January 2008 Archives
NH GOP Executive Director Leaving Position
The Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican party, Steve DeMaura, is leaving his position to take a job in Washington D.C.
In an email to the Republican Executive Board, Chairman Fergus Cullen said “What can I say? You just can't make LeBron James play college ball when he's ready for the pros.”
Cullen says that the Republicans might be shifting staffers to other roles.
“In this process other staffing changes are possible, and some people we know may change roles,” Cullen added.
No replacement has been hired.
Last week, when asked to comment on a possible departure, DeMaura told PolitickerNH.com the rumor was “not true.”
The same day Cullen sent out an e-mail looking for resumes to hire additional staffers.
When asked, “What positions are you looking to fill” Cullen responded “Take the email I sent saying we are looking for resumes at face value and don’t read more into it than was there.”
We wish him luck and prosperity in his new position. In the mean time, this does leave a void in the NH GOP party structure; hopefully someone that will be well versed in helping the local Town Committees reinvigorate the grassroots will be hired.
Article Date: Monday, January 28, 2008
Governor Lynch managed to paint a rosy picture about the future of New Hampshire in his State of the State address before the legislature last week. And while we agree that New Hampshire is, "a strong state, with a solid foundation upon which to build," there is still much work to be done to prevent the financial crisis that Republicans have been warning about since last spring.
The governor needs to realize that Republicans are more than willing to reach across the aisle and work together with him to erase the growing state deficit, but first the he must be willing to admit that the problem we are facing is much larger than the one he talked about in his address.
By admitting to a $50 million deficit last week, Gov. Lynch took an important first step, but he did not nearly go far enough. The problem is more like a $150 million problem. In fact, even his own department heads, appearing before the House Ways and Means committee, predicted revenue shortfalls of anywhere between $140 million and $195 million for the biennium. As far back as last spring Rep. Norm Major, a veteran of the House Ways and Means Committee and former chairman, was warning of a "Perfect Storm" should the Democrat-controlled House accept the inflated revenue projections in support of the state's first $10 billion budget-projections that he believed then were overly optimistic and unsustainable.
To compound the problem, in June revenue estimates were artificially raised by close to $40 million, to give the appearance of a balanced budget. Rep. Major's warning fell on deaf ears, the inflated revenue figures were accepted, the General Fund expenditures were increased by 17.5 percent, and now the state is facing a real crisis.
The governor would have you believe that economic forecasters were not predicting the severity of the situation that the nation is currently facing at the time the state budget was being crafted. However, there were clearly a number of economic indicators that were identified last spring by Rep. Norm Major that supported the prediction that revenue streams would continue to falter, setting the state up for a financial crisis.
The governor would also have you believe that revenues for the first six months of the fiscal year are coming in close to their projected levels. What he failed to tell you was that his figures ignore $18 million in one-time money, $5 million in funds not dispersed, and $5.7 million due to the timing of January securities receipts. Projecting the current deficit out to the end of the biennium could result in a deficit as high as $165 million. Despite these facts, he still holds to the belief that the budget shortfall is $50 million.
By recognizing that there is a deficit and by pledging to withhold support for any future spending bills, the governor has taken an important first step. We are ready to work with Governor Lynch to take the next step and make the necessary moves to eliminate the potential deficit of at least $150 million and put the budget back into balance. It is time to face reality and deal with the larger deficit before the taxpayer of this state has to suffer further.
State Rep. Mike Whalley is House Republican Leader. He lives in Alton.
White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. — House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) challenged House Republicans to make a few sacrifices in the next year that will help the GOP sell their agenda to voters in the fall elections.
The Republican leader is scheduled to lead his members in a broad, potentially rancorous debate over lawmaker-requested projects Friday during their annual retreat here.
The reform proposals include a one-year moratorium on earmarks for all Republicans, the creation of a special panel to review the process, including the abuses that have occurred, and a litany of smaller guidelines to curtail wasteful earmarks or member-requested projects that benefit campaign contributors or other private entities.
“We're here today to ask ourselves: Are Republicans the party that can fix Washington?" Boehner asked his members Friday morning, according to excerpts of his speech. "If so, what sacrifices are we willing to make to PROVE we are that party? We cannot do this without being bold and putting forth fresh solutions.”
For more excerpts, click on the link below.“The American people believe Washington is broken. Middle class families see the cost of living rising. They see more and more of their hard earned dollars being eaten up by college costs, health care costs, housing costs, food costs.”
“With all this happening in their daily lives, they're watching the news — and they see politicians in Washington WASTING their money. While families are struggling to make ends meet, they look up and see politicians using taxpayer money to build monuments to themselves ... funding hippie museums ... letting entitlement spending spiral out of control. ”
“Our mission is simple, if we choose to accept it: show the American people we're different. Americans believe Washington is broken. They're right. We need to show them we're ready to fix it. The mission is simple — but that doesn't mean the mission is EASY. ”
“We're here today to ask ourselves: Are Republicans the party that can fix Washington? If so, what sacrifices are we willing to make to PROVE we are that party? We cannot do this without being bold and putting forth fresh solutions. ”
“In 1994 we made sacrifices. We gave up perks. We gave up privileges. We took risks. We thought big. We rolled dice. We need to go through this process today and tomorrow with the same mentality."
“If we woke up suddenly tomorrow and found ourselves in the majority, would we be any different? How would we be different from the Republicans of the past AND the Democrats of the present? If we can't answer these questions for Americans over the course of the next year, we will stay in the minority. ”
“If we're going to pick up seats in 2008, we have to strike a chord in the hearts of the American people — our base, and Republican-leaning independents alike. We cannot win by singing the same old tune. Washington is broken. We need to give the American people reasons to believe we'll fix it. ”
“We're not starting from scratch. We had a good year last year. In 2006 we warned the American people a Democratic Congress would be like this: a majority devoted to higher taxes, bigger government, and retreat. In 2007 we gave the American people reasons to believe we were right. We showed that the Democrats are exactly who we thought they'd be. This is something we can build on. Our challenge in 2008 is to give Americans reasons to believe we'll be different. ”
“Our goal is to walk out of here Saturday with a sense of unity on the BIG reforms we're going to drive together in 2008 ... our common agenda ... our "reasons to believe." We need an agenda worthy of us — an agenda that takes the best of what we have to offer, and pushes it forward. We need an agenda that gives Americans reasons to believe Republicans will fix Washington. We need an agenda that gives Americans a reason to believe we're different from the Republicans of the past, and the Democrats of the present. It all starts here ... now.”
Are there not parallels from the Feds to NH? Why not have the better ideas from a better ideology?
A loyal reader passed this along concerning the fiscal mess that the Dems have wrought here in NH:
Governor John Lynch was handed a Democrat majority in all branches of government in New Hampshire in November of 2006. This was the first time that Democrats had control of all branches in over one hundred years.
It took the Democrats exactly one year to bankrupt the state as we face a $50 million budget shortfall. Governor Lynch was warned as he based his budget on inflated revenue projections that New Hampshire could not sustain an increase in spending of 17.5%. He did not listen to those evil, children hating Republicans.
And yes, this is filed under Taxes, because you should know that a bill has already been put into the hopper for...yup....wait for it....an income tax. Classic - run up expenditures with overblown revenue projections, blame the problem on a Republican President, and go for the throats of our wallets.
Once again, the Left screws up and we will pay and pay and pay for it. Question to ask yourself - do you REALLY think that they'll apologize for it?
Naw, didn't think so.
The better question to ask is - will there be a consequence for these Dem dim-wits?
(cross-posted at GraniteGrok)
Click Here to Read The Whole Article
LAST WEEK, the Lynch administration finally admitted there are serious problems with the state budget. Because of the budget crisis, Gov. John Lynch's state of the state speech today will have to focus on the state's looming financial problems. To understand the problem, you'll have to read between the lines of his speech.
This deficit is radically different from the mythological deficit of two years ago. Before the 2004 election, some observers thought that state might face a $300 million deficit over three years. But in the end Craig Benson left Lynch not a deficit but an $82 million surplus, and a booming economy improved state revenues.
The new governor -- Lynch -- added a $110 million tax increase and not only was there no deficit, but spending increased a little.
Back then, a deficit-that-never-was turned into a surplus. Now we face the opposite. There is no surplus and the budget hole is growing.
Some will try to blame the national economy, but reckless budgeting right here at home is the real problem. Overall, economic conditions are just as they were predicted to be, but our Legislature needed rosy revenue estimates to justify the largest spending increase in the last 20 years -- 17.5 percent higher than the last biennium.
To agree to those rosy revenue estimates, the governor and legislative leadership had to ignore national economists warning them of the economic slowdown.
Date: January 23, 2008
Contact: Fergus Cullen, Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party
603-225-9341 office, 603-520-5450 cell
ON FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY
In Today’s State Of The State Address, Lynch Called New Hampshire A “Fiscally Responsible State,” But Under His Watch It Has Been Anything But…
The Spending In Lynch’s Budget Was $475 Million Higher Than The Last Biennial Budget. “Recession or no, the state wouldn't be $50 million or more in the hole if they didn't spend $475 million more in the 2008-09 budget than in the 2006-07 budget.” (Editorial, “The State Budget Hole; Just Blame Bush!,” Union Leader, January 20, 2008)
The Budget Increased Spending By 17.5%. “Although overall spending increases by 10.8 percent, spending of state revenues will increase by 17.5 percent.”(Tom Fahey, “$10.3 Billion State Budget Approved,” Union Leader, June 28, 2007)
Lynch’s Budget Contained “A Package Of Tax And Fee Increases.” “It took a package of tax and fee increases to balance a $10.3 billion budget for the next two years.” (Editorial, Foster’s Daily Democrat, June 27, 2007)
Among Others, Lynch’s Budget Increased The Tobacco Tax And Car Registration Fees. “Both budget bills, the budget itself and a companion bill that raised the tobacco tax by 28 cents a pack, created an Land and Community Heritage Investment Program fee on registry of deed documents, raised car registration fees by $6 a year, and shifted nursing home costs entirely to counties, passed the Senate easily, 16-8. In the House, the budget itself passed, 211-146.” (Tom Fahey, “$10.3 Billion State Budget Approved,” Union Leader, June 28, 2007)
Lynch Has Also Hiked Tolls, And Is Scheduled To Hike Them Again. “The toll hike that acting DOT Commissioner Chuck O'Leary proposed last week matches the first phase laid out in the memo. Phase 1 raises tolls to $1 at Hooksett and Bedford on the F.E. Everett Turnpike, 75 cents at Dover and Rochester on the Spaulding Turnpike, and $1 at ramps in Hampton on I-95. That would bring turnpikes an extra $16 million a year, enough to cover $200 million in new turnpike bonds. The memo suggests other steps to raise another $46 million a year: a Hampton toll of $2 by mid to late 2009 (for a $25 million annual revenue bump) and all mainline tolls at $1 by 2010.” (Tom Fahey, “State House Dome: Tolls And Gas Taxes To Be Big Issues,” Union Leader, September 23, 2007)
We’ve Seen Rosy Revenue Projections That -- Coupled With Higher Spending -- Have A Created Budgetary Crisis
In His Address, Lynch Blamed A National Economic Downturn For His Current Revenue Shortfall. (John Lynch, State of the State Address, January 23, 2007)
However If This Were True, The Governor Should Have Seen It Coming Since National Economists Have Provided Ample Evidence Of A Slowdown:
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke: “[T]he U.S. Economy Appears To Be Making A Transition From The Rapid Rate Of Expansion Experienced Over The Preceding Several Years To A More Sustainable Average Pace Of Growth.” (Ben Bernanke, Testimony Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, February 14, 2007)
“Economic growth in the United States has slowed in recent quarters, reflecting in part the economy’s transition from the rapid rate of expansion experienced over the preceding years to a more sustainable pace of growth. Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose at an annual rate of roughly 2 percent in the second half of 2006 and appears to be expanding at a similar rate early this year.” (Ben Bernanke, Testimony Before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, March 28, 2007)Business Week: “A Slower Pace Of Economic Growth.” “Small businesses are losing confidence as the economy continues to soften. A slower pace of economic growth in the U.S. is translating into reduced sales and income, which is likely to cause smaller businesses and entrepreneurs to reduce hiring and capital spending early in 2007.” (James Mehring, “Small Business: Just When Hopes Were High”, Business Week, January 8, 2007)
Business Week: “Profits Slowdown Already Appears To Have Started.” “Corporate profits have been on a tear for more than three years. . . .Get ready for a change. The profits slowdown already appears to have started, and margins are getting squeezed. For 2007, the combination of cooler demand and warmer labor costs will create a tough economic climate for earnings.” (James C. Cooper, “Earnings Season Is About To Get Chilly,” Business Week, April 16, 2007)
In Lynch’s Budget Address Last Year, He Proposed Making State Expense Reports Publicly Available. “As a state, we receive monthly revenue reports and we continually debate revenue projections. But we need to do a better job of tracking expenses on a statewide basis. That is why I have asked Commissioner Hill to develop expense reports, similar to the revenue reports, which will be available for our review monthly.” (John Lynch, Budget Address, February 15, 2007)
Yet These Spending Updates Have Not Been Released. “To make matters worse, we have no idea where we are on spending. A year ago, the governor proposed monthly spending updates like the monthly revenue updates the state publishes. But one year later, no spending updates have been released and spending is still hidden from the public.” (Charles Arlinghaus, “We Face A Two-Year Budget Crisis, Not A $50 Million Problem,” Union Leader, January 23, 2008)
Barney Keller
Press Secretary
NH Republican State Committee
Office: (603) 225-9341
Cell: (617) 290-1544
barney@nhgop.org
From our friends over at HughHewitt:
Race At A Glance
Total Primary Votes: Romney McCain Huckabee Giuliani Thompson Iowa 29,494 15,559 40,841 4,097 15,904 New Hampshire 75,202 88,447 26,760 20,387 2,884 Michigan 337,847 257,251 139,699 24,706 32,135 Nevada 22,649 5,651 3,521 1,910 3,521 S. Carolina 64,970 143,224 128,908 9,112 67,897 Total 530,162 510,132 339,824 59,312 103,553 Total Delegates: 59 32 38 1 4
1st Congressional District
DemocratCarol Shea-Porter, incumbentRepublicansJeb Bradley
John Stephen
2nd Congressional District
DemocratPaul Hodes, incumbent
RepublicansJennifer Horn
Jim Steiner
Republican
John Sununu, incumbent
Democrats
Jay Buckey
Jeanne Shaheen
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Date:
January 16, 2008
Contact:
603-225-9341
office, 603-520-5450 cell
NH GOP CHAIR
FERGUS CULLEN ON LYNCH SPENDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:19 PM
Subject: press release
Lynch Continues to Ignore Financial
Crisis
Appearing today before the
House Finance Committee, Governor Lynch has proven once again that he is “out of
touch” with the real financial crisis facing the State of New Hampshire and
continues to ignore the fact that the State’s first $10 billion budget was based
on inflated revenue projections.
“You build a budget around
revenues, you don’t build revenues around a budget, which is how this budget was
crafted” said Republican Leader Mike Whalley. “‘The “Perfect Storm’” predicted last
spring by Rep. Norm Major is becoming a reality that the Democrats continue to
ignore.”
The governor today also
told the Finance committee that the budget was “put together with sound revenue
projections,” when in fact, as early as April, 2007, Rep. Norm Major, former
Chair of House Ways & Means, had cautioned that, “the projections are
irrationally exuberant and far too high.”
In an April press release (4/11/07) Major predicted that, “Democrats
would need hundreds of millions of dollars to support their 16% increase in
spending.”
While pointing out that the
first six months of the fiscal year has seen revenues come in close to their
projected levels, the governor ignored $18M in one-time money, $5M in funds not
dispersed, and $5.7M due to the timing of January securities receipts. Projecting the current deficit out to the
end of the biennium would result in a deficit of $165M, according to Major. Earlier today, appearing before the
House Ways & Means committee, agency department heads predicted that we will
be facing a revenue shortfall of anywhere between $140M and
$195M.
Gov. Lynch also explained
to the Finance committee that when the budget was originally crafted, economic
forecasters were not predicting the severity of the situation that the nation is
currently facing. In reality, there were a number of
economic indicators that were identified last spring that supported the
Republican belief that revenue streams would continue to falter, setting the
state for a financial crisis in
“Ultimately it will be the
taxpayer of this State who will have to suffer,” said Rep. Gene Chandler,
Republican Policy Leader. “Last winter we urged the passage of a reasonable
budget and one that was based on accurate revenue projections and economic
forecasts. Now we will have to wait
and see whether the governor intends to increase taxes and fees or propose major
cuts in spending to correct a problem which could have been avoided,” he
added.
Union Leader:
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Guinta sizing up run for
governor
By JOHN DISTASO
Senior Political Reporter
14 hours, 55 minutes ago
And there just may be a competitive race for governor
shaping up -- for a change.
Guinta gearing up?
Republican Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta is very
interested in running for governor but is weighing the pro and cons. At the same
time, serious steps are being taken to help him size up the outlook, needs and
challenges of a statewide candidacy.
We've learned that Guinta's senior advisor, Mike Biundo
of Meridian Communications, was in
Guinta was urged to run by many New Hampshire
Republicans he met on the presidential primary campaign trail with his
candidate, Rudy Giuliani. But many questions are to be answered, not the least
of which undoubtedly involve Guinta's ability to raise enough money to mount a
serious campaign.
If he does run, Guinta also would be questioned locally
about his ability to devote enough time to his job while also focusing on a
statewide campaign. Lots of private discussion will take place before a final
decision is made.
"It's certainly very flattering" to be asked to run,
Guinta said yesterday. "People look at the accomplishments we've had in
"But I love my job as mayor, and right now I'm focused
on delivering on the agenda I've set for the city."
What will happen? Our guess -- and it's truly a guess at this point -- is that he'll run, he'll mount a strong campaign and even if he loses by a respectable margin, at 37, he likely remains the leading candidate for the 2010 cycle.
Bruce, Chuck and Joe
What of Bruce Keough? While chairing Mitt Romney's
campaign in the state, he also was often encouraged to run, but when we asked
him about his plans yesterday, he refused to comment. Republicans, both in the
State House and outside, are under the impression he's leaning against
it.
Keough, a careful man, may believe that 2008 will be
another tough year for Republicans, especially after looking at the presidential
primary vote totals. About 50,000 more people voted in the Democratic primary
than the Republican contest.
Keough also has business and family considerations and
has never considered himself a career politician. But if he does not run this
time, then when?
Former state Sen. Chuck Morse of
"At this point, we've been heavily involved in our
business and I haven't been thinking about it," he said. "It's just not on the
agenda." He said he, too, received calls from people asking him to be a
candidate.
"It's nice to still be wanted," he said. "We're not
leaving politics, but we've got a lot to get accomplished (in the private
sector) right now."
State Sen. Joe Kenney leaves no doubt about his
intensions. He's in.
He said this week that with the holidays and primary
over, he will be back on the campaign trail with several speaking engagements
lined up.
Gov. John Lynch yesterday deflected a question raised at
a news conference about his plans to run for a third term, but he already has a
political team in place and began raising money with a fund-raiser last
fall.
Kenney and other State House Republicans believe they
have plenty of issues on which to base challenges to Lynch and the
Democrats.
GOP chair
Kenney says the governor approved $12 million for the
Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) "to fix broken down old
buildings," while a host of bridges across the state are red lined and while
tolls have been raised.
He says Lynch raised the cigarette tax and signed a
bloated budget into law but "lost a golden opportunity to eliminate" the
developmentally disabled waiting list.
Then, there are the social issues. Parental notification
is back, with bill sponsor Rep. Fran Wendelboe saying that her plan is
constitutional and contains an emergency health exception and a clear judicial
bypass.
Fosters:
Sens. Collins, Sununu are strong advocates
Article Date: Thursday, January 17,
2008
While much of the nation is focused on presidential
primary politics, the work of some members of the
Of special note last week was the successful effort led
by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to delay implementation of onerous
border-crossing requirements.
Collins, with the help of delegations from other
Effective Jan. 31 last year, air travelers were required
to have passports to return to the
Now, thanks to the effort led by Collins, travelers will
only need a driver's license and birth certificate come Jan.
31.
The delay, said Collins, was needed to give the
government more time to perfect its border-crossing technology. Collins' goal is
to give the government more time to provide a less costly alternative, while
providing the necessary level of national security.
Collins is supporting a passport card which will cut at
least in half the cost now associated with securing a passport, a move seen
essential to maintaining the travel and tourism economy so critical to
The delay in implementing crossing rules is also aimed
at giving privacy advocates such as Collins and Sununu more time to make their
case.
Last week, Sununu blasted regulations promulgated to
implement REAL ID and require a national ID card for border
crossings.
"Although I am still reviewing the regulations," said
Sununu, "the fact remains that the REAL ID program presents serious privacy
concerns and is an unfunded, unnecessary, and intrusive mandate on the states.
REAL ID should be repealed and replaced with a process that allows
Sununu also took to task what he sees as the act's
nearly $4 billion unfunded mandate.
Sununu went on to stress the need for "reasonable and
effective solutions to strengthen the security of identification cards and
protect the personal privacy and civil liberties of all Americans while
respecting the rights of the states."
Much hinges of the advocacy of Collins and
Sununu.
The success of last year's tourist season in both
On a year-round basis, the ease with which commuters can
cross back and forth between
Also underscoring the financial need for changes to REAL
ID are predictions of a sluggish economy in the coming months. If true, both
states will have even more need of dollars spent by foreign visitors. At the
same time, however, the need for national security must be respected, something
both Collins and Sununu understand.
There is no question that changes need to be made in
To watch the video, click here. (130 MB in size)
Stay tuned - good things are coming!
Time: 5:30pm Dinner
6:00pm Meeting
Place: Shanghai Restaurant
331 South Main Street
Laconia, NH
(603) 524-4100
Speaker: To Be Announced.
