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This afternoon I attended a meet and greet with Representative Hodes at Apotheca, a wonderful cafe in Goffstown.
We arrived just after 3pm, Paul was already there talking to people. There was a great selection of tea and coffee, hot and iced, as well as pastries and sandwiches.
We repaired to a room in the back that had some chairs, a couch and paintings by local artists for sale displayed on the wall.
The event was hosted by the Goffstown and Weare Democratic Committees, chaired by Tim McKernan and Derek Winsor, respectively. Hillsborough County Democratic Chair Roger Lessard attended. Goffstown State Representative Kevin Hodges was there, as was Manchester Alderman Patrick Arnold.
Representative Hodes opened with brief remarks about his recent jobs tour through the state. He also emphasized the importance of the upcoming election in November. He said it is a struggle for the soul of our nation. This will be a watershed election, more so than 2008's change election and 2006's "blue wave" through New Hampshire. If we want to keep the change we worked for in those elections, we're going to have to work harder for it this time.
Rep. Hodes pointed out that he is pro-choice. Seeming GOP front-runner Kelly Ayotte is decidedly not. New Hampshire is a majority pro-choice state.
There was a question and answer period, where Rep. Hodes fielded questions about green energy and technology, health insurance reform, jobs, and foreclosures, among other things. I liked how he connected many of these issues. They do not exist in a vacuum, after all. Making it easier for small businesses to provide access to health insurance allows them to compete for qualified workers who may be staying at their jobs solely because of the health plan. Also, other potential entrepreneurs could start new businesses themselves knowing they would have access to health insurance at better rates. Making the US more energy efficient and supporting new technologies in this area also helps create jobs.
I asked him about the US Senate itself, which television host Rachel Maddow has referred to as "Dysfunction Junction". Rep. Hodes said there are some proposals in the works. One is to to require 35 signatories to a filibuster. Another would be to require an actual filibuster, rather than just the threat of one. If people could see this at work (and those threatening had to do the work), it would most likely cut down on the threats. The filibuster has been overused and abused since the Republicans have been in the minority.
It was a great event in pleasant surroundings. The smell of roasted coffee and baked goods wafted through the air. At one point Paul remarked it was the best smelling place he'd been to during his recent travels.
For more information about the campaign, go to the Paul Hodes for Senate website.
