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Author Archive | Miscellany Blue - New Hampshire Politics

Sorg: Immigrants want government to ‘give you stuff’

By on February 7, 2013 in

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After Latinos overwhelming voted for Pres. Obama, Republicans are bowing to political reality and embracing immigration reform.

Former state Rep. Gregory Sorg (R-Easton) didn’t get the memo. On NHPR’s The Exchange, he told host Brady Carlson that he is skeptical of achieving immigration reform under “a President who has said that the function of government is to make people’s lives better:”

If they come here with the idea in their head that they’re coming here to join a country and to become eventual voters under a system that is premised on the idea that the function of government is to give you stuff, then we’re headed for very bad trouble in this nation.

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Sabato rating: NH1 toss-up, NH2 leans Democratic

By on February 7, 2013 in

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In its debut House ratings for the 2014 cycle, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball identifies New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District as one of just seven toss-up races.

That’s an improvement for Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter. In ratings updated just before the 2012 election, editor Kyle Kondik handicapped the race as “Leans Republican” and wrote that he favored incumbent Frank Guinta to “hang on” against Shea-Porter.

Congresswoman Ann Kuster is also listed as one of the 69 House members who is, at least potentially, vulnerable. The state’s 2nd Congressional District is rated as “Leans Democratic.”

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NH House vote: Free State Project vs. Occupy

By on February 6, 2013 in

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Today the New Hampshire House rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have required a super-majority vote by both chambers of the legislature to raise taxes or fees.

CACR 1 was defeated by a 149-206 vote. The only Democrat voting in favor of the amendment was Free Stater Rep. Tim O’Flaherty. Rep. Tim Smith, a Manchester Democrat who identifies with the Occupy movement, spoke in opposition and called out “those who would seek to dismantle our government entirely:”

This bill is pure obstructionism. Nothing more, nothing less. When we go back to our districts and have constituents express frustration that the government can’t get anything done, this bill – that we are about to vote on – is a perfect example of what they are frustrated about.

Trying to make it even harder for government to do it’s job, and giving huge power to the minority party if they so seek to obstruct routine functions of the general court, is an absurd model.

We have no idea what the future holds for the Granite State. … Making it harder to fund the state only serves the interests of those who would seek to dismantle our government entirely….

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Quote of the day: Not looking good

By on February 6, 2013 in

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“It is not looking good for maintaining our right to self-defense, anywhere we have a right to be, here in NH. The proponents of HB 135 are making headway. The vote in the House Criminal Justice Committee is expected soon; we think the vote will be close, most likely OTP (ought-to-pass). … If HB 135 passes the House we are doubtful we can stop it in the Senate.”

— Free Stater Rep. Laura Jones (R-Rochester) on House Bill 135, which would repeal New Hampshire’s “stand your ground” legislation

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The breathtaking audacity of Jennifer Horn

By on February 5, 2013 in

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In a statement opposing Medicaid expansion, New Hampshire Republican Party chair Jennifer Horn declared “we should not abandon good NH programs like CHINS in deference to a federal mandate that will not even be funded.”

Horn, who has a record of rewriting history when it gets in the way of her ideological narrative, blithely ignores the fact that the Republican legislature slashed the CHINS budget to the bone in 2011.

Children in Need of Services (CHINS), which provides services to children with behavioral problems before they escalate to criminal conduct, was one of the most controversial cuts included in the 2012-2013 budget.

The O’Brien-led House proposed eliminating the program entirely before the Senate added back just enough money to handle the most severe cases. The program, which previously helped about 1,000 children a year, now serves only 50.

“In the new Legislature, where the Democrats control the House,” writes Ben Leubsdorf, “the CHINS program is getting a fresh look.”

Will Jennifer Horn support Democratic efforts to reinstate the CHINS budget? I’m not holding my breath.

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Petition asks NH chiefs of police to cancel gun raffle

By on February 4, 2013 in

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An online petition with nearly 3000 signatures asks the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police to cancel a controversial fundraising raffle. The month-long raffle is scheduled to kick off on May 1 with daily prizes of pistols, rifles and semi-automatic weapons.

The police chiefs are holding the Month of NH Made Firearms promotion to raise money for the New Hampshire Police Cadet Training Academy, a one week program of academics and physical training for teenagers and young adults who want to pursue a career in law enforcement.

The police chief president, Chief Paul T. Donovan, has refused to cancel the promotion but responded to criticism in an open letter acknowledging the “recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut” and extending “deepest sympathies to the families and first responders.”

“New Hampshire Chiefs of Police feel the issue with these tragic shootings are ones that are contrary to lawful and responsible gun ownership,” he wrote. “We believe in and support the Second Amendment, and encourage education in the area of firearms safety.” 

The petition, which will be delivered to Chief Donovan, asks the chiefs to “give up the gun giveaway and accept the offer of a buyback of all of the raffle tickets:”

The New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police have received an offer from a concerned citizen’s group to buy out the raffle, covering the price of all tickets sold, and a jeweler is willing to used the melted guns to create items to benefit victims of gun violence. Ask the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police to take the win/win/win option and save lives.

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Bills would dismantle state’s domestic violence laws

By on February 3, 2013 in

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Victim advocates say two bills being heard by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee are “direct attempts to dismantle New Hampshire’s domestic violence laws.”

Rep. Dan Itse (R-Fremont) is the prime sponsor of House Bill 502 and House Bill 503, which would limit the ability of law enforcement to arrest perpetrators of domestic violence. Garry Rayno has the story:

The state’s domestic violence laws are considered some of the best in the country by victim advocates, but as was the case last year, some lawmakers want to significantly change them.

“These bills are direct attempts to dismantle New Hampshire’s domestic violence laws,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, director of public policy for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “They would turn back the clock to the ’70s, when there was no protection for victims.”

She said HB 502 would change the state’s presumptive arrest policy so that an officer who saw a beaten victim could not arrest the suspected abuser on the spot.

She said HB 503 would take away law enforcement’s ability to arrest someone for violating a stalking or domestic violence protective order until the victim had filed a criminal complaint with the court.

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing for HB 502 and HB 503 on Tuesday, February 5, at 1:00 p.m.

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To think these few misguided souls are a threat is silly

By on February 3, 2013 in

A recent Union Leader editorial on the Free State Project declared, “To think that these few misguided souls are a grave threat to the State of New Hampshire is silly.”

After all, in a state of 1.3 million people, how could a thousand Free Staters make any progress towards realizing their goal of dismantling government? Read on.

The Union Leader has this report from yesterday’s town meeting in Weare:

Over the objections of Police Chief Gregory Begin and other residents, the proposed operating budget was reduced by $10,800 to $4,883,567, with $10,000 of that reduction coming out of the police department’s overtime budget. … Begin said the reduction in overtime could result in less coverage, but the reduction — made by amendment — was narrowly approved, 24-23.

A Free Stater who attended the meeting bragged on Facebook that he and three fellow Free Staters (who sometimes call themselves porcupines) made the difference:

The town police overtime budget was just cut by $10k by one vote. Glad I showed up. :-D

24-23, 4 porc votes

In related news, Free State Project president Carla Gericke has filed a 32-count lawsuit against the Weare Police Department alleging state and federal constitutional violations.

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Quote of the day: She will be very busy

By on February 1, 2013 in

I welcome this new Republican attitude of calling on elected officials to act in a respectful manner. I hope that Chair Horn will be as eager to call out Republicans for their bad behavior as she does with others. If so, she will be very busy issuing press releases reining in her legislators.

— Ray Buckley, New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, on Republican Party chair Horn’s faux outrage over a Democratic Representative’s retweet.

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