The New Hampshire House will hold
hearings this week on two bills that would repeal the state's
one-year-old gay marriage law, the Associated Press reported.
The Judiciary Committee will hold
hearings on the bills Thursday. A large crowd is expected.
House Majority Leader David J. “D.J.”
Bettencourt has asked the committee to hold the bills until next
year, but House rules require the hearings be held this year.
Bettencourt argued that the issue is
not part of the House Republican agenda.
His comments raised the ire of the
National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a group that has won repeal
battles in California and Maine. NOM responded by blanketing
Bettencourt's district with mailers saying he doesn't support
traditional family values.
Bettencourt called the move an “assault
on our agenda” in a letter to House Speaker William O'Brien.
In the letter, Bettencourt reiterated
his position on the bills: “Therefore, it is my belief that the
same-sex marriage repeal must be retained in the Judiciary Committee
this year so that our full and undivided attention is focused on New
Hampshire's outstanding financial issues.”
Democratic Governor John Lynch has
vowed to veto any attempt to repeal the law but Republicans hold
veto-proof majorities in both chambers.