GOP reps plan caucus to select 'Republican Leader'

CONCORD House Speaker Shawn Jaspers upset victory last week continues to vex some Republican state representatives, who soon plan to caucus to select a Republican Leader.

The GOP state representatives had planned to hold a caucus today, but it was postponed due to the impending storm.

This caucus is being coordinated under the purview of the Republican State Committee, based on party bylaws that spell out that its executive committee includes the Republican Leader of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, selected by a majority vote of the Republican Caucus.

Rep. Bill OBrien, R-Mont Vernon, won the House Republican caucus nomination for speaker three weeks ago. When the full House convened Dec. 3, Jasper pulled off the upset when OBrien failed to capture a majority of votes. Jasper patched together a majority, including Democrats and some Republicans, to win on a secret ballot.

Until the GOP state representatives can reschedule the caucus, OBrien informed them he would serve as the elected Republican Leader from the House on the executive committee.

The caucus originally scheduled for today is not an official House Republican caucus.

Rep. Jack Flanagan, the Brookline Republican named Majority Leader by Jasper on Friday, underscored that after he called the first House Republican caucus for Dec. 17 in Representatives Hall.

Nevertheless, conservatives upset with Jasper relying on Democrats to win the gavel are openly questioning the legitimacy of Flanagan as the House Republican Leader.

Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry, and Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, confirmed in separate telephone interviews that they plan to seek the Republican Leader post during the caucus. Baldasaro and McGuire are two of the three co-chairs of the House Republican Alliance, which was also scheduled to meet today for selection of leaders for the 2015-16 session. There was no immediate word on whether the HRA meeting would be postponed. Baldasaro is not seeking another term as HRA co-chair. McGuire said she is also running for HRA co-chair.

The House Republican Alliance mission is to focus on bills that embody traditional Republican values, the state party platform and fiscal responsibility.

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GOP reps plan caucus to select 'Republican Leader'

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