State Rep. Renny Cushing tells NHPR he was thinking of his father, who was murdered in 1988, while listening to the Senate roll call that saw the Legislature override a veto of his bill to repeal the death penalty. Opponents of capital punishment had counted the votes—they knew they had the necessary two-thirds—but the cheers and hollers erupting from the gallery crystallized for all the history unfolding.
Gov. Chris Sununu expressed his disappointment. And former AG Kelly Ayotte, who prosecuted New Hampshire's only death row inmate, criticized the repeal as an affront to law enforcement. This is unlikely the last chapter in the debate, and advocates like Cushing took the time to take a deep breath. And then, as Josh Rogers reported, they walked across the street to the 1831 Upham-Walker House, the last remaining Federal-style building in Concord, for a quiet lunch buffet.
Roundup of big stories this week in New Hampshire:
- N.H. Sues Makers of PFAS Chemicals for Drinking Water Contamination. And days before the state filed suit, another suit takes aim at water contamination at the former Pease Air Force Base, which today is a business park.
- Senate Committee Adopts $13 Billion State Budget: Gov. Chris Sununu had little good to say about the two-year blueprint, other than to say he looks forward to finding compromise with Senate and House leaders on a different spending plan. The full Senate votes on it next week.
- Are We Willing To Pay If The Minimum Wage is Raised? All Things Considered Host Peter Biello's series on proposed increases in the state's minimum hourly wage led to a lively exchange this week.
