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During Gov. Rick Perry's "colorful" speech to the Cornerstone Action Dinner last month, he attacked Sen. Jeanne Shaheen over a bill she sponsored to promote energy efficiency.
"Instead of relieving the economic burden … you have your counterpart in the United States Senate who is working on a bill that would make things worse for home builders." Perry said to great applause at the Cornerstone Action Dinner, October 28, 2011 in Manchester, N.H.
"Under her scheme, federal bureaucrats could take over the local building code enforcement in your city if so-called green mandates are not complied with quickly enough," Perry said. "It is just simply bureaucratic overkill."
Perry was referring to the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011, a bill Shaheen introduced with Republican co-sponsor Sen. Rob Portman. The bill proposes numerous changes to national energy policies and practices with the goal of increasing the use of energy efficiency technologies and fostering job creation.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning researchers at Politifact reviewed the details of the proposed legislation. Would it potentially allow the federal government to take over local building code enforcement as Perry alleged? In a word, no.
Under Shaheen’s energy legislation, states would be required to report whether they plan to meet the model building codes. Those states that agree to the standards and accept federal dollars would be subject to a certification process to ensure they meet the regulations. But there is nothing in the bill that requires states to take part, nor are there any penalties for non-compliance. The bill is voluntary, not mandatory. We rate Perry’s claim False.
Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan, the New Hampshire National Guard soldier who recently returned from deployment in Kuwait, will be bringing her same-sex partner of 11 years to a yellow ribbon family reintegration event in North Conway this weekend.
Federal military regulations had previously banned same-sex spouses of National Guard Members from participating in official National Guard family events. The rules were based on an interpretation of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the extension of military benefits to same sex couples. Tuesday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta urging the Department of Defense "in the strongest terms" to end the discriminatory policy.
“We made the decision as a nation that it was time to allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly in our military,” Shaheen said. “It makes no sense to ask them for the same sacrifice we ask of straight soldiers while denying them the same benefits. We are better than this.”
Yesterday, the Department of Defense ruled that Chief Morgan may take advantage of a regulation that allows service members to designate any one person, regardless of relationship, to join her at a yellow ribbon event.
“This is terrific news for Charlie Morgan and her family,” said Shaheen. “But this is just one small part of a much larger problem. We have a fundamental inequity in our policy, which has created two classes of soldiers. It isn’t fair and it has to end.”
“Ultimately, this conflict in our military policy is not sustainable,” Shaheen said. “We cannot ask the members of our military to live under different standards depending on whether they are gay or straight. I urge the military to do all it can under the law to promote equality in their regulations, and I urge Congress to join me in the fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”
A bipartisan group of 33 senators, including every New England senator EXCEPT Sen. Kelly Ayotte, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius calling on HHS to release Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds as quickly as possible. The senators requested the funds be released now to allow state agencies to begin preparing their LIHEAP programs for the winter.
Excerpts from the letter to Secretary Sebelius:
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is an indispensable lifeline for low-income households. As state agencies prepare their LIHEAP programs for the winter, we request that the Department of Health and Human Services release LIHEAP funds as quickly and at as high of a level as possible under the current continuing resolution.
Low-income families spend a higher proportion of their income on energy, and this is particularly true during times of extreme temperatures and increased energy prices. ... [T]he Energy Information Administration projects that the price of heating oil will be 10 percent higher this winter than last, the highest average winter price ever predicted. While these prices would be challenging under the best of times, elevated levels of unemployment across our states will make this year's heating season an even greater struggle.
Last year, LIHEAP provided 47,215 of New Hampshire's most vulnerable households with financial assistance. 32% of the recipients were elderly, 28% disabled and 22% were children under age five.
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."
(Thanks for the commentary Jim. - promoted by Mike Hoefer)
This "debt deal" is horrible. It will hurt many people. The Republicans/Right-Wing/Tea Partiers/Crazies/Corporate Bosses got most of what they wanted.
Many good Democrats in Congress voted against it. They deserve our thanks.
But many good Democrats in Congress voted for it. They deserve our appreciation, too. It's regrettable, but it had to pass. The alternative was too frightening.
In my years of being on a city council for a dozen years, an assistant mayor, on a school board for 4 years, in the State Senate for 6 and the House for 24, I've voted "on" almost 60 annual city, county, and state budgets. I never once wanted to vote "for" those budgets. Not once. None of them did what I thought was needed for our citizens. Each in some way hurt people. None helped all the people we should have. Some hurt many. And I did vote "against" perhaps a dozen of them. Nevertheless, I voted "for" most of them.
Because government must go on. Lives -- and life and death -- are at stake, and to close down government is unthinkable. Government is our way of helping people.
That Republicans and their ilk were willing to push their greed to the wall and allow America to default is unforgivable. Voters will do something about that in November, 2012. The lower and middle classes will remember that they were zapped by the Republicans.
In the meanwhile, we need to appreciate that President Barack Obama, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and so many other Democrats did what they needed to do. By their action and their leadership, the United States government will have an "open" sign tomorrow.
Because of them, the United States goes on, and another election to replace the bastards who are beating up the people of our country will be held in 461 days.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) voted Tuesday night against Senator Reid's motion to block amendments to the Patriot Act extension, voted today against cloture on the bill, and yesterday proposed an amendment to extend the expiring provisions of the law for only 6 months, rather than 4 years, so that there is time for a full debate on any long-term reauthorization. She is a co-sponsor of Senator Leahy's proposed amendment to the bill.
She released the following statement:
"The Patriot Act has proven a useful tool for counter-terrorism efforts that have kept us safe since 9/11. But many in New Hampshire have genuine concerns about what it has cost us in civil liberties. Those concerns should not be taken lightly. Waiting until the last minute to schedule a vote, just as these provisions are about to expire, doesn't allow for a full and thorough debate that would respect the deep importance we assign to personal liberty as Americans.
"While I ultimately support extending the Patriot Act in some form, I know we can make it a better law. A full debate in the Senate, with the chance to consider amendments, would allow us to consider more effective ways to balance our collective security and our individual rights. Surely such a debate is worthy of our time."
It's early, but I look forward to hearing what other www.BlueHampshire.com posters have to say about the potential candidates for offices. Since I'm a fan of both Ann Kuster and Carol Shea-Porter, I see the "action" for 2012 mostly in the Governor's race. Democrats are wealthy in that we have a strong "bench" developing.
Since November, 2012 is just 563 days from now, or just over 80 weeks, it's not too early to consider their strengths or lack thereof. Here are some of my initial thoughts, in no specific order:
1. John Lynch. John Lynch should run for a 5th term. While I didn't support his first race for the nomination -- I supported a lifelong friend, two-time Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Paul McEachern in 2004, Lynch has impressed me greatly. McEachern didn't win in 2004, but I think he made John Lynch a better candidate, who went on to smash then-Governor Craig .... I forget his name.
Last November was John Lynch's toughest election, but he won, and he won well, and he won with class. And thank goodness. Can you imagine today, with this right-wing Legislature, if it was "Governor Stephen" or "Governor Kimball?" John Lynch saved us from all that. And his vetoes of horrible bills during the next few months, and next year too, will protect the lives of real people who would otherwise be hurt by some horrible legislation. By those vetoes, Lynch will feel a renewed spirit of purpose and need. He can win big in November, 2012. Let's draft him.
When we last checked in on the Memorial Bridge replacement project, Reps. Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass had voted in favor of the House budget bill that threatened to pull the plug on the project's $20 million economic recovery grant — all the while expressing their support for the bridge replacement.
When the action moved to the Senate, the hypocrisy continued.
Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) voted for H.R. 1, and thus to dismantle TIGER II, but is still asking the Department of Transportation to give a Tiger II grant to a bridge refurbishing project in her state, calling it “the No. 1 transportation priority” for New Hampshire.
Both of Maine’s Republican senators — Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — also voted for H.R. 1, but are still trying to secure funding for the bridge project. Two other New Hampshire Republicans — Reps. Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass — voted for H.R. 1, but have said that they want the bridge funding. “Clearly, the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth should be a priority for the New Hampshire delegation to preserve,” Bass said.
Think Progress calls the elimination of the TIGER II grants for high priority infrastructure projects a "destructive and economically counterproductive" measure. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who voted against H.R.1, blasted the proposed federal cuts as "reckless and irresponsible" and vowed to fight them.
"I'm for it, although I voted against it." He didn't use exactly those words, but that's the double-talk by our member of Congress, Frank Guinta, about the Memorial Bridge, the one that connects the economic centers of Portsmouth and Kittery, and which is a vital travel route for businesses and workers with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
It's amusing -- at least it would be if it wasn't so hypocritical -- to see New Hampshire's other member of Congress, Charlie Bass, also try to make it sound like he's for it although he votes against it. These two don't think much of us if they think we're going to fall for that pork. I mean, baloney.
They both voted last week to gut the $20 million federal funds that we've been planning on to rebuild our bridge. That money will create jobs and save jobs. I thought that's what they ran on last year. Day by day we're learning that it was just a slogan for them to get elected.
At least they could start being honest with us now. Either they're for us, or they're not. Either they have to vote to fund it, or they won't. They can't have it both ways. They're trying to play to the far right-wingers who want to gut government, but we're seeing that their votes have real-life consequences.
Those of us who regularly travel over that bridge and the many business owners and other working men and women who rely on that bridge, will know who to thank in November, 2012. Fortunately for us, Senator Jeanne Shaheen might be able to save the funding, and she proves once again how lucky we are to have her. Ohh how we miss Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes.
We'll remember Frank Guinta, and his political playmate, Charlie Bass. There are only 623 days until we can vote to replace them. It could have been just 622 days, but next year is a leap year so we have to wait one more day.
From Senator Jeanne Shaheen's remarks today on the vote to repeal DADT:
Mr. President, we used to tell young Americans, "Don't ask what your country can do for you." Yet now we tell the very people who have answered that call, 'Don't Ask, Don't tell.' This is a civil rights issue. It is a moral issue, and it is a national security issue. Today, the Senate made a historic decision to fix this broken and outdated policy.
Again, I see no cause for celebration in ending a 17-year old discriminatory policy kept going by a government out of touch with its people. And of course the Villagers will be obsessing over Susan Collins and the handful of other Republicans who finally came around.
That's wrong. Latecomers to an obvious moral issue like this don't deserve the spotlight.
We should rather be acknowledging leaders like Jeanne Shaheen and other Democrats who have long been waiting to cast this vote and end this hateful policy.
American gays and lesbians fighting for their country openly, without any longer having to pretend they are not who they are. Incredible.
Four thoughts:
1. This shows that the American people, by and large, are accepting of their many neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers, and soldiers who are gay or lesbian. Now, "...with liberty and justice for all..." has reaffirmed meaning.
2. Jeanne Shaheen, Paul Hodes, and Carol Shea-Porter are real New Hampshire political heroes.
3. This victory wasn't just about equality, it was in appreciation of the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of gay American men and women who for the past two hundred + years have fought to defend our country, but had to hide who they were. The fight goes on, but they won this one.
4. Since it will soon be clearer than ever that gays and lesbians are openly fighting to protect America in our military, there is no longer any justification not to provide for full equality here at home -- including the full right to marry. That's the American way.
Today, Jeanne Shaheen called out Jim DeMint on the games he is playing with our national security by stalling on the START treaty:
"Senator DeMint is arguing that this treaty somehow weakens our national security and limits our strategic options. His argument has little basis in reality. Senator DeMint is opposed by every living former Secretary of State, five former Secretaries of Defense, nine former National Security Advisors, seven former commanders of our strategic nuclear weapons, and former President George H. W. Bush. All of these national security heavyweights argue the exact opposite of Senator DeMint, and they all agree that the New START Treaty strengthens our national security.
"The New START Treaty has the unanimous backing of America's military leadership and America's NATO allies, and according to the most recent CBS News poll, the treaty now has the support of 82 percent of Americans.
The news hasn't been good the last couple of days. From Obama's compromise with the Republicans to keep the Bush tax cuts, to the death of Elizabeth Edwards, things seem pretty bleak. Luckily, our Democratic US Senator Jeanne Shaheen is representing us in Washington, DC, advocating for the extension of unemployment benefits, and the START II Treaty
"I fear a delay means killing the treaty, and I think practically there are serious national security consequences," Shaheen said. "This would badly damage the president's efforts to reset the relationship with Russia."
"Diplomacy and credibility in international relations are all about whether people can trust in those relationships," said Shaheen, who noted that nuclear treaties have won Senate endorsements consistently over the past 50 years. "What does it say to people if we suddenly reverse the course of every president since JFK?
She also expressed skepticism about the recent tax cut deal.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, replied, "I'm disappointed, particularly on the estate tax."
"
It's a concern, its also a concern about what happens two years from now, whether we are really going to have the will to deal with the deficit and deal with that," said Shaheen.
In addition, Shaheen's office helped a friend of mine get her home off of the auction block. They accomplished in one day what my friend had unsuccessfully tried to do for nine months: reach a loan processor in a giant out of state corporation. (And the Republicans want to allow health insurance purchases across state lines?)
The earmark ban supported by New Hampshire's newly elected Republican congressional members would eliminate $156 million in federal funding for New Hampshire projects. The funding is included in 69 earmarks contained in current drafts of congressional spending bills.
New Hampshire projects benefiting from the earmarks include the Dover Teen Center and its programs for at-risk teenagers ($240,000), the University of New Hampshire's "Inclusive Education Initiative" for students with autism and related disabilities ($500,000) and the New Hampshire Food Bank ($1,250,000).
It is unclear whether any appropriations bills will be passed during the current lame-duck session of Congress. If, as expected, Congress passes a continuing resolution rather than an appropriations bill, no earmark spending would be approved. And it will be much harder for organizations to renew their earmark requests next session.
New Hampshire's newly elected incoming members of Congress -- Kelly Ayotte, Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass -- have all said they oppose earmarks.
[Sen. Jeanne] Shaheen said smaller states like New Hampshire are sometimes at a disadvantage when it comes to the federal funding formulas used to distribute tax dollars. "Congressionally directed spending is one way to level the playing field," Shaheen said. "It allows us to make a case for worthwhile projects like enhancing the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, expanding the New Hampshire Food Bank, and helping our local police departments purchase the equipment they need."
In the aftermath of the elections, I've got one more thank-you to give to New Hampshire's Democratic federal delegation, both ongoing and otherwise. And that is one more note of thanks for getting the health care bill passed.
Enough has been said about the specifics of the bill itself, and some people will no doubt comment snippily that it was a health insurance bill rather than a health care bill. I want to thank New Hampshire's Democrats in Congress for helping pass this bill in the face of a hostile and partisan media that says things like this:
Gallup: Four in 10 Americans Believe Healthcare Law Goes Too Far
They could have said this instead:
Gallup: 49% of Americans Believe Healthcare Law Does Not Go Too Far
For some reason I find this mid-term election message from Senator Shaheen especially poignant:
"I congratulate all the winners last evening, both Democrats and Republicans. And, for the many good people who fell short, my hope is that they continue to stay involved in public life, as it will take all of us working together to secure the future of our state and our country."
Senator Shaheen has seen it all in her long career in New Hampshire politics.
New Hampshire and Maine have been awarded a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help fund the Memorial Bridge replacement project. The bridge is the only crossing available for pedestrians and cyclists between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine. It has a life expectancy of only 2 to 5 more years.
The grant application had bipartisan support from both states' Congressional delegations. Thank you, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Thank you, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
Frank Guinta opposed the grant:
Asked about whether he would support earmarks for replacement of the Memorial Bridge, [Guinta] said he's taken "a no-earmark pledge." As such, he said, if a project is not a "federal responsibility, other funds than federal funds are going to have to be found. It's a tough stance, and it doesn't mean the project's not worthy. But the budget is $1.3 trillion out of balance. We have to bring the budget into balance."
Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Franken, Whitehouse, and Levin today called on major lenders to suspend foreclosure proceedings across the nation as news continues to mount about "systemic problems" with the process. From their letter:
The senators, who represent states that do not require lenders to go to court to foreclose, said that problems with the foreclosure processes of major lenders were systemic and not limited to the judicial foreclosure states.
"It is only fair that you provide homeowners in all 50 states the same accommodation while you attempt to fix the systemic problems with your handling of foreclosures," the Senators said.
In August, there were 408 foreclosure deeds recorded in New Hampshire, which was a record high for the month, according to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
Not only is this the right thing to do, but politically it makes clear Democrats are on our side, rather than the Banksters.
