New Hampshire
New Hampshire rejects calls to secede from US, but more Republicans say it should
New Hampshire lawmakers rejected the latest push for the state to secede from the union and become an independent nation on Thursday despite a growing number of Republicans in favor of secession.
The state’s House voted against a proposed state constitutional amendment that would require the state to leave the United States if the country’s debt reached $40 trillion. It also rejected a bill that would form a committee to examine the “economic, legal and sociological aspects of New Hampshire exerting its sovereign state rights.”
If the proposed amendment had succeeded, it would have gone to voters, who would need to approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority. One in 5 voters said they would consider secession in a poll by the University of New Hampshire, according to Newsweek.
“In general, the talk of secession across the states is mostly just that, talk,” Nicholas Creel, a business law professor at Georgia College and State University, told Newsweek. “We’re in a highly polarized period where the parties are very far apart ideologically, making compromise difficult. These sorts of calls for breaking up the union are deeply unserious, supported by only those who don’t fully understand what secession would entail.”
Creel added that secession itself is against the law and would require “political violence” in order to make it happen, which he said the U.S. is not prepared for.
The vote comes as a similar movement heats up in Texas, fueled in part by the border crisis. The movement has 619,000 active members and is the third-largest party in the state, behind Republicans and Democrats, according to the Texas Nationalist Movement.
“This [border] crisis directly affects the lives of Texans right here and now, prompting our independence debate even more,” said Daniel Miller, the party’s president. “So much so that the question at hand is not if Texas will achieve independence but when.”
New Hampshire Republican state Rep. Jason Gerhard, who sponsored the latest New Hampshire amendment, said his state would have an alliance with Texas if both seceded from the union.
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“Freedom is not an abstract notion, it is a way of life, and the federal government continues to overlook the freedoms of both Texas and New Hampshire,” Gerhard wrote to the Texas Nationalist Movement in a letter Wednesday. “We believe that the shared principles, desires, and plights of Texans and Granite Staters highlight the importance of maintaining a relationship with one another. As New Hampshire makes its efforts to secure independence, it promises to strengthen the voices of both regions.”
Although discussion surrounding secession has been popping up for years, no serious attempt has been made since the Civil War.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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