NHGOP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTING GOVERNOR HASSAN’S SUPPORT FOR INCOME TAX & BUDGET-BUSTING SPENDING HABITS 

Concord – Today, the New Hampshire Republican State Committee launched robocalls and a web campaign regarding Governor Hassan’s reckless mismanagement of the New Hampshire budget and highlighting her past support for a disastrous income tax:

“Governor Hassan has completely failed to properly manage the New Hampshire state budget,” said New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn. “She clearly cannot get her own administration’s spending under control and it’s clear that new taxes will be the only option given her recklessness. With Governor Hassan’s past support for an income tax, New Hampshire’s middle class should be gravely concerned about what’s in store for a second Hassan term. It’s time to replace Maggie Hassan with Walt Havenstein, a responsible Republican who understands how to balance a budget, create jobs and grow our state’s economy – and will never support an income tax.”

The transcript of the robocall is below:

“Hi, this is Emily. Even though New Hampshire is facing a budget shortfall, Governor Hassan’s administration has requested an 18 percent spending increase for the next fiscal year. There’s no way to meet Hassan’s demands with existing revenues, and the only solution will be to raise taxes. Given her history of repeated support for an income tax in our state, it’s clear that she will need an income tax to pay for her lavish spending. Keep New Hampshire income tax free by calling Governor Hassan at 271-2121 to say that the spending must stop! Paid for by the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, Robert Scott, Treasurer.”

BACKGROUND

Hassan refused to support a State Constitutional Amendment to ban an income tax. “National taxpayer groups are being invited to join New Hampshire’s debate over a proposed state constitutional ban of an income tax… Hassan is opposed.”(John Toole, “NH Debate On Income Tax Heats Up,” The Eagle-Tribune, 9/23/12)

“She also opposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit an income tax In New Hampshire.”(Sarah Brubeck, “Health Care Key Issue For N.H. Gov. Candidate Hassan,” Valley News, 10/20/12)

Hassan admits that there are circumstances under which she would support an income tax.“”I would only support an income tax if it repeals the statewide property tax” (Lara Bricker, “Hassan takes issue with mailers,” Portsmouth Herald, 11/1/02)

NH DOJ: UNION PAC BACKING HASSAN VIOLATED STATE LAW

Concord – The New Hampshire Department of Justice today announced that the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union PAC (Local Union 131 Volunteer PAC) violated State laws by refusing to report donations made to Governor Hassan’s political campaign. The ruling comes in response to a complaint filed by the New Hampshire Republican State Committee on August 6, 2014.

“The Attorney General’s Office has completed its review of the complaint, and we conclude that the LU 131 Committee has violated state law,” wrote Associate Attorney General Richard Head in a letter sent to Local Union 131 Volunteer PAC Chairman David Pelletier.

“Today’s ruling confirms that Governor Maggie Hassan’s union allies broke the law by refusing to report tens of thousands of dollars in tainted donations to her campaign. Governor Hassan has already been caught red-handed accepting $33,000 in illegal contributions from other Big Labor PACs, and her behavior raises serious ethical questions about her administration,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “The dark ethical cloud hanging over the Hassan Administration has undermined public confidence in state government and called Governor Hassan’s integrity into question. Given the troubling implications of this scandal, Governor Hassan should immediately donate the $41,000 in tainted contributions she has accepted from the Local Union 131 Volunteer PAC to charity.”

Over the summer, Governor Hassan was forced to return $33,000 dollars in illegal campaign contributions from union PACs. The governor still has $41,000 in donations – a $25,000 contribution made in 2012, a $15,000 contribution made in 2013 and a $1,000 contribution made in 2014 – from the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union PAC in her bank account.

Walmart Stores, the world’s largest retailer and the nation’s largest private employer, said on Tuesday that it would terminate health insurance coverage for about 30,000 part-time workers, joining a string of retailers that have rolled back benefits in response to the Affordable Care Act.

Starting on Jan. 1, Walmart will no longer offer insurance to employees working less than an average of 30 hours a week, a move the retailer said was in response to an unexpected rise in health care costs.

Read more at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/business/30000-lose-health-care-coverage-at-walmart.html?_r=1

Concord – The New Hampshire Republican State Committee sent the following Right to Know request to Governor Maggie Hassan today regarding her potential knowledge about the electric utility crisis facing New Hampshire this winter.

The Honorable Maggie Hassan

Governor of New Hampshire

State House

107 North Main Street

Concord, New Hampshire 03301

Dear Governor Hassan,

This is a request under the New Hampshire Right To Know Law (RSA 91-A.)

I formally request that you provide me with all records containing any and all communication between your office, Office of Energy and Planning and the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regarding the approved winter rate hikes requested by Liberty Utilities, Unitil Corporation and the New Hampshire Electric Co-Op. This includes any written or electronic communications from you and your staff and New Hampshire Public Utilities Commissioners Ignatius, Scott and Honigberg, their staff and their legal counsel.

In the past, you have asserted that New Hampshire’s Right to Know Law does not apply to you as governor. Our attorneys can find no such exemption in the law. Should you decline to provide any requested communications, please provide the specific provision under RSA 91-A that exempts such public records from the Right to Know Law.

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, the New Hampshire PUC “approved a 99 percent winter rate hike requested by Liberty Utilities.” Further, the New Hampshire Electric Co-op has stated that “its power rates will rise 29 percent, and Unitil [Corporation] says it will go up 84 percent.”

News media outlets across New England have reported on the serious hardship to be faced by New Hampshire residents in the coming winter season.  Already, the PUC has received numerous complaints and requests for assistance, according to PUC Consumer Affairs Division Director Amanda Noonan. In a recentarticle by the Concord Monitor, Noonan said, “People are concerned about how they are going to manage this and whether they have any options.  It’s a huge increase for them.” In addition, the PUC expects that “higher electric rates will take a toll on the state’s low income residents,” according to Shannon Nolin, who oversees the Community Action Agency’s Electric Assistance Program.

New Hampshire communities and businesses are bracing themselves for the coming energy crisis. For example, the Concord YMCA anticipates that it will have to pay 50 percent more for electricity this winter, forcing this non-profit organization to seek new revenue streams in order to maintain programs vital to the community,according to the Concord Monitor.

Further, there are growing fears that New Hampshire and all of New England could face rolling blackouts this winter,according to ISO New England. It goes without saying that this is an unthinkable disaster, and many lives will be in very serious danger should the predicted blackouts occur.

It’s abundantly clear that New Hampshire is on the brink of an across the board energy crisis this winter. Working class families, already struggling to make ends meet as a result of the gas tax hike you signed into law earlier this year, will be forced to make a choice between safely heating their homes and putting food on their table. This is a very perilous choice for New Hampshire families to make, considering that the Farmer’s Almanacpredicts this winter to be “another article blast with above-normal snowfall.”

To date, you have yet to make public statements regarding the forthcoming utility cost crisis this winter. At the annual New Hampshire energy summit, you were given the opportunity to prepare Granite State residents for the upcoming energy crisis, and you chose to ignore the problem, saying that “it’s helpful to think of energy efficiency as a source of energy itself.” These comments do nothing to address the crisis faced by New Hampshire families and businesses, and serve as an incredible insult to Granite Staters who will be in danger during the upcoming winter season.

As such, I respectfully submit that you release all communications regarding the electricity rate hikes approved by the PUC, and any rate hikes that are pending before the PUC and have yet to become public domain. Granite State residents have the right to know whether you were aware of the forthcoming energy crisis, did nothing about it and deflected questions regarding it, or if you were simply asleep at the wheel on this issue. Either way, New Hampshire residents deserve better than a governor who will leave them out in the cold.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Horn

Chairman, New Hampshire Republican State Committee

NHGOP STATEMENT ON HILLARY CLINTON PROPPING UP SHAHEEN’S FLAILING CAMPAIGN

Concord – New Hampshire Republican State Committee spokesman Lauren Zelt today issued the following statement regarding the news that Hillary Clinton will campaign with Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire:

“Hillary Clinton still owes the Shaheens a political favor for their efforts to smear Barack Obama as a drug dealer during the 2008 New Hampshire Primary. It’s obvious that Secretary Clinton’s effort to prop up Senator Shaheen’s flailing campaign is an effort to repay her and her husband for their role in this sordid chapter in New Hampshire political history.”

As reported by the Washington Post, Jeanne Shaheen’s husband, Bill Shaheen, called Barack Obama a drug dealer while serving as Hillary Clinton’s 2008 New Hampshire campaign co-chairman during the 2008 New Hampshire Primary. Mr. Shaheen was forced to resign and issue an apology following the incident.

BACKGROUND

“Sen. Hillary Clinton today accepted the resignation of her New Hampshire campaign co-chair a day after he suggested that Barack Obama’s candor about his past drug use would open the door to Republican attacks.” (Alec MacGillis, Clinton N.H. Official Resigns After Comments on Obama, Washington Post, 12/13/2007)