Inspired by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, Republicans on the House Finance Committee proposed an amendment banning so-called “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” mandates in state contracts.
The amendment to defund state DEI contracts and programs and mirror recent federal executive orders was introduced by first-term state Reps. Richard Nalavenko (R-Alstead) and Susan DeRoy (R-New Durham).
“All this does is parallel language in the executive order to make sure that the state gets out ahead of what’s likely to happen with DEI,” Navalenko said. “Anybody who has any concerns should be focused on what we’ve seen already on the federal side of this.
“If we weren’t to do something like this, we’d put at risk a lot of federal dollars.”
DEI is shorthand for policies that treat people differently based on their race, sex, sexual preference, etc. in order to counter the presumed inherent racism in American society and institutions. For example, the University of New Hampshire’s DEI website begins with a so-called “Land Acknowledgement” meant to address the injustice of the fact that people of European descent now live on land once “maintained” by the Pennacook Abenaki and Wabanaki Peoples.
“As a predominantly White institution, we acknowledge the College’s responsibility to actively address overt and systemic racism,” UNH’s Committee on Ethnicity and Race Equity states, advocating “race-conscious” treatment of students and faculty.
During discussion of the amendment, Finance Committee Chairman Ken Weyler (R-Kingston) said Navalenko and DeRoy identified several state contracts with DEI mandates.
“And I know that from this last election, it (DEI) was very unpopular,” Weyler added. “It’s racism all over again, and sexist.”
Democrats on the Finance Committee immediately — and adamantly — objected.
“To say I’m concerned about this is a terrible understatement,” said Rep. Rosemarie Rung (D-Merrimack). “I’m actually very outraged that we’re considering having the state of New Hampshire prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion, to compare it to an executive order which does not have the power of the law.”
State Rep. David Preece (D-Manchester) seemed confused by the amendment, claiming it would prevent the hiring of women or minorities.
“I value women and people of color in our workforce, they offer much to our fabric of New Hampshire,” a clearly emotional Preece told the committee.
“By adopting this amendment, we are saying that no women and no people of color should apply for jobs in New Hampshire, that there is no equality,” Preece added. “And I think this is a very, very offending statement that should be opposed by everyone.”
State Rep. Jess Edwards (R-Auburn) disputed Preece’s view of the amendment.
“I would disagree with the point that this would say that no minorities are welcome,” he said. “I would say that is extremely absurd, in fact. We still have New Hampshire civil rights law that protects everyone.”
Rep. Laura Telerski (D-Nashua) made a more pragmatic argument against the amendment.
“This is a five-page amendment that was just distributed five minutes ago at five minutes before the lunch hour,” she said. “I feel that a further, much longer discussion is needed, considering we had six weeks to review this and it just came in five minutes ago.”
Her argument worked. While Weyler said the committee would take up the amendment again after the lunch break, Speaker of the House Sherm Packard (R-Londonderry) intervened and convinced the chairman to hold off on voting on the amendment for another day,
According to state Rep. Dan McGuire (R-Epsom), “a question has been raised as to whether this amendment is germane” to budgetary legislation.
“I know we think of everything as germane to HB2, because everything involves money, but it’s a question that he’s (Packard) wrestling with, and he would like a little more time,” McGuire said.
Rep. Joe Sweeney, who sits on the committee, told NHJournal he supports the efforts to keep DEI mandates out of state contracts.
“We have seen the radical left use DEI to infiltrate nearly every institution they touch with their woke ideology that preys on our children and perpetuates racist lies about all races,” Sweeney said. “New Hampshire Republicans will make sure every DEI program funded by taxpayers DIEs.”
