An interesting observation from the Courant:
“[New Hampshire is] economically conservative - no sales tax, no income tax - but more libertarian when you get into social issues,” Dupre said. “Stay out of my car - I’m not going to buckle up. Stay away from my guns. Stay out of my bedroom.”
That may explain why the civil union bill passed the House 243-129 on April 4. The bill requiring seat belt use by adults - those under 18 already have to buckle up - passed by just 13 votes a day later.
Even some opponents of the civil union bill think that it’s likely to pass in the Senate, with its 14-10 Democratic majority; the prognosis for the seat belt law is unclear. Senate President Sylvia Larsen said she hasn’t done a headcount, but “I think many people had their eyes opened” by the House debate on civil unions. “My personal position is that we have discovered that our laws are discriminatory against same-gender couples.”
As for the seat belt law: Well, there’s only so much the majority can take on this session, she said. “And we don’t have hallways full of people asking us to protect their rights and responsibilities to wear seat belts.”