Concord – New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement on the Department of Justice ruling on Governor Hassan’s illegal campaign contribution scandal:

“Today’s ruling confirms that Governor Maggie Hassan broke the law by accepting an illegal campaign contribution from a special interest union PAC. Governor Hassan was caught red-handed trying to funnel tens of thousands of dollars in illegal donations into her campaign bank account, and her behavior raises serious ethical questions about her administration.

“Given the troubling implications of this scandal, Governor Hassan should immediately release her campaign finance reports in advance of the August 20^th filing deadline. The public has a right to know if the governor has accepted any other illegal donations that could improperly influence the gubernatorial campaign.

“The Department of Justice ruling has established a troubling loophole that allows elected officials like Governor Hassan to accept infinite amounts of money from special interests while in office. It appears that Governor Hassan is the only official who has attempted to exploit this questionable exception and allow the corrupting influence of unlimited special interest donations to poison her campaign.

“It will up to the next responsible Republican governor to close the ‘Hassan Special Interest Loophole’ and restore integrity to our campaign finance system.”

Have you ever heard the expression “taxation without representation is tyranny”?  Our Governor has not.  Governor Hassan twice approached the Rules Committee for authority to expand enforcement of the current property to short term leases.  Twice she received a chilly reception.  Her response was to announce that she didn’t need the Legislature’s authority to do it.  I realize that our President has made many statements in recent years about going around Congress via Executive Order, but despite his personal views, that is not how it works.  You are entitled to representation, and you are further entitled to have your Representatives vote on matters that affect you, and cost you money.  Please call Governor Hassan’s office and tell her that you will not stand for new taxes imposed on you, under the whim of just one person.   Read more at http://www.srmpac.org/republican-senators-call-governor-hassan-halt-unauthorized-tax-increase/

NHGOP EXPANDS AG COMPLAINT AFTER MORE ILLEGAL HASSAN DONATIONS EMERGE

More Illegal Union PAC Contributions Reveal Troubling Pattern

Concord – The New Hampshire Republican State Committee today filed a second complaint with New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster, asking him to expand his investigation of Governor Maggie Hassan’s campaign finances after more illegal contributions came to light. NH Journal and the Concord Monitor reported this morning that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Committee on Political Education and the United Food and Commercial (UFCW) Active Ballot Club PAC each gave Hassan $10,000 donations that exceeded contribution limits.

“It is now clear that Governor Hassan has repeatedly and intentionally ignored contribution limits and solicited limitless donations from special interest groups. The governor doesn’t think that she needs to follow the same rules that other candidates follow, and she has made a mockery out of New Hampshire’s campaign finance laws,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “Governor Hassan believes that it is acceptable for her to sit in the corner office in Concord and take unlimited amounts of money from special interest groups that have business before state government. This is a clear violation of the spirit and letter of New Hampshire’s finance laws.”

Below is the letter that the New Hampshire Republican State Committee sent to the New Hampshire Department of Justice today:

Attorney General Joseph Foster

New Hampshire Department of Justice

33 Capitol Street

Concord, NH 03301

Dear Attorney General Joseph Foster,

On behalf of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, I am writing to request that you expand your investigation into Governor Maggie Hassan’s illegal campaign fundraising scheme. According to media reports, in addition to the illegal $25,000 contribution that the governor accepted from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) PAC, the governor’s campaign also accepted two $10,000 contributions from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Committee on Political Education PAC (Exhibit A) and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Active Ballot Club PAC (Exhibit B). These donations far exceed the $5,000 pre-declaration of candidacy limit that has been established in previous Department of Justice opinions.

Documents filed with the Secretary of State’s office show that the SEIU Committee on Political Education PAC and the UFCW Active Ballot Club PAC both donated $10,000 to “Friends of Maggie Hassan” on June 12, 2014. This is the same day that the IBEW PAC donated $25,000 to “Friends of Maggie Hassan” and the same day that Governor Hassan officially filed her candidacy for re-election. Like the IBEW PAC, the SEIU Committee on Political Education and the UFCW Active Ballot Club PAC failed to follow New Hampshire law by disclosing any of their itemized receipts. The source of their funding is a mystery.

Further, Governor Hassan’s campaign has stated in response to our previous letter that she is not required to adhere to any campaign finance limits in her pre-declaration of candidacy stage. Her interpretation clearly undermines the spirit and letter of New Hampshire law and directly contradicts the opinion provided by the Department of Justice and currently posted on the Secretary of State’s website. This opinion, which provides guidance to all candidates running for state office, clearly states that candidate committees are limited to $5,000 donations before they declare their candidacy.

As Governor Hassan stated in her June 12, 2014 letter to Secretary Gardner “Friends of Maggie Hassan” was a candidate committee before and after its name was changed to “Maggie 14.” (Exhibit C) Before its name change, “Friends of Maggie Hassan” served as a candidate committee making direct expenditures to support Governor Hassan’s reelection campaign by paying for political expenses and a staff that included a re-election campaign manager who was named on April 11, 2014.

It is clear that Governor Hassan has operated a political fundraising operation for her re-election campaign that has not followed any of the contribution limits that are required by New Hampshire law. She has refused to follow the rules that have been laid out for every other state candidate by opinions released by the Department of Justice. In her view, she is allowed to sit in the corner office in Concord and take unlimited amounts of money from the special interest groups that have business before state government.

Given the fact that Governor Hassan’s re-election campaign is currently in possession of illegal campaign contributions that could improperly influence the upcoming elections, I ask that you please complete your review in an expedited manner. I also ask that you please investigate why the union affiliated PACs mentioned in this complaint have not disclosed their itemized receipts as required by law.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Horn

Chairman

New Hampshire Republican State Committee

SHAHEEN TRIES TO HIDE SUPPORT FOR GAS TAX HIKE

CONCORD – One month after clearly stating her support for an increase in the federal gas tax, Senator Jeanne Shaheen is now trying to conceal her support for the disastrous tax hike.

On June 8^th, 2014, Senator Shaheen met with transportation officials in Portsmouth and said she would support a gas tax hike according to the Portsmouth Herald. Portsmouth Herald columnist Douglas Rooks even congratulated Shaheen on supporting the unpopular tax hike.

“The idea of a gas tax increase has even won support from such cautious lawmakers as Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who’s advocating an immediate increase for bridge projects,” wrote Rooks.

Facing a difficult reelection campaign, Shaheen is trying to shift her position and hide her support for a gas tax hike. The Concord Monitor reports that the Shaheen campaign is dishonestly trying to claim she opposes a gas tax increase while refusing to deny the accuracy of the Portsmouth Herald story on her support for it.

“Senator Jeanne Shaheen clearly announced her support for a burdensome federal gas tax increase that will hurt working families and damage small businesses. In the wake of Governor Maggie Hassan’s disastrous state gas tax increase, Senator Shaheen is trying to walk back her comments and hide her obvious support for more taxes,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “Fortunately, Granite Staters are able to see through her dishonest election year stunt and realize that a vote for Jeanne Shaheen is a vote for higher taxes.”

Shaheen has been a longtime advocate of a gas tax hike. According the Union Leader, Shaheen supported an increase in New Hampshire’s gas tax as a state senator in 1995.

Shaheen also a history of hiding her position on tax increases during election years. As a state senator she was open to a broad-based tax. As a candidate for governor, she took The Pledge against a sales or income tax, then broke her word and proposed a disastrous sales tax.

“When it comes to taxes, Jeanne Shaheen is a proven liar. She is willing to do and say anything to get elected, break her word, and then saddle working families with higher taxes once in office,” said Horn. “Jeanne Shaheen has proved that she is a two-faced Washington politician who cannot be trusted to hold the line on taxes.”

BACKGROUND:

In June 2014, Shaheen Suggested Raising The Federal Gas Tax As A Solution To Funding For Infrastructure Investment: “Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., told a group of East Coast transportation officials that the United States is woefully behind other nations in adequately funding infrastructure, and it has to make a commitment to catch up. … Shaheen said she believes the solution is going to involve ‘a whole variety’ of moves, including raising the gas tax, which hasn’t been increased since 1993, asking states to pay more of the burden and turning to the private sector for support.”(Deborah McDermott, “Sen. Shaheen Calls For Investment In Infrastructure,” Portsmouth Herald, 6/9/14)

The Shaheen Campaign Won’t Deny The Accuracy Of The Portsmouth Herald Story On Her Support For A Gas Tax Hike: “The campaign could not confirm or deny whether the Herald article, which did not quote Shaheen directly, accurately portrayed her comments. The Herald reporter who wrote the article could not be reached for comment, but there is no correction accompanying the story.” (Kathleen Ronayne, Campaigns use gas tax increase as latest talking point, Concord Monitor, 7/6/14)

As A State Senator, Jeanne Shaheen Supported Raising The State Gas Tax: “Co-sponsor Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-Madbury, who has participated in four previous bills studying the turnpikes, said many motorists ”want to know why they pay a toll to use a highway in their area when motorists elsewhere in the state do not.” She wants the state to look at raising the gas tax to ease the burden on those who use toll roads.” (Donn Tibbetts, “Additional NH Toll Road Study Could Examine Gasoline Tax,” Union Leader, 1/26/95)

FACING PRESSURE AND MEDIA SCRUTINY, SHAHEEN AMENDS DISCLOSURE FORM

BACKGROUND:

On November 16, 2009, Billy Shaheen Purchased Stock Options In Ultrawave Labs. (Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, 2009 Financial Disclosure Report, 5/13/13)

The Campaign Claims The Stock Options Have Expired. “The campaign said that they recently learned that Shaheen’s stock options have since expired, so he did not wind up profiting from the transaction. The campaign would not disclose when the stock options expired.” (Noah Bierman and Todd Wallace, “Similarity In Shaheen Cause, Family Interests,” Boston Globe, 6/24/14)

But Shaheen’s Most Recent Personal Financial Disclosure States The Stock Options Expire September 1, 2019. (Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, 2013 Financial Disclosure Report, 5/15/14)

If you go to the local candidates page (menu above), you’ll find the wealth of candidates that have volunteered this year.  We are fortunate to have so many dedicated Republicans willing to step and serve the public.  All House seats have candidates, three people are running for Sheriff, three for Register of Deeds, and we have people running for County Commissioner, County Treasurer, Register of Probate, and County Attorney.