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Did Executive Councilor Dan St. Hilaire sacrifice the health of 16,000 New Hampshire residents for personal political ambition? Tony Schinella reports on the political calculations behind St. Hilaire's vote to reject the Planned Parenthood contract that would have provided health care services in the state.
The political rumor mill began spinning about a St. Hilaire gubernatorial run in 2012 not long after he voted to defund Planned Parenthood in June of this year. Up until that vote, he was not considered a serious potential statewide candidate since he drew a lot of his support from liberal-to-moderate Republicans and might not survive a primary, where voters tend to be more conservative. ...
Earlier this year, some conservative leaders wondered openly about the swerve to the right with the defund vote, thinking that St. Hilaire might be considering a potential bid for governor in 2012.
In an interview with the Concord Monitor, St. Hilaire confirmed he is, in fact, considering a gubernatorial run.
"I'm at the stage of deciding whether I should be jumping into the race or not," St. Hilaire said.
When the Executive Council refused to renew a contract with Planned Parenthood to provide family planning services for low-income New Hampshire families, the Department of Health and Human Services stepped in and awarded a replacement grant.
Councilors Raymond Wieczorek and David Wheeler, who voted to reject the Planned Parenthood contract, expressed outrage over the federal government's "heavy hand" and arrogance in overriding the Council's position. The Valley News takes them to task:
Let's talk about arrogance. Three councilors voted to deny a respected nonprofit the grant money on which it relies to provide free and subsidized health services, including contraception, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
By opposing not only the state contract with Planned Parenthood but also the federal role in providing assistance for family planning, the executive councilors betray their real intent. They seek to prevent women from having abortions, and they are trying to hobble one of the country's leading abortion providers. ...
Executive councilors ... think they know what's best for women, whose legal right to an abortion is being threatened all over the country.
When the Executive Council voted not to renew the state's contract with Planned Parenthood to provide Title X family planning services, 16,000 New Hampshire residents were left without health care services ranging from birth control to cancer exams.
Last week, the federal Department of Health and Human Services stepped in to protect the health of Granite State families by awarding a replacement grant to Planned Parenthood citing the "urgent need."
Title X family planning services have not been provided in the areas of the state previously served by PPNNE since the contract between NHDHHS and PPNNE ended on June 30, 2011. There is an urgent need to reinstate services with an experienced provider that is familiar with the provision of Title X family planning services and applicable laws, regulations and administrative requirements, and has a history of successfully providing services in these areas of the state.
Councilor Dan St. Hilaire, one of the three councilors voting against renewing the contract, said he opposed the contract because Planned Parenthood also provides abortion services -- despite knowing that Federal law prevents family planning money from being used for abortions.
“Actually funding an agency that performs the actual event is something that I would object to, and I have objected to. That’s what I voted against it.”
St. Hilaire was silent on where the 16,000 Granite Staters would now turn for vital health care services including cervical cancer screenings, breast exams and sexually transmitted infections. Following the Executive Council's dereliction of duty, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen stepped in and asked Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to consider a direct federal contract. Shaheen applauded the federal government's action.
“Women in every part of the state deserve access to affordable reproductive health services, and Planned Parenthood is a critical provider of those services in our state,” Shaheen said. “These clinics also provide vital preventive care, such as screenings for breast and cervical cancer. In some parts of New Hampshire, Planned Parenthood is the only provider of these preventive services to low-income women. I am glad the federal government has stepped up to provide this new contract, so that women in every part of New Hampshire will have somewhere to turn for basic health issues."
(Taking back the EC needs to be one of our goals in 2012. It would be great to have someone like Colin running to serve in this important group. - promoted by Mike Hoefer)
My Executive Councilor is Dan St. Hilaire.
You may remember that because St. Hilaire personally disagrees with federal law, he cast a deciding vote that resulted in thousands of New Hampshire women losing their access to cancer screenings. Moreover, he could likely cost the state untold dollars in an unsuccessful legal battle.
It's this kind of ideological blindness to common sense and the health of our citizenry that has me waiting patiently for 2012. But by the same token, what other statewide office has a smaller public presence than the Executive Council? Along with the public learning what Dan St. Hilaire did to them, they also need to know where on the ballot they remove him from office.
That's why I'm so pleased to see this in the Monitor:
St. Hilaire challenger?
Voters frustrated with Republican Executive Councilor Dan St. Hilaire's recent vote against a Planned Parenthood contract are hoping to find a Democratic challenger to run against him next fall. Among those considering it: Colin Van Ostern.
Van Ostern is a business manager at Stonyfield Farm. He has an MBA and previously worked as associate director of public relations at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. Capital Beat readers will likely be most familiar with Van Ostern's role in the 2010 election: campaign manager for congressional candidate Ann McLane Kuster.
"I've heard from many friends and neighbors who are concerned that the Executive Council's hard-right policies are hurting our community - and yes, some local leaders have encouraged me to run in order to bring some balance back to Concord," Van Ostern said in an email. "I agree that we need a check on the current agenda, so I'm taking this encouragement seriously and giving it real thought."
Ful disclosure: I've known about the possibility of Colin entering this race, and I am hoping he goes for it.
You probably remember that Colin ran Annie Kuster's remarkable grassroots-powered campaign that, although falling just short, was the one of the few bright spots of 2010 for Dems. Annie's incredibly strong position against Charlie Bass in 2012 (one of the the top - if not the top - pickup opportunities in the entire US Congress) is built upon Colin's work in 2010. His entry in this race would immediately increase its visibility and thus bring more attention to what St. Hilaire did.
Plus, think about what having someone with that skill set run for Executive Council would mean not just for that office but for other proximate rep and senate races on the ballot. The single biggest crisis in New Hampshire today is the radical mentality in control of Concord. Swing-to-leaning-blue Merrimack-06, for example, in St. Hilaire's district, has not one but two Free Staters representing its constituents. The more attention we can bring to state races, the better.
Separate from Colin's political acumen is his experience in business. Choosing to work for a socially and environmentally responsible, globally recognized business that is also a major employer in New Hampshire gives you an idea of the kind of pragmatic, business sense Colin would bring to an Executive Council position that now is guided by right-wing beliefs.
I would be proud to support Colin Van Ostern. Please encourage him to run!
(Important story from the weekend - promoted by William Tucker)
NHPR:
Earlier this week, the Executive Council blocked a $1.8 million dollar contract for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. That loss of revenue is compounded by a similar reduction in the budget passed by the Legislature on Wednesday. Planned Parenthood says the cut could have a devastating effect on the some 16 thousand clients they serve.
What are the services devastated by these cuts?
Last year in New Hampshire, Planned Parenthood saw more than 15,000 patients and provided:
• 6,112 breast exams
• 5,548 cervical cancer screenings
• 18,858 tests for sexually transmitted infections
• 13,242 contraceptive care consultations
Why would Executive Councilor Dan St. Hilaire do this to New Hampshire women?
"Actually funding an agency that performs the actual event is something that I would object to, and I have objected to. That's what I voted against it."
The so-called 'event' is abortions.
(No public money, of course, goes to this legal "event.")
Recently, lawmakers opposed to the law of the land did much the same in Indiana. But the judiciary branch just put a stop to that kind of legislative activism:
Planned Parenthood of Indiana expects to start offering services to Medicaid patients again Saturday after a federal judge ruled the state is not allowed to cut off the organization's public funding for general health services solely because it also provides abortions.
Here in New Hampshire, Tuck reported that "Planned Parenthood is investigating the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the state."
How much will Dan St. Hilaire cost the state of New Hampshire?
(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)
UPDATE: eagle-eyed Tuck noticed that St. Hilaire is already spinning away from his NHPR quote. (In light of how it might be used against him, ala Indiana?)
The website for the New Hampshire Executive Council explains, "Councilors are elected to serve as advocates for the people." Here's what our advocates had to say when asked to begin the process of setting up a state health insurance exchange required by the Affordable Care Act.
Councilor Christopher Sununu, R-Newfields:
"It makes no sense to do this at this time, against the exchange and Obamacare," he said. "No one has yet to prove to me even remotely closely that either would work . . . It's a debacle."
Councilor David Wheeler, R-Milford:
"I think it's really clear that it really ain't going to happen as written, and based on the U.S. House vote, it will not be funded as written," he said. "It's stupid to study and create rules for the exchanges until we know exactly what's going to happen."
Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny promises to spend more time with the Executive Council to explain the implications of the proposal. Says Sununu, "I feel I know everything I need to know."
Dear Blue Hampshire readers: I am a lifelong Democrat, former town chair in Wilmot, and brother-in-law of Ward Bird. I am writing to clear up misconceptions about this case that have appeared in the media and on the Blue Hampshire blog, and to point out the need for progressives to publicly embrace efforts to free Ward Bird.
I also write as a member of the Free Ward Bird Committee (FWBC), some 15-20 people who are roughly split between conservatives and progressives. We are working very hard not to have our effort to free an innocent man become politicized.
First and foremost, Ward Bird of Moultonborough, NH, is in jail for something that he did not do. He is innocent.
NH High Court Justice Linda Dalianis ripped for racist actions & Due Process violations:
Brown v. Board of Education is still good law, no considerations of race may factor into child placement unless there is a state-approved desegregation plan. Linda Dalianis made her own SEGREGATION plan, and that my friends is absolutely clear, no grey area, it is..... ahem..... black and white:
http://tinyurl.com/39xzmr4
As to her not allowing me to Intervene in a case where she gave away taxpayer money to Chief Dunn, for injuries he allegedly sustained because of me that's ridiculous too because I PROVED that his lawyer lied about material issues. Watch the video to see what they are.
This came to my inbox a little while ago, from Councillor Debora Pignatelli:
Many people have encouraged me to run for the 2nd Congressional seat being vacated by Paul Hodes. As you know, Paul is running for the U.S. Senate. After considerable thought, I have decided against a run for Congress and intend to seek re-election to the Executive Council.
We'll see what happens now. I know some activists who were waiting to see whether Deb would run before endorsing a primary candidate.
I'm a little sad, but glad, too. Deb Pignatelli would have been a great candidate for Congress. Her district runs the southern tier of the state, from Nashua to Keene. She's a good campaigner; people know her and like her.
The Executive Council is also important to the state.The EC has to approve gubernatorial appointments and contracts over a certain amount. Deb's an experienced incumbent. and will be tough to challenge. If she left to run for Congress, who knows? The EC has to approve gubernatorial appointments and contracts over a certain amount. If the balance of the Executive Council were to shift, it would make life much harder for Governor Lynch and the rest of us as well.
So thank you for your service on the EC, Deb, and your willingness to continue to do so.
(I'm going to disagree with elwood and say this merits front-page attention. - promoted by Dean Barker)
Our vestigial limb of government has two roles: it votes on state expenditures over $5000 and it confirms or denies gubernatorial appointments. In the latter role it has historically ensured that Democratic governors cannot replace Republican appointees they inherit in major agencies.
Earlier this year it had the opportunity to act as an independent check on state government without simply being obstructionist. When Lynch nominated Ayotte for another term, she was already being promoted by Republican activists as a future statewide candidate.
It would have been a simple, straightforward demand. "Can you pledge to us, General Ayotte, that if we confirm, you will serve a full term rather than resign and run for office?"
Such an agreement would have been very much in the interest of the state. The specter of the Chief Law Enforcement Officer grooming his/her political resume -- choosing civil, criminal and legislative matters to weigh in on based on how popular the cause is -- should appall people from both parties.
But no such pledge was demanded or given. We instead have a cloud over the Department of Justice.
I'm talking about our Executive Council, relic from colonial days.
An Executive Councilor serving in the past decade would have met with the Governor several times each month, voting on every state expenditure above $5000 or so. Every major appointment the Governor wanted to make - from Liquor Commissioner to Attorney General to judge - would be subject to an override by any three votes on the five member EC. What enormous influence!
But...
What does the Executive Councilor think of civil unions, or marriage equality? How about school funding plans? What about the death penalty? Sorry, none of those issues have anything to do with the Councilor's job.
This is one of the few races I'm truly worried about. If it flips back to the Republicans, the EC majority flips. If that happens, we can look forward to greater gridlock in Concord and the politicization of the appointments process.
One area where Governor Lynch shines in in making appointments that reflect competence, not party favors. This is an especially attractive quality in the wake of the two-year Benson Nightmare.
Remember, there is no straight-ticket voting anymore, so when you get into the booth on Tuesday, start from the bottom and work your way up the column of Dems. Bottom's up!
(Bumped, because it's too important an issue, and almost never gets discussed. - promoted by Dean Barker)
The Executive Council is a strange creature. There are only five districts in the state and the boundaries of those districts don't follow other divisions neatly. Counties and state Senate districts are split into different EC districts and vice versa.
Winning an EC seat doesn't seem to be a steppingstone to higher office (indeed, as Dartmouth's Dick Winters says, New Hampshire has few elected steppingstones at all). It may be a secure seat: Ray Burton has won re-election every two years for over a quarter century. The EC just doesn't get much attention.
Ever since the 2004 presidential election my radar has been up for signs of the Club for Growth and the Stephens Group, a family brokerage company that funded the Bushes, Bill Clinton and the Club for Growth.
That's how I came to find the story about Mike Huckabee and how he'd gained some prominence in Iowa because the Club for Growth, still funded by his friend Steve Stephens, had run ads questioning his conservative credentials. Since we couldn't miss during the Dean campaign that every attack brought out the troops and filled the coffers, it's not unimaginable that's what was happening here. And, I'm not the only one to be suspicious.
(The Executive Council: a topic worthy of discussion. - promoted by Dean)
Recently, there have been quite a few stories coming out about potential changes in commissioners or department heads now that the Democrats have taken over the Executive Council. In other states, with a change in control of the Executive Branch of State Government it is natural to assume there will be a change in these statewide offices.
In New Hampshire, it seems that this idea isn't universally accepted:
...than I thought. Both amendments easily passed on Nov 7th -- including the one that was so long and convoluted.
That is interesting all by itself. The voters were not simply in a contrary frame of mind as they kicked out the Republicans. That may be a bad sign for the local GOP.
But this diary is about something different: to wit, if voters are willing to entertain state Constitutional amendments, what should we put on the ballot? A few ideas below the fold.
(From the diaries. Someone once told me NH has a state government perfectly designed to protect us from King George III. This article shows the price of maintaining such a system. - promoted by Mike)
John Stephen is the Commissioner of Health and Human Services in New Hampshire -- he manages one of the largest, most important state agencies.
Voters assume that they get to influence how these functions of state government are handled when they select a Governor every two years. In 2004, New Hampshire threw out Craig Benson and installed John Lynch, who was just re-elected with a 75% mandate.
Take a look at Mr. Stephen's words in an op-ed in today's Keene Sentinel, below the fold.
