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Buckley Says Republican Governors Association is Once Again Violating New Hampshire Law;
Asks AG to Determine Whether False Acts on Gov. Lynch Constitute Illegal Push Poll
CONCORD - New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley today asked the Attorney General to investigate a potential push poll being conducted illegally by the Republican Governors Association.
"The Attorney General should immediately investigate and halt the illegal activities of the Republican Governors Association. This is not the first time this Washington-based group has come into New Hampshire to conduct its brand of gutter politics in an attempt to smear John Lynch," Buckley said. "The Republican Governors Association - and the candidates it is supporting
here in New Hampshire - needs to learn to respect New Hampshire voters and follow New Hampshire laws."
The Union Leader reported today that voters in New Hampshire are receiving a potential push poll, conducted by the Republican Governors Association. The Republican Governors Association is not registered as a political action committee in New Hampshire, and therefore is not legally allowed to conduct any political activities - including polls - within the state.
New Hampshire RSA 664:3 clearly states in part "Any political committee, except the political committee of a political party, shall register with the secretary of state as provided in this section. The committee shall register with the secretary of state not later than 24 hours after receiving any contribution in excess of $500 or before making any expenditure in excess of
$500."
The Republican Governors Association has a pattern of violating New Hampshire's campaign law. In 2004, the RGA also ignored state laws requiring it to register with the Secretary of State's office, and registered as a PAC only after the Attorney General's Office issued a cease-and-desist order and a court issued an injunction against its illegal, negative ads.
At the time, the Republican Governors Association cynically argued that its activities were "issue" oriented, claiming as a result they were exempted them from New Hampshire law. In his letter, Buckley wrote, "Since, according to the Union Leader, this poll specifically attacks Gov. Lynch and asks whether it makes someone 'more or less likely to vote for Gov. Lynch,' the RGA obviously cannot claim that this activity is 'issue' oriented."
"The Republican Governors' Association has an established pattern of blatantly and knowingly ignoring and violating New Hampshire's election laws," Buckley wrote in his letter to the Attorney General. "Given the Republican Governors Association's pattern of ignoring New Hampshire
election laws - indeed its obvious disdain for New Hampshire laws - it is clear that vigorous legal action is necessary. I urge you to fully investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."
Buckley also called on Republican Party Chair Fergus Cullen, and potential Republican gubernatorial candidates Frank Guinta and Joe Kenney to act to halt the illegal activity.
"The Republican Governors Association is clearly doing this on behalf of the New Hampshire Republican Party and its potential gubernatorial candidates. The Union Leader reported today that Frank Guinta was down meeting with the Republican Governors Association not long ago. Is this the kind of help he asked for?" Buckley said. "Fergus Cullen, Frank Guinta and Joe Kenney need to step up and tell their friends to stop breaking New Hampshire law."
Buckley also asked the Attorney General to determine whether the poll was an illegal push poll, designed only to plant misleading and negative information with voters, rather than for legitimate research purposes. For example, according to the Union Leader account, the poll makes the patently false accusation that Gov. Lynch reduced law enforcement funding, when he has actually increased the number of state troopers at the Department of Safety.
Under RSA 664:16-a, anyone conducting a push poll is required - without being asked - to disclose who is conducting the push poll, provide a telephone number, and inform the voter that the call is being made on behalf of, in support of, or in opposition to a particular candidate for public office.
"From the Union Leader account, it appears those parts of the law may also have been violated," Buckley said. "Because of the false, negative attacks and the Republican Governors Association failure to follow the law and tell voters what it was doing, I am asking the Attorney General to determine whether this is an illegal push poll."
"I applaud your vigor in investigating the potential push poll during the Republican presidential primary. I ask you to bring that same vigor to this investigation," Buckley wrote in his letter to the Attorney General.
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