Rep. Wendy Thomas ( D- Merrimack) is a great advocate for the people of New Hampshire. I believe that her removal was more about her leadership in leading the protests and final stoppage of the ICE site in Merrimack, New Hampshire than anything noted in the Speaker's decision noted below.
Statement on the Removal of Rep. Wendy Thomas from the Science, Technology and Energy
Concord, NH — State Representative Wendy Thomas issued the following statement in response to her removal from the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee by Chairman Michael Vose:
“After meeting with Speaker Packard on March 16 where he said he would reflect on his initial decision, I was just informed that I have been removed from the Science, Technology and Energy committee. The reasons cited in our conversation raise serious concerns about transparency, accessibility, and the standards being applied within our legislature.
The first reason given was that a simple and reasonable request was made: that I be referred to as ‘Rep. Wendy Thomas’ in committee proceedings. There are two members with the last name Thomas on the committee, and clear identification is important for the public record, especially for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community who rely on transcripts. This practice was followed without issue in the previous term, yet this year it was denied and eventually caused the chair - Rep Michael Vose to act in a threatening manner to me in the hallway about the request.
Second, I had submitted a required committee report to the Chair. While he has stated that he did not receive it, another recipient copied on the same email did receive it. As a result, the report nearly failed to make it into the House calendar. To ensure accountability and timely processing, I sent my next report directly to the administrative clerk and told the chair I had done so. This step, taken to ensure the integrity of the legislative process, was apparently unwelcome.
Finally, I was told that my removal was due to my ‘attitude.’ When I asked for clarification or a definition of what that meant, I was told, ‘it’s everything you do.’ That is not a standard, it is a dismissal.
Granite Staters expect their elected officials to ask questions, advocate for accessibility, and ensure that government processes work as intended. They also expect consistency in how members are treated and held accountable.
It is worth noting what has not led to removal from committees in this body: inflammatory rhetoric, threats of violence, or extreme statements that undermine the safety and dignity of others. Yet advocating for clarity in public records, ensuring reports are submitted, and “everything I do” is apparently grounds for dismissal.
This decision raises larger questions about how dissent, oversight, and professionalism are handled in the New Hampshire House. Our constituents deserve better.
I remain committed to doing the work I was elected to do, serving my community with integrity, transparency, and a willingness to speak up when something isn’t right.”
part two:
Bill Curry was a Connecticut state senator, comptroller and two time Democratic nominee for governor who served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House. He has written for Salon, the Daily Beast, the Huffington Post and the Hartford Courant and has provided commentary on National Public Radio, MSNBC and many other news outlets.
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