked out."The strange and bizarre thing that we're doing today is a good example that your New Hampshire legislators will do whatever it takes to fulfill our duties and work hard for you," said Rep. Steve Smith, R-Charlestown.Some Democrats said they were upset that the House voted against moving to remote sessions."I think it's kind of a sideshow," said Rep. Renny Cushing, House Democratic leader. "It's unfortunate that when we're in the middle of a pandemic that the House opted not to meet remotely like every other agency, like every other business is forced to do, and instead, we're spending time catering to people who deny that the pandemic exists."The Senate met virtually. Senate President Chuck Morse said there was a lot of clerical work done ahead of time to make the remote session happen. It's not clear how long sessions will be held virtually."We need to get going," Morse said. "I think the public expects us to debate all this legislation. There's 300 bills in the Senate. We're going to start on Monday."The New Hampshire Legislature convened Wednesday with a virtual meeting in the Senate and a drive-in session in the House.&gt;&gt;AdvertisementIn a University of New Hampshire parking lot, 400 members of the House of Representatives voted from their cars as the legislature convened in an unprecedented way in the middle of a pandemic.The session was delayed as some of the logistics had to be worked out."The strange and bizarre thing that we're doing today is a good example that your New Hampshire legislators will do whatever it takes to fulfill our duties and work hard for you," said Rep. Steve Smith, R-Charlestown.Some Democrats said they were upset that the House voted against moving to remote sessions."I think it's kind of a sideshow," said Rep. Renny Cushing, House Democratic leader. "It's unfortunate that when we're in the middle of a pandemic that the House opted not to meet remotely like every other agency, like every other business is forced to do, and instead, we're spending time catering to people who deny that the pandemic exists."The Senate met virtually. Senate President Chuck Morse said there was a lot of clerical work done ahead of time to make the remote session happen. It's not clear how long sessions will be held virtually."We need to get going," Morse said. "I think the public expects us to debate all this legislation. There's 300 bills in the Senate. We're going to start on Monday."Loading more articles...

AdvertisementState Senate, House take different approaches amid pandemicNH lawmakers meet virtually, in parking lotState Senate, House take different approaches amid pandemicHide TranscriptShow TranscriptTHE PROCEEDINGS. MIKE C: IN A UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PARKING LOT, 400 MEMBERS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTING FROM THEIR CARS AS THE LEGISLATURE CONVENES IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY. &gt;&gt; PLEASE PUT YOUR HAZARDS ON AS WELL IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VOTE. MIKE C: THE SESSION WAS DELAYED , AS SOME OF THE LOGISTICS HAD TO BE WORKED OUT. REP. SMITH: THE STRANGE AND...

NH lawmakers meet virtually, in parking lot

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