Jerry Knirk: Sound bites

I have written in previous columns about the long, thorough and detailed legislative process. All bills go through the process of a public hearing at which advocacy groups, government departments and members of the public testify as to their support or opposition to the bill and suggest ways to make the bill better. The importance, impact and consequences of a proposed bill are thoroughly discussed. This process is intentionally long in order to hear everybody’s voices and craft the best legislation that we can.

I respect this process and believe that it works well. Though some bills are relatively straightforward, many of them are very complicated. Given the complicated nature of many of our bills, I was disappointed to see a number of bills reduced into sound bites by Rep. Glenn Cordelli (R-Tuftonboro) in his letter to The Conway Daily Sun on May 2. In his letter he purported to reveal how the House Democrats voted on a number of bills.