Joe Casey President of NH Building Trades Blasts New Anti-Casino Group

NH Building Trades Logo

Group offers no plan to fund services, instead  “looking for the manna to come down from heaven” to fund the state’s essential services.

Concord – NH Building & Construction Trades Council President Joe Casey criticized the unveiling of the anti-gambling lobby’s latest “coalition” today for having no plan on how to create jobs for New Hampshire citizens and no plan for funding higher education and critical state services.

Casey took special exception to New Hampshire Representative Marjorie Smith’s (D-Durham) comments about “looking for the manna to come down from heaven” to fund the state’s essential services.  Smith also referred to the millions of dollars in new casino revenues as “monopoly money”.

“What we saw today is a bunch of nothing: no plan to fund services, no plan to restore funding for higher education, no plan help create jobs.  Their privileged indifference to the real needs of the people in our state is appalling. Governor Hassan has a plan to restore those services and to create jobs through private investment at a time when New Hampshire needs them most. It’s time for Representative Smith and her friends to offer real solutions to fund critical services and job growth or stop standing in the way.”

“This group represents the same tired old arguments from the same people who have been opposing expanded gambling for years. Maybe the people standing in this group don’t need the services that will be funded by SB 152 or the thousands of good-paying jobs it will create, but many in our state do. This group does not represent New Hampshire, “ said Casey.

“New Hampshire citizens overwhelmingly support a casino in our state.  They know it’s worked elsewhere and it can work here too. They know that if New Hampshire simply lets Massachusetts move along in this direction alone that Massachusetts will get all the benefits and New Hampshire only gets the costs.  That’s unacceptable.  That’s not what the public wants or deserves.”

“The people are looking for leadership.  The people are looking for plans to solve our challenges.  The time is now for this legislature to listen to the people.”
Hear the “Manna from Heaven” in this video.

Governor-Elect Hassan Announces Additional Details for Inauguration

Hassan - Inauguration Logos v3 MC12

Open House at the State House to Include Exhibits by FIRST Robotics, Children’s Authors, Artists and Local Food

CONCORD – Governor-Elect Maggie Hassan today announced additional details for her Inaugural Ceremony and State House Open House on Thursday, January 3rd.

Hassan’s Inaugural Ceremony will begin at noon and will feature poetry, prayer and music from numerous Granite Staters, including performances by the Cecilia Ensemble, a choir of high school girls from Peterborough, and Briana Nadeau, a singer-songwriter from Durham who will sing the national anthem.

“From our rich history and culture to our beautiful scenic landscapes, New Hampshire is a truly special place with much to offer,” said Governor-Elect Hassan. “Our Inauguration features a diverse group of Granite Staters whose talents and commitment are representative of our state’s resources and character.”

“From our rich history and culture to our beautiful scenic landscapes, New Hampshire is a truly special place with much to offer,” said Governor-Elect Hassan. “Our Inauguration features a diverse group of Granite Staters whose talents and commitment are representative of our state’s resources and character.” 

In addition, attendees will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by New Hampshire Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan of New Durham. Following the end of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Morgan, who has been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, has become a nationally recognized advocate in the effort to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which bars her wife, Karen, from receiving military, Social Security and other benefits that would help her care for their five-year-old daughter Casey Elena.

Following the ceremony and receiving line, Hassan will hold a State House Open House starting at 4:30pm where she will greet citizens from across the state.  During the open house, volunteers from the City Year New Hampshire program will help greet visitors and serve as guides through the State House where the Senate, House and Executive Council chambers will all remain open.

Music will be performed by students from across New Hampshire throughout the open house and exhibits by participants in the FIRST Robotics Competition, an initiative founded by Granite Stater Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, as well as NH LEGO League teams will be set up in the cafeteria.

Children visiting the open house will be able to meet with and bring books to be signed by New Hampshire children’s authors, including Rebecca Rule, Erin Moulton and David Elliott, and Exeter artist Rose Bryant will work with children to create an art installation project.

Food and drink for the State House Open House and inaugural events has been generously donated by numerous New Hampshire businesses, including Common Man Restaurants, Crust & Crumb Baking Company, Lindt Chocolate, Me & Ollie’s Bakeries, Stonyfield Yogurt, Zampa’s, Blue Moon Evolution, and Washington Street Café. For more information about Hassan’s inaugural events, please visit www.hassaninauguration.org.

As Governor, Maggie Hassan will bring people together to keep New Hampshire moving forward by focusing on innovation, fiscal responsibility and common-sense solutions to our challenges. Hassan will work with members of both parties to develop a fiscally responsible balanced budget that protects New Hampshire’s priorities without an income or sales tax. She will work to implement her “Innovate NH” jobs plan, which focuses on building the best workforce in the country, providing tax credits to businesses, and giving businesses technical assistance to help them create jobs. And Hassan will reach out to legislators and citizens across the state to listen to their ideas on moving New Hampshire forward.

Governor-Elect Hassan Announces Inauguration Plans

Hassan - Inauguration Logos v3 MC12

Hassan Launches New Inauguration Website, Names Inaugural Committee Director and Co-Chairs 

CONCORD – Governor-Elect Maggie Hassan today announced details on plans for her inauguration as New Hampshire’s 81st Governor, including a series of events that will bring together citizens from across the state to participate in moving New Hampshire forward.

Hassan will take the oath of office as Governor of New Hampshire on Thursday, January 3rd at the State House in Concord. Later that day she will host a State House Open House to greet citizens from across the state.  More details on the open house will be released later.

The Inaugural Committee will host the Inaugural Ball on Friday, January 4th at the Radisson Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. Additionally the committee will hold a North Country Ball on Saturday, January 12th at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods.

To keep the public informed about inauguration activities, Hassan has launched a new website www.hassaninauguration.org, which will also provide online ticketing for events.

“New Hampshire is a special place where we come together as communities to support each other, address our challenges, and move our state forward,” said Governor-Elect Hassan. “The New Hampshire way means all of us chip in, and the people of New Hampshire expect their leaders to be accessible to their ideas and priorities. I want to ensure all of our citizens have an opportunity to participate as we begin our work together to build a stronger, more innovative New Hampshire where our businesses can grow, flourish and create good jobs for our people.”

Governor-Elect Hassan also announced the formation of her Inaugural Committee, which is working to organize and plan the inauguration.

The committee will be co-chaired by Alan Reische of Manchester, Anna Grace Holloway of Rye, Fred Seigel of North Hampton, and Tom Raffio of Bow.

Additionally, Hassan has named Matt Burgess, who previously served as her campaign manager, as Inaugural Committee Director.  J.P. Boyle, who served as the campaign’s deputy campaign manager will be the Inaugural Committee’s deputy director and Liz Purdy will serve as a senior advisor to the committee as she did on the campaign.

As Governor, Maggie Hassan will bring people together to keep New Hampshire moving forward by focusing on innovation, fiscal responsibility and common-sense solutions to our challenges. Hassan will work with members of both parties to develop a fiscally responsible balanced budget that protects New Hampshire’s priorities without an income or sales tax. She will work to implement her “Innovate NH” jobs plan, which focuses on building the best workforce in the country, providing tax credits to businesses, and giving businesses technical assistance to help them create jobs. And Hassan will reach out to legislators and citizens across the state to listen to their ideas on moving New Hampshire forward.

What Could Sweeter Than 2008 Election? 2012

Union Vote

After receiving a gut wrenching kick in the electoral stomach in 2010 we just witnessed an enormous 180 degree turnaround in just two years. We got almost everything we asked for except a Democratic Congress. That was gerrymandered out of reach by a Republican win in 2010. We did the next best thing though, we turned New Hampshire blue against an onslaught of the Citizen’s United enabled Republican money machine. Facts matter and we didn’t cave to the outside money interest that swarmed into the Granite State.

We now have some friends in Washington that we can count on. We gained in the House and the Senate. It will prove to be way friendlier to fixing the financial ills of the Postal Service than the previous Congress. We did all that we could and more. We had help from Massachusetts with the election of Elizabeth Warren. I pray they put her on a banking committee so she can ask the tough questions to Wall St. manipulators. You know the ones that squandered away trillions of hard earned workers savings! For us here in New Hampshire we have two wonderful women totally on board for Letter Carriers. Carol Shea-Porter has already proven herself with two terms previously and Ann Kuster was vetted in 2010 by our legislative department and was our endorsed candidate. They will be there 100% for us.

Governor Hassan and a Democratic New Hampshire House is just the cherry on top. We know that an attack on New Hampshire working families is just the precursor to an attack on all workers in the country including letter carriers. Besides our agenda in Washington which is fixing the financial woes of the Postal Service we need to protect bargaining agreements right here for State and municipal workers and teachers. Also in New Hampshire we need to begin the dialogue with our State government for a no fault absentee ballot and eventually a vote by mail system that seems to work fine in 26 other states. This will go a long way towards putting a damper on phony voter fraud legislation requiring us to provide ID’s at the polls.

Lastly I would like to thank the 70% of Letter Carriers that supported us in this last election by voting for our endorsed candidates. For whatever reason the other 30% could not support candidates that will vote to protect their jobs, good luck to you, you will still enjoy good wages and benefits. New Hampshire Letter Carriers scored among the top percentage of workers endorsing and going to the polls and actually voting. As a union President I could not be prouder. I was especially proud at my last union meeting when I read out the names and asked to stand the letter carriers that volunteered for the last election. A third of the room was standing. Way to Go!

New Hampshire Union Members Celebrate Enormous Electoral Wins

Labor 2012

For weeks now union members have been canvassing New Hampshire as part of the Labor 2012 campaign.  After making thousands of phone calls and spending every free moment knocking on doors, all of our hard work paid off!

With our help New Hampshire cast it’s four electoral votes for President Obama as part of his reelection last night. This is great news for New Hampshire and the rest of the Nation.

Here in New Hampshire many of the union locals are more excited about the other races.  We banded together to defeat Ovide ‘Scott Walker on Steroids’ Lamontagne in electing Maggie Hassan as our next Governor.  She has already assured us that she will veto any anti-worker legislation including Right To Work for less.  Ensuring that we have a labor friendly Governor was the most important part of  preserving collective bargaining in New Hampshire.  While Right To Work has already been proposed for next years session, we can rest assured it will not pass.

We also celebrated huge victories in our Congressional candidates.  Annie Kuster defeated Congressman Charlie Bass (NH-02).  We worked with Annie, who received the endorsement from almost every labor organization in the state.  Congressman Bass voted to turn Medicare into a Voucher system and gut Social Security.  While Annie campaigned on preserving the middle class and protecting our workers.

The big win did not come until after 2 am last night.  CNN was the first to call the NH-01 race for Carol Shea-Porter.  As the results were coming in, the results were all over the road.  Carol was up, then she was down.  Carol Shea-Porter will be returning to her seat in Washington DC, and removing one of the most anti-union legislators in Washington, Congressman Frank Guinta.   Congressman Guinta, who was backed by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC),  pushed legislation to end project labor agreements and prevailing wage laws.

With Annie and Carol in our corner we can get back to rebuilding the middle class while we rebuild New Hampshire’s infrastructure. We will also have two amazing advocates for protecting all of our rights as workers in Washington.

New Hampshire workers almost received the biggest surprise of all.  Shortly after the polls closed it was reported that NH Speaker Bill O’Brien had lost the largest of the two towns in his district.  O’Brien was the one leading the anti-worker charge in the NH House with attacks on collective bargaining, and Right To Work.   After hours of waiting the results finally came in after midnight that Bill O’Brien retained his seat by 25 votes.  While we never expected O’Brien to loose his seat, it would have made all of our victories just a little sweeter.

The next legislative session will be very different in New Hampshire.  We are still awaiting final results on the breakdown of the NH House, we know that the GOP has lost their 3:1 majority.  Even after all the gerrymandering in the NH Senate districts the Democrats picked up seats.  Now the NH Senate is split with a slight GOP favor at 13-11

Now we start looking to the next legislative session where we can fight to repeal the Voter ID law and other extreme legislation that was passed over the past two years.

However our future looks brighter already.

Get Out There And Vote Today! Then Help GOTV!

Vote No on Question 1 2 3

Well it if finally NOV 6th 2012! Many of us are so happy that it is finally election day. Before I can rest and move on from all the election politics I want to make one more reminder.

GET OUT AND VOTE!

If you do not know where to go and vote, you can find it here.

Remember that for no reason can you be turned away from voting in New Hampshire.  Even with the new Voter ID Laws you can still register at the poll and vote  with or without an ID.   While I hope there is no problems with the new Voter ID Law there are a few ways you can help ensure this does not happen.  If you see a problem, report it immediately. Call 1-888-939-5932.  You can also review some of the changes at NH Voter Protection.

I hope by now that you have done all your research and know who you are going to vote for.   In case you have not, we hope you will support

  • Barack Obama for President / Joe Biden for Vice President
  • Maggie Hassan for NH Governor
  • Carol Shea-Porter in NH CD01
  • Ann Kuster in NH CD 02

While these are very, very important races the State Races are important too.  Take a few minutes to check your NH Progressive Voting guide.  See who has endorsed who in this election.  You can also see how they voted last year using the Granite State Progress ‘Legislator Report Card’.

Lastly, the NH Constitutional Amendments.  I have talked about these amendments since they were proposals in the house.  We are urging everyone to vote NO on Questions 1, 2, and 3.   For more information on Question 1 (taxes), or Question 2 (Court Reform). Also see Protect NH Constitution.

 The most important thing I can say is GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.  While we may agree on some issues and disagree on others your vote is important.  This election could be the closest in history and New Hampshire is one of the most important states this year.  We need everyone to get out and vote.  We also need your help getting everyone else out to vote.  Start by sharing this message on your social media. Then you can help get out the vote at one of these locations.

  • Manchester – Teamsters Local 633 – 53 Goffstown Road – Manchester, NH
  • Concord - IBEW Local 490 – 48 Airport Road – Concord, NH
  • Nashua – WH Bagshaw Company – 1 Pine Street Extension – Nashua, NH
  • Rochester – OFA Rochester office – 63 Hanson Street, Rochester, NH
  • Hampton – OFA Hampton office – 150 High Street, Hampton, NH

We will be canvassing at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

 

Oh, Ovide: Video from 2010 Contrasts Ovide’s “Agnostic” Views on Climate Change

Ovide Lamontagne tells Granite State Debate viewers he’s “agnostic” on climate change; Video from 2010 US Senate race says otherwise

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Ovide Lamontagne has spent most of his campaign trying to hide his extreme record as a tobacco lobbyist, deny his support to block grant Medicare and put our seniors at risk, and downplay his position of putting politicians between a woman and her doctor. Tonight he added climate change denial to his long list of shifting and hidden policies. 1

Ovide told Granite State Debate viewers that he’s “agnostic” on whether climate change exists. Granite State Progress released a video tonight entitled “Ovide Lamontagne: Climate Change Denier” showing the candidate at an August 2010 US Senate Primary debate expressing strong opinions on the matter.

Ovide Lamontagne: Climate Change Denier

http://youtu.be/bLxsbWwPVXQ

Transcript: Debate moderator Nancy Stiles: “Ovide, do you believe that man-made global warming has been proven without a doubt?” Ovide Lamontagne: “No.”

—————————–

“Ovide has spent most of his campaign trying to hide his extreme record as a tobacco lobbyist despite public evidence to the contrary, deny his desire to block grant Medicare and put our seniors at risk even though it’s on his own website, and downplay his position of putting politicians between a woman and her doctor while receiving endorsements from groups that support that very position,” said Zandra Rice Hawkins, Director of Granite State Progress. “Tonight he added running from his own record as a climate change denier. Ovide also tried to tell voters that he doesn’t support teaching creationism at the same time he said he would allow creationism to be taught in public schools. Ovide Lamontagne is fast becoming a Mitt Romney flip-flopper replica in his constant quest for higher office.”

“Ovide Lamontagne’s extreme policies would take New Hampshire in a radically different direction.”

 

1 The Lobby NH 10/18/2012; New England College Debate 10/4/2012; Ovide 2012, http://www.ovide2012.com/news/entry/new-hampshire-needs-to-invest-in-its-own-exceptionalism; Keene Sentinel 10/22/2012

In Granite State Debate, Hassan the Clear Choice to Keep New Hampshire Moving Forward

 

Lamontagne Makes Desperate Last-Ditch Effort

to Hide His Radical Agenda

Maggie Hassan offered a clear vision for growing New Hampshire’s economy and creating jobs during tonight’s Granite State Debate, while Ovide Lamontagne made a last-ditch effort to mislead voters about his radical agenda, including not telling the truth about his opposition to statewide kindergarten, his support for teaching creationism in public schools, and his ideas for restricting a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.[Opposes kindergarten; supporting creationism; radical on women's health]

Hassan’s innovation plan will provide technical assistance, tax credits and workforce training to help businesses grow and create jobs. As Governor, Hassan – who has been endorsed by Governor John Lynch – will balance the budget without a sales or an income tax.

“Maggie Hassan offered a clear and forward-looking vision for New Hampshire in tonight’s debate. She has a plan that moves New Hampshire forward by helping our businesses grow  and helping our families succeed,” said Matt Burgess, campaign manager for Hassan for Governor.

“The choice was as clear tonight as it has been in every debate: as governor, Maggie Hassan will keep New Hampshire moving forward, while Ovide Lamontagne’s radical agenda will take our state backwards,” Burgess said. “Ovide Lamontagne was clearly desperate tonight in his attempts to mislead voters about his radical agenda, but he can’t hide the fact that he truly believes in extreme ideas that will hurt middle-class families and New Hampshire’s economy.”

Hassan outlined her “Innovate NH” jobs plan, which focuses on building the best workforce in the country, providing tax credits to businesses, and giving businesses technical assistance to help them create jobs.  Hassan worked closely with Governor Lynch to balance the state budget, without an income or a sales tax, by making the tough decisions necessary to cut state spending during the height of the recession, leading to a surplus. As Governor, Hassan will veto an income or a sales tax.

Hassan’s forward-looking vision stood in stark contrast to Ovide Lamontagne, who desperately tried to mislead voters again and again about his radical ideas to eliminate the guarantee of statewide kindergarten, reject federal funding for public schools, pull the state out of Medicare, and restrict a women’s right to make her own health care decisions. And Lamontagne continued to repeat untrue attacks against Maggie’s fiscally responsible record of balancing the state’s budget. Ovide’s claim about the state deficit has been deemed “false” by PolitiFact NH[i] and his statements about spending increases under Maggie Hassan’s leadership have also been debunked by fact checkers.[ii]

During her time in the State Senate, Maggie Hassan worked with Governor Lynch to keep the unemployment rate low, maintain one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation, and cut the high school drop rate in half while making the hard choices to cut spending, balancing the budget and leaving a surplus without an income or sales tax.

Hassan will continue moving New Hampshire forward on the path that Governor Lynch has set, and she has been endorsed by numerous organizations including the New Hampshire Police Association, New Hampshire Troopers’ Association, National Education Association New Hampshire, American Federation of Teachers New Hampshire, and many more.  She has also been endorsed by newspapers across the state, including the Concord Monitor, Keene Sentinel, Portsmouth Herald, and Nashua Telegraph, which also endorsed Republicans Mitt Romney and Charlie Bass.  The Telegraph praised Hassan’s “well-reasoned and bipartisan leadership” and expressed concern about Lamontagne’s “worrisome statements” on education, noting that his radical idea to end statewide kindergarten would mean “local school districts would be on the hook to pick up [the] costs, and that means higher property taxes.”[iii]

Ovide Lamontagne has said he would be a “radically different” governor than Gov. Lynch[iv], with extreme ideas that would eliminate statewide kindergarten[v], reject federal funds for local schools[vi] and ignore rising tuition costs caused by cuts to higher education.[vii] He supports plans to dismantle Medicare[viii], criminalize abortion and limit insurance coverage for birth control[ix], and defund Planned Parenthood, increasing costs for critical health care services for New Hampshire women and families.[x]


[i] http://www.politifact.com/new-hampshire/statements/2012/jul/29/new-boston-republican-committee/new-boston-gop-says-dems-left-deficit/
[ii] http://www.politifact.com/new-hampshire/statements/2012/oct/12/ovide-lamontagne/republican-lamontagne-paints-opponent-hassan-tax-a/
[iii] Maggie Hassan for Governor, Nashua Telegraph, 10/29/12
[iv] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkr_WSOovsk&feature=relmfu
[v] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxH9OfqFO2s&feature=player_embedded#
[vi] Ovide rejected federal money to help K-12 NH public schools raise educational standards [Concord Monitor, 8/9/2010] and has said he would do it again [WGIR, 7/24/2012]
[vii] Ovide has said tuition increases were not of “utmost concern” [WMUR, 9/6/2012]
[viii] Ovide supports Paul Ryan’s voucher program to end Medicare as we know it [NH Farm Bureau, 8/2012]; believes state legislature should opt-out of Medicare and run program itself [Union Leader, 2/10/2012]
[ix] Supports a “Human Life Amendment” that outlaws all abortion, and even some forms of birth control and fertility treatments [Cornerstone debate, 6/5/2010]
[x] Ovide supports Bill O’Brien’s decision to completely eliminate Planned Parenthood

GOTV Rally in Concord, Friday November 2nd at noon

Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan will hold a GOTV rally tomorrow in Concord along with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Stephanie Schriock, the President of EMILY’s List, and Sylvia Larsen, the Democratic leader in the state Senate. The rally will take place at noon in the basement of the Barley House in Concord.

Shaheen and Schriock will then join Hassan for an afternoon of campaigning around the state, visiting volunteers at the Obama for America field office in Derry, followed by a visit to Girls Incorporated of New Hampshire in Manchester. Girls Inc. works to help girls achieve their personal best through one-on-one attention and leadership development.

Hassan will begin the day in Portsmouth, where she will stand with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers as she is endorsed by the Metal Trades Council. Schriock will later join Hassan to meet voters and volunteers at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Hassan’s public schedule for November 2 is as follows:

9:00 AM:         Metal Trades Council Press Conference Endorsement, Prescott Park, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth
10:00 AM:       UNH Visit, Memorial Union Building (MUB), 83 Main St., Durham
12:00 PM:        Hassan for Governor GOTV Rally, Barley House, 132 North State St., Concord
3:00 PM:          Derry OFA Office Visit, 127 Rockingham Rd. (Unit 13), Derry
4:00 PM:          Girls Inc. Visit, 27 Burke St., Nashua

Hassan Addresses Voters on Plan to Move NH Forward

Maggie Hassan Pathfinder

Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan’s campaign released its final television advertisement today.  The new ad, “Pathfinder,” highlights Hassan’s plan to grow the economy, spur job creation, and keep New Hampshire moving forward.

Addressing voters directly, Hassan lays out the clear choice in this election, saying she will move New Hampshire “forward, on the path Governor Lynch has set,” while promising that she “won’t let anyone’s radical ideas drag us backwards.”  Hassan focuses on the economy, pledging to “balance the budget and veto a sales or income tax,” and noting that her jobs plan will “help businesses innovate and create jobs.”

The ad also highlights several important endorsements from around the state, including Governor John Lynch, the Nashua Telegraph, and the Portsmouth Herald.

The full ad can be found on Hassan’s YouTube page:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GMd8GmXJ6k&feature=plcp