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Committee hears case for creating elected lieutenant governor; supporters highlight succession and capacity benefits
Summary
Sponsors of CACR 1 urged voters to approve a constitutional amendment adding a lieutenant governor who would run as a ticket with the governor. Proponents said the change would fix a problematic current line of succession and increase executive capacity at no added cost; critics asked for more drafting and fiscal detail.
Representative Mike Moffett presented CACR 1, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket as the governor and lieutenant governor. He told the committee the change would provide a clearer, more democratic line of succession and add executive capacity for official duties.
"This will cost nothing extra as we propose it," Moffett told the committee, arguing for a citizen lieutenant governor paid the same per‑diem as other legislative officers and run on a ticket with the gubernatorial candidate.
Why it matters
Under current New Hampshire practice the senate president becomes governor if the governor’s office is vacated. Supporters said that arrangement mixes legislative and executive leadership and poses political and constitutional problems when the two offices are held by different parties. Opponents said the amendment would require careful drafting of election, budget and staffing details and raised concerns about potential new costs and the possible need for enabling legislation.
What witnesses said
Representative Lisa Schultz, a cosponsor, said the amendment would create a ticket similar to many other states and give voters a clearer choice and a governor with more capacity to handle ceremonial and policy tasks. Representative Lily Foss (D‑Manchester) and other supporters described the measure as a reasonable structural reform to prevent scenarios in which the legislature’s leader becomes chief executive without a popular statewide mandate.
Concerns and drafting issues
Opponents and some committee members urged the sponsors to clarify compensation, staffing, and the exact nomination mechanism for tickets and suggested subcommittee work to refine language. Representative John Horrigan said implementing language and budget implications should be worked out before sending an amendment to voters.
Votes and next steps
The committee did not take a final vote. Several members said the issue would benefit from additional drafting and, if advanced, would need companion statutory language to define the lieutenant governor’s administrative role and funding.
