Hell in a hand basket 2. NH lawmakers brutally kill 4th-graders' bill in front of them

[charisstoma]

Back in the day when I was young, our elected government representatives went out of their way to present the best face of how government works on the age level that was appropriate for the students, their possible future constituents. This was some politicians grandstanding to an audience of children who were there to learn how government works, not to listen to some politically biased rhetoric. Parental displeasure is hitting the school. I hope that they are redirecting it to the offices of the politicians who did this.
Btw The Bald Eagle, our national bird, is a raptor.


http://www.nh1.com/news/nh-lawmakers-brutally-kill-4th-graders-bill-in-front-of-them/


11 hours 11 minutes ago
NH lawmakers brutally kill 4th-graders' bill in front of them
By: Shari SmallNH1.com
CONCORD - Fourth graders from Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls received a warm welcome at the State House last Thursday. They and their teacher, James Cutting, were guests in the Gallery.

That reception quickly turned chilly as students got a glimpse of the cold, harsh realities of politics in the Granite State.

In the spirit of learning by doing, students drafted a bill to learn the process of how a bill becomes law. They proposed House Bill 373, an act establishing the Red Tail Hawk as the New Hampshire State Raptor. Even though it passed through the Environment and Agriculture committee with a majority vote, some representatives were far from receptive.

Rep. Warren Groen, a Republican from Rochester said, "It grasps them with its talons then uses its razor sharp beak to basically tear it apart limb by limb, and I guess the shame about making this a state bird is it would serve as a much better mascot for Planned Parenthood."

NH1 spoke with Groen over the phone on Thursday afternoon. Click here to listen to the interview with Groen.http://www.nh1.com/videos/phone-interview-with-rep-warren-groen-over-raptor-comments/

That comment, considered offensive by many, was made while the fourth graders sat, watched and listened. The tough lesson didn't end there.

Rep. John Burt, a Republican from Goffstown said, "Bottom line, if we keep bringing more of these bills, and bills, and bills forward that really I think we shouldn't have in front of us, we'll be picking a state hot dog next."

In a 133-to-160 vote lawmakers killed the bill and perhaps the civic enthusiasm of some 9-and-10-year-olds.

To listen to the phone interview NH1 held with Cutting on Thursday, http://www.nh1.com/videos/interview-with-james-cutting-2950/.

Comments

[frogs_of_war]

A whole bunch of adults acting more childish then the children.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Comments on the FaceBook page, where the link given here was posted, said pretty much the same along with other things, none lauding the House Representatives. Even during the interview, link included, Groen is still pounding the anti-abortion theme without any chagrin for the faux pas.

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

and they knew those kids were in the gallery watching? seriously? way to act like dickbags in front of future voters, assholes.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Told this to a few people at work. Their comments started at "REALLY!?" Even at the age levels, 6th to 9th grades, that we have in the building we would never have behaved that way in front of them.