As the state senate closes in on its busiest time of year, fissures within the ranks of the GOP majority are showing signs of strain. At the close of yesterday's session, two members openly challenged Senate President Tom Eaton -- accusing him of denying them the ability to fully participate in the debates over the state budget and school funding.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.
NHPR News coverage of the State Senate leadership struggle was awarded an Honorable Mention in 2005 Best Spot News by the New Hampshire Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
Senators Ted Gatsas and Dick Green have long had uneasy relations with the Senate president, but yesterday marked a new low………The spark that prompted the public dispute was Eaton's directive to the legislative budget office to do no work for senators who don't sit on the fiscal or finance committees. Here's Gatsas taking Eaton to task on the senate floor.
"I think that's wrong. I don't think that should happen……I don’t think I'm asking for anything any more than any other individual in this chamber is entitled to. So Mister President I ask that you withdraw this letter……so we can go down and do our work as we see fit…..I'm would ask you as a colleage, as a friend, that we should not be doing that in the Senate. Thank you Mr. President, I'd like your answer."
"You want to talk about it later, we'll talk about it."
"Mr. President, I certainbly don't want to challenge the chair here, but I think my collegues, with the sound -- that I can here a pin drop -- I asking you before them."
"You are asking for a vote on that?"
"If that's what you'd like, I don't have a problem doing that. I am asking you out of respect to your position as the senate president that you withdraw that."
"You've asked for a vote, so you can have a vote."
"I'll let my other colleagues speak."
And three did………two urged Eaton and Gatsas to sit down and settle things privately….……Then Rochester senator Dick Green took the floor…….He spoke of being rebuffed by the budget office when he sought assistance on a tax proposal……He also cited the denied the budget offices help while working on tax proposal….and mentioned the education committee's refusal to consider an school funding amendment crafted by Senator Gatsas.
"Why are we blocking ideas? Why are we blocking the ability for all of you to use you minds to make good decisions……I don't get it. Well, I really do….It's all about whose name is on the bill, whose name is one the amendment…..It's all about personalities….That's really a shame. That doesn’t' do this organization any credit."
Green went on to say the public expects solutions for it's elected officials -- and not what he called childish behavior.……..He then told colleges that if leadership doesn’t change it's ways, the senate out to consider choosing new leadership.
"You need the tools to do the job. And if they are denied to us by leadership, that leadership should not be sitting in leadership any longer…..I would hope that would not come to that…..Cause I think if you push this button much further you are going to have a real revolt in this body -- you can't treat people like this."
Afterwards, the Senate president denied leadership was mistreating anyone……He said he only restricted the use of legislative staffers for fear that the budget office would be swamped with excessive work. Eaton said the entire senate shares a goal of getting a budget done by June 30th and said despite the rancor, he didn't see any meaningful rift in his Republican caucus……
"There's a number of people who never agree to……You agree to disagree and that's where we are."
Concord Senator Sylvia Larsen is the chamber's top Democrat, she says she shares the concerns of Gatsas and Green……but stresses that lingering bad bad blood is counterproductive to serving the people…..
"I think what we want is a resolution the issue -- some positive statement form the Senate president's office and not just an embarassment of senate leadership."
Senate majority leader Bob Clegg, meanwhile, believed cool heads would lead to détente.
"No matter what happens, tempers flare like it said, everybody's looking hard. Mondnay moring things will look a lot brigher. Hopefully, Monday mrning we'll get them into a room for a cup of coffe and hopefully get some sort of compromise."
The senate finance committee is slated to beging voting on the state budget next week…….The entire senate will reconvene next Thursday.
