Why I Am Running

Our country, our state, all of us can be SO much better than we are now. We should all have our choice of doctor and hospital – not just the ones that ObamaCare allows. Median family income should be rising – not falling for five straight years. More people should have good jobs – not fewer people than seven long years ago.

Armies of politicians and bureaucrats can’t fix what they themselves broke – but you and I can, we the American people can.

Our country has not failed. It is our government that has failed. Washington does not know what is best for NH. Concord does not know what is best for each family.

Do I have all the answers? Of course not, nobody does. But that’s the point. No group of people in Concord or Washington has all the answers. Our strength is not in our government; it is in our people.

It was not government that made the United States the greatest country on earth. It was the freedom for ordinary people to do extraordinary things that made us great. People such as the Wright brothers, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs created entire industries that employed tens of millions of people.

We CAN fix our problems. The first step is simply to recognize that there is a problem. NH Democratic leadership seems oblivious to any problems with ObamaCare, jobs, and the economy. NH Republicans know that there are problems and that we can start to solve those problems.

Last week, I signed up to run for State Rep. I am running because I want to be part of the solution. I am running because I want to help get us on the right course. I am running because I care about the middle class being able to live the American Dream, and I care about poor people escaping poverty, not being trapped there by bad policies.

If elected, my focus will be in two areas: 1) Letting you choose the health insurance that you want, not having politicians take your choice away; 2) Creating an economic environment that encourages businesses to grow and hire more people.

I think that you know what is best for you; the other side thinks that politicians know what is best for you. I think that you should have the right to buy the health insurance you want; the other side will let you buy only what they want.

I agree with the late Sen. Tsongas that “You cannot redistribute wealth that you never created. You cannot be pro-jobs and anti-business at the same time. You cannot love employment and hate employers.” The other side seems to have disowned their former Presidential contender, and appears to be anti-business and to hate employers.

We CAN have a growing economy with more good jobs. We have a clear path in the form of our neighbor to the North. In recent years Canada has passed the U.S. in terms of median family income. They did it by adopting conservative, free-market principles.

Economic freedom leads not only to greater prosperity, but also to better health and longer lives, cleaner environments, and reduction in poverty. Canada has increased its freedom score by more than 10 points over the last 20 years.

In recent years the phrase, “new normal”, has come into use to describe our economy. For example, “Low economic growth is the new normal”, “The new normal may be a state of mild depression”, “More jobless Americans: The new normal?” Polls consistently show by wide margins that people think our best days are behind us, that the next generation will be worse off.

To this gloom and doom, I say Hogwash! The American people cannot be kept down. I wish I had the ability to express how optimistic I am about the coming years for our state and our country, but let me repeat the words of a far better man. (If you wonder who it was, that is a homework assignment.)

“We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope.”

“The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others were called upon to make. It does require, however, our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together, with God’s help, we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.

“And, after all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans.”

The Honorable Spec Bowers – Sunapee

Concord – The New Hampshire Republican State Committee today released a new web ad that takes direct aim at two of Senator Shaheen’s job-killing policies: cap and trade and a new national energy tax. Shaheen filed to run for a second term today at the state house.

In 2009, Senator Shaheen indicated her support for cap and trade, and in 2013 she voted for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s amendment that would institute a new national energy tax. Whitehouse, who has called it his “mission” to pass a carbon tax in the next Congress, recently campaigned for Shaheen in New Hampshire.  Shaheen’s struggling

… not as I do, apparently.  Governor Hassan has wisely frozen discretionary state spending as a reaction to lower than expected revenue numbers.  These measures include a freeze on out of state travel.  The nation of Turkey is out of state… so why is she exempting herself from her rule?   We fought a war a long time ago over a monarch who created rules for us, his subjects, while living better than us off of our labor.  Tell Governor Hassan we want a leader, who leads by example, not a Queen.

SHAHEEN ACCEPTS ENDORSEMENT FROM FELLOW ENERGY TAX ADVOCATE

Shaheen And King Both Outspoken Advocates of Cap-and-Trade

Concord – The New Hampshire Republican State Committee released the following statement today on Senator Jeanne Shaheen accepting the endorsement of fellow cap-and-trade advocate Senator Angus King:

“Its not surprising that Senator Shaheen is being endorsed by a fellow supporter of President Obama’s disastrous energy tax that will hurt New Hampshire families and small businesses. The Obama-Shaheen energy tax could kill as many as 10,000 jobs in the Granite State, increase the price of gas by 20 cents per gallon and raise the cost of electricity for New Hampshire families by 18 percent,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “Senators Shaheen and King’s unreasonable support of this harmful energy tax reminds Granite Staters that we need to change course by electing a responsible Republican senator in November.”

BACKGROUND:

Shaheen Voted In Favor Of Establishing A Tax On Carbon

Shaheen Voted In Favor Of Establishing A New Tax On Carbon. “Whitehouse, D-R.I., amendment no. 646 that would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow for legislation that would provide for a fee on carbon pollution and use revenues collected to reduce the deficit.” (S. Con. Res. 8, CQ Vote #58: Rejected 41-58: R 0-45; D 39-13; I 2-0, 3/22/13, Shaheen VotedYea)

In 2008, Senator King Campaigned For Obama’s Energy Plan

In 2008, King Said Obama Would “Put America On The Path To Energy Independence.” “Independent Angus King, who served two terms ending in 2003, endorsed Obama on Friday. King, who is in the wind power business,said Obama would ‘put America on the path to energy independence and provide immediate relief for families hard hit by the high cost of gas and home heating oil.’” (“Former Gov. King, Others Endorse Obama Candidacy,” Bangor Daily News, 9/13/08)

King Spoke “On Behalf Of . . . Barack Obama’s Energy Plan.” “More than 50 people showed up at the Lewiston Multi-Purpose Center on Wednesday night to hear popular former Gov. Angus King, an Independent, speak on behalf of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s energy plan.” (“King Pitches Obama’s Energy Plan, [Lewiston, ME] Sun Journal, 9/27/08)

Obama Included A Cap-And-Trade System In His 2008 Energy Plan

Obama Said “Under My Plan Of A Cap-And-Trade System, Electricity Rates Would Necessarily Skyrocket,” Adding That Coal-Powered Plants And Other Plants Would “Have To Retrofit Their Operations. That Will Cost Money. They Will Pass That Money On To Consumers.” (“Pence Claims That Obama Said Energy Costs Will Skyrocket With A Cap-And-Trade Plan,” PolitiFact, 6/11/09)

A Carbon Tax Would Increase The Price Of Energy An Kill New Hampshire Jobs

A Carbon Tax Could Kill As Many As 10,000 Jobs In New Hampshire. “This tax would deal a blow to employment in New Hampshire, with a loss of worker income equivalent to 7,000 to 10,000 jobs in 2013 and 10,000 by 2023.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, “Adverse Economic Impacts Of A Carbon Tax In New Hampshire,” www.nam.org, Accessed 5/28/13)

A Carbon Tax Could Increase The Price Of Gas In New Hampshire By More Than 20Cents Per Gallon. “Prices at the pump would jump by more than 20 cents a gallon in 2013.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, “Adverse Economic Impacts Of A Carbon Tax In New Hampshire,” www.nam.org, Accessed 5/28/13)

A Carbon Tax Could Increase The Cost Of Electricity For New Hampshire Families By 18 Percent. “Households in New Hampshire would see a significant increase in their electricity rates, with an average increase of 18 percent in 2013.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, “Adverse Economic Impacts Of A Carbon Tax In New Hampshire,” www.nam.org, Accessed 5/28/13)

A Carbon Tax Could Increase The Cost Of Natural Gas By More Than 40 Percent. “The cost of using natural gas would increase by more than 40 percent in 2013, the first year of the carbon tax study, adding to household energy bills and increasing operation costs for many New Hampshire businesses.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, “Adverse Economic Impacts Of A Carbon Tax In New Hampshire,” www.nam.org, Accessed 5/28/13)

NHGOP STATEMENT ON HASSAN SPENDING HYPOCRISY

Concord – New Hampshire State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn today released the following statement on Governor Hassan’s Executive Order directing a freeze in generally funded hiring, equipment, purchasing and out-of-state travel:

“Today, Governor Maggie Hassan demonstrated once again that she is incapable of effectively managing state government. During her first six months in office, Governor Hassan ignored the hiring freeze imposed by Governor Lynch, and granted every single hiring waiver that was requested of her, 187 in total.  Today’s decision to issue a new hiring freeze is the height of hypocrisy and a desperate political stunt designed to distract from her reckless management of state finances.  Her grossly ineffective record as Governor is evident, and New Hampshire residents look forward to replacing her with a fiscally responsible Republican this fall.”

Background

Governor Hassan Ignored the Spending Precedent Set by Governor John Lynch

“A hiring freeze put in place five years ago by Governor John Lynch is doing little to prevent state agencies from filling their vacant positions, as the Governor’s Office has issued 436 waivers so far this Fiscal Year. Governor Maggie Hassan has not denied a single request to waive the hiring freeze in her first six months in office. (New Hampshire Watchdog.org, 6/13/2013)