Belknap County Republican Committee

Fergus picks another candidate for Governor?

2008-05-10T23:16:23Z

NEW GOP CANDIDATE?

The Republicans may have a second candidate for governor, after all.

With just four weeks left before the opening of the June 4-13 filing period, James "Jim" Adams of Pittsfield has Republican leaders excited.

Adams, the recently retired former New Hampshire/Vermont district manager for the U.S. Postal Service, said yesterday he is seriously thinking of running because he's upset by what he views as excessive spending in Concord.

Adams said he will make a final decision before the filling period opens and is currently trying to raise money. He says he's been encouraged by state party leaders.

While Adams would be making his first run for elective office, he's not a political novice, said state GOP Chair Fergus Cullen.

"Jim's initial strengths are management experience with a large organization with large budgets and a less tangible set of political skills that comes from rising to the top in a large political, bureaucratic organization and staying there," he said.

Adams, a New Hampshire native, spent 36 years at the postal service, the first 10 as a letter carrier. In 1988, he went to Washington as senior advisor to the assistant postmaster general and then as chief of staff to postmasters Anthony Frank and Marvin Runyon. He said he helped Runyon cut $14 billion in costs from the postal services in six years and was liaison to the White House, the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and worked with congressional leaders.

He returned to the state in 1997 as the district manager and "cut costs by 2.5 to 3 percent a year in every year I was here."

He retired on Feb. 29 and about three weeks ago, became interested in running.

"I was concerned with the state of the economy and with the 17.5 percent spending increase in the state budget," he said. "Where I came from, that sort of budget would have meant the individual in charge would no longer be there."

Adams called Democratic Gov. John Lynch "a good man and a very popular governor," but he believes the budget and government can be cut.

He took the anti-broad based tax pledge in an interview, and said that no, he is not related to former White House chief of staff and Gov. Sherman Adams.

Democrats - once more, ideology over economics over oil

2008-05-10T22:56:15Z

Senate Democrats’ energy plan is garnering more criticism today, and not just from fellow Democrats. Investor’s Business Daily has a scathing editorial today discussing the folly of Democrats’ proposal for a windfall profits tax and their unrealistic ideas about “price gouging.” IBD writes in part, “As any student who's taken Econ 101 at the local junior college can tell you, higher taxes don't encourage production; they discourage it.”

National Review Online’s Jonah Goldberg also takes Democrats to task in his column and exposes the absurdity of politicians deciding for themselves just what profits are “reasonable.”

Another criticism leveled by the IBD editorial is that Democrats are looking to return to failed 1970’s energy policies. Indeed, a number of the Democrats’ ideas are particularly stale, reaching all the way back to 1974.

Additional: here, here

Meanwhile, Senator Gregg is trying to make a difference:

New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg has co-sponsored an amendment to address rising gas prices and reduce the country's dependence on foreign sources of oil.
The amendment increases the production of oil and gas in the United States, as well as supports the development of renewable energy and advanced energy technologies.
Gregg says the American Energy Production Act of 2008, on which the amendment is based, will produce up to 24 billion barrels of oil domestically and expand the nation's commitment to renewable sources and advanced energy technologies.
The amendment is pending on the flood insurance bill being considered by the Senate. It's been scheduled for a vote on Monday.

And Senator Gregg calls out NY's Schumer, and wins:

A recent report by New Hampshire Union Leader senior political reporter John Distaso discussed attacks on New Hampshire's senior senator, Judd Gregg, by a newspaper in New York.
Sen. Gregg rightfully took issue with an earmark inserted to a bill dealing with air traffic safety. The earmark was to fund a rail project in New York City. Rather than defend the rail project on its merits, the newspaper suggested that this project relates to 9/11 and thus anyone who criticizes it is insensitive.
Ironically, the first vocal critic of this dubious earmark was none other than The Wall Street Journal. If the World Trade Center had a hometown paper, one might argue the Wall Street Journal was it. Here is what the Journal had to say about the Schumer earmark in December of 2006:
"One of the projects to be funded: a new train from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Airport. Why people in Oshkosh or Olympia should have to pay for this urban choochoo is a mystery.
"What makes this project especially objectionable is the creative financing conjured up to pay for it. This earmark hangs like a Christmas ornament from a must-pass bill to extend certain annual tax credits. And how's this for a misnomer? The subsidy is called the 'New York Liberty Zone Tax Credit.' Here's how it would work: New York would receive up to $2 billion over 10 years (about $1.3 billion of which is Sept. 11 money, for a net new subsidy of $682 million).
"Of course, New York City doesn't pay federal taxes, so this bill allows the Big Apple to retain the employer share of the payroll taxes that the city collects on behalf of its public employees ... The result: a new $2 billion hole in the budget. Our congressional sources say this is the first time this kind of tax credit has been provided for a city or state to pay for infrastructure pork."
In Washington, the easy path is to just stay silent about other members' earmarks and about wasteful spending in general. But, in the Granite State tradition, Judd Gregg has taken the road less traveled. New Hampshire taxpayers should be thankful he is trying to make a difference.
Jim DeMint is a Republican U.S. senator from South Carolina.

Belknap County Republican meeting - 5/14/08

2008-05-08T22:11:04Z

Date: 5/14/08

Time:        5:30pm   Buffet Dinner ($12)
                6:30pm   Meeting

Place:       Shanghai Restaurant
                331 South Main Street
                Laconia, NH
                (603) 524-4100

(see map below)

Speakers:

Jeb Bradley
Candidate for Congress - District 1

Bob Clegg
Candidate for Congress - District 1

Map of Shang-hai:
(map)

NEWS FROM THE NHGOP -- MAY 8, 2008

2008-05-07T23:17:44Z

UNH POLL SHOWS SEN. McCAIN AHEAD IN NH:

The most recent UNH poll shows Senator McCain defeating both Barack Obama (49-43 percent) and Senator Clinton (47-43 percent) in New Hampshire. The poll shows McCain defeating Obama by a staggering 61-27 percent among independents, and topping Clinton by 53-30 among the same group. McCain also wins a healthy chunk of Democrats against either candidate. To read the UNH survey, go to here

THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR NH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES THIS YEAR:

Candidates won’t be running into a headwind like 2006. Help us put a stop to the higher spending, tax increases, and left-wing agenda that has dominated Concord for the past two years by running for office this year! Contact Mike Hamilton or 225-9341.

POLL ALSO SHOWS SUNUNU GAINING, SHEA-PORTER IN TROUBLE:

The UNH poll shows Senator Sununu up five points in the Senate race compared to the last time the poll was done and Carol Shea-Porter losing in the first CD. Check it out

LYNCH INTRODUCES A NEW TAX, RAISES OTHER TAXES:

To fill the growing state budget deficit resulting from Gov. Lynch’s 17.5% increase in state spending last year (NH has record revenues yet still has a deficit), Gov. Lynch this week proposed raising taxes on cigarettes (for the third time in four years) and alcohol, and introduced a new tax on poker. One of the reasons fiscal conservatives seek to limit the number of different taxes (“no new taxes”) is because once a new tax is in place, it’s all too easy to raise it a little here and a little there, you know, for the kids. Like Lynch is doing with cigarette and alcohol taxes. Does any one really think a new poker tax will stay at the initial rate for long?

]]> LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Wouldn’t the Lynch budget deficit and the Lynch tax increase proposals make good topics for a letter to the editor? How about writing one? It’s easy to submit one online

HELP US DO OUR JOBS:

Here at the NH GOP, we’re busy working on candidate recruitment, candidate training, updating the voter file, and trying to add staff to help our candidates win elections this year. None of this happens for free. Support our efforts to win elections by contributing to the NH Republican party today

SECOND POTENTIAL GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE STEPPING UP:

State Senator Joe Kenney continues taking steps toward a candidacy for governor unveiling his new website this week, and today the Union Leader reports that political newcomer Jim Adams of Pittsfield is looking at the race: “Adams, the recently retired former New Hampshire/Vermont district manager for the U.S. Postal Service, said yesterday he is seriously thinking of running because he's upset by what he views as excessive spending in Concord…While Adams would be making his first run for elective office, he's not a political novice, said state GOP Chair Fergus Cullen. ‘Jim's initial strengths are management experience with a large organization with large budgets and a less tangible set of political skills that comes from rising to the top in a large political, bureaucratic organization and staying there,’ he said. Adams, a New Hampshire native, spent 36 years at the postal service, the first 10 as a letter carrier. In 1988, he went to Washington as senior advisor to the assistant postmaster general and then as chief of staff to postmasters Anthony Frank and Marvin Runyon. Read more about Jim

JEANNE SHAHEEN, FLIP-FLOP QUEEN (this week’s example):

The ease with which Jeanne Shaheen adopts a position and then abandons it is amazing. How can we be sure her position today will be her position tomorrow? Today Shaheen says abandon Iraq. But back in 2002, candidate Shaheen said: “Look, if we're going to go into Iraq -- and again, I think we've got to keep all the options on the table -- we need to know what we're getting into and we need to be prepared to stay there for as long as it takes to make sure that the successor to Saddam Hussein, whatever that regime turns out to be, is going to be one that can build democratic institutions and provide stability in the country.” “Well, I think if we go into Iraq, that it will require sacrifice from people in this country. I think it does mean that we need to consider a long-term commitment there . It will require the dedication of resources. And that would mean that people in this country would have to support the effort and be willing to help sacrifice to make that happen. So I think that is something. That's why we need to have the support of the American people in doing that.” (Transcript from CNN’s Novak, Hunt, and Shields, aired September 21, 2002, emphasis added)

A NEW PLEDGE?

The good fiscal conservatives at the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition are working on two promising initiatives. The first is helping put tax caps on the ballot in a number of communities around the state (including Rochester, Somersworth, Manchester, Merrimack, Londonderry, Conway, Keene, Concord, Lebanon and Bedford). The second is working on a new “fiscal responsibility” pledge going beyond the pledge against sales and income taxes. To learn more or to help, check out their website.

GOOD NEWS:

Dem state senator Peter Burling, the single most partisan member of the state senate in either party, announced his retirement this week.

FROM COLUMNIST GEORGE WILL:

“Hillary Clinton, 60, Illinois native and Arkansas lawyer, became, retroactively, a life-long Yankee fan at age 52 when, shopping for a U.S. Senate seat, she adopted New York state as home sweet home. She may think, or at least would argue, that when she was 12 her Yankees really won the 1960 World Series, by standards of "fairness," because they trounced the Pirates in runs scored, 55-27, over seven games, so there. Unfortunately, baseball's rules -- pesky nuisances, rules -- say it matters how runs are distributed during a World Series. The Pirates won four games, which is the point of the exercise, by a total margin of seven runs, while the Yankees were winning three by a total of 35 runs. You can look it up.”

EVENT HONORING SENATOR WARREN RUDMAN:

On May 13, Americans for Campaign Reform is holding a fundraising dinner honoring former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman. Keynote speakers are former Senators Howard Baker and Nancy Kassebaum Baker. The event is at 6:00 p.m. at CR Sparks in Bedford. Tickets are $50 each. For more info, call 227-0626.

CAMPAIGN SCHOOL:

he National Federation of Republican Women is holding an all-day campaign school on May 17 in Nashua. The school is open to men as well as women! For more info, contact NH NFRW Chairwoman Christine Peters at 673-0959

HUMOR (Send your family-appropriate political jokes to Fergus):

Almost seven years ago I sat, as did millions of other Americans, and watched as our government underwent a peaceful transition of power. At first, I felt a swell of pride and patriotism as I watched George W. Bush take his oath of office. However, all that pride quickly vanished as I later watched the Clintons board Air Force One for the last time. I saw 21 Marines, in full dress uniform with rifles, fire a 21-gun salute to the outgoing President and first lady. It was then that I realized how far America's military had deteriorated under the Clinton administration. Every last one of them missed.

Fergus Cullen
Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party
10 Water Street
Concord, NH 03301

603-225-9341 o
603-520-5450 c

Republican Report - Message from Dave - 5/2/08

2008-05-05T01:39:34Z

The much anticipated education bills (SB 530 and SB 539) will finally come to the floor of the House this Wednesday and, should they survive the legislative process and are signed into law by Governor Lynch, they undoubtedly will be challenged in the courts.

Despite facing a budget deficit of more than $250M, Democrats in the House Finance committee have amended and passed SB 539, adding more than $130M in additional spending to the cost of an adequate education. This bill is expensive, ineffective and blatantly unconstitutional! It violates every one of the Claremont decisions, 2-13. This marks the fifth time that the original bill, presented by Democrats on the Adequate Education Costing Committee, has been amended and each ‘fix’ has been worse than the previous one. This bill provides for an arbitrary cap on state aid. Transitioning to full adequacy aid is not the same as full adequacy aid, and our Supreme Court has ruled on more than one occasion that the state must pay, from day one, the full cost of a constitutionally adequate education.

SB 539 also establishes nearly 40 new donor towns while purportedly “holding them harmless” for two years. Those districts that would receive less state aid in FY 2010 and FY 2011 under the majority formula would be guaranteed the amount they received in FY2009. Donor towns purportedly would have their excess statewide education property tax rebated, but after two years, the taxpayers in everyone of these communities would be hit hard.

This is exactly what the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in Governor Shaheen’s “ABC Education Plan.” It contains absolutely no mechanism to send money back to the towns from the state. The Democrats have added more than $130M in spending with absolutely no idea of where the money is coming from. The majority have clearly chosen to put off the hard work until the next budget—after the fall elections—thus significantly increasing the fiscal problems facing the state in the next biennium and leaving us open to broadbased taxes.

SB 530, relative to kindergarten aid, is also unconstitutional and will be headed for the courts. In funding the new kindergarten mandate adopted last year, Democrats fail to pay for the entire cost imposed on the twelve school districts which have not voluntarily chosen to offer public kindergarten—a clear violation of Article 28-a of our State Constitution. The four year transition period available to these school districts to pay for kindergarten does not cover the land, site preparation or core facilities’ cost. The bottom line: SB 530 orders twelve school districts over a four-year period to construct kindergarten facilities. Forcing the state and the municipalities to do significant construction and spend millions of dollars at a time when our economy is at a standstill is fiscally irresponsible.

When will the Democrats wake up to the fact that, as Ronald Reagan once famously stated, “we don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem?” It’s a fact that revenues this year are $72M ahead of last year, a 3.8% increase. Had the Democrats held spending to a more modest increase, instead of their 17.5% boost in spending, and listened to Rep. Major’s warnings of overinflated revenues and a slowing economy, we would not be facing the financial crisis that we are in today.

Rather than looking for reasonable places to reduce the bloated budget passed last year and bring it into line with our rising revenues, Democrats look to raise still more taxes and fees. In fact, just this week Governor Lynch announced a plan to raise money for the general fund while ignoring an earlier pledge not to raise taxes or impose new fees on the citizens of New Hampshire.

The Lynch plan calls for increasing the tobacco tax by 25 cents—the third time that our “let’s not raise taxes” governor has increased this tax! If the State of Massachusetts fails to pass a proposed $1 increase, it would leave NH just $.18 a package lower than the Bay State. What would that do to the many businesses located in our border communities?

Governor Lynch has also proposed imposing a new tax, at a rate of 10% on Texas hold ‘em winnings, raiding dedicated funds in the amount of $1M, imposing additional costs on business owners by reducing the discount on alcohol they buy to 10% and forcing lapses of $2.2M on Home-Community Based Health Care (HCBC) and nursing services program. The governor also proposed to bond $80M of school building aid over the biennium, which will free up an additional $40M in general fund revenues each year, but represents a significant shift from the New Hampshire tradition of paying for such projects in cash. By bonding our school building aid, we are mortgaging the future rather than paying our obligations as they come due—much like using one credit card to pay off another one. And as Rep. Major has calculated, this bonding will cost the state an additional $32M before it is paid off.

This will be a very important week in the NH Legislature as we take up education funding and begin the discussion of a Constitutional Amendment. We invite all members of our caucus to attend a Republican Caucus on Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM in Representatives Hall. The first order of business will the discussion of a possible Constitutional Amendment. Following that, and if time remains, we will then take up the regular House Calendar. On Wednesday, our caucus will be held, as usual, at 9:00 a.m. in Rooms 305-07 of the LOB.

Please remember that we value the input of every member of our caucus. I hope to see a good turnout for our caucuses on both Tuesday and Wednesday. If you have any concerns with regard to legislation appearing in the calendar, please let us know.

So much for no new taxes, eh Governor Lynch? Picking on the poor?

2008-05-05T01:24:08Z

“Lynch Turns Back on Citizens, Asks for Tax Increases”

For Immediate Release Contact: House Republican Office

May 1,2008 603-271-3665

Today Governor Lynch announced a plan to raise more money for the general fund, but in doing so he ignored a pledge he made just months ago not to raise taxes or impose new fees on the citizens of New Hampshire.

The Lynch plan calls for increasing the tobacco tax by 25 cents, imposing a new tax at a rate of 10% on Texas hold’em winnings, raiding dedicated funds in the amount of $1 million, imposing additional costs on business owners by reducing the discount on alcohol they buy to 10%, and forcing lapses of $2.2 million on Home-Community Based health Care (HCBC) and nursing services programs. This plan would theoretically bring in approximately $45 million for the year, according to Rep. Norm Major (Plaistow), former Ways & Means Chairman. The governor also proposed to bond $40 million of school building aid, which will free up an additional $40 million in general fund revenues.

House Deputy Republican Leader David Hess (Hooksett) stated, “I am frankly disappointed that the governor has not kept his pledge to the citizens of New Hampshire. But I am not surprised.”

“Ronald Reagan famously stated in Washington in the 1980s that ‘we don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.’ That is exactly the case in New Hampshire in 2008. Rather than looking for reasonable places to reduce the bloated budget passed last year and bring it into line with our rising revenues, the Governor and the Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate want to raise still more taxes and fees. If we had passed a reasonable budget, with an increase in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), we would not be where we are now,” added Rep. Hess. “While our projected deficit for this fiscal year is $45 million, revenues are actually up $72 million, or 3.7 percent above last year,” stated Rep. Major, who serves on the Ways and Means committee.

Republican Policy Leader Rep Gene Chandler (Bartlett) said, “This plan is going to hurt more than help our citizens. Reducing the discount for small business owners to 10% for alcohol, threatening our hospitality industry; it is outrageous to think that either consumers will pay more or small business owners make less at a time when our economy is in trouble. These businesses are the backbone of tourism for our state economy; we can not and must not do anything to endanger that. By bonding $40 million in school building aid, we’re mortgaging the future rather than paying our obligations as they come due. We also should have learned our lesson from last year when we increased the tobacco tax and revenues dropped off. Here we go again with an additional tax burden to our citizens; it is irresponsible and not in the best traditions of doing what is right for New Hampshire.”

Dems forgetting that economics depends on demand....AND supply

2008-05-05T01:18:50Z

“War Over Gas Prices Explodes” is the headline in Roll Call today, which writes, “[B]oth parties and President Bush ratcheted up the blame game Tuesday and scrambled to propose an ever-expanding list of possible salves.” Of course, it’s instructive to recall that Democrats have been firing salvos over gas prices for more than two years. In fact, Senate Democrats and their Senate candidates were saying, “Talk is cheap, gas is not,” and promising that if they were given control of Congress, they would act to alleviate high gas prices.

Two years later, “Gasoline . . . is $1.25 more, on average, than it was when the Democrats took over Congress,” as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said at a press conference yesterday. Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair John Cornyn elaborated: “Two years ago, Speaker Pelosi said that if Democrats were given the majority, they would produce a common sense plan for reducing the pain at the pump. Well, we’re still waiting for that plan.”

Politico reports today, though, that Democrats are actually working on proposals, but that they are apparently more interested in scoring political points against Republicans and demonizing oil companies than doing anything to address the real issue of energy supplies. Their ideas apparently range from bad Carter-era retreads like windfall profits taxes to demanding price gouging investigations that have turned up nothing in the past.

At a Rose Garden press conference yesterday President Bush warned, “Congress is considering bills to raise taxes on domestic energy production, impose new and costly mandates on producers, and demand dramatic emissions cuts that would shut down coal plants, and increase reliance on expensive natural gas. That would drive up prices even further. The cost of these actions would be passed on to consumers in the form of even higher prices at the pump and even bigger electric bills.”

As Roll Call noted, “Republicans said there was no mystery to rising prices — supply isn’t keeping up with rising demand.” Indeed, Republicans took the opportunity yesterday to remind reporters that Democrats have repeatedly scuttled GOP proposals to increase domestic energy supplies. As Sen. McConnell said, “[W]e’ve had an opportunity to build more refineries, and the Democratic majority voted it down. We’ve had an opportunity to open up additional parts of the outer continental shelf, even in a place like Virginia where you had one Democratic senator and one Republican senator in favor of it, and the Democratic majority voted it down. It’s clear that on the production side of the equation, this new majority is not interested in doing anything.” Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl added that President Clinton vetoed a Republican plan to drill for oil in ANWR years ago, which could now be producing quite a bit of oil.

Republicans have proposed basic steps Congress could take to increase domestic energy supplies, but Democrats have repeatedly opposed them. It’s unfortunate, but unsurprising, that in the absence of constructive suggestions, Democrats are looking instead to score political points.

Dems spending more money the State doesn't have

2008-05-05T01:10:34Z

House Democrats Pass $130M in Additional Education Spending

Despite facing a budget deficit of more than $250M, Democrats in the House Finance committee today ignored the impending financial crisis and added more than $130M in additional spending to the cost of an adequate education, passing SB 539 in a partisan vote.

According to House Deputy Republican Leader David Hess of Hooksett, the bill violates every one of the Claremont decisions, from 2-13. “This bill is expensive, ineffective and blatantly unconstitutional,” said Hess. “It provides for an arbitrary cap on state aid, preventing any town from receiving more than 115% of their current state aid over the next biennium. As such, the bill costs an adequate education but then blatantly fails to fully fund it,” he added.

“It marks the fifth time that the original bill, presented by Democrats on the Adequate Education Costing Committee, has been amended and each ‘fix’ has been worse than the previous one,” said Hess. In referring to the legislation as the “son of ABC,” the first education funding bill passed under Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and quickly declared unconstitutional by the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Hess warned that it would establish nearly 40 new donor towns. The legislation purports to hold the donor town harmless, which is exactly what the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in Gov. Shaheen’s original bill, and it contains absolutely no mechanism to send money back to the towns from the state. “The Democrats have added more than $130M in spending with absolutely no idea of where the money is coming from,” concluded Hess.

Calling the bill “Alice in Wonderland” legislation last week on the floor of the House, Rep. Hess concluded that the bill, in its present form, is “even more strange.”

Unless amended on the floor, the bill will now go to a Committee of Conference.

John Stephen - coming to Laconia

2008-05-04T23:29:53Z

Meet John Stephen in
Laconia!

Monday, May 12th

10:30 AM

The Soda Shoppe

30 Beacon Street East

Join John on his announcement tour
Please RSVP to info@johnstephen.com

On Monday, May 12th, the Stephen for Congress campaign takes our efforts to the next level as John formally announces his candidacy in a bus tour that will travel throughout the 1st Congressional district. The schedule of the day will be as follows:

7:00 AM      Meet with voters at Patch's Market (Glen), 69 Main St
8:30 AM      Campaign Announcement at Conway Café (Conway), 32 Main St
10:30 AM    Campaign Announcement at The Soda Shoppe (Laconia), 30 Beacon St East
1:00 PM      Campaign Announcement at The Gateway Restaurant (Somersworth),
                            417 Route 108
3:00 PM      Campaign Announcement at Market Square (Portsmouth) In case of rain,
                            event will be moved to Popovers (Portsmouth), 8 Congress St
5:00 PM    Campaign Announcement at Jewett Construction (Raymond),
                            Harriman Hill Rd & Route 107
7:00 PM    Formal Campaign Kickoff at The Yard Restaurant (Manchester),
                            1211 S. Mammoth St

Local Republicans doing good!

2008-05-03T18:46:33Z

From the Laconia Daily Sun (5/3/08 ):

Faith Tobin, one of the people who worked on the April 26 community auction that raised funds for the family of Melanie VanTassell, confessed to being somewhat dismayed about the only story about the event that appeared in the Daily Sun this week.

In yesterday's edition there was a short story about how Selectboard Chairman Andrew Livernois had bought a box of old dinner plates at the auction and confessed to being disappointed when he got it home and discovered that some of the dishes were broken. The twist was that Livernois later went online and discovered that the plates that were still in one piece were worth more to eBay collectors than what he'd spent on the entire box.

Livernois was joking about the outcome of the situation at Wednesday selectmen's meeting in the town office building.

But Tobin sad the event, which rasied almost $5,000 for a family that lost their home in house fire in February, was so much more.

In her role as Sanbornton's Overseer of the Public Welfare, VanTassell has made many friends in the community and last wee, Tobin said, the people of the town had a chance to respond to her personal difficulties – which they did with a passion.

“It was really fun,” she reported “Everyone had a great time”.

Tobin's husband, State Representative Bill Tobin, ran the auction, and “he moved at a really fast pace so people really enjoyed it,” she said

The Tobins worked with Selectmen Steve Ober and his wife Karen, former selectman Patsy Wells and Mona Smith to organize the event held in the Old Town Hall. The Tobins and members of Boy Scout Troop 82 helped display the books and other items that were sold. Wells organized the sale of donated food items.

What especially impressed Tobin was how people gave despite their own financial hard times.

“People were bringing in handmade items like quits or paintings, things that meant a lot to them,” she said. “One man brought in a beautiful handmade inlaid cribbage board. Some people baked great desserts which were auctioned off. They all wanted to do it for Melanie. It was a great community outpouring.

“Everything was given with such love and heart-felt feelings,” she add. “some of the businesses are suffering but they donated gift certificates and items. I wish you could have seen it. Older people were coming in in tears, bringing things were were worth a lot of money and saying, if it doesn't sell, give it to the family.”
The job of a public welfare officer can be a difficult one but VanTassell has always handled it with an enthusiasm and optimism her neighbors appreciate. It was in that spirit of given that Sanborton responded to her family's needs last weekend.

Good people doing good things deserve to be appreiated. Well done!

Coming to a State Convention near you?

2008-04-28T02:16:51Z

from Chuck Muth - Muth's Truths.....heh!

The Ron Paul people showed up for the neighborhood precinct meetings on January 19th. For that reason, Ron Paul came in second to Mitt Romney, and bested eventual GOP presidential nominee John McCain. Many of those folks were elected to attend their county conventions, who were then elected to attend this weekend’s state convention, all in the hope of being elected to attend the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis later this summer.

That’s how the process works. The Ron Paul people followed the rules and did exactly what you’re supposed to do. Bully for them.

What most folks don’t fully understand is that a party convention has the power to do pretty much anything it wants regardless of what party leaders want, or even its Central Committee. If enough people with an agenda go through the months-long process, get and stay organized, and show up at the state convention, they can, literally, take over the party. The Ron Paul folks effectively did that yesterday.

“(The Ron Paul) contingent came to the state convention prepared for battle,” writes Reno Gazette-Journal reporter Anjeanette Damon this morning. “They had a row of printers to print ballots for their supporters to the national convention. They set up a communications network using text messages to cell phones to make sure everyone voted correctly on motions that would benefit their effort. And they scoured the rules for opportunities to level the playing field.”

Folks, that’s an impressive use of grassroots guerilla organizing tactics making the most of modern technology. Whether you’re a Ron Paul fan or not, you can’t help but give those folks a hat tip from a purely tactical standpoint.

“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought,” advises the great Chinese military genius Sun Tzu. “The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”

It appears the Ron Paul army made a lot of calculations and the GOP establishment few. As one convention delegate wrote to me, “The Republican leaders screwed up. They should have been better prepared. They have no radar for the base and for those who were coming.”

Hmm, better organized, better motivated, and a better use of technology....hmmmm.

Ramping up to spin spending down

2008-04-26T02:02:01Z

Spending cap initiative

A conservative group is coordinating efforts in four cities to cap municipal spending at the rate of the consumer price index beginning in 2010.

The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition is working with activists in Manchester, Concord, Merrimack and Rochester to put proposed changes to those communities' municipal charters on the ballot in November.

Coalition chairman Mike Biundo said the effort was sparked by "legislative overspending" last year and by the recent initiative by the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition "to strip away our (anti-broad base tax) pledge and strip away what New Hampshire is, a low-tax, low-spending state."

Biundo said that by tomorrow, language for charter amendments will be filed in the four municipalities. He said plans call for similar filings shortly in Londonderry, Conway, Portsmouth, Keene, Somersworth, Lebanon and Bedford.

"When you add up the 11 communities, this is over 30 percent of the electorate in the state," he said.

Biundo said state law requires the proposed petitions for the charter amendments to be reviewed by the Attorney General's Office and Department of Revenue Administration. He said that when the language is approved, organizers will have 60 days to gather petitions signed by at least 20 percent of the number of local residents who voted in the last municipal elections.

Biundo said his coalition has hired former Ron Paul field director Jared Chicoine and brought back former coalition executive director Tammy Simmons. He claims that such an effort "has never been done before on this scale in this state."

Republican Campaign School

2008-04-26T00:51:28Z

Boot camp for pols!

Saturday, May 17
7:30 am- 5:30 pm

Crowne Plaza Hotel Nashua
2 Somersett Parkway

Calling all Republican Men and Women!
$75 per person provides: Campaign School Manual and Lunch.

What are the workshops being offered?

Management
Media
Strategy
Get-out-the-vote techniques
Opposition Research
Fundraising

Register Now! or call Christine Peters (673-0959)

(Note: the link given to me is broken - looks like their site is messed up)

National Campaign Consultants join NFRW and NHFRW to sponsor this campaign school

Republican Report - Message from Dave - 4/25/08

2008-04-26T00:32:41Z

I hope that you all had the opportunity to read the op-ed piece published this week in the Union Leader (Wed., 4/23). (see it after the jump) It was written by Charles Arlinghaus, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy in Concord. The essay titled, “Some thoughts on being an island in a sea of socialism,” clearly captures what we as Republicans have been confronted with since the Democrats took control of the legislature less than two years ago. Since that time, we have not only witnessed the state’s first $10 Billion budget—thanks to a 17.5% increase in spending—but we have also seen the further erosion of the New Hampshire Advantage that we have enjoyed within the region through inceased taxes and fees. As Mr. Arlinghaus pointed out, “government is getting larger but it’s also getting more intrusive.” If you have not yet read his piece, I urge you to do so.

It will be our job, over the weeks and months leading up to the fall election, to educate the voters of our state as to exactly what has been going on at the State House in Concord. We need to point out exactly why their taxes have increased, why fees have gone up, and why we are facing a potential $260M deficit in state government!

In order to regain control of the New Hampshire House, and begin the task of repairing the damage done by the Democrats, we must:

(1) present qualified candidates to the voter; and
(2) make sure those candidates candidates are well versed on the facts.

If you know of someone in your district who would make a strong candidate, please have them contact both our office and the State Republican Party headquarters. If you are an incumbent and have made a decision as to whether nor not you intend to run for office again, please let us know. Paul Smith in our office has been compiling a list so we know in which districts we need to recruit additional candidates.

You will also notice an announcement in this newsletter about a Republican Campaign School that will be held in Nashua on May 17th. Over the next few months we will try and keep you informed of any program that may be helpful to candidates planning their campaign. To that end, we have recently been including campaign tips along with our Republican Report and we plan to continue this practice. I would like to thank Rep. Ken Weyler for helping to compile much of the information that we are sending out. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please let us know and we will share them with the entire caucus.

Finally, I would like to thank the members of our caucus for supporting the motion to withdraw, without debate, the Bill of Address to remove Superior Court justice Patricia Coffee from office. With the resignation of Judge Coffey this week, the committee felt that a motion

to withdraw was in the best interest of the State of New Hampshire. It has been tabled, however should it be necessary it could be brought back again this session, but that is highly unlikely.

Our Republican caucus will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday in Rooms 305-307 of the LOB. This will give us a chance to go over the issues prior to lunch. If you have any concerns with legislation coming to the floor on Wednesday, please bring them to the caucus. We also invite all of you to join us for our Republican Caucus Spring Social following the House session on Wednesday at the Upham-Walker House. Food and beverages will be served and it will be a great opportunity for us to get together in a relaxed atmosphere following a long winter. I hope to see you all there! ]]>
To be fair, the mythological version of "Old New Hampshire" may have been exaggerated. The Granite State was not colonized by Milton Friedman and conservative economists didn't sit around pushing a free market agenda. Instead, in contrast to other exploding state governments, we just didn't grow as much.

Our taxes were low because we didn't raise them. When other states passed a sales tax and income tax, we said no. After Gov. Sherman Adams said government needed a broadbased tax, we resisted. Instead we turned to Gov. Hugh Gregg who said let's hold down government spending so we don't have to raise taxes.

As recently as 10 years ago, that attitude still prevailed. After the worst recession since the Great Depression, Gov. Steve Merrill used a large electoral majority to eliminate two taxes and cut others including a pro-growth cut in business taxes. His budget was the first in modern times to actually reduce spending. Like Gov. Gregg 40 years earlier, reducing spending to limit an average citizen's tax burden was the policy goal.

In that same time period, a selectman famously refused to sign his town's bid for federal emergency relief funds after a snowstorm. He announced sensibly that snow was neither unexpected nor a disaster in northern New Hampshire.

Slowly but surely, however, New Hampshire is changing. We're not changing all at once but it is gradual and steady. Steve Merrill's great budget spent $1.7 billion. The most recent two-year budget will spend about $3.2 billion, an 88 percent increase. In the same time period, inflation will be about 38 percent. With education funding, the total paid for with state taxes is $5 billion or 193 percent more than we had to tax 12 years ago.

Government is getting larger but it's also getting more intrusive. On the smallest issues and the biggest issues, the impulse of the Legislature is to pass more laws and regulate more things. Last year, the House of Representatives passed a new balloon tax. It was a silly $250 fine for releasing a balloon. The bill was ultimately killed by the Senate, but it's a symbol of the new impulse to regulate.

The state decided to ban smoking in all restaurants. Never mind that many restaurants chose to do so on their own for marketing reasons. Smoking sections in a minority of restaurants weren't enough. Smoking is a legal if unhealthy act but you can't do it in a bar. Even a modest bill this year to allow cigar bars is likely to die. Smoke at home if you want, but we can't allow people to smoke together and have a drink at the same time.

Each year we add new rules to health insurance. You can't buy basic coverage, there are more and more mandates that drive up the cost so that New Hampshire, the healthiest state in the country, has the highest health insurance. This year, we intend to move from government dictating some of the rules of insurance to government actually designing the product.

The state will require every private insurance company in the state to offer a wellness plan designed not by their own professionals but by regulatory officials of the government. That seems to take us most of the way to having state government itself get into the business and eliminate the need for these pesky insurance companies.

Each step along the way is well-intentioned. A fund for preserving barns? We all like old barns. A system of price supports for producers of milk? I don't want to see the state without dairy farms. While we're at it, we might also subsidize those cute little soft serve ice cream stands too, everyone likes those.

The problem isn't one action, it's the cumulative value and the mindset. What other businesses should we provide price supports for? If the state can design insurance plans better than the company can, what other businesses can we run better?

Charles M. Arlinghaus is president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a free-market think tank in Concord.

Legislative Update - 4/25/08

2008-04-26T00:30:31Z

During the past week, leadership has signed-in, testified and taken a position on a number of bills being heard in committee. Here is a complete list of those bills:

Finance

SB 530—relative to kindergarten aid. (testified in opposition and offered an amendment)
SB 539—relative to the cost of an adequate education and provision of fiscal capacity disparity aid. (oppose)

Ways & Means

SB 317—relative to the retail sale of tobacco products. (oppose)
SB 519—imposing a per diem fine on dam owners and operators for failure to repair damage. (oppose)