House Republican Plan Would Kick Over 1500 New Hampshire Kids Off of Their Health Insurance

by: DRicher

Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 11:17:15 AM EST

New Hampshire House Republicans have introduced legislation (HB 1283) to dramatically curtail access to the state's Healthy Kids Silver program.  The proposal would cut more than 1500 children from a health care plan that provides low income families with access to affordable health insurance.  

"The radical House Republican proposal would be devastating for New Hampshire families," said Derek Richer, press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "People are struggling and reducing access to affordable health care for children from low income families is completely irresponsible."

"Kicking 1500 children off of their health insurance would be a disaster," continued Richer. "House Republicans should stop trying to rewrite the budget with reckless cuts that target the state's most vulnerable citizens."

"Governor Lynch and legislative Democrats worked hard to balance the budget while protecting essential services like these.  Republicans should come to the table and work with Democrats on real solutions that both address the economic challenges we face and protect working families," Richer added.

House Republicans have introduced a series of measures that slash access to medical care in New Hampshire.  In addition to HB 1283 that rolls back the Healthy Kids Silver program, House Republicans have also introduced legislation to slash Medicaid.  This proposal (HB 1587) would eliminate access to a wide range of essential services for poor seniors, the mentally disabled, and handicapped individuals including funding for prescription drug coverage, wheelchair vans and mental health care, among other services.

The legislation (HB1587) would also eliminate the state's home-and-community-based care program, forcing seniors out of their homes into more expensive nursing homes. And it would eliminate funding for home-based programs for people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries, forcing them into more expensive care.

"The drastic health care cuts proposed by House Republicans just goes to show how truly out of touch they are with the people of New Hampshire," continued Richer.  "While legislative Democrats are working hard to improve the lives of everyone in the New Hampshire, Republicans want to return the state to the Dark Ages."

(Posted by Derek Richer, Press Secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party)    

Former state party chair is too late; GOP has already been overrun by the fringe

by: DRicher

Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 08:55:09 AM EST

Former state party chair is too late; GOP has already been overrun by the fringe

Fergus Cullen, the former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, published an Op-Ed last week denouncing the hateful remarks made by right wing political activist and radio show host Doug Lambert.   Enough has been said about Mr. Lambert's shocking comments that I won't recount them here.

But in the piece, Cullen also warned the state Republican Party of the political perils of pandering to its most fringe members.  While I applaud his efforts, they are too little, too late.  

Recently we have seen all the Republican candidates for higher office clamoring to get endorsements from the far right wing of the party.  For example, they have been actively courting the radical conservative group, Club for Growth, and seeking endorsements from the extremist Republican Senator Jim DeMint.

In fact, the New Hampshire Republican Party has effectively purged its ranks of middle-of-the-road Republicans.   Over the last decades, they have "purified" their party, driving out moderates like Hillary Cleveland, Lou D'Allesandro, Ralph Hough, Dave Nixon, Frank Davis, Jim Mackay, the late Susan and Malcolm McLane and hundreds of other former top NH Republicans.

And recently, the state party has taken the final step - ousting Cullen as chairman and replacing him with failed former Governor John H. Sununu.  Now, Chairman Sununu is doing everything he can to spread anger and hate to rile up the base.

Sununu recently outlined exactly this strategy in an interview with Foster's Daily Democrat.  His goal: to make the Republican Party as angry possible.

Over the summer, we saw this strategy in action.  The New Hampshire Tea Party Coalition, a group of local Republicans and radical activists, used scare tactics to try to stop progress on providing affordable, quality health insurance to all Americans.  This was not a peaceful protest - they regularly used threats and intimidation tactics that were reprehensible.

And there is no line between the leadership of the New Hampshire Republican Party and the "Tea Party" crowd.  Jack Kimball, currently the Republican candidate for governor, is one of the movement's lead organizers.

Kimball is so out of touch with New Hampshire values he declared that there had been a "communist and socialist" takeover of America.  In order to protect himself from the "serious things coming," he then purchased large amounts of ammunition for his assault weapons.  He even started a new group aimed at "keeping an eye on the president."  And in response to the government's efforts to help struggling homeowners, Kimball actually urged individuals to stop paying their mortgages.

Chairman Sununu and the state Republican Party should be ashamed.  Their strategy of inciting anger and spreading hate - instead of offering ideas - is bad for our state, and the people of New Hampshire deserve better.  

Cullen is right when he says that campaigning to the fringe of the Republican Party is no way to win elections. Unfortunately, his colleagues beg to differ.  This type of mentality runs counter to New Hampshire values, and ultimately is the reason why the GOP will remain the minority party in 2010.

Mike Brunelle is a former state representative and the current executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party

(Posted by Derek Richer, Press Secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party)  

Statement from NHDP Chair on So Called Republican Spending Summit

by: DRicher

Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 18:21:03 PM EDT

"The Republican Party needs to stop playing politics with the state budget.

"Where were the Republicans when we were passing the budget?  Unlike Democrats, who passed a budget that made significant cuts to spending, Republicans sat on the sidelines throughout the process.

"Their only involvement came at the 11th hour, when they offered a reckless proposal that would have lead to the highest property tax increase in the history of New Hampshire.

"The time for being a part of the budget process was last spring. This so-called spending summit is just a laughable attempt to score cheap political points.

"Someone should remind Republicans that under their leadership spending increased by double digits every biennium.  And the biggest spender of all has been John H Sununu.  During his tenure, spending increased an astounding 22% per biennium.

"When it comes to passing responsible, balanced budgets, Republicans do not have any credibility.

NHDP Joins President Obama's Call to Republicans to Help Clean Up the Mess They Created

by: DRicher

Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 15:01:06 PM EDT

Picking up on President Obama's call, the New Hampshire Democratic Party delivered a mop and a message to the New Hampshire Republican Party, asking them to help clean up the mess created by years of failed Republican leadership.

See the video here

Recognizing that we're all in this together, President Obama and the Democratic Party have been working hard to create jobs, ensure accessible and affordable insurance, and better secure the country. But these efforts have been met with Republican knee-jerk opposition and partisan obstruction to every new idea.

Last week, the President suggested that rather than simply saying "NO" to efforts to help put the country back on the right track, the GOP should "grab a mop" and help clean up the mess we're in to move the country forward.

"Not unlike Republicans at the national level, the only thing Judd Gregg, John H. Sununu,  and the state Republican Party has offered are the failed policies of the past," said Mike Brunelle, executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

"Today, we delivered a mop to the New Hampshire Republican Party with the message that they should stop being the party of no and start helping clean up the mess they created," Brunelle continued.  "As President Obama said, the Republicans need to grab a mop and let's all get to work."

(Posted by Derek Richer, Press Secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party)

NHGOP files suit alleging lack of "reasonable access" at same day registration tables

by: shoeempress

Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 16:27:46 PM EST

Here's the link:

http://www.unionleader.com/art...

Fergus Cullen: Peddling More Baloney

by: Chaz Proulx

Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 12:30:23 PM EDT

Fergus' Republican wordprocessor defaults to phrases like left wing extremists, tax and spenders and the usual thread bare Republican talking points. Where are the new ideas?

Today Mr. Cullen has attacked Jean Shaheen on her supposed record, but he includes the same talking point that he is trying very hard to sell. You know, the Democratic party has been taken over by extremists.

Here's the quote: The extreme left wing has taken over the New Hampshire Democratic party. Pragmatic centrists like Jim Craig are being purged in a party now dominated by left-wing extremists like Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.

My response. This is just baloney. During last years' election I got to know just about everyone in the Democratic party, both "new"
and "establishment" Dems.  I also became good friends with Jim Craig by the way.  I came away convinced that ideologically Democrates are on the same page across New Hampshire. There is NO rift on that one.  I started preaching that to coastal Democrats as a revelation.

Honestly, there really aren't major ideological differences. The substantial differences are simply georgraphical differences--the political Cultures of say Manchester and Portsmouth are different, but those are being sorted out and we learned last year that we work very well together. That's been a personal project of mine and we've come a long way.

If anything Carol Shea Porter and other "newcomers" have preserved the best of Democratic values that got a little lost a ways back. Progressives in NH always stress fiscal responsibility. And its not just words, Representative Shea-Porter has adheared strictly to a pay-go policy in Congress. I don't speak for her, but that is public record.

Fergus, I guess you didn't read my column on pragmatic progressives. Follow this link if you want to see what you are up against. http://www.nhinsider...

So keep firing away with the old ideas and we'll keep working on solutions to the mess the Republican Party has gotten us into.