New Hampshire lawmakers boo Bachmann's anti-union speech

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann elicited cheers, boos and some heckling from the lawmakers in New Hampshire Wednesday after she encouraged the Legislature to enact right-to-work legislation.

All of the five GOP hopefuls appearing before the lawmaking body were greeted with respectful applause, but only Bachmann's speech was met with loud disapproval.

"This body can have a significant impact on the people of New Hampshire's ability to fully restore their economic liberty by making New Hampshire a right-to-work state," Bachmann said, pausing for almost 30 seconds while lawmakers reacted.

"Just a few more votes and we'll be there, New Hampshire," she announced. The comment was followed by several more seconds of whistles and boos.

"Because you see, it's a proven fact right-to-work states have created more jobs than those that are not," Bachmann stated as the boos continued. "Facts are stubborn things."

"We're free people!" someone in the audience shouted.

Later Wednesday, the New Hampshire House was scheduled to attempt an override of Democratic Gov. John Lynch's veto of their right-to-work legislation.

House Speaker Bill O'Brien (R) told NHPR that he was uncertain that the override would be successful.

"It really depends who shows up," he explained. "If all our supporters show up, we get it overridden. If as in other House sessions, we see they haven’t show up, it’s going to be difficult to bring it forward and be successful."

The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire (PFFNH) has accused O'Brien of "using Republican presidential candidates as lobbyists to further his personal anti-worker agenda."

"The speaker is orchestrating a dog and pony show, using GOP presidential candidates to generate support for a right-to-work bill that doesn't have support in the New Hampshire House and would do nothing more than erode the rights of New Hampshire workers," PFFNH president Dave Lang said in a media advisory.

Watch this video from CNN, broadcast Oct. 12, 2011.

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