Sununu Stands Up for Right-To-Work in New Hampshire

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2017/01/07/sununu-stands-up-for-right-to-work-in-new-hampshire/

Congratulations to Chris Sununu, who in his inaugural address as the new governor of New Hampshire offered specific measures to promote economic growth and freedom.

We were particularly gratified to see him promote freedom in the workplace, by allowing workers to join a union or not join a union as they see fit.

Readers may recall that 11 days ago we suggested that Republicans in New Hampshire seize the opportunity they now have as the majority party to approve a Right-To-Work law.

Sununu predicted they will.

“We’re going to give employees once and for all the flexibility they deserve in the work force by passing right-to-work. And let’s tell these companies New Hampshire is open for business,” Sununu said during his 21-minute inaugural Thursday. He got sustained applause.

He also called for the state Legislature to cut business taxes and pass a fiscally responsible budget with no state sales tax or state income tax.

A businessman has a special relationship with government regulations, because he sees how much time and money and effort they cost. Sununu, the chief executive officer of Waterville Valley Ski Resort in New Hampshire, looked energized as he addressed that subject.

“We’re going to break down those burdensome regulations. And there’s a lot of regulations in this state. There’s a lot. For such a small state, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “We’re going to break those regulations down and open opportunity for business and housing and growth, because that drives the economy.”

In what might have been his first official act as governor, he asked state bureaucrats to stop issuing regulations for a while.

“Let’s take a little pause. I’m asking them for a 90-day moratorium pause on all rules and regulations,” Sununu said. “Just take a step back, and find out what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”

Nor is he content to sit in his office at the State House. He said he hopes to visit 100 companies outside New Hampshire in 100 days, to try to entice them into the Granite State.

Sununu at this point is no social conservative. He supports legal abortion, and he particularly disappointed pro-lifers by flip-flopping on funding for Planned Parenthood. (During the heat of the fetal-parts video scandal in 2015, he voted against state funding for the abortion provider as a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council; then, this past June, he voted for funding it.)

But perhaps in time he’ll cross over from the dark side.

His open, approachable style is attractive. At 42 — the nation’s youngest governor — he clearly has the energy and drive to get things done.

Baby steps …