Senate Republicans Force Gag Rule on Divisive Concepts
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3207
CONCORD - Today, during the Senate Finance Committee’s deliberations on HB 2, Republican members forced through amended language of HB 544. HB 544, which prohibits the dissemination of certain divisive concepts related to sex and race in state contracts, grants, and training programs, has been widely opposed by Granite Staters from a wide variety of sectors including New Hampshire’s medical community, law enforcement community, education professionals, faith leaders, community leaders, and business community.
After the vote, Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) and Deputy Senate Democratic Leader Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) issued the following statements:
“This language is completely antithetical to who we are as a state,” stated Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester). “Regardless of your political ideology, you should be deeply alarmed by this kind of extremist agenda--especially coming from those who claim to embrace limited government. Adoption of this language flies in the face of our Live Free or Die state motto and will require every Granite Stater to let the government take back their rights by allowing the government to decide what can be discussed and taught in this state.”
Deputy Senate Democratic Leader Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) added, “There is no compromise when it comes to limiting freedom of speech and the discussion of our country’s history. To argue otherwise is to argue that this kind of dangerous language could be made only semi-racist or semi-sexist. There is no middle ground. I am extremely disappointed that our Republican colleagues chose to turn their backs on their constituents in order to appease a vocal extremist minority.”
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