In the shadow of numerous GOP attacks on working families during New Hampshire’s legislative session this year, two Republicans in the House leadership have resigned from their posts. 

Six-term State Rep. and House Deputy Majority Leader Matt Quandt, R-Exeter, and House Whip Tim Copeland, R-Stratham, gave their resignations in opposition to what they called attacks against public employees. 

These resignations come as House Speaker William O’Brien attempts to rally the necessary votes to override Governor John Lynch’s veto of HB 474, an anti-union “right-to-work” bill. 

GOP Rep. Quandt released a statement about the circumstances of his resignation as Deputy Minority Leader. 

When I was approached about joining House leadership, I was very clear that I would continue to support the rights of New Hampshire's workers even as a member of leadership. At the time it was accepted, but it is evident now that pro-worker Republican views like mine are not respected under this leadership team. 

Republican colleague Rep. Copeland, who is a retired state worker, expressed similar frustration with attacks against public employees. 

"I just couldn't do it anymore. Delivering their message goes against my grain, so I did the right thing and resigned," [Copeland] said. "What they're doing, going after the public employees and pensions just isn't right." 

These quasi-defections are just the latest rumblings of discontent concerning the broad GOP offensive against middle-class values and workers’ rights. Last week saw a GOP Alabama state Representative abandoning his party over an anti-teacher bill and a GOP Ohio state Senator resigning after significant blowback from his vote in support of draconian anti-worker legislation. Prior to that, huge Democratic special election wins in New Hampshire, Maine, and Wisconsin indicate a striking rebuke of the anti-worker agendas in those states.