A New Hampshire state representative who was no stranger to controversy over his 10 terms as a lawmaker has died, House Speaker Shawn Jasper's spokesperson confirms.
Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, a Republican who represented Manchester's Ward 8, was 65.
Jasper said Vaillancourt will be remembered "as an outstanding orator and a man who was certainly dedicated to his principles."
Vaillancourt made headlines in 2012 when he was ejected from the House floor after shouting the Nazi salute "seig heil" when then-House Speaker Bill O'Brien stopped debate on a bill.
Committee chairman Rep. Neal Kurk said lawmakers asked the police to check in on Vaillancourt Monday morning when he didn't show up at the Statehouse for budget hearings.
Kurk said police found Vaillancourt dead in his apartment. He had been having health problems.
