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Sununu’s Cancellation of Executive Council Meeting Will Have Real-World Consequences for Granite Staters
This morning on NH Today with Chris Ryan, Chris Sununu once again tried to downplay the anti-vaxxer extremists who halted the work of state government at yesterday’s Executive Council meeting. During the interview, Sununu said that “nothing gets delayed, nothing slows down,” following the postponement of the Executive Council meeting — but the truth is that the Council’s failure to meet will have real-world consequences for Granite Staters. By blocking the meeting, protesters blocked the Executive Council from approving contracts, not just for vaccination funds, but also for opioid treatment for pregnant women and, critical health care treatment for children — and the swearing in State Representative-Elect Catherine Rombeau. And this is the second time that the Executive Council has delayed approving federal funds to get more Granite Staters vaccinated — at a time when New Hampshire’s vaccination rate is last in New England and continues to fall behind nationally. SUNUNU’S FALSE CLAIM: “And so there’s nothing that we can’t postpone for two weeks, make sure it’s done safely, nothing gets delayed, nothing slows down, and all of the votes will still be taken in a couple weeks in a better, and frankly just a safer venue.” [NH Today, 9/30/21] FACT: Protestors Blocked the Executive Council From Swearing in State Representative-Elect Catherine Rombeau. “Democrats also noted that the swearing in of a special New Hampshire House election winner in Bedford on Sept. 7, Catherine Rombeau, had been scheduled to take place at the Executive Council meeting, but was put off when the meeting was postponed.” [WMUR, 9/30/21] FACT: Protestors Blocked the Executive Council From Voting to Approve $27 Million in Federal Funds to Boost Vaccination Efforts. “At issue were two contracts that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to accept $27 million in federal aid to create 13 new temporary positions aimed at increasing the state’s vaccination rate.” [New Hampshire Bulletin, 9/29/21] FACT: Protestors Blocked the Executive Council From Approving Opioid Treatment for Pregnant Women. Item 28 on the Executive Council agenda was to vote to “Authorize to enter into a sole source amendment to an existing contract with Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Lebanon, NH (originally approved by G&C on 1-24-18, item #8), to provide integrated obstetric, primary care, pediatric, and Medication Assisted Treatment for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder, by increasing the price by $600,000 from $5,455,413 to $6,055,413 and by extending the completion date from September 29, 2021 to June 30, 2022.” [GOVERNOR AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AGENDA, 9/29/21] FACT: Protestors Blocked the Executive Council From Approving Critical Health Care Treatment for Children. Item 34 on the Executive Council agenda was to vote to “Authorize to enter into a contract with the University of NH, Durham, NH, for the provision of technical assistance, training and assessments for evidence-based practices implemented by providers of children’s behavioral health services and a model for treatment of First Episode Psychosis/Early Serious Mental Illness, in the amount of $4,028,757. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2023, with the option to renew for up to 4 additional years.” [GOVERNOR AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AGENDA, 9/29/21]