Blue Hampshire

NH-St. Sen: Gatsas Gone

Dean Barker — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:42:44 GMT

State Senate District 16, comprising "Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett and Wards 1, 2 and 12 in the city of Manchester" is now up for grabs:

Manchester Mayor elect Ted Gatsas has resigned his State Senate seat, which will set up a special election to replace him this winter.
...It now most likely that a primary will occur in January and a general election in Feburary.

We now have a chance to fill this seat with someone who will not sponsor bills like this:

I. No abortion shall be performed upon an unemancipated minor or upon a female for whom a guardian or conservator has been appointed pursuant to RSA 464-A because of a finding of incompetency, until at least 48 hours after written notice of the pending abortion has been delivered in the manner specified in paragraphs II and III.
II. The written notice shall be addressed to the parent at the usual place of abode of the parent and delivered personally to the parent by the physician or an agent.
III. In lieu of the delivery required by paragraph II, notice shall be made by certified mail addressed to the parent at the usual place of abode of the parent with return receipt requested and with restricted delivery to the addressee, which means the postal employee shall only deliver the mail to the authorized addressee. Time of delivery shall be deemed to occur at 12 o'clock noon on the next day on which regular mail delivery takes place, subsequent to mailing.

NH-Gov: Retread Follies

Dean Barker — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:24:02 GMT

Bass, Bradley, H. Sununu, and now Stephen. Is it any wonder Gregg was so desperate to fill his seat with a non retread?

Former state Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen met with the Republican Governor's Association at their Washington office this Tuesday, an encouraging sign for some Republicans who have been urging him to challenge Democratic Gov. John Lynch next year.

This news is worth the mental image of Governor Stephen meeting with State Senator Bradley.

Tempest in the Teapot

Jennifer Daler — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:37:10 GMT

Ben Smith over at Politico, spins the latest drama in tea party-land as a sign of "growing pains."

The gist:

Amy Kremer, who had been a founder and top staffer for the Tea Party Patriots -- one of the central, newly-created groups organizing the early protests -- emailed the group's supporters, and wrote on her blog this week, that she'd been forced out by the group's board in September, and was now subject of a lawsuit.

Apparently, there is much money to be made amongst the tea party "patriots". There are tee shirts (tea shirts?) and other accoutrements for the tea partier who has everything.

The irony of "The Powers That Be" in this movement using governmental structures such as courts to solve their disputes is not lost on Eric Odom an organizer of the related "Tax Day Tea Party" group:

"Talk of intellectual property, movement ownership and legal threats as a response do not belong in this movement."

For more, see this diary.

Hodes: Helping Veterans Find Jobs

Jack Mitchell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:29:08 GMT

On the day after Veterans Day, it might be easy to skip over another blog about saying "Thank You" to those that have served. I'll admit, my eyes glaze over at times. Knowing that much is sincere, it is difficult to figure out when sometimes folks are just saying what must be said, when it needs to be said.

However, there is no arguing the sincerity of the doers, those that deliver.
Congressman Paul Hodes Encourages Businesses to Hire Veterans, Launches New Small Business Web Page

With many veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan to a difficult economy, Congressman Hodes is reminding businesses that this tax credit lowers taxes for businesses that employ a veteran. To help small businesses take advantage of tax credits and other available assistance, Congressman Hodes has also launched a new section of his website at www.hodes.house.gov/smallbusiness.
"Granite State veterans have served our country with honor overseas, only to return home to have trouble finding a job in this difficult economy," said Congressman Paul Hodes. "This tax credit is good for New Hampshire's small businesses, and will encourage small business owners to hire veterans and provide good jobs for working families. We must do all that we can to ensure that veterans have job opportunities when they return home to our communities."

The White House is stepping up, big time!
President Obama Launches Major Veterans Employment Initiative Initiative Would Transform Federal Government into Model of Veterans Employment

Washington, DC - Today, the White House announced the launch of an initiative that is designed to transform the federal government into the model employer of America's veterans. ...The Initiative underscores to federal agencies the importance of recruiting and training veterans, aims to increase the employment of veterans within the Executive Branch, and helps recently hired veterans adjust to service in a civilian capacity.
"Honoring our sacred trust with America's veterans means doing all we can to help them find work when they come home so they never feel as if the American Dream they fought to defend is out of reach for them and their families," said President Obama. "But this initiative is about more than repaying our debt for their courageous service and selfless sacrifice. It's also about continuing to fill the ranks of federal employees with men and women who possess the skills, dedication, and sense of duty that Americans deserve from their public servants. And few embody those qualities like our nation's veterans."
The Executive Order creates an interagency Council on Veterans Employment that will advise the President and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management on the veterans' employment initiative. The Council will be chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. OPM Director John Berry will serve as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.
For more information, visit: www.fedshirevets.gov

That said, still more can be done. The federal government can strive to hire more veterans on, but another big step would be to simply enforce federal contracting requirements that state that private companies doing business with the federal government must set aside business for veterans. If P.L. 106-50 is enforced, which requires a set-aside goal of 3% government-wide procurement for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, that would be a big help.

VFW 2010 Priority Goal: Urge Congress to mandate that all federal agencies fulfill the 3% government-wide procurement goal for service disabled veteran owned small businesses and require agencies to report their procurement levels and be held accountable if they fail to meet the 3% goal.

I am looking forward to the day Senator Paul Hodes can continue the work he currently does as NH-2's Congressman.
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Open Thread: That Thing Takes All the Room

Dean Barker — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:41:24 GMT

The Poet:

"Where is your village? Very far from here?"
"There is no village--only scattered farms.
We were but sixty voters last election.
We can't in nature grow to many more:
That thing takes all the room!" He moved his goad.
The mountain stood there to be pointed at.

This is an Open Thread.

Tim Pawlenty and Kelly Ayotte: Something in Common

Dean Barker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:50:36 GMT

They were both for the stimulus package before they were against it.

Will GOP Boss Michael Steele "come after" him too?

Tim Palwenty and His Issues with Women Coming to NH

Dean Barker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:23:11 GMT

So, unless Haley Barbour counts, we have our first guest in the New Hampshire Primary dance:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will keynote a Republican fund-raiser in Concord next month, NHPoliticalReport.com has confirmed.
Pawlenty is the featured guest of the Republican Senate Majority Committee PAC on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

There's an awful lot of bad associated with "T-Paw," particularly the craven way he has adopted an anti-gay hater stance to curry favor with the hard-right.

But leaving aside the damage he's done to Minnesota, I find the classy way he talks about his marriage to be most telling of all.Bizarro-quote #1:

I have a wife who genuinely loves to fish. I mean, she will take the lead and ask me to go out fishing, and joyfully comes here. She loves football, she'll go to hockey games and, I jokingly say, "Now, if I could only get her to have sex with me."

Bizarro quote #2 (and yes, I get the movie reference; that doesn't make it any better for me):

"Thank you, Lord, for my red-hot, smokin' wife,"

That last one was just recently quipped in Iowa, so there's every reason to expect we Primary Staters can maybe learn more about Pawlenty's issues with women at this next event.

Thank You

Kathy Sullivan 2 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:40:01 GMT

As we are about to reach the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I want to say thank you to all of our veterans. Here is a letter that President Obama sent to veterans today; one of my partners, who is a veteran, received it by e mail and forwarded it to me:

Today, on Veterans Day, my message to you is simple: Thank you. Thank you for your selfless service, for your valor, and for your strength of purpose that make all of us proud to be Americans.
Today, Americans will pause amidst a great conversation about the future of our nation to take a moment and recognize your service to our democracy -- a service that guarantees us all the liberty to engage freely in that conversation, no matter what our views may be.
We know that we owe you a debt that cannot be repaid. But we can and will fulfill our nation's promise to stand by you and your loved ones. That is why we've worked hard for better care for our veterans, and why we provided the largest increase in Veterans Administration funding in history.
Today, we honor those Americans past and present who've served on battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Ramadi to Kandahar. You have defended our freedom on land, and at sea, and in the air.
You reflect the diversity that makes this America. You share a patriotism beyond question. And you share the same unflinching courage, selfless compassion, and uncommon camaraderie that -- when faced with the tragedy of a despicable and heartbreaking attack last Thursday -- the soldiers and civilians of Ft. Hood humbly revealed to the world.
You and your loved ones are the patriotic men and women we honor today, Veterans Day. And you are the men and women we shall honor every day, in times of war and times of peace, so long as our nation endures.
Thank you.
President Barack Obama

Not a Legitimate News Anything

Dean Barker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:56:19 GMT

Not a Legitimate News Channel:

Not a Legitimate Newspaper.

Not a Legitimate News Publisher.

But some good news! Murdoch is so out of touch, he's going the way of the UL.

Desperately Seeking Approval from the Club for Growth

Dean Barker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:03:27 GMT

This is too funny.

Roll Call searched out the Club for Growth's stance on our own Senate race, and discovered that Kelly Ayotte, in a move reminiscent of her transparently fourth and long endorsement of Hoffman in NY-23, has already rushed into their arms for approval:

The Club for Growth formally waded into the Florida Senate race on Monday, and the conservative anti-tax group may be looking to play in New Hampshire as well, where a fourth Republican just entered the race for retiring Sen. Judd Gregg's (R) seat.
...Club spokesman Mike Connolly confirmed that the organization has met with Ayotte, is scheduled to meet with Binnie and is in the process of scheduling a meeting with Lamontagne.

(Is this maybe a good time remind everyone that Team Ayotte's captain, Brooks Kochvar, was once chief of staff to (then) Rep. Chris Chocola, who now runs the Club for Growth?)

Anyhow, the NHDP's response was classic (in part, full release below the fold):

"Club for Growth has taken over the Republican Party - so it's not surprising that Kelly Ayotte is knocking on their door," said Browne. "But the real question is what she promised in return."

Ayotte Courts Right-Wing Extremist 'Club for Growth'
Far-Right Group Drowns Moderate Voices, Sabotages Local Elections by Attempting to 'Purify' GOP
What Did Kelly Ayotte Promise In Exchange for Their Support?
CONCORD - In a frantic attempt to secure support from the right wing of her party, US Senate hopeful Kelly Ayotte met yesterday with right-wing extremist group 'Club for Growth' to court its endorsement in 2010 (Roll Call, 11/10/09).
Club for Growth is a right-wing organization trying to "purify" the GOP by throwing money behind candidates across the country who share the draconian conservative values it's known for. The Club opposed the reauthorization of SCHIP, which expanded health insurance to over 4 million children across the country, opposes taxing Big Oil, opposes tobacco regulation, opposes the extension of unemployment benefits, all while continuing to push forward Bush-era tax cuts for the rich and stonewall meaningful climate change legislation.
Club for Growth's attempt to silence the voices of moderate Republicans has effectively crippled the entire party. When Sen. Arlen Spector (D-PA) switched from Republican to Democrat in May, he singled out Club for Growth as the key factor behind his decision and blasted their extremist agenda (Politico, 5/3/09). In NY-23, the party threw their support behind Conservative Doug Hoffman, alienating independent voters and handing the seat to Democrats for the first time in over 100 years.
"Kelly Ayotte is making a desperate attempt to shore up support from the far right wing of her party," said Emily Browne, Press Secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "The Club for Growth has made it their mission to drown out independent and moderate voices in Washington, and Kelly Ayotte is racing to the right to win their endorsement. The question is what did she have to promise the Club for Growth? Did she agree to support their position to deny expanding health coverage for sick children, continue the Bush tax cuts for the rich, and sabotage climate change legislation?"
The Ayotte campaign's struggle with her ties to the Washington establishment and special interests has sparked several other prominent Republican candidates to jump into the field. Yesterday, former GOP gubernatorial nominee Ovide Lamontagne officially declared, hitting Ayotte as the "establishment candidate" (Union Leader, 11/8/09). But it appears Ayotte has even been abandoned by the Republicans in Washington who once embraced her. Last week NRSC head Sen. John Cornyn shied away from his initial support of Ayotte, claiming the NRSC would avoid getting involved in primaries to avoid a Republican "civil war" (11/4/09).
"Club for Growth has taken over the Republican Party - so it's not surprising that Kelly Ayotte is knocking on their door," said Browne. "But the real question is what she promised in return.""

Guinta Panics and Blames Others

Ray Buckley — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:08:47 GMT

Instead of Panicking, Guinta Needs to Fix the Problem

City was warned in 2008 it would not meet debt service payment

CONCORD - Frank Guinta's lack of leadership and poor fiscal management have led to the Verizon Wireless Arena's bonds being downgraded to junk status, a possibility that Guinta was warned about in 2008. And, in what has become the hallmark of Guinta's lack of leadership, the lame duck mayor is blaming others for his shortcomings.

In 2008, the bond-rating agency Moody's warned the city that the national recession was causing a shortfall in state meals and rooms revenues and that other steps would need to be taken to meet the Verizon Wireless Arena's bond payments.

In the December 2008 Moody's report, the agency states the City of Manchester represented it would provide "the interim funding needed to cure any deficiency." The city relies on meals and rooms tax revenues to pay off the bonds.

Communities receive rooms and meals money from the state based on the prior year's revenues. In 2009, rooms and meals revenues dropped - but the state held Manchester and other communities harmless, giving the same amount they received the prior year.

"In the last gasp of Frank Guinta's Administration I find it sad, yet not surprising that the city finds itself in this financial mess thanks to this lame duck. Frank Guinta has had a year to address this issue, but instead of talking with his finance department he is choosing to point fingers. He is again failing to take responsibility for his failures," said State Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley.

"And just who told the bond rating agency that the city would cover any shortfall in revenues? And why is Guinta breaking that promise to the bond agencies? Frank Guinta knew a year ago that the arena's bonds were in jeopardy and his only action has been to blame the legislature?" said Buckley.

A reserve account (MADS - Maximum Annual Debt Service fund) was created as a requirement for issuance of the bonds to cover any deficiency between the debt service payment due and the revenue received.

"Why not make up the shortfall from the reserve account? That is why the account was established in the first place," said Buckley.

In downgrading of the arena's bonds, Moody's notes the City of Manchester does not use the entire portion of the meals and rooms distribution to pay its debt service. Of the $4.85 million, the city only allocates $4.39 million to this debt payment. In other words, there is $454,000 going somewhere else that could be allocated to this payment.

"The taxpayers of Manchester deserve answers," said Buckley.

A state law passed in the 1990s mandates that municipalities will not receive an increase in meals and rooms distributions if receipts are below the previous year (RSA 78-A:26). The state shares meals and rooms revenues it collects with the cities and towns. In its 2008 report, Moody's warns that meals and rooms revenues for Fiscal Year 2009 will be below Fiscal Year 2008, therefore the city cannot expect an increase in meals and rooms distribution.

The bond authorization from 2000 also points out the use of meals and rooms revenues "may be inadequate" to meet the city's bond payment obligations.

"The taxpayers of Manchester and the State of New Hampshire have been paying for this arena for the last 10 years through meals and rooms taxes. Now, Frank Guinta wants the taxpayers to foot more of the bill," Buckley said. "The people deserve some answers and the taxpayers deserve a real leader, and not an absent one like Frank Guinta."

# # #

Open Thread: Leading with Integrity

Dean Barker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:05:44 GMT

Joementum 2004:

This is an Open Thread.

p.s. Adam Krauss has a blog. I just put it on the Roll, and removed DiStaso.

Even Judd Gregg Admits: A GOP Filibuster is Unpossible

Dean Barker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:43:13 GMT

I praise the Senior Senator from New Hampshire for being able to count better than the conventional wisdom on health care reform:

"If this bill is in any way near the form it came out of the House...we will definitely try to filibuster it," Gregg says during a telephone interview on the Fox Business Network. "But we have to have 41 votes to do that."
...Still, the New Hampshire Republican said he believes that the Senate would pass the Democratic health proposals, as the majority party controls 60 Senate seats.

Of course, Gregg belongs to a party that understands legislative discipline. After all, look at what damage they incurred with just 51 votes during part of the Bush years?

Yup - I stand by my vow. And has Harry called Integrity Lieberman yet to determine what free tickets or country club season passes he's after?

JoeCare

Dean Barker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:44:22 GMT

But one aspect of The Holiest Man in Washington's JoeCare plan, six years ago:

When I'm President, we will treat the problem - with a real prescription for change.
It's an outrage today that 9 million American children are uninsured. I'll provide coverage to every child with a new plan called MediKids.
Now, the State Child Health Insurance Program is a breakthrough program. But overburdened state budgets and a complicated enrollment process keep coverage from 6 million kids who are already eligible to receive it. We need to support S-CHIP and build on it to ensure all our children are all insured.
That's why our nation's pediatricians, through the American Academy of Pediatrics, have proposed a new model, based on the federal employee program. I've taken their advice and built on it.
My MediKids plan will be convenient and comprehensive. There will be no cost for the neediest families who buy into the pool. Middle class families will buy in at a sliding scale. Of course, if you're happy with your coverage, you can decline. But if you want MediKids, you'll get it - and at an affordable price.

Jo(k)eCare: "a practical, step-by-step approach to universal health care".

Facebook Governor Sarah Palin

Dean Barker — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:55:47 GMT

Has it ever occurred to the traditional media, and various linkbaity elements of New Media, as they breathlessly report every missive about death panels from her Facebook page, that Sarah Palin, once a heartbeat away from a Republican presidency, has no more real power than you or I?

The internet is a great democratizer; but it works both ways.

Palin quit the job the voters of Alaska entrusted to her so she could spend her time updating her Facebook status. How pathetic is that?