Sununu vetoes likely to hold up against override attempts
All of the bills the two-term Republican vetoed Friday are expected to come up when lawmakers return some time next month.
The most hotly contested was Sununu's decision for the second straight year to turn back legislation that would put
These measures permit a judge to temporarily seize the guns of people a judge determines is at "extreme risk" of causing violence to themselves or to others.
Advocates note that since 1999,
They point to research that shows suicides declined in some states that adopted these laws, which also keep a dangerous person from obtaining a gun.
Sununu charged that the bill (HB 687) violated the Second Amendment rights of firearm owners, as well as four other constitutional provisions, including unreasonable search and seizure and the right to a speedy trial.
"This bill could lead to situations where law-abiding Granite Staters have their property seized with no notice or opportunity to speak in their own defense," Sununu wrote.
"The lack of due process in this legislation is antithetical to the
Sen.
"The intention is to give concerned family members and law enforcement the proper tools to request assistance from our courts in protecting someone who may be a danger to themselves and others," Hennessey said.
"I am extremely disappointed that
Abortion bill
Although Sununu supports abortion rights, he struck down legislation (HB 685), which would require all commercial health care plans that cover maternity costs to insure abortion services.
The governor said that runs afoul of a federal law that bans discrimination against plans that don't reimburse for abortions.
"This bill would risk the state's federal health care funding in the middle of a pandemic, take away the freedom of choice for those employees and employers who object to being forced to partake in or to provide abortion services, and expose the state to expensive litigation," Sununu said.
"
Officials with socially conservative Cornerstone Action praised Sununu and condemned advocates for falsely branding the bill.
"HB 685 was an attack on the conscience rights of Granite Staters," the group said in its statement. "No insurer or employer should be compelled to pay for an abortion against their will. No legislator and no governor should get away with calling an abortion mandate 'reproductive health parity,' as abortion activists do."
PFAS suit bill
The PFAS legislation Sununu vetoed (HB 1375) was part of an omnibus health-monitoring measure.
Sununu said that under his watch the state has adopted some of the nation's toughest limits on PFAS allowed in drinking water and held companies accountable by suing for damages.
But the governor attacked what he considered the vague, legal rights for citizens to sue over contamination.
"By not requiring proof of injury or symptoms and excluding plaintiff's past or present health status from being considered, this bill could open the floodgates to new, less severe claims which would divert resources from those who truly need them," said Sununu, citing his own work experience as an environmental engineer.
"This bill could lead to the unfortunate consequence that those most in need are unable to receive what they otherwise are entitled to."
Rep.
"In a state with the highest levels of childhood, breast, bladder, and esophageal cancer, this legislation is critical to our state and ensuring that families are given the dignity and care they deserve," Cushing said.
"This legislation was worked on for over a year and a half and had bipartisan support. With this veto,
COVID-19 worker bill
Sununu said the labor rights bill (HB 1494) he vetoed had some laudable parts to it, but one section would let labor groups get certified as unions by a public, written majority signed by potential members, bypassing the current process done by secret ballot.
"It is particularly odd that the Legislature has now sent several bills that would undermine public employee privacy despite
Sen.
"Their work has been crucial to the safety and well-being of
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