Tag Archives: Congressman Guinta

‘The ACTION’ Urges The US House To Vote YES On Tax Relief For The Middle Class

  By New Hampshire Labor News | January 1, 2013 - 4:02 pm | ,
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the action 2 (vote)

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Senate Rings In New Year with Responsible Bipartisan Bill Extending Tax Relief for All But the Wealthiest Americans That Make Over $400,000 a Year

All Eyes Now On Congressmen Bass and Guinta: Will They Help Restore Now Expired Middle Class Tax Relief by Immediately Passing the Senate Bill — Or Will They Keep Insisting That Millionaires Get Another Tax Break Before They Agree to Put $2,200 Back in the Pockets of the Middle Class?

The ball is now officially in the court of U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta and the Republican-led Congress as early New Year’s Day the U.S. Senate passed – with broad bipartisan support – a responsible bill to avert the tax portion of the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’.  By a 89-8 margin, a bill was approved that would avoid a $2,200 middle class tax hike scheduled to take place on January 1 by extending tax relief for all but the richest individuals making more than $400,000 a year and families making more than $450,000. Under the legislation, these wealthy Americans would see their tax rates go from 35% back to Clinton-era level of 39.6 percent when the nation saw one of its greatest periods of economic prosperity.  Additionally, the Senate bill extends jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed (which expired Friday) through the end of 2013. This bill, meanwhile, holds the line on taxes for the middle-class and extends unemployment insurance for those in need.

Dwight Haynes of Concord, NH – a retired Methodist minister and volunteer with The Action, a joint project of Granite State Progress and New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, on Rep. Bass in particular: “Charlie Bass has always described himself as a moderate Republican and this vote gives him a chance to make that his legacy as he prepares to leave the House. With this vote, Rep. Bass allow middle class families to keep   $2,200 MORE in their pockets. Charlie Bass’s family has advocated a moderate and fiscally responsible Republicanism for nearly a century. Voting for this bill is the responsible thing to do.”

Congressmen Bass and Guinta, consider your legacy: Polls Show Most Americans Want Wealthiest to Pay Fair Share and Will Hold Republicans Responsible If Nation Dives Off ‘Fiscal Cliff’

§  CNBC, Dec. 21: Majority of Wealthy Support Taxing Themselves: Poll

§  CNN, Nov. 28: New Poll: Majority support taxing wealthier Americans

§  Rasmussen, Dec. 27: No ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal? 44% Blame GOP, 36% Obama

§  Reuters, Dec.27: Americans blame Republicans more than Democrats for “fiscal cliff”: Reuters/Ipsos poll

§  NBC News, Nov.13: If government careens off fiscal cliff, GOP to shoulder blame

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action NH is a joint project of NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress, and part of a national grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.

The Action to urge lame ducks Bass, Guinta to get back to work

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 27, 2012 - 1:47 pm | ,
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TheAction

Here is your chance to encourage your Congressional Representatives to get back to work and the Bush Tax Cuts.

Activists working with The Action, a joint project of Granite State Progress and the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, will demonstrate outside the Concord office of lame duck Rep. Charlie Bass and the Manchester office of lame duck Rep. Frank Guinta tomorrow, Friday the 28th, to demand that the House get back to work to stop the country from going over the fiscal cliff and protect the middle class by maintaining the current tax rates for 98% of Americans and 97% of small businesses.

The House, including lame ducks Bass and Guinta, remain on vacation while the Senate and Pres. Obama have returned to DC to try to find a solution to the on-going uncertainty created by the so-called ‘fiscal cliff.’ Activists from the Action will be urging Bass and Guinta to get back to work and help the president and Senate find a solution.  After the failure of Speaker Boehner’s ‘Plan B,’ the GOP leadership of the House has failed to offer any solutions while the Senate passed a bill over the summer to protect the middle-class. Speaker Boehner has refused to bring this bill to a vote.

The event will include a short speaking program and rally, followed by the building of snowmen to hold signs outside of the offices long after the action ends.

Who:             Activists with The Action, a joint project of NH Citizens’ Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress 

What:            Demonstration to urge Bass and Guinta back to work on fiscal cliff 

When:            Friday December 28th 12:00 noon  

Where:           Office of Congressman Bass, 114 North Main Street, Concord

Office of Congressman Guinta, 33 Lowell Street, Manchester

Congressmen Guinta and Bass Need To Support The 98%

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 16, 2012 - 11:18 am | ,
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TamS

Tammy Siekmann is the chair of the Londonderry Democrats

An guest editorial by Tammy Siekmann

Broad agreement is something that has been sadly missing in Washington in the last several years. Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate, officials in the Obama Administration from the president to the secretaries of State and Defense, the nation’s economists and business leaders and citizens’ groups from across the political spectrum all agree – raising taxes on 98% of all Americans and 97% of small businesses would hobble the recovery and could drive the US back into recession.

That’s why I’m involved in a grassroots movement that’s urging Congressmen Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta to support an up-or-down vote on a bill currently waiting for a vote in the House that would keep in place the current tax rates on the middle-class and keep us away from the fiscal cliff. We’re called The Action and we believe that we can raise the necessary revenue to begin spending down the debt and to protect middle-class taxpayers by raising taxes on the top two percent of taxpayers.

The Senate has already passed the bill that would that keep tax cuts in place for the 98%. As Pres. Obama put it last month, “(l)et’s begin our work with where we agree. If we can get a few House Republicans to agree as well, I’ll sign this bill as soon as the House sends it my way.”

(CNN.com “GOP divide over Obama tax plan goes public,” Tom Cohen, November 28, 2012 http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html).

While partisan posturing in Washington is hardly new or novel, we believe that this presents a chance to provide revenue to start paying down the debt and to strengthen the recovery during the holiday season and into the new year. Republicans want to keep middle-class taxes low and to find solutions to the deficit. Democrats want to keep middle-taxes low and to find solutions to the deficit. The bill the Senate passed does both – and everyone agrees.

This makes the debate about the fiscal cliff all the more frustrating.  Can things really be so bad in Washington that something that everyone agrees on is still held hostage to partisan wrangling? We don’t think it is, because we believe that, especially at the holidays, people can put agendas aside to work for the common good.

Reps. Bass and Guinta have a chance, before they leave Congress, to help set the tone for the future by putting behind the paralytic partisanship that has crippled the current Congress and to make clear that they truly support low taxes on the middle-class and believe we need to take serious steps to reduce the debt. Both have spoken passionately about these issues and now they have a chance to demonstrate it with their votes.

The nation simply cannot afford to double down on tax cuts for the super-rich will cost the rest of us $1 trillion. If we spend that money on tax cuts for the wealthy, we will not be able to provide the basic building blocks of opportunity to that make it possible for average, working people to get ahead. Pres. Obama made wealthiest Americans pay a little more – their fair share – a central theme of his campaign. This theme won him New Hampshire’s electoral votes and a second term.

If we spend that money on tax cuts for the wealthy, budget shortfalls will force into overcrowded classrooms and we won’t be able to ensure our children are educated for the jobs and challenges of the future. Tax cuts for the wealthy means fewer Pell Grants, fewer Head Starts and more kindergarteners shoved into crowded classrooms.

We have a choice to make. We can choose to be a country where everyone pays their fair share or we can be a nation in which there are the very rich, and then there is everyone else.  It’s a choice between the failed, top-down policies of the past and growing the economy from the middle out by investing in education, research, innovation and technology.  I hope that Congressmen Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass will realize this – and support the middle-class by supporting an up-or-down vote on tax cuts for the 98%.

Tammy Siekmann is town chair for the Londonderry Democrats

 

Congressman Guinta’s Politics Are What Are Gridlocking Congress

  By Matt Murray | December 9, 2012 - 11:07 am | ,
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Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid Cliff Jump

Do you want to know why our Congress is gridlocked?  It is because of people like (soon to be former) Congressman Guinta.  In conversation about the possibility of increasing taxes on the people who make $250,000 or more,  he told the NH Union Leader

“I cannot see a scenario where I vote to raise rates”

Really Congressman, there is no senario where you would raise taxes?  The is the TEA Party mentality that has gridlocked our Congress for two years now.   This could also be why Congressman Guinta will not be returning to Washington DC in January.

At least Congressman Bass is willing to consider the idea (though his is not likely to support it).  He signed a letter to fellow members stating that

“all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table.”

Congressman Guinta is trying (poorly) to turn this back on the President.

“Shame that the President has positioned this as raising taxes on a certain class of people rather than talking about cutting taxes for the middle class.”

The problem that Congressman Guinta does not seem to understand is that we are talking about taxes on the ‘middle class’.  If we go over the so called ‘fiscal cliff’ then the middle class would see an increase in their taxes by $2000 dollars.

Even seven term Congressman Bass can see the writing on the wall.  The President wants the Republicans to agree to the tax cuts for the middle class and increases on the wealthy. If the House Republicans do not agree Bass knows what will happen.

“the alternative is have everybody’s taxes go up and then the President comes back in late January and says, ‘I’m going to offer the American people the biggest tax cut in American history,’ and it’s going to be exactly the tax cut he wants (for the middle class) now.”

Personally I am not in favor of this idea (though it would be as effective) and here is why. If we let the tax cuts expire and the push a tax cut for the middle class then all of the Norquist Pledge zombies can still walk around saying ‘I did not agree to a tax increase and stand by my pledge.’  No I want to see them actually WORK TOGETHER with the Democrats and make something happen.

The only people who are not willing to compromise are these TEA Party / Norquist Pledge Republicans who oppose any tax increase no matter what cuts come with them.  This is wrong!  I hope we see a deal before the end of the year, but I want the President to stand firm on his 2% tax hike.  Even if that means I have to jump of the imaginary, completely fabricated, fiscal cliff.

New Grassroots Organization Called ‘The Action’ Launches Petition For A Vote On Middle Class Tax Cuts

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 5, 2012 - 3:50 pm | ,
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The Action

Grassroots organization launches online petition urging Congressmen Bass, Guinta to do their jobs for 98%

Grassroots  group The Action plans to deliver petitions to lame ducks next week

Concord – Congressmen Charlie Bass (NH-2) and Frank Guinta (NH-1) may have lost their re-election bids, but they are still representing us in Washington as the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ negotiations begin. Today saw the release of an online petition urging Bass and Guinta to support efforts in the House to bring to a vote a bill, already passed by the Senate, which would maintain tax cuts for 98% of all Americans and 97% of small businesses. Activists will be delivering these petitions to later in the month.

Taylor Coots, state director for The Action (www.theaction.org), the group organizing the petition drive explained the effort.

“An extension for the middle class tax cut is through the Senate, but Speaker Boehner won’t bring it to the House floor for an up or down vote.  It is high time Congressmen Bass and Guinta do the right thing, break with the Speaker, and put New Hampshire middle class families ahead of Washington politics.”

A ‘discharge petition’ is currently being circulated in the House of Representatives and would give the House a chance for an up-or-down vote on a $2,000 tax cut for 98% of Americans.  Voters in New Hampshire are urging our congressmen – both of whom have long advocated for low taxes and middle-class economic health – to demonstrate their support for both low taxes and the middle class by signing the discharge petition and voting in support of the Senate bill.

Pres. Obama has advocated starting the process of getting the nation’s budget house in order with this measure. “Let’s begin our work with where we agree,” the president said, observing that the Senate has already passed the bill and that both parties agree that increasing middle-class taxes would hobble the recovery. “If we can get a few House Republicans to agree as well, I’ll sign this bill as soon as the House sends it my way.”

(CNN.com “GOP divide over Obama tax plan goes public,” Tom Cohen, November 28, 2012 http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html).

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action is a grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.  New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action is leading the charge in New Hampshire.

Working Families And The AFL-CIO Tell Congress To Protect Our Future

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 9, 2012 - 12:00 pm | , , ,
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Protect Our Future

Working Families Tell Congress To Protect Medicare, Medicaid And Social Security Eliminate Tax Cuts For Wealthiest 2 Percent

Activists kick off nationwide Lame Duck accountability campaign, close to 100 events planned  http://www.aflcio.org/ProtectOurFuture

Image from AFL-CIO Facebook

(Washington, DC, Nov. 8)–Less than 48 hours after the polls closed, working families are in communities across the country calling on their members of Congress to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and to end George Bush’s tax cuts for the richest 2 percent.

Retirees, activists and members of progressive and faith communities will host close to 100 events targeting members of Congress during the upcoming Lame Duck session.  Events will take place outside members’ offices, health clinics, Social Security offices, construction sites and other community locations. In Nashville, Tennessee, working families are gathering for a roundtable with Congressman Jim Cooper to thank him for his pledge to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. In Missoula, Montana, working families are marching to their congressional office.

The AFL-CIO also joined with progressive allies today to run a full-page ad in theWashington Post calling on President Obama and Congress to support Social Security, health care, education, infrastructure, and job creation – while asking everyone, including the wealthiest, to pay their fair share.  The full ad can be seen here:bitly.com/WCEG4G

“Though the election confetti is still on the street, working families are already mobilizing to hold their elected leaders accountable,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “The people advocating for benefit cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are the same folks who want to cut taxes for the richest 2 percent. With working families across the country still struggling, we can’t afford to pay for any more tax breaks for those who need them the least.”

According to an AFL-CIO election night survey of the general public conducted by Hart Research Associates, by a 64% to 17% margin, voters say we should maintain Social Security and Medicare benefits, and address the deficit by increasing taxes on the rich, not by reducing Social Security and Medicare benefits.

For a list of events, see:http://local.americawantstowork.org/protectourfuture

Beware of Lame Ducks

  By Matt Murray | November 9, 2012 - 6:00 am | , ,
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Lame Duck Session

Politico’s like myself toss around the term “lame duck session” like everyone know what that means.  Do you know what a ‘lame duck’ session means? Just in case you do not know let me explain it very quickly.  A ‘lame duck’ session is the time between an election and the when newly elected representatives are inaugurated and seated.

Lame duck sessions are some politicians last chance to get something done before they leave office.  This could also be the chance to change their opinion on a bill because they have already lost the election and they will not be held to that vote.

This is why we must be very cautious with this upcoming lame duck session.  There will no doubt be changes in the U.S. House and possibly in the U.S. Senate.  America is at a crossroads.  When our current Legislators go back to Congress they have a monumental task in front of them and that is the Budget Control Act of 2011.  Now it is commonly called Sequestration.  These force budget cuts could have huge impact on the national economy and will hit New Hampshire hard.

Senator Shaheen called for bipartisan support to fix the sequestration issue.

“It’s not a deficit reduction plan. We need to see some action in Congress, and we need to see it this year. When we get back, I hope people will be focused on this in a way that will help us make progress.”

Senator Ayotte agrees,

“From the Pentagon to New Hampshire’s defense suppliers, there is broad agreement that sequestration would be devastating to our military, our national security, and our economy.”

So while the Senate is working to find real bipartisan solutions the US House is stuck in gridlock.  Both Congressional Houses are blaming each other for locking up legislation.  Congressman Guinta stated in his ‘Frankly Speaking’ editorial (8-2-12)

“Instead of waiting until November, Congress needs to act now. Liberals, conservatives and independents alike agree these matters all carry profound consequences for our economy.”

Here is an idea, quit blaming each other and start blaming yourselves. There are more issues on the horizon than just the budget control act.  The livelihood of the US Postal Service is at risk as well. Yet we do not hear Congressman Guinta talking about the bill that has stalled in the House to correct their overfunding problem.

“Bipartisanship is alive and well in the Senate“, Shaheen said, “which managed to pass many significant pieces of legislation that have since languished in the House of Representatives, including reform of the U.S. Postal Service and an overhaul of the farm bill.”

We need Congressman Bass and Congressman Guinta to get back to the US House and help move some of this legislation.  We also need them to understand that there are also programs we need their help to protect from sequestration, like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  Take three minutes to send a letter to your Congressman not to sacrifice these programs in the upcoming lame duck session.  Help to ensure these cuts will not effect the economic growth we have gained over the last three years.

 

Little Evidence That Congressman Guinta’s “Job Fairs” Created Jobs

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 3, 2012 - 6:38 pm | , ,
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Manchester, NH- A new report by the Associated Press finds little evidence that Congressman Guinta’s “job fairs” have created any new jobs.

First District constituents who hoped to find work at Guinta’s job fairs will be disappointed to hear that the events were designed to ensure his success, not theirs. He described the events’ primary purpose as an opportunity for himself, not the unemployed, to network, telling the AP: “You get to talk to employers one-on-one, you get to establish a relationship as the member of Congress…That’s the most important thing.”

Guinta refused to provide the AP with any evidence that his fairs have created jobs. His excuse? “Privacy issues,” a concern that the employers the AP contacted “did not mention.”

While Guinta may not want to admit how few people found work at his fairs, it is easy to find out how many jobs Carol Shea-Porter has created. During her time in Congress, she cooperated with her colleagues to pass the American Recovery Act, also known as the “stimulus,” which has increased the number of American jobs by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate. She also saved millions of jobs in the auto industry, including 27,000 here in New Hampshire.

“A strong record on jobs is what New Hampshire voters are looking for as they head to the polls,” said Naomi Andrews, campaign manager for Carol Shea-Porter. “Congressman Guinta is proud of creating one or two jobs, while Carol is proud of creating millions. The numbers speak for themselves.”

 

BACKGROUND:
AP: “Job creation record at issue in NH’s 1st District.” http://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2012/11/03/job-creation-record-issue-district/AbqWcv2q0o3iRd7BG9k0UM/story.html
Letter to the Editor, Conway Daily Sun: “NHES offices are also where you can find local representatives of NHWorks, a coalition of state and local agencies helping people find jobs, plus operating a large, easy-to-use, state-wide data-base of jobs at www.nhworks.org In these circumstances, hosting his own job fairs seems more useful to the Congressman than to the jobless.”
http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/opinion/columns/90459-robert-gillette-what-s-frank-guinta-doing-for-us
Conway Daily Sun: “On Tuesday (May 22, 2012), NH CD-1 Congressman Frank Guinta hosted a job fair in Conway, at Granite State College. A mere four days earlier, on May 18, N.H. Employment Security and Granite State College partnered on a job fair, at the same location. One might be tempted to think that two job fairs in a four-day span must mean that there is a an abundance of available jobs. One would, of course, be wrong. The Guinta job fair was just another chapter in his re-election pageant.”
http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/opinion/columns/90309-susan-bruce-frank-pageantry
 Foster’s: “Many people spent hard-earned money on gas to get to these fairs, and were shocked to find that they were just photo-ops for Guinta’s glossy self-promotion.”
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121022/GJOPINION_0102/121029942/-1/FOSOPINION
Letter to the editor, Concord Monitor: “I didn’t see one representative from a company that had job applications.”
http://www.nhinsider.com/press-releases/2011/11/15/nhdp-icymi-useless-jobs-fair-from-guinta.html

 

Congressman Guinta says, “I don’t need the FDA”; takes tobacco money

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 2, 2012 - 11:17 pm | , , ,
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Congressman Frank Guinta has accepted $2,000 from Big Tobacco in 2012.  Altria, formerly known as Phillip Morris, has given Congressman Guinta multiple donations in this election cycle through their PAC.

Altria is still the largest tobacco conglomerate in the world, and they are the makers of Marlboro cigarettes.  Altria has lobbied on numerous issues since Congressman Guinta was elected, but most notably against Health Care Reform.  The company is particularly opposed to the implementation of funding for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As of 2009, the FDA also has direct regulatory authority over cigarettes.  Congressman Guinta recently said, “I don’t need the FDA,” so it is no wonder he has won the admiration of Big Tobacco.  Altria supports Congressman Guinta because he wants to eliminate the FDA, and repeal Health Care Reform.

“There is apparently no corporate interest Congressman Guinta isn’t willing to shill for, and he seems to have no shame in doing the bidding of Big Tobacco,” said Campaign Manager Naomi Andrews.  “New Hampshire voters support Carol Shea-Porter, because she refuses to take donations from corporate PACs, and she stands up for middle class families.”

Background:

 

Guinta Campaign Struggling, Shea-Porter Talking Solutions for New Hampshire

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 2, 2012 - 11:10 pm | , , ,
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A quick scan of this morning’s headlines reveals the hard truth about New Hampshire’s First District Congressional race: Congressman Guinta’s campaign is struggling and desperate, while Carol Shea-Porter is talking with voters about solutions to move New Hampshire forward.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a desperate and blunt memo to its top donors, on behalf of incumbents who are “most in need”.  Congressman Guinta was listed as one of those struggling campaigns.  Despite thousands of dollars in donations from Wall Street and Big Tobacco, Congressman Guinta is still unable to keep his campaign afloat.

This poor performance demonstrates the profound lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy here in New Hampshire.  The National Journal also noted Guinta’s poor polling numbers in the state.

Meanwhile, Carol Shea-Porter has been touring the state talking with voters about small business and the middle class, presenting new ideas.  Yesterday, she had a productive meeting with employees of Fidelity Investments in Merrimack, to discuss the economy and her plan to create more jobs.  She also met with students in the Lakes Region Community College Energy Training Program.  Their labs and classrooms were built with assistance from funding that Congresswoman Shea-Porter secured. Carol Shea-Porter actually follows a pro-growth economic model.

HEADLINES:

Shea-Porter gets first-hand look at Energy Services program at LRCC
Laconia Daily Sun
http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index.php/newsx/local-news/63320-a-511-w-cut-slugged-carolshea-2-shea-porter-says-climate-change-is-real-praises-lrcc-s-energy-programs

House Race Rankings: House of Cards
Scott Bland, National Journal
http://www.nationaljournal.com/hotline/house-race-rankings-house-of-cards-20121102

House GOP names incumbents in need
Alex Isenstadt, Politico
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/11/house-gop-names-incumbents-in-need-147996.html?hp=r7