June 2012
71 posts
2 tags
O'Brien on N.H. immigration problem (it's...
In an interview with the Union Leader, House Speaker Bill O’Brien pointed to New Hampshire’s 58-mile border with Canada as a reason it “makes sense” for the state to copy Arizona’s strict immigration legislation.
“This [Supreme Court] ruling gives us a road map of where we may legislate in this area,” O’Brien said. “And I think that this certainly is a piece...
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Nashua Telegraph: Three Vetoes Worth Sustaining
An editorial in the Nashua Telegraph calls for the legislature to sustain the governor’s veto of three bad bills: photo voter ID, school vouchers and medical malpractice reform.
Photo ID (SB 289)
Is the history of voter fraud here so pervasive – if it exists at all – that it merits consciously making it more difficult for some residents to vote on Election Day? For lawmakers, the answer...
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Veto Day: School Vouchers & Voter ID Top the Card
Tomorrow the House and Senate convene to consider Gov. John Lynch’s vetoes of 13 bills (by my count) that they passed during the current session. The bills include such high profile legislation as photo voter ID (SB 289), school vouchers (HB 1607, SB 372) and medical marijuana (SB 409).
The first vote for each bill will occur in the originating chamber. If two-thirds of those present vote...
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ARG N.H. Poll: Obama 51%, Romney 43%
An American Research Group survey of registered voters in New Hampshire gives President Obama an eight point lead over Mitt Romney in the battle for the state’s four electoral votes.
The poll documents a whopping 34 point gender gap with Obama leading 58-34 among women, but trailing 44-52 among men. Undeclared voters, who made up 36 percent of the sample, favored Obama by an overwhelming...
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Quote of the Day: An Especially Villainous...
There are three things that make a race worth focusing on: a winnable seat, a strong progressive Democrat and an especially villainous opponent. The House race in New Hampshire’s first district has all three.
— Laura Clawson, endorsing Carol Shea-Porter for the Daily Kos Orange to Blue list
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Jack Kimball's Vile and Offensive Email
Chaz Proulx broke the story on Blue Hampshire. Former New Hampshire Republican Party chairman Jack Kimball sent an email around to protest President Obama’s visit to Durham tomorrow in which he writes, “‘It’ will be arriving at Oyster River High School in Durham, NH at 12:00 PM THIS MONDAY JUNE 25.”
Proulx explains:
I’ve seen the use of “it” when...
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Jim Splaine: Voters Will Hold GOP Accountable
Former state Rep. Jim Splaine projects big gains for Democrats in November — despite the billions of dollars that will be spent to “convince us of untruths.”
Voters will hold the Republican Party accountable for their “greed, hate and reactionary anti-American ideas,” he writes in today’s Portsmouth Herald, and we “won’t be swayed by billions spent...
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Alpert: Public Deserves a Say in Private Prison...
Writing in the Concord Monitor, longtime activist Arnie Alpert warns that “a momentous decision is being considered behind closed doors in the Department of Administrative Services” that has “profound implications for public safety, the state budget, job quality and the constitutional obligation to support the rehabilitation of offenders.”
Administrative Services and...
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The Nation: Voter ID Threatens N.H.’s Turnout...
The Nation covers the tug-of-war between Gov. John Lynch and the legislature over voter ID. The author warns that the voter ID legislation threatens the Granite State’s pround record of high voter turnout — also that lawsuits are sure to follow.
New Hampshire is notable for its high voter turn out, second only to Minnesota and Wisconsin in the 2008 elections, according to the U.S....
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Fact: Health Care Reform Benefits New Hampshire
Fact: Thanks to health care reform, 10,000 more young adults under age 26 in New Hampshire have health insurance.
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Rasmussen: "No Clear Favorite" in N.H. Gov. Race
A head-to-head gubernatorial survey from Rasmussen Reports has Republicans Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith virtually tied with Democrat Jackie Cilley and only slightly ahead of Maggie Hassan. It’s early — 20% to 25% of likely Granite State voters are undecided or prefer other candidates.
Huffington Post has the topline results, which are only available to Rasmussen subscribers:
41%...
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Quote of the Day: Obsessed with Marriage
Ovide seems, frankly, obsessed with marriage for loving gay and lesbian couples. He talks about the issue constantly and now he’s found another way to insult New Hampshire families. To suggest that single parents, divorced parents or gay parents are inferior and hurt their children’s chances to succeed in life is obscene. If this is what he says in front of a TV camera, I shudder to...
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Portsmouth Herald: School Voucher Bill is Baffling
Earlier this week, Gov. John Lynch vetoed Senate Bill 372, which would create a school voucher program granting tax credits to fund scholarships for students attending private schools, religious schools and home schools.
An editorial in today’s Portsmouth Herald calls it “possibly the worst piece of legislation passed by the House and Senate this session” and implores lawmakers...
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Bye Bye Mirski (Don't Let the Door Hit You on Way...
When we last checked in on GOP state Rep. Paul Mirski, he was on the House floor attacking the New Hampshire Supreme Court Justices as “corrupt and unethical.” (At least he managed not to drop his pistol this time.)
That may have been Mirski’s last hurrah. Now that the redistricting plan he championed has been upheld by the Supreme Court he reviles, the Enfield Republican who...
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Rasmussen: Obama 48%, Romney 43% (N.H.)
A Rasmussen Reports survey of likely voters in the Granite State gives President Obama a five point lead over Mitt Romney in the battle for the state’s four electoral college votes. Obama leads Romney 48% to 43% with 6% undecided.
The Rasmussen poll indicates a tighter race than previous surveys that had Obama leading 51%-42% (WMUR Granite State Poll) and 53%-41% (Public Policy Polling).
...
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O'Brien Dismisses Lynch As "Symbolic Head of...
In an interview with Politico, House Speaker Bill O’Brien was dismissive of Gov. John Lynch and accused him of being “unwilling to negotiate” with the Speaker and his minions.
O’Brien slammed Lynch for being unwilling to negotiate with the large majorities in the Republican-controlled House and Senate…. ; and when Lynch is willing to negotiate, O’Brien charges, the...
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Where in the World is Speaker Bill O'Brien?
House Speaker Bill O’Brien has been spotted in the nation’s capital — collecting on IOUs and fundraising for November, no doubt.
O’Brien has been in Washington, D.C., this week to “make sure we have some support. The gains we’ve made are substantial, but they’re fragile.” On Wednesday, he spoke before the influential Americans for Tax Reform’s weekly morning meeting, hosted by...
Hypocrisy Watch: Guinta's Remarkable...
The national press is now reporting on a local story we’ve been talking for a couple of months. Roll Call documents New Hampshire Congressman Frank Guinta’s remarkable transformation from self-proclaimed taxpayer watchdog to profligate self-promoter.
That was then:
In a June 9, 2010, blog post entitled “More Propaganda From Carol Shea-Porter, Paid for by YOU the Taxpayer,” Guinta...
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Rep. Watrous: O'Brien Email Policy is Unfair,...
When House Speaker Bill O’Brien laid down the law prohibiting derogatory email from House members, he said there would be “zero tolerance” for violations. Following his edict, GOP Rep. Joe Pitre sent around an email with a Photoshopped image of President Obama and the First Lady that is “derogatory” by any definition.
What is 1 #NHHouse member sending to...
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Lynch Criticizes Executive Council over Rail...
In his state of the state address to the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce today, Gov. John Lynch voiced strong support for regional rail service, which he says will help revive and strengthen the state’s economy.
[Lynch] reiterated his disappointment with the Executive Council for rejecting the request for $3.6 million that would have allowed a study to gather pertinent information about...
