Results tagged “Democrat Agenda” from Belknap County Republican Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ryan Williams
June 23, 2009   
(603) 225-9341

CONCORD – Today, former New Hampshire Governor and Republican State Committee Chairman John H. Sununu released the following statement on the Democrats’ disastrous budget:

“The Democrats keep trying to shift the blame for their state budget disaster to the GOP.  They were able to conceal the Democratic fiscal failure in the past, but this time they can’t hide.  The Democratic spend and tax policies are ruining the State of New Hampshire.

“This New Hampshire budget problem is a reflection of budget irresponsibility in the past.  The 17% increase in Governor Lynch’s last budget created this crisis, and the Democrats avoided any serious work on the budget until the Committee of Conference last week.  Now the governor and legislature have agreed to small budget cuts which really do not make any significant impact on their over-spending.  To cover this irresponsibility, they have increased taxes, raised fees, and devastated the communities of the state by short-changing them on money the state owes to the cities and towns.  And now they are talking about selling State Parks.

“In order to save the fiscal integrity of the state, Republicans urged going back and reducing the nearly 10% increase across the budget to a 2% or 3% increase across the board, saving 7%.  But the Democrats were locked into tax increases that will destroy jobs and our economy.

“Make no mistake about it.  This is Governor Lynch’s and the Democrat Legislature’s fiscal failure.  They came into power and have created a fiscal nightmare.  The only solution is to go back and unwind their irresponsible budget increases.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

DEMOCRATS CRITICIZE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP’S RADICAL AGENDA

 

“It’s unbelievable, this liberal agenda up here.”

Democrat State Rep. Mark Preston (Seabrook) On The Democrat Leadership’s Radical Agenda

 

 

New Hampshire House Takes A Hard Turn Left

Gloucester Daily Times

Angeljean Chiaramida
April 27, 2009

 

In a landmark session, the New Hampshire House of Representatives appears to many to be having an identity crisis.

The 400-member House — the second largest legislative body in the nation — has never before been known as a bunch of social liberals. Dominated by Republicans for more than a century, the body has held strong to the state's historic conservative roots, voting down bills with liberal leanings that have sailed through on Massachusetts' Beacon Hill.

But since January, House members have passed bills to abolish the death penalty, legalize gay marriage, allow the medical use of marijuana and force adults to wear seat belts, something the Granite State has resisted forever.

And then there was the passage of a bill to protect transgender individuals from discrimination, which Republicans dubbed "the bathroom bill."

Although the 2007 elections put Democrats in control of the New Hampshire House, Senate, Executive Council and the Governor's corner office, even some New Hampshire Democrats are wondering what's going on in Concord, and if things are swinging too far left.

"It's unbelievable, this liberal agenda up here," said state Rep. Mark Preston, D-Seabrook, appalled that his colleagues in the House had approved the elimination of the death penalty. "I never thought I'd see the day in New Hampshire when a repeal of the death penalty would pass."

Neither was Preston, a police sergeant in Seabrook, happy about the House's decision to legalize marijuana for medical reasons, another bill he said he thought would never pass.

Life-long Seabrook Democrat Bette Thibodeau said New Hampshire Democrats have never before been as liberal as their counterparts to the south, but that appears to be changing.

Husband and wife state Representatives Amy and Koko Perkins, R-Seabrook, made a simple statement recently that summed up their freshman year in the House.

"It's no place for conservatives, I can tell you that," Koko Perkins said not long ago.

Twelve-year veteran state Rep. Al Weare chuckled when asked his impression of this session in the House.

"Being a very conservative individual, for these issues, it's kind of unbelievable to see this happening in the state of New Hampshire. But, I think ultimately this could backfire. They could end up with problems they aren't expecting. I think it can have an adverse effect for some in the next election."

…..

New Hampshire Republican pundit and Seabrook fire Chief Jeff Brown believes New Hampshire Legislature's stray to the left on social issues is the result of years of suppression by Republicans. Members of New Hampshire's Grand Old Party had a hold on the legislative majority and kept their members in lock-step with conservative party lines for decades. 

In control for the first time in anyone's living memory, Democrats are grabbing all they can while they can, Brown said.

"Democrats are saying, 'Wow, lets get everything we can while we're in the majority,'" said Brown, who served in the House for years in the past. "But, they're also eating their young. They've forgotten who brought them to power."

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CONTACT: Ryan Williams
           April 13, 2009                                                                    (603)225-9341

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

THE SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT’S

“KOZLOWSKI-ESQUE” BATHROOM

 

A Bathroom Battle At The Statehouse

Fosters Daily Democrat

Editorial

April 13, 2009

Who drew up the specs for the "luxurious lavatory" at the Statehouse, the same people who gave the Pentagon a $640 toilet seat?

Republicans are cleaning up with their showering of Democrats with shots over the $72,000 cost of renovating a Statehouse bathroom.

Democrats are trying to fend off the blows in saying the project was to make the lav compliant with the American Disabilities Act. Did someone get word there was a federal bathroom inspector in the neighborhood when there was bipartisan support for the appropriation two years ago?

It will be pointed out that funding was approved before it was found the economy was being flushed into the political and social hopper. The answer to that has to be, "So what?"

Even in the best times, $72,000 for renovating a bathroom is a bit Kozlowski-esque. You remember Dennis Kozlowski — the Tyco tycoon who was convicted of misappropriating more than $400 million to support a lavish lifestyle that included decorating a luxurious company-owned apartment in Manhattan. Among the amenities of the redo was a $6,000 shower curtain for the bathroom.

Kozlowski was sentenced to eight to 25 years in prison for his excesses in misappropriating assets that belonged to Tyco's stockholders and is now mopping up in a way that is different from his days at Tyco.

And, of course, there were the Pentagon days of a $640 toilet seat and $7,600 coffee makers and Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger trotting up Capitol Hill to defend his department's outrageous procurement practices.

But back to the minor league bathroom excess in Concord.

Was the bathroom in question in need of repair? Yes, it has needed a going-over for several years. But to the tune of $72,000?

Frankly, the facility was overdone when it was designed and outfitted more than 80 years ago. Marble walls? A bit ostentatious, don't you think? We are talking about a public building in New Hampshire in the 21st century, not a palace or castle in 18th century Europe.

There are some people in government who think putting their best face forward means showing off in as regal a manner as possible. There are some elected officials who have some waking up to do — some who have to understand the perception of waste can be as bad as waste itself.

Put the two together and you have the beginning of a breakdown in confidence. And when a breakdown in confidence occurs, a breakdown in the ability of those in office to govern should not be far behind.

Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, was quoted in Foster's Daily Democrat Friday as saying, "This is a large public restroom, so $72,000 should be evaluated in that context."

Maybe it shouldn't be evaluated in the context of a restroom. After all, it is not a place where people go to rest.

Maybe we should redefine our thinking, come up with a better appellation while maintaining good taste in the naming.

Yes, there are more important considerations than the appropriate design and functionality of a Statehouse "loo." But credit some GOP members of the Legislature and the redesigned Republican State Committee, led by the sometimes sharp-tongued and always sharp-minded John H. Sununu, a three-term governor of New Hampshire in the 1980s, for converting a bathroom into an attention-grabber.

The bathroom issue will soon go away — as well it should. But it was something that allowed the GOP to run the Democrats around the Statehouse for several days — and it was the kind of thing that stirs the always changing imagination of writers and editors for a day or two or three.

Maybe someone will soon propose pay toilets in all state buildings.

The one thing certain is that all involved in the discussion will soon wash their hands of it.

           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CONTACT: Ryan Williams
           April 10, 2009                                                                    (603)225-9341

MARTIN FINALLY ADMITS SUPPORT FOR

RADICAL DEMOCRAT AGENDA

Martin Openly Supports Same-Sex Marriage, Opposes Death Penalty

 

CONCORD – Ending weeks of silence, Democrat State Senate candidate Willard “Bud” Martin today finally admitted his support for the radical Democrat agenda advancing through the Legislature. In an interview in today’s Fosters Daily Democrat,  Mr. Martin came out in support of same-sex marriage and revealed his staunch, long-held opposition to the death penalty.

 

His admissions come at a time when the State Senate is set to consider a slew of radical bills passed by the House including legislation that will establish same-sex marriage and repeal the death penalty.

 

At the same time that Mr. Martin was discussing his support for the Democrats radical agenda, the Democrat State Committee was trying to mislead voters into believing that Martin was still considering the issues. In a story in today’s Conway Daily Sun, Democrat Executive Director Mike Brunelle deceptively claimed that Mr. Martin’s position on the death penalty and same-sex marriage “will be decided down the line.”

 

Martin also revealed that he has been an opponent of the death penalty “since he was a teenager” – despite the fact that he recently told WMUR-TV (3/29/09) that he had “absolutely not” made up his mind on the issue.

 

“Today, Bud Martin confirmed what everybody already knew – that he is a far-left politician who supports the radical Democrat agenda advancing through the legislature. Mr. Martin has deliberately tried to mislead the public by obscuring his actual positions on some of the key issues in this campaign,” said New Hampshire Republican State Committee Communications Director Ryan Williams. “It’s now obvious that Bud Martin is willing to do and say anything to get elected, and that he lacks the credibility required to effectively represent District 3 in Concord.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Willard “Bud” Martin Has Claimed That He Didn’t Have A Position On Same-Sex Marriage Or A Repeal Of The Death Penalty:

 

Sean McDonald: So you haven’t made any final decision on [same-sex marriage and the death penalty]? (4/9/08)

 

Willard “Bud” Martin: Absolutely Not. (WMUR, 4/9/08)

 

 

He Said It Would Be “Presumptuous” To Give A Position On The Issues:

 

Sean McDonald: Let me get your reaction this week to the House saying no to the death penalty, wanting to repeal that and saying yes to gay marriage. These are possible issues that you might face if you are selected for the senate. Give me your take on these things.

 

Willard “Bud” Martin: Here’s my take on that Sean. It’s very important that the voters know that they are sending somebody down who is going to listen and be accessible and then really do the responsible thing in a focused way and on these very important issues to the constituents out there, that’s my pledge. I’m not going to send out a postcard in advance on everything I am going to do, because that’s presumptuous. How should I make a decision on these critical issues without hearing from everybody? So we will have a hearing process - hearing rooms.

 

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF BUD MARTIN DODGING QUESTIONS

 

 

Today, Willard “Bud” Martin Told Fosters Daily Democrat That He Supports Same-Sex Marriage And Opposes The Death Penalty:

 

Fosters Daily Democrat: “The Democrat in the special Senate election was talking Thursday like the fiscal conservative he says he is while coming down against the death penalty and for gay marriage.” (4/10/09)

 

 

But On The Same Day, The Democrat State Committee Told The Conway Daily Sun He Wasn’t Going To Take A Position On Social Issues:

 

Conway Daily Sun: “Bud is going to ensure he listens to his constituents,’ Brunelle said of social issues. ‘And that all will be decided down the line.’” (4/10/09)