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WEBVTT N THE ENWHAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE A CLOSEVOTE WASN'T.>> IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR YOU'LL BEPRESSING THE GREEN PUT TOWN, IFOPPOSED PRESSING THE RED BUTTON.REPORTER: FIRST THE HOUSE VOTEDOWN THE BILL ITSELF.THEN THE SALT IN THE WOUND, ASMINUTES LATER THE HOUSE VOTED TOEFFECTIVELY BURY RIGHT TO WORKFOR TWO YEARS.A MAJOR WIN FOR LABOR LEADERS,WHO WERE ALSO CAREFUL NOT TO -->> FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT WHATHAPPENED TODAY AND I THINK THISIS VICTORY FOR ALL IN THE MIDDLECLASS.REPORTER: BUT FOR RIGHT TO WORKSUPPORTERS THE LOSS WAS A GUTPUNCH OF REQUIRE COULD NOT BEMORE DISAPPOINTED, I THINK WETOOK AN IMPORTANT TOOL OUT OFTHE TOOL BOX FOR THE GOVERNOR TOUSE.>> WE JUST STOPPED ANYPOSSIBILITY FOR RIGHT TO WORKCOMPANY THAT WANTS TO COME INHERE.JOSH: IN THE END, MORE THAN TWODOZEN MEMBERS JOINED TO TILT THESCALES, AND -->> I DID NOT REALLY EXPECT THISTO PASS.WHEN I SAW THE RESULTS OF THEELECTION IN NOVEMBER, I KNEW WEWERE SHORT OF REPUBLICANS TOMAKE THIS A REALITY IN NEWHAMPSHIRE.JOSH: WHETHER THIS DIVIDES THEREPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONCORDMOVING FORWARD REMAINS TO BESEEN. BUT WHAT IS CLEAR,ORGANIZE LABOR REMAINS STRONG INNEW HAMPSHIRE.>> I CONSIDER IT A VICTORY FORWORKING FAMILIES IN NEWHAMPSHIRE.REPORTER: DOES THIS END THERIGHT TO WORK DEBATE IN NEWHAMPSHIRE?>> IT'S UP TO THE POWERS AT BEIN THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.JOSH: GOVERNOR SUNUNU WHOSTRONGLY SUPPORTED RIGHT TO WORKSOMEHOWED A STATEMENT SAYINGTHAT WHILE IT'S CLEAR THAT SOMEHOUSE MEMBERS DID NOT UNDERSTANDTHE OPPORTUNITY TO UNLEASH THE

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Organized labor won a major victory Thursday in New Hampshire when lawmakers in the House refused to pass a right-to-work bill that was supported by the governor. With a Republican majority in the State House and a Republican governor, the pieces appeared to be in place for passage, but in the end, the bill lost by 23 votes. The House then voted to indefinitely postpone the measure, meaning no similar bills can be debated for the next two years. The legislation called for prohibiting unions from charging fees to nonmembers for the costs of representation. Its defeat was a major win for labor leaders. "We're feeling very good about what happened today, and I think this is a victory for all in the middle class today," said Bill McQuillen, director of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire. But for right-to-work supporters, the loss was a gut punch. "I could not be more disappointed," said Republican House Majority Leader Dick Hinch. "I think we took an important tool out of the tool box for the governor to use." "We just stopped any possibility of a right-to-work company that wants to come in here," said Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry. In the end, more than two-dozen Republican House members joined with the Democratic minority to tilt the scales, and while Speaker of the House Shawn Jasper said he's disappointed, he's not surprised. "I did not really expect this to pass," he said. "When I saw the results of the election in November, I knew we were short to make this a reality in New Hampshire." Whether this divides the Republican majority in Concord moving forward remains to be seen, but the vote indicates that organized labor remains strong in New Hampshire. "I consider it a victory for working families in New Hampshire," AFL-CIO New Hampshire president Glenn Brackett said. After the vote, Gov. Chris Sununu, who strongly supported right-to-work issued a statement. "While it is clear that some House members did not understand this opportunity to unleash the untapped potential of our economy, I know that we can continue to work collaboratively on initiatives that will drive new business into the state," Sununu said.