Democrats sue Sununu for control of $1.25 billion in COVID-19 aid from feds

CONCORD — New Hampshire’s Democratic legislative leadership sued Republican Gov. Chris Sununu Monday, asking a judge to force him to obtain Fiscal Committee approval before spending any COVID-19 relief dollars.

The top two presiding officers and two budget writers filed an emergency motion in Hillsborough County Superior Court North hoping to get a judge’s ruling on what they called a “constitutional crisis” before the $1.25 billion COVID-19 federal grant could be spent near the end of this month.

“Right now, the Legislature’s most important job is to get federal funds to combat coronavirus into the hands of New Hampshire families, communities, businesses, and nonprofits that have been impacted. The swiftest means of doing that effectively, equitably, and constitutionally is the bipartisan Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee,” said state Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, who chairs the committee.

“Unfortunately, Governor Sununu has chosen to disregard the legislative branch, which represents the voice of the people. His refusal to compromise led us to the judicial branch today, where we are seeking an expedited court ruling to resolve this constitutional crisis.”The suit came on the first business day after the Fiscal Committee held its most recent meeting last Friday and members heard Sununu assert that the state’s emergency powers law gives him the sound legal footing to make these spending decisions without approval of the Democratic-controlled fiscal panel.

Read more: https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/democrats-sue-sununu-for-control-of-1-25-billion-in-covid-19-aid-from-feds/article_727088a0-6ac4-51f1-8830-40da89076de0.html?block_id=883785