Skip: March 2008 Archives

Thanks to a conservative blogger out in Colorado, we see that the misguided (and time waster) attempt to have a resolution to have the NH Legislature agree to push for impeachment of the President and the Vice President:

From: John Kennedy <protestinthestreet@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Subject: [Jeffco] Please support this last effort to push the US House to hold Impeachment hearings
To: Jefferson County <Jeffco@groups.progressnowaction.org>

Please help support the effort by Rep. Betty Hall in the NH House to cause the US House of Representatives to hold Impeachment hearings.

All you need to do is copy the text below the dashed line and email it to the list I have typed  below.

The list is the entire membership of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.  HR-24 is a NH bill that will cause an order to be sent to their US Congressmen telling them to introduce and debate impeachment in the US House.

Failure to hold impeachment hearings will mean that the Bush/Cheney crimes against our Constitution and Separation Of Powers will become precedent and more likely to be used by rogue future Presidents.

This may be our last chance to have any meaningful accountability brought against the Bush/Cheney  Administration.  The sacrifices of our US soldiers  in Iraq will not have been made in vain if from this tragedy comes strengthened Congressional oversight on the power of the Executive Branch.  Only Impeachment will provide it.

Thanks for helping.

John H Kennedy, organizer of the

1stProtestInTheStreet group
at ProgressNowAction.org
and the
Impeach Colorado Coalition  http://ImpeachCO.com

Enter the complete following address list into your email program's   "BCC" address field.

The list of email addresses to sent it to is:

I have posted the "sample" Letter after the jump - along with the other email addresses that came along with it!

The Gilford Town Republican Committee had it's meeting last week and was honored to have Jeb Bradley, who is running to reclaim his Congressional seat from Paul Hodes, speak at the meeting.

To watch the video, click here!

Please also note!  As Fergus Cullen noted in an email, the Dems are sending folks to "bird dog" our candidates waiting for the slightest misstep (and face it, it matters not your ideology - it happens!) to use against them.  I put a quick clip of our visitor (Nicole Cameli) up there as well.

And yes, it was politely pointed out that this NH Dem Party representative was driving a car with Wisconsin plates (and you don't think that they are serious?)

We had our last meeting a couple of weeks ago on the 12th - Manchester Mayor Guinta who was exploring a run to unseat Gov. Lynch and Grant Bosse who still IS running for the 2nd NH Congressional seat now held by Paul Hodes.

From the meeting:

Intro and Secretary Report                                                    Video

Discussion on the Town Reports and status of the Cruise        Video

Special Speaker:      Grant Bosse

Special Speaker:      Mayor Frank Guinta

Note: For those of you who have not yet received your "call lists" - be not of faint heart!  They will be in your in-box soon!

Doug over at GraniteGrok flashed the new up quickly:

Unfortunately, we just received the following note. Can the Republicans find a new candidate with a chance against Gov. Lynch?    

Mayor Frank Guinta Sticks With Manchester; Suspends Gubernatorial Efforts for 2008

March 26, 2008, Manchester, NH - Despite months of significant encouragement and pledges of support, Mayor Frank Guinta today announced his continued dedication to the city of Manchester and his decision to suspend gubernatorial exploration efforts. 

Citing a deep commitment to the residents, businesses and taxpayers of Manchester, Mayor Guinta stated he would not run for Governor at this time. "I feel very fortunate and challenged by the many opportunities to be a leader in New Hampshire.  We have a great state.  The fact that Manchester is heading into uncertain fiscal and economic times necessitates steady leadership and a mayor willing to make tough decisions. This has been weighing heavily on my mind and it's clear I must commit all of my efforts to fulfill the promise I made to hold the line on spending, to run Manchester's government more efficiently, to support public safety, and to continue to encourage economic growth in our great city. People need a strong leader at City Hall and I am prepared and committed to continue in this role," continued Mayor Guinta.

"With the outpouring of such amazing support, I have truly been humbled by this experience.  There's no doubt that our message of low taxes, low spending, efficient government and the protection of the New Hampshire Advantage is one that can win," continued Mayor Guinta.  "My supporters are incredible believers in keeping New Hampshire special.  I thank them for their persistent support."

"This is the most admirable thing he's done yet, " said Mayor Guinta's wife Morgan, "Although I know he'd be an exceptional leader for the State, Manchester needs him.  I couldn't be prouder."

As one of the leading tax-fighters in the State, Mayor Guinta will continue to work on preserving New Hampshire's unique advantage, speak to groups state-wide on issues important to all New Hampshire residents, and maintain his Granite State Leadership PAC.

Commenting on Guinta's departure from the race...

By Rep. Steve Vaillancourt
 
While Governor John Lynch and prospective Republican opponent Frank Guinta are engaged in a game of reefer madness one upmanship ("I'll see your veto threat and raise you by silencing a duly elected State Representative, Governor"), Democrats in the New Hampshire House tipped their hand to their true mission when they passed no less than five new or increased taxes or fees Wednesday.

Unlike Mark Fernald, the failed gubernatorial candidate who took pride in touting an income tax and is now out there trying to foist one on town meeting voters, House Democrats are employing stealth and obfuscation to make their case with a "Rope a Dope" strategy.

It's a two-pronged attack far more threatening to New Hampshire traditions than a joint here and there will ever be.    "Get the Republicans to focus on phony issues like civil unions and marijuana decriminalization while we lay the groundwork for an income tax," they are whispering to each other behind the scenes.  In fact, they are salivating at the prospect.

First, with the of compliance of Governor Lynch, they passed such a bloated budget, balanced with unrealistic revenue estimates, that only new taxes and fees can possibly fund it.  When the chickens come home to roost and we realize we're $150 to $200 million short (not even including extra money for meeting the school funding mandate), depending on whether you accept Democrats' own estimates or the Republican numbers, the end game is clear.  

Ways and Means Chair Susan Almy, of Lebanon, who has long championed an income tax, tipped her hand in committee last week.  When Republicans spoke against the new taxes (she prefers to call them fees), she actually contended that we have no other alternative.  Fees are the New Hampshire way of funding things, she stated.

The strategy is clear.  Pile on enough fees, and the Democrats, bolstered by their media allies from Concord to Keene and the Seacoast,  will give voice next year to they dare not utter now.  "You know, if we only had an income tax, which is really the fairest tax of all, we wouldn't need all these fees," the Almyites will argue.
They lack the courage to say that now.  In fact, after half the Ways and Means Democrats voted for a version of the Hager-Below-Fernald income tax in committee earlier this year, leadership panicked and tabled the bill so many in the caucus would not be on record supporting what is apparently still not a palatable alternative to the vast majority of New Hampshire voters, Fernald's best efforts notwithstanding.

Instead, House Democrats are voting overwhelmingly for such things as a milk tax, a beverage container tax, a surcharge (tax increase) on registry of deed filings, and motor vehicle registration tax increases.

That was last year, but Wednesday we were handed another six-pack:  a gasoline tax increase, not even to fund road work mind you; a tavern fee 20 times what social clubs which now serve alcohol are assessed; a teen learners permit fee twice what it will cost to administer (which by some definitions makes it no longer a fee but in fact a tax); a particularly onerous tax on businesses for Hazmat clean ups when in fact we already have monies necessary to accomplish the mission; a $1000 fine with an 18 percent late payment penalty (from the very  Democrats who battled against usury in the private sector earlier this year) on telephone companies; and a heating oil tax increase.

Democrats came to the session armed with their marching orders, written instructions on how to vote on each and every bill.  They passed the first five bills and only failed on the heating oil bill by a five vote margin.  One can only pause to wonder whether these outrages will survive a trip to the Senate and the Governor's desk.
House Democrats are led by those who point with pride to how they defied tradition and passed an income tax by a 194-190 margin in 1999.  Almy, Finance Chair Marjorie Smith of Durham, and Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner of Concord were all on the Finance Committee back then.  Speaker Terie Norelli was championing the tax back then, and Democratic leader Peter Burling (now Senator Burling) was twisting arms to get it passed.  Rep Raymond Buckley, currently recruiting candidates as Democratic Party Chair, voted for the tax back then.

In fact, all but seven Democrats got in line to vote for it.  Of those seven, two are now dead; one has changed his mind and now supports the income tax; one has left politics; and one has changed parties.

Wake up, New Hampshire, it's later than you think.  To quote the late Celtic announcer Johnny Most, Lynch and Republican leaders are "fiddling and diddling", focus on reefers, while the state is about to burn.
 
 
A six term State Representative from Manchester, Steve Vaillancourt, who serves on the Ways and Means Committee, is the former Democrat who voted against the income tax in 1999

Union Leader:

Sunday, Mar. 16, 2008

Whatever money you have left after paying for gas, home heating oil and groceries, you'd better start saving right now. You're going to need it to pay your huge new tax bill.

On Thursday and Friday, Democrats in Congress voted to hike discretionary spending by $300 billion ($700 billion in total spending) in the next five years alone. They would pay for that by passing gigantic new tax increases for virtually all Americans.

The $3 trillion budget resolution passed in the Senate would require $1.2 trillion in tax increases, Sen. Judd Gregg, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Budget Committee, calculates. ($1.2 TRILLION!!) And not just on "the rich," either.

"(Barack) Obama and (Hillary) Clinton both promise to reverse Bush's tax cuts for wealthier taxpayers, but the Democratic budget they'll be voting for would allow income tax rates to go up on individuals making as little as $31,850 and couples earning $63,700 or more," The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

In the House, every single Democrat -- including New Hampshire Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes -- voted for a budget resolution that would officially raise taxes by $683 million, The Post reported. But this budget is a fantasy, too. It includes no Iraq war spending after next year. It will have to raise billions more than it anticipates.

Instead of cutting back, like most American families are doing, the Democratic majority in Washington is proposing to win election this fall by spending lavishly on key voter groups. And where are they getting the money? Straight from the pockets of Americans already struggling to make ends meet.

This is boilerplate New Deal liberalism. But the anti-wealthy rhetoric behind it does not match reality. The truth is, Hodes and Shea-Porter, Obama and Clinton all talk about raising taxes only on the rich, but they just voted to raise taxes on everyone from the rich to lower-middle class families struggling to survive. That means you.

So, you know that  "economic stimulus" check coming in the mail to you?  $1,600  a couple?  Can you do the math?


What starts out a perhaps a nice idea (frankly, the money should be going to those that can actually create jobs which would create more lasting benefit than a one shot), turns into a Democratic flim-flam as this is a net $400 back to the government.

Such a deal by these retrograde New Dealers!

From the Citizen: (Guinta and Bosse)

For not having officially announced his candidacy for governor in this coming November's election, Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta sure sounded like a candidate when he addressed the Belknap County Republicans at their monthly meeting at the Shang Hai restaurant in Laconia.

"It's great to see Republicans energized talking about the possibilities for 2008," said Guinta.

Guinta is in his second term as mayor and outlined his accomplishments, including lowering crime, curbing spending and maintaining an ability to work across party lines to get the job done.

Over the course of his address, Guinta covered several topics including keeping the New Hampshire advantage, parental notification and the 171⁄2 percent spending increase.

The mayor initiated the budget discussion by fielding a question on the property tax issue posed by John Downs, or JD the Barber as he is known in Laconia, who offered a proposal for a property tax cap.

"We don't have a revenue issue in this state, we have a spending problem," said Guinta, laying responsibility at the door of current Democratic governor, John Lynch.

He noted that he would support a property tax cap as he believes it would force whoever is in Concord to spend wisely and for things that are truly needed.

"We've already seen a small part of what the other party will do to this state," warned Guinta. "Someone has to step up."

Whether it will be Guinta who steps to the Republican plate for an at-bat as Governor is something that remains to be seen. When asked about that directly by Rep. Laurie Boyce, R-Alton, Guinta said he was looking at the possibility of running but had yet to make a formal decision.

Guinta also tackled the retirement system issue by saying that he would start by looking at other states and make sure the problem was not used as an excuse to implement a broad based tax system.

"Do you see solutions being brought to the problem, or excuses?" asked Guinta.

Another Republic candidate was present at the evening meeting.  Grant Bosse, who is running for the 2nd District congressional seat preceded Guinta by giving a brief address to county Republicans about his own campaign.

Bosse, who severed as a staff member for Sen. John E. Sununu, is one of four Republican candidates seeking the seat now filled by Paul Hodes.

"Congress is broken and I'd like to fix it," said Bosse, who advocated a return to the core of democracy concerning national defense and economic stability though responsible governmental spending, among other things.

On a personal note, Bosse attributed much of his success and coming to politics to the late House Minority Leader Michael Whalley. Like many Republicans from around the state, both Bosse and Guinta had attend Whalley's funeral last week.

Get ready for an extremely busy week in the House, with three sessions scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We will have a caucus at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday in Rooms 305-07 of the LOB. Caucuses on the other two days will be on an “as needed” basis. We will let you know with an announcement at the end of Tuesday’s session as to whether or not we will meet the following morning.



We will be asking you to support the majority report of ITL (7-3) on CACR28, a measure calling for a $100 per week allowance for all legislators. The fact is we all know what the salary was when deciding to run for the state legislature. We are here because we love our state, love serving our constituents and doing the business of the people. The voters are not going to support a pay increase for their representatives, especially in this economy, nor should they.



HB 1460, a bill out of Science, Technology & Energy, is legislation that would allow Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) to build generation facilities in the North Country—an effort that would result in lower rates and the creation of more jobs. This bill has everything to do with economic development in the State of New Hampshire by stimulating the economy in the north country. We had initially supported refer for interim study. However information received last week with regard to transmission issues makes this motion no longer viable. We ask you to support the bipartisan Thomas-Fargo floor amendment.



We are supporting the minority positions of Ought to Pass on two important bills out of Ways & Means.

On behalf of the entire Republican leadership team, I would like to thank those of you who attended our caucus last Thursday and gave us a unanimous vote of confidence to continue along the path set for us by Mike Whalley. The last two weeks have been extremely tough on us all and, while we all recognized the need to move on in the absence of our Republican Leader, we also realized quickly that we could not replace him as the leader of our caucus.

The decision to keep his seat vacant in his honor and memory, both in the House chamber and as our leader, was clearly the right thing to do. With just a few weeks remaining in the session, I am pleased that we all realized that this was not the time for an election that could not only prove divisive to our party but could have forced us to lose focus on the issues that were so important to Mike Whalley.

The dream and goal of Mike Whalley was to return us to the majority in the House and we need to remain unified in our efforts to accomplish that goal. Please remember that the door to the Republican office, as in the past, is always open and you can feel free to call upon our leadership team with any issue that is important to you.

We will be holding a Republican caucus on Tuesday morning at 9:00 A.M., prior to the session, and again on Wednesday and Thursday, if necessary. We will let you know if there is a need to caucus on those days. Again, we thank you for your support. Let us now unite and work to return the House to Republican leadership.—That is what Mike would want us to do.

-Dave

Does this look familiar?  Of course it does - same time, same place, but a different date:

Date:   3/12/08
Time:   5:30 pm Buffet
           6:30 pm Meeting

Place:   Shang Hai restaurant
             331 South Main Street
             Laconia, NH  03246

In addition to Mayor Guinta, Grant Bosse (who is running to wrest the seat held by Paul Hodes (D) in NH 2nd Congressional  District), will be at the meeting.  His website is here

We are saddened to report that Mike Whalley, Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and representing Belknap County from Alton, has passed away (as reported by WMUR).

Our prayers and deepest sympathies reach out to his family and friends.

He will be missed.  Godspeed.