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State House Democrats Get To Work, And Everyone Expects Vetoes To Follow

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Lawmakers returned to Concord this week, and Democrats are moving fast to pass their core priorities, including measures Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed last year.

The House has been back in session for just two days, and the Democratic majority has already pushed through bills to lift the minimum wage and create an independent redistricting commission, two Democratic priorities.

Sununu vetoed bills on both topics last year.

Lawmakers in both parties say they expect plenty more bills to to be vetoed this year.

"I think that we have to keep working on them whether the governor is going to veto them or not, and if the governor is seen as vetoing bills that our constituents want then, hopefully, he will be held accountable for it," said Rep. Judith Spang, a Democrat from Durham.

Spang sponsored a bill the House passed this week that would allow cities and towns to ban single use plastics.

"I see him vetoing quite a few bills," said Deputy Republican Leader Rep. Sherman Packard. "And on many things, it's just going be party line votes."

The House also passed a so-called "red flag" gun law. That would allow family members or a doctor to ask a judge to take guns away from people thought to be a danger to themselves or others.

Sununu has not said he'd veto this bill, but through a spokesman said he's not looking to change state gun laws.

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
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