N.H. House to hold hearing on repealing same-sex marriage

A House committee in the New Hampshire Legislature is set on Feb. 17 to hear testimony on repealing the law allowing same-sex marriage in the Granite State, according to New Hampshire Freedom to Marry.

In a statement on Friday, the organization announced that the House Judiciary Committee scheduled a hearing later this month on two bills that would repeal the marriage law. One is sponsored by State Rep. Leo Pepino (R) and the other is sponsored by Rep. David Bates (R).

Mo Baxley, executive director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, said the New Hampshire General Court should focus on economic issues affecting the state instead of the marriage for same-sex couples:

“The New Hampshire House of Representatives is now moving forward with a hearing to repeal marriage for loving, committed couples. They have decided that taking away the freedom to marry is more important right now than dealing with the state’s budget crisis and economic situation, the worst since the Great Depression. Voters overwhelmingly say their number one concern is the economy. Yet lawmakers like Reps. Bates and Pepino would rather pursue a fringe agenda that hurts New Hampshire families.”

The House Judiciary Committee couldn’t immediately be reached to confirm that the hearing would take place on Feb. 17.

Gov. John Lynch (D) signed the law granting same-sex couples the right to marry in 2009. He’s expected to veto a repeal measure should it come to his desk, but Republicans in the General Court took a supermajority of the seats in the 2010 election and could overturn his veto.