July 2011
79 posts
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For the Record: The Stimulus Worked - Part 2
One of the most frequently heard GOP talking points is that the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act failed to create jobs or accelerate economic growth. They’re wrong — demonstrably wrong.
Previously I wrote that economic experts agree that the stimulus spending created around 3 million jobs. That unemployment remains high is beside the point. As Ezra Klein memorably...
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Shining a Light on Free State Project Candidates
Over 800 participants in the Free State Project have moved to New Hampshire with the stated goal of taking over state and local governments, slashing budgets and eliminating federal “interference.”
At least a dozen Free State Project movers have been elected to the state House and many more to local office. Most successful candidates were elected without the voters even being aware of...
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O'Brien's Laughable Right-to-Work Claim
Last week, state House Speaker Bill O’Brien wrote an open letter to his House colleagues pleading his case for so-called right-to-work legislation. In it, O’Brien claimed, “We should be in the running for Audi’s factory, but can’t because we don’t have a Right to Work law.” The New Hampshire Business Review demolished this laughable assertion.
In his “Dear...
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Frank Guinta's "Blank Check" Lie
In a press release explaining his vote for the Boehner bill to raise the debt ceiling, New Hampshire Congressman Frank Guinta pulled out one of the ubiquitous GOP talking points.
“This evening I voted against a blank check for the President…”
Someone please ask Guinta to reread the U.S. Constitution. Congress has the sole power to appropriate money. Congress determines...
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Portsmouth Mayor to Run for Congress?
Earlier this week, James Pindell (paywall) reported former state Senate candidate Andrew Hosmer is “inching closer” to a congressional run for the 1st district seat now held by Rep. Frank Guinta. If Hosmer makes the run, he will face former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and Joanne Dowdell in the race for the Democratic nomination.
Today, an unusually partisan statement...
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Business Supports RGGI
When the New Hampshire legislature passed SB 154, which would end the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), House Speaker Bill O’Brien claimed the action would ”offer relief to our residents and employers” and “get our economy moving forward.” More than 225 New England businesses disagree and have signed an open letter to the...
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Special Election Preview: Hillsborough District 3
On September 20, voters in Hillsborough District 3 will head to the polls for a special election to fill the state House seat vacated by Republican incumbent Robert Huxley. Huxley resigned in April for personal reasons after failing to attend a single committee meeting or cast a single House vote.
Candidates
Democrat Peter R. Leishman, Peterborough has served as a state Representative on and off...
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Ann McLane Kuster Named "Politico to Watch"
In its annual list of 50 Politicos to Watch, Politico writes of how “technology, demographics, a transformed media landscape and ideological ferment across the nation are bringing a new wave of political players into prominence.”
New Hampshire Democrat Ann McLane Kuster is named as one of the new wave of political players who will be a force to be reckoned with in 2012.
Progressives...
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Ad Campaign: Damage Control for Bass and Guinta
A large-scale mail and newspaper ad campaign supporting New Hampshire Congressmen Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta is about to hit the state. The campaign, launched by the conservative American Action Network, is an attempt to counter the blowback from the vote by Guinta and Bass to replace Medicare with a voucher system.
The campaign, which includes both mail pieces and newspaper ads, charges...
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Negotiations over Bush Tax Cuts Will Favors Dems
Ezra Klein says Republicans have had the superior negotiating position in the debt ceiling fight because Democrats are unwilling to even consider letting the country go into default.
Democrats are going to lose this one. Whatever deal emerges to raise the debt ceiling, we can be pretty sure it won’t include revenue, it won’t include stimulus, and it will let Republicans pocket a trillion dollars...
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Marriage Equality Opponents Set Sights on NH
As if to confirm the warning from Blue Hampshire writer jpmassar that the “next battle for marriage equality will be fought in New Hampshire,” Maggie Gallagher has explicitly targeted the Granite State:
In recent media appearances, National Organization for Marriage (NOM) board chair Maggie Gallagher has countered the suggestion that NOM might not be able to reverse the recent...
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Debt Ceiling Fight "All Over but the Face-Saving?"
After comparing the proposals to raise the debt ceiling from House Speaker Boehner and Sen. Reid, Nate Silver concludes the fight is “all over but the face-saving.”
Both bills cut discretionary spending by about the same amount, roughly $1.2 trillion depending on which benchmark is used. Both set up a bipartisan fiscal commission with special powers. Neither raises taxes, or...
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NH Ranked 4th Highest in Marijuana Use
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ranks New Hampshire as having the 4th highest (pun intended) level of pot use in the country. SAMHSA estimates 14.9% of New Hampshire residents smoke pot, trailing only Colorado, Vermont, and #1 Alaska.
Why are there so many stoners in New Hampshire? According to the Justice Department’s National Drug Intelligence Center, New...
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Larry Sabato: NH Gov "Likely Democratic" If Lynch...
Larry Sabato moves the Granite State gubernatorial race from “Leans Democratic” to “Likely Democratic” — if Gov. John Lynch runs for reelection. In March, Sabato wrote that Lynch’s chances “could be shaky,” but he now rates Lynch as a “solid favorite.”
New Hampshire: If Democratic Gov. John Lynch decides to run for a fifth, two-year...
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Charlie Bass: What, Me Worry?
The telephone switchboard at the Capitol is being flooded with calls as Americans contact their members of Congress about the debt ceiling fight.
But don’t expect to get Rep. Charlie Bass on the line this afternoon. He’s got more important things to do. He’ll be at Tortilla Coast in Washington for a big-ticket fundraiser. The man who raised over 75% of his contributions last...
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Quote of the Day: No Penalty for Extremism
We have a crisis in which the right is making insane demands, while the president and Democrats in Congress are bending over backward to be accommodating — offering plans that are all spending cuts and no taxes, plans that are far to the right of public opinion.
So what do most news reports say? They portray it as a situation in which both sides are equally partisan, equally intransigent —...
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Guinta Signals Support for Boehner Debt Ceiling...
In an interview this morning on Talk Radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, New Hampshire Rep. Frank Guinta expressed his support for Speaker Boehner’s plan to raise the debt ceiling.
Guinta conceded the Cut, Cap and Balance proposal is dead, but expressed optimism that Boehner’s plan can pass in the Senate. Guinta pointedly failed to say if he thinks the plan is likely pass the House, where...
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Quote of the Day: Sitting on Their Asses
“That’s people who’ve been sitting on their asses their whole lives telling some woman who’s been standing on her feet as a store clerk that 67’s too early for her — she should do it till she’s 70.”
— Rep. Barney Frank on increasing the eligibility age for Medicare
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Voter Photo ID: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
When Gov. Lynch vetoed SB 129, the bill that would require voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot, he offered a very simple, very clear explanation
An eligible voter who goes to the polls to vote on Election Day should be able to have his or her vote count on Election Day. SB 129 creates a real risk that New Hampshire voters will be denied their right to vote.
House...
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Frank Guinta's Debt Ceiling Rock and Hard Place
The Los Angeles Times’ Kathleen Hennessey writes that the debt ceiling vote has exposed the Faustian bargain many freshmen congressmen made with tea party extremists. Case in point: Congressman Frank Guinta.
How strongly must freshmen like Rep. Frank Guinta of New Hampshire hold out on the debt ceiling — and risk federal default — to appease people who voted for them?
But while Frank...
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NH Presidential Primary: It's Early
Six months before the New Hampshire presidential primary, John Toole interviews voters shopping in Londonderry to get their take on the Republican candidates.
Who is Romney? ”I think he’s a Democrat. He was governor of, was it Massachusetts? And he ran in the last election,” said Aaron Starkman of Londonderry.
Who is Gingrich? ”He’s a Massachusetts political...
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Calls Target Bass & Guinta for Debt Ceiling Games
New Hampshire voters will soon be receiving calls holding Reps. Bass and Guinta accountable for “playing games with the debt ceiling.” The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “We Don’t Quit” campaign will feature automated calls in 60 districts around the country, including both New Hampshire districts. Here’s part of the message:
“Congressman...
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NH Beauty Pageant Winner Defies Stereotype
Jonathan Chait has written about the “Republican policy of recruiting its female political talent heavily from the beauty pageant circuit.” The list includes Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sarah Palin.
Marin Cogan explains the right wing-beauty queen connection:
Conservatives love their beauty queens, I think, in part for the obvious...
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Quote of the Day: Time is Running Short
If we convince Standard Poor’s that our political system has failed, they will downgrade our credit within three months. If they do that, interest rates on our debt will spike, perhaps by 50 basis points, perhaps by more. An easy rule of thumb is that if interest rates rise by 50 basis points, we will lose 600,000 jobs in this country.
At this point, there are three serious options on the...
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O'Brien's "Cavalier Ability to Demonize the Poor"
They pay mothers to have children out of wedlock and then wonder why family is breaking down, welfare programs are constantly growing, and children come to school with problems so severe that they can’t be educated. They pay people to stay out of work and then they wonder why our economy is anemic.
— New Hampshire Speaker of the House Bill O’Brien (July 9, 2011)
Considering the...
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Guinta Repays Loans, Questions Remain Unanswered
Former New Hampshire GOP chair Fergus Cullen notes Congressman Frank Guinta has begun repaying the $355,000 in personal loans to his campaign fund. Cullen has the details wrong when he writes that Guinta repaid $19,500 during the past three months, but the gist of the piece is on target.
Guinta actually wrote himself a $19,500 check from his campaign fund on December 30, 2010. The payment was...
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Rep. Blankenbeker: Unions Better Not F#%k With...
Remember Rep. Lynne Blankenbeker, the New Hampshire state Representative and Navy officer who expressed doubt about Osama bin Laden’s death? She’s making news again, this time with a joke about taking out her labor critics:
From: Blankenbeker, Lynne Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:56 PM To: Vaillancourt, Steve Cc: ~All Representatives Subject: News from the war (almost) ... Today I got to...
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National Democrats Diss Shea-Porter -- Again
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) issued a press release today touting the “strong candidates running solid campaigns” in their campaign to retake the U.S. House.
Noticeably absent from the list is former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), who is running for her old seat but whom many Democrats think isn’t their strongest option in the district.
Campaign...
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GOP State Rep: O'Brien a "Self-Anointed Dictator"
Tony Soltani, a Republican state Representative from Epsom, accuses Speaker O’Brien of running roughshod over House rules and leaving a “trail of promises broken and rights trampled.”
Unfortunately, the House has lost its way amid tyranny of the majority. The rules, intended to ensure open and fair debate, are often disregarded and, even more often, blatantly broken. Dissent is...
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Measuring the Partisanship of NH Legislative...
Matt Breuer, an undergraduate political science student at Yale, has undertaken an ambitious project to measure and document the partisanship of every U.S. state legislative district. Breuer’s Legislative District Index is based on a weighted average of the results in six presidential, gubernatorial and legislative races and is relative to the average result for the state.
Today, Breuer...
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"New Hampshire Creates First, Actual Death Panel"
Despite the New Hampshire legislature having previously voted down attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, a 5-member Executive Council overturned these actions by a vote of 3-2 in a closed meeting without hearings. This gave new meaning to the ‘60 slogan, “Power to the People,” which has now been officially rewritten as “Power to the 3 People.”
[O]ne of the...
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Quote of the Day: Dodge, Duck and Dismantle
“I have a message for Charlie Bass, Frank Guinta and all of the Republican presidential candidates who have come to the Granite State and endorsed this proposal. Your agenda to double down on the failed economic policies of the past that nearly sank our economy into a second Great Depression, your out of touch plan to end Medicare as we know it, and your insistence on playing politics with...
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PPP Poll: Democrats Lead NH Generic Ballot
Democrats in New Hampshire have 3-point lead in a new Public Policy Polling state legislature “generic ballot” survey and could be positioned for big gains in 2012.
Democrats lead the generic ballot in the state by a 48-45 margin. That actually represents progress for the Republicans, who trailed by 49-41 on that count when PPP last polled the state in April. But that spread would...
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PPP Poll: Majority of NH Voters Favor Marriage...
A survey from Public Policy Polling indicates a majority of New Hampshire voters now approve same sex marriage by a 51% - 38% margin.
If you extend the question to asking about both gay marriage and civil unions 80% of voters in the state support some form of legal recognition for same sex couples with 45% saying that full marriage rights is their top choice and the other 35% preferring civil...
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Does Kevin Smith Have a Marcus Bachmann Problem?
Marcus Bachmann, the husband of GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann, has come under fire for his faith-based counseling clinic where counselors reportedly “pray away the gay,” claiming they can convert gays to heterosexuals through Christian payer.
This so-called “reparative” or “conversion” therapy has been roundly rejected by all mainstream health and...
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NH Supports Planned Parenthood: The Video
When Cornerstone Executive Director (and potential GOP gubernatorial candidate) Kevin Smith organized a “Defund Planned Parenthood” event, Planned Parenthood supporters outnumbered Cornerstone allies by a 2-1 margin.
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"Mr. Goonta" Gets Schooled Again
The last time 1st District Congressman Frank Guinta attempted to grill Elizabeth Warren, President Obama’s choice to implement the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it was an embarrassing display of ineptitude.
Thursday, Warren returned to face the House Oversight Committee. Once again, she schooled Guinta on banking regulation. And to add insult to injury, Chairman Issa introduced him as...
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Quote of the Day: Governing Is About Making...
Governing is about making choices. Our legislature has cut the cigarette tax, and created a waiting list for the severely disabled. It cut the budget of the community colleges by 20 percent, and increased funding for charter schools. It cut the auto registration fee by $30 — a loss of $90 million that will cut paving, road repairs, and the rebuilding of dangerous bridges.
Last winter, the...
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"Planned Parenthood May Have Saved My Life"
Hillary Nelson shares a moving tale of living in New York, with “almost no money and no health insurance,” and having a precancerous condition discovered and treated by doctors at Planned Parenthood. Then she confronts the Executive Councilors who refused to renew the state’s contract with Planned Parenthood.
They’re taking a calculated risk that the tens of thousands of...
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Guinta Sponsors Trucking Bill & Collects from...
Earlier this year, 1st District Congressman Frank Guinta sponsored a bill to regulate freight brokers and to “increase the effectiveness of Federal oversight of motor carriers.”
With the backing of three powerful trucking lobbies, the “Fighting Fraud in Transportation Act 2011, FITT, (H.R. 2357),” introduced last week by Reps. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Frank Guinta (R-NH), would...
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Guinta's 2nd Quarter Fundraising Details
Congressman Frank Guinta raised $301,013 in campaign contributions for the second quarter outraising the two Democrats running for his 1st District seat, who together raised $215,195.
Guinta raised $192,057 from political action committees. 21 PACs donated $5,000 or more (listed below the fold). 75% of Guinta’s $102,501 in itemized contributions from individuals came from New Hampshire...
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Guinta: Fiscal Meltdown is Viable Option
Yesterday, Congressman Frank Guinta reiterated his refusal to raise the debt ceiling unless it is part of a “significant” spending cut deal.
The people of New Hampshire sent me to Washington to bring spending under control, not create deeper debt and deeper deficits. I will only consider raising the debt ceiling if —and only if— it contains significant cuts in federal...
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NH Supports Planned Parenthood
Cornerstone Executive Director Kevin Smith organized a press conference and rally yesterday to applaud the Executive Council for cancelling a Planned Parenthood contract that would provide health services for thousands of women. Smith said the Executive Council “correctly read the mood of taxpayers.” All evidence to the contrary.
Approximately two dozen people with Cornerstone walked...
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Kuster’s 2nd Quarter Fundraising Details
Democrat Ann Kuster raised $367,143 in second quarter campaign contributions for her 2nd District Congressional race. Her likely opponent in the general election, Congressman Charlie Bass, raised $310,373.
54% of Kuster’s $278,184 in itemized contributions from individuals came from New Hampshire residents. Kuster raised $23,599 from nine political committees including $5,000 contributions...
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Bass’ 2nd Quarter Fundraising Details
2nd District Congressman Charlie Bass raised $310,373 in campaign contributions for the second quarter. His likely opponent in the general election, Democrat Ann Kuster, raised $367,143.
Bass raised $235,861 from Political Action Committees. 12 PACs donated $5,000 (listed below). Leadership PACs affiliated with Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor each donated $10,000, the...
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Shea-Porter's 2nd Quarter Fundraising Details
Former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter matched her Democratic primary opponent, Joanne Dowdell, in second quarter fundraising, raising $110,046 for the 1st District Congressional seat. Dowdell reported raising $105,149, which included a $10,000 loan and $5,000 contribution from the candidate.
Shea-Porter’s itemized contributions were evenly split between New Hampshire residents and those...
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Guinta: I Was Sent to Washington to Cut 2000 NH...
NHPR reports thousands of Granite State construction workers will be heading to the unemployment line unless Congress appropriates more money for road construction than was originally included in the House passed budget.
If the House passed budget were signed into law around two thousand construction workers in New Hampshire would lose their jobs, according to the Federal Highway Administration....
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'U-Turn' Romney on NH Economy: It's Bad, It's Good
GOP Presidential contender Mitt Romney’s campaign has been plagued by flip-flops on matters big and small. Today was no exception:
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is both bragging about New Hampshire’s economy and bemoaning it.
The former Massachusetts governor released an online video Thursday intended to show that President Barack Obama’s policies were hurting...
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PPP Poll: NH GOP Congressmen Lead in Rematches
A new survey from Public Policy Polling finds New Hampshire’s incumbent Congressmen, Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta, are vulnerable, but would win a rematch with their 2010 Democratic opponents if the election were held today.
“Democrats have a very good chance of knocking off Charlie Bass next year,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Frank Guinta is beatable too but...
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Dowdell's 2nd Quarter Fundraising Details
Joanne Dowdell, who is challenging former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter in a Democratic primary for the 1st District Congressional seat, reported raising $105,149 in her first quarter of fundraising.
85% of Dowdell’s itemized contributions came from out-of-state. Four individuals gave $5,000, the maximum contribution allowed by law ($2,500 for the primary election and $2,500 for the...
