NFIB: Extreme GOP candidates bad for business

The National Federation of Independent Business represents small and independent businesses from a decidedly ideological perspective. Over the last decade, the National Federation of Independent Business has contributed $2,247,383 to Republican candidates and just $139,203 to Democrats.

Friday, they even joined the “jobs truthers” and questioned the integrity of the Department of Labor jobs report. “As the data come in,” wrote the NFIB chief economist, “we’ll continue to assess the credibility of these latest numbers.”

But when the NFIB evaluated the slate of candidates for public office in New Hampshire, some Republicans were too extreme even for the NFIB.

The NFIB is backing Democrat Andrew Hosmer, a business owner who has made small business the foundation of his campaign, for the 7th District state Senate seat over Republican businessman Joshua Youssef.

Youssef has been dogged by reports that he owes the IRS at much as $50,000 in tax debt and has under reported his assets for child support payments. Last month, Youssef was hit with an election law complaint filed by House counsel Ed Mosca.

Chris Pappas, co-owner of the Puritan Backroom, was endorsed by the NFIB over Republican Bob Burns in the 4th District Executive Council race.

Burns has embraced the extreme agenda of the right-wing groups that have endorsed him including Cornerstone, the Republican Liberty Caucus and Granite Grok. Burns defended the Council’s rejection of a contract with Planned Parenthood, declaring the organization isn’t “truly” about women’s health and only provides abortion services because “it’s a huge fundraising tool for them.”