Another week of #NHPolitics Ins and Outs, taking you on a tour of the ins and outs of the ever-changing world of New Hampshire Politics, keeping score of the winners and losers week-by-week — and letting you know who’s in and who’s out.

Let’s get into it.

Who’s In?

#NHPolitics? That’s Hot — Mega celebrity Paris Hilton staged a big entrance into New Hampshire politics this week advocating for Senate Bill 417 on Twitter with her Granite State buddy Democratic Senator Becky Whitley.

The bill would seek to create more oversight for children sent to out-of-state residential treatment programs. Hilton was a victim of abusive youth treatment facilities and has since become a staunch advocate for institutionalized youth.

The attention has brought out the haters, however, with far-right Republicans like State Rep Leah Cushman saying, “All parental rights advocates in N.H. need to get familiar with SB417 and come together against this bill.”

The bill has bipartisan support. 

New Biden Offices, Trump Cash Crunch Hitting NH? —  The New Hampshire Biden Harris campaign has announced major office expansions in the state, opening field offices in Laconia, Concord, Exeter, Lebanon and more in the coming days.

Meanwhile, with a well-reported cash crunch in the Trump campaign, Trump’s operation has seen growth in New Hampshire drop to a standstill, with no new offices or leadership hires announced in the weeks since the Biden campaign has made those kinds of major announcements in the state.

Gender-Affirming Care Providers Escape Prosecution — In a Republican trifecta legislature, you have to take your wins where you can, and Dems did just that this week when they were successful in indefinitely postponing HB 1664, the bill that would have intimidated gender-affirming care providers with legal prosecution.

Luck of the Irish — Alan Raff, well respected Manchester Lawyer and car mechanic was roasted by the Manchester City Dems Sunday morning as their 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Honaree.

Who’s Out!

Chris “Let Them Not Eat” Ager — House session stretched late into the night this past Thursday, with lawmakers not leaving the State House until after 8 PM. New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley sent over 40 pizzas to feed Democratic lawmakers stuck without food in the chamber, and received many grateful messages online in thanks.

NH GOP Chair Chris Ager? Reportedly he did not send food.

Apparently one famished Republican State Representative even attempted to pilfer some of the Democrats’ pizza, which led to this testy rejection from one unnamed Democratic State Rep:

“You don’t believe in a free lunch for kids? You’re not getting a free lunch now.”

Anti-Audit Frank Edelblut — The embattled education commissioner went on the defense this week when he accused state auditors—who are famously non-partisan—of engaging in a fishing expedition as they attempt to review the state’s massively over-budget school voucher program.

His unwillingness to allow any transparency for the program is not new, but his attack on the Legislative Branch Audit department is, and provoked angry responses from lawmakers.

State Senator Cindy Rosenwald defended the department, saying on social media, “The LBA is probably the most professional, respected office in all of state government. They are never partisan, always helpful, and often are the training ground for financial officials elsewhere in state government. They don’t go ‘fishing.’ Ever.”

Dignity for Trans Granite Staters — Republicans have filed over 30 anti-trans bills in the New Hampshire legislature this session, and one of the worst ones passed this week, when Republican House lawmakers voted Thursday to bar transgender women and girls from participating on female school sports teams.

This positions New Hampshire to be the first state in the Northeast to adopt such a measure.