Tag Archives: Senator Kelly Ayotte

Gun Violence Prevention Advocates Rally at State Capitol; “Shame on Sen. Ayotte” for Siding with NRA Lobby Over Granite State Constituents

  By Granite State Progress | April 29, 2013 - 5:34 pm | ,
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Erin+Liam Murray

Community members and advocates take Sen. Ayotte to task on recent votes, call on her to answer for her vote at three town halls scheduled for this week. 

Press conference wide view

CONCORD, NH – More than thirty community members participated in a press conference at the State Capitol today to highlight opposition to U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte’s recent votes against gun violence prevention, and to call on her to answer during her three upcoming town halls this week why she sided with the NRA lobby over constituents.

A New England College poll earlier this year confirmed that Granite Staters overwhelming support stronger gun violence prevention measures – with nearly 9 in 10 supporting criminal background checks for every gun sale – but Sen. Ayotte voted against the popular provision and constituents this month. Public Policy Polling released numbers last week that found Sen. Ayotte is facing serious backlash over her vote against commonsense background checks, a sentiment echoed by letters to the editor and editorial pages across the state – and soon to be seen at town halls this week.

Speakers at the press conference made the case for urgent and swift action to prevent more gun violence in our communities, and called on Senator Ayotte to answer why she is blocking efforts to do so. They vowed that gun violence prevention advocates would turn out for the Senator’s three town halls this week to demand answers (RSVP to the town hall in Tilton). Here are some of the statements from today’s event:

Judy Stadtman is a co-founder of NH Project for Safer Communities. She lives in Portsmouth with her husband and two children.

“It seems that Senator Ayotte needs a reminder that New Hampshire is not just a ‘pro-gun’ state – it is also a ‘pro-gun safety’ state. A full 89 percent of Granite State residents support expanded background checks as a moderate, commonsense measure to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. By voting against bi-partisan compromise legislation to require expanded background checks, Senator Ayotte chose to take sides with gun lobbyists who want to weaken federal and state guns laws so that virtually anyone can buy any kind of gun with no questions asked, and carry it in every public place in America. That’s not in line with the views of responsible, mainstream gun owners, who overwhelmingly support expanded background checks, and it’s not in line with mainstream New Hampshire values.” – Judy Stadtman, co-founder of NH Project for Safer Communities

Judy Stadtman and Rep Steve Shurloff

Judy Stadtman and Rep Steve Shurtleff

Rep. Steve Shurtleff (D-Penacook) is a Retired Deputy U.S. Marshall and current NH House Majority Leader.

“As a former teacher and a member of law enforcement my heart breaks every time I think about these terrible tragedies. We must act to protect our communities in New Hampshire and across the country.   And we must do it without delay.  Too much is at stake. That is why I was very disappointed with the vote in the US Senate last week – these were bipartisan compromise bills focused on the very basic commonsense steps we can take to reduce gun violence. I have been told that New Hampshire’s own Senator Ayotte is holding several public town hall meetings this week. I commend her for that. Anytime you vote contrary to the opinion of 90% of your constituents it is important to honestly and personally explain why you did so. I sincerely hope – and without any partisan feelings here at all – that she offers that kind of an explanation this week.  It is clear that the people of New Hampshire are looking for one, are expecting one, and deserve one.” – Rep. Steve Shurtleff, Retired Deputy U.S. Marshall

Bill Kingston is a retired airline pilot, combat veteran, gun owner, NRA member and one of the founders of New Castle Promise (modeled after Sandy Hook Promise). He lives in New Castle with his family.

“Let me tell you about your constituents here in New Hampshire, Sen. Ayotte. We are disgusted at the epidemic of violence that has swept this country. A full 89 percent of us support expanded background checks to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. We are horrified that the Constitution of the country we fought for – myself in Vietnam – has been so twisted and tortured by the likes of Wayne LaPierre and the gun manufacturers he represents, and that you and other Senators are willing to go along with it. Responsible gun owners understand that what our Constitution says is that all of our rights have limitations. The First Amendment doesn’t give you the right to yell fire in a crowded theater and the Second Amendment does not give criminals the right to buy guns. Nor was it written to promote this paranoid fantasy that somehow we need to arm ourselves against a possibly hostile government. As a U.S. combat veteran, this sounds to me a lot like sedition. Of course, Sen. Ayotte – not wanting to sound crazy – did not talk about armed uprising when she tried to explain her inexplicable vote to make us less safe in our homes and our beds and our streets and our communities. Sen. Ayotte offered some garbled explanation about how the rights of law abiding gun owners might be infringed upon – total baloney, we all know. When she saw her poll numbers slip as a result she then did an interview where she offered some barely comprehensible talking point about protecting licensed gun dealers. I am here to say enough with all of that Sen. Ayotte. You can protect licensed dealers, and our children and yes, even your own political career, by standing up for what’s right and fixing our gun laws. It’s time to do the right thing.” – Bill Kingston, New Castle Promise

Rabbi Robin Nafshi serves at the Temple Beth Jacob in Concord.

 

“In Judaism, safety is a religious concern. Torah states: “When you build a … house, you shall make a parapet (or fence) for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.”  In other words, you are required to properly gate a roof, in order to prevent people from falling off. The later rabbis site this verse to issue a general directive requiring a person to remove or correct any safety hazard,  or do whatever is possible to maximize community safety. More specifically, those rabbis ruled that Jewish law prohibits someone from selling offensive weapons to suspected criminals. We know that the overwhelming majority of Americans – and Granite Staters –  support these efforts as well. There is no sane reason to opposed background checks for all gun buyers, including those who purchase at gun shows and from private sellers, not just for those who buy from a federal firearms license holder, as the law currently states. After the shootings in Newtown this past year, a sixth grader in our religious said to me, “Rabbi, we expect kids in high school and middle school to be faced with gun violence. But elementary school? How horrible.” I turned to her and said, “What kind of a world have we adults given you where you expect to face gun violence at school? I’m so sorry. We have failed you. We have failed you.” And our elected representatives have failed us. Background checks have saved, do save, and will continue to save lives. They must be expanded.” – Rabbi Robin Nafshi

1 http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/04/ayotte-faces-backlash-over-gun-vote.html

2 http://www.nec.edu/news/nh-voters-want-gun-restrictions-new-england-college-poll-shows-overwhelming-support-for-tougher-laws

Gun Rally 4-29-13 GSP

Labor and Community Activists Protest Senator Ayotte’s Vote on Gun Reform

  By Matt Murray | April 20, 2013 - 10:44 am | , ,
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One of the most controversial debates going on in Congress and throughout the country is the issue of gun reform legislation. Even among the NH Labor News fan club there is great and contentious debate. People have asked me, why is a labor union blog talking about gun reform? I along with members of the American Federation of Teachers feel that the gun issue is an issue labor should be talking about. It is a workplace safety issue.

It has been four months since 20 first graders and six educators were murdered at Sandy Hook elementary school. Those heroic educators were members of AFT. That direct connection has push AFT directly into the gun reform issue.

As all of you are probably aware the US Senate held their first vote on common sense comprensive gun reform legislation. Time and time again, in poll after poll American citizens overwhelmingly support universal background checks on all gun sales. The bill like so many in the Senate was filibustered by the Senate GOP. The vote, which was 54-46 failed to pass the 60 vote threshold to beat the filibuster.

After the vote, AFT President Randi Wiengarten released the following statement:

“Make no mistake—the NRA and the gun manufacturers won out today over the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of our children, families and communities. A government by the people and for the people must serve the American people and not the gun lobby.

“The tragic question facing us now is how many gun deaths will it take before Congress lives up to its basic responsibility to protect and serve the American people? Twenty-six children and teachers gunned down in Newtown, Conn. Thirty-two students and faculty killed at Virginia Tech. U.S. Rep. Gabby Gifford shot outside a supermarket. Thirteen students and educators brutally murdered at Columbine High School. Twelve people gunned down in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo. Nearly 3,500 Americans killed by guns since Dec. 14—more than 50 of them children. The time for action is now.

“We applaud Sens. Manchin, Toomey, Feinstein, Blumenthal, Schumer, Kirk and Lautenberg for their leadership, as well as the other senators who voted for commonsense gun safety legislation today. AFT members admire their courage for standing up and doing what is right for our children and families.”

This vote drew ire from the local community, especially here in New Hampshire. NH GOP Senator Kelly Ayotte was one of the Senators who voted against this common sense legislation. This vote also showed the absolute disfunction of the US Senate. The filibuster rule must be changed. No other place does 46 votes beat 54.

Today I joined with other labor activists, former union members and community activists to show our distain for Senator Ayotte’s vote against universal background checks on all gun sales. Some of the people in the crowd including a State Rep who retired from New Hampshire Department of Health and Humans Department has seen gun violence first hand. She has been an outspoken advocate against domestic abuse and gun violence for as long as I have know her. In a recent rally by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns rally in North Carolina, Kit Grunelle highlighted the fact background checks help protect women of domestic violence. Background checks stop gun sales to those who have protective orders against them. “In states where a background check is required for every handgun sale, 38 percent fewer women are shot to death by intimate partners, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

Background Check VoteWe are calling on all Americans to contact their US Senators this week. See how your Senator voted. If they voted for the bill, call them and thank them for standing up for the safety and security of the American people. If they voted against the bill call them and tell them how disappointed you are in their vote and that you want them to reconsider their position. If they do not change their position explain to them that you will not be able to support them in their next election campaign. You can reach your senator by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

We need to focus our efforts by focusing on the facts, not NRA propaganda. Background Checks do not impede our second amendment rights. It is a minor inconvenience at most that will help to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, and the mentally ill.

Are You Kidding Me? Sen Ayotte Wants Federal Workers To Pay For Budget Cuts

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 27, 2013 - 11:06 am | ,
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New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)
New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)

New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)

GovExc release this article, “GOP Sequester Alternative Targets Federal Pay, Benefits.”

I will give you some of the highlights of Senator Ayottes grand plan, stop me if you have heard any of this before.

“Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., drafted the bill — the 2013 Sequester Replacement and Spending Reduction Act — which includes provisions to extend the federal pay freeze through 2014 and increase current employees’ pension contributions by 2.3 percent over three years.”

“The bill ends the government’s Federal Employees Retirement System annuity supplement for anyone hired after Dec. 31, 2013″

“…it seeks to reduce funding for the 2010 Affordable Care Act”

There is absolutely nothing new here.  Another part of this plan is to reduce the federal workforce by 10%. “Under the plan, for every three federal employees who left their job, the federal government would be allowed to hire one.”  This is the GOP trying to shrink government.  Less people working mean less government, right?

There are huge problems with this because as the sequester is about to hit all of the government agencies have released reports on what will have to happen when these automatic cuts take place.  Most of the government will be faced with mandatory furloughs or forced time off.  Most of the furloughs range from 11-22 days, essentially one month off in the next six.  The FAA reports drastic delays and airport closures. FBI Director Robert Mueller has said $550 million in cuts to the bureau “would have the net effect of cutting 2,285 employees”.  National Parks will be closed due to lack of staffing.  Less agents to patrol our borders. Less agents to check our food. The list goes on and on and on.

While workers are being forced into unpaid time off, Senator Ayotte is suggesting we continue the downward spiral by freezing pay for another two years and reducing the staff.  As you can see by the effects of the furloughs reducing the staff is going to work out great for everyone.

At the Portsmouth naval shipyard that would mean reducing (or cutting) 470 jobs, while they are already overloaded with work.

We need congress to reject this proposal and come up with something new.  This continual attack on the hard working middle class employees in the federal sector have already given up so much.

“National Federation of Federal Employees National President William R. Dougan said in a statement. “Rather than proposing a serious solution to sequestration, Senator Ayotte and her GOP colleagues have chosen to dust off well-worn attacks on federal employees that do nothing to fix the problem. Federal employees have already endured over two years of frozen pay and an increase in retirement contributions that will save the government $103 billion over the next decade.”

NH Citizens Alliance and NH Peace Action RALLY For Cuts To Wasteful Pentagon Spending

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 26, 2013 - 9:05 am | , ,
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Pull The Pork Image

PULL THE PORK FROM THE PENTAGON! NH CITIZENS ALLIANCE & NH PEACE ACTION CALL FOR REINING IN WASTEFUL PENTAGON SPENDING IN ORDER TO INVEST IN AMERICA’S MIDDLE CLASS

Nashua, NH — As part of a National Day of Action across the U.S., NH Citizens Alliance and NH Peace Action will gather in front of the Office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, 144 Main Street in Nashua on Wednesday, February 27th at noon to demand an end to wasteful Pentagon spending and to call on Congress to shift that spending into health care, education, housing and infrastructure.

“Pull the Pork from the Pentagon: Protect Our Priorities” events are taking place in Nashua, NH and across the country on February 27th. In Nashua, NH Citizens Alliance and NH Peace Action will have a rally with a brief speaking program, a petition signing, and calls to Congress on the spot in support of ending Pentagon waste.

The Feb. 27 National Day of Action is taking place as Congress faces a series of deadlines on our country’s budget priorities, including possible automatic spending cuts scheduled to take place on March 1.

“It’s time for Congress to commit once and for all to ending Pentagon waste and instead shift that spending into housing, health care, education, and infrastructure repair,” said Melissa Bernardin, Coordinator for NH Citizens Alliance’s Campaign to End Pentagon Waste. “We are calling for a fundamental restructuring of our priorities so that we can pay for programs that create jobs and protect our communities.”

Pull the Pork From the Pentagon

What:    Rally to End Pentagon Waste

Where: 144 Main Street, Nashua NH – Office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte

When:   Wednesday, February 27th at Noon

Why:   Pending Congressional action, possible automatic spending cuts scheduled to take place on March 1. With all the attention focused on the national debt and deficit, the American public is paying attention, public opinion supports ending wasteful Pentagon spending, and the time for action is NOW.

Pull The Pork, Cut Pentagon Waste Event In Nashua

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 23, 2013 - 11:00 am | , ,
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Pull The Pork Image

Pull The Pork ImageWith less than 8 days until automatic spending cuts are scheduled to go into effect, now is the time for Congress to Pull the Pork from the Pentagon — so that we can protect priorities like education, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Please join us this coming Wednesday in Nashua as we take part in a National Day of Action to tell Congress to Pull the Pork! Cut Pentagon waste!

What:    Rally to End Pentagon Waste

Where: 144 Main Street, Nashua NH – Office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte

When:   Wednesday, February 27th, at Noon

Why:      With all the attention focused on the national debt and deficit, the American public is paying attention, public opinion is on our side, and the time to speak out against Pentagon waste is NOW.

RSVP:    Email Melissa ((603) 225-2097 x15)  so that we have a count of folks who will be joining us!

Join us as we talk about a positive vision for the real community security we could have if Congress committed once and for all to end Pentagon waste and shift that spending into housing, health care, education, and infrastructure repair.

We will have a rally with a brief speaking program, petition signing, calls Congress on the spot in support of ending Pentagon waste.  Join us!

.@NHAFLCIO Host High-Stakes Safety Net Roulette Game to Protest Manufactured Fiscal Crisis

  By New Hampshire Labor News | January 31, 2013 - 8:08 pm | ,
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NH AFLCIO Medicare Action
NH AFLCIO Medicare Action

Image from NH AFL-CIO (Nora Fredrickson)

A group of workers, labor leaders and community members gathered outside Senator Kelly Ayotte’s Manchester office on Thursday, January 31st for a high-stakes game of safety net roulette. Demanding that fringe Republicans in Congress stop holding the economy hostage to their own radical agenda, they called on Senator Ayotte to close tax loopholes for Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans instead of cutting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare for families.

Participants delivered an invitation to Senator Ayotte to try her hand at a roulette wheel set up outside her office, offering her a choice of red chips, representing safety net programs like Medicaid, or black chips, representing outsized tax breaks and loopholes for corporations.

“We want our elected leaders to address the real problems facing our economy,” said Charles Balban, retiree and president of the New Hampshire Alliance for Retired Americans. “Demanding benefit cuts to programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, just so that corporations and the richest 2% don’t pay their fair share, isn’t the right way to go. Republicans in Congress need to stop holding the middle class hostage to their radical agenda.”

“Tens of thousands of Granite Staters depend on safety net programs, yet our elected leaders are still choosing to use them as bargaining chips in negotiations over the deficit,” said New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie. “It’s time for our elected officials to stop gambling with our future, stop making drastic cuts to the services their constituents need to get back on their feet, and close tax loopholes that only further benefit the wealthy and corporations.”

Image from NH AFL-CIO (Nora Fredrickson)

Sen Ayotte Get Flustered By Republican Constituent Who Wants To Raise Taxes

  By Granite State Progress | December 17, 2012 - 7:47 pm |
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TheAction

Long-Time Republican Constituent Schools Sen. Kelly Ayotte on Actual Impact of Tax Breaks for Wealthiest 2% during Pittsburg Town Hall

During Town Hall, U.S. Senator corrected by GOP tax accountant for misleading statements about impact of the Bush tax cuts for wealthiest 2%

Pittsburg, NH – In a Friday town hall meeting in Pittsburg, Senator Kelly Ayotte was corrected by a Republican constituent when she declared she wouldn’t end tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% because it will impact “small businesses.”

“There are a lot of people in here who in small business but I don’t think any of us in small businesses have a bottom line where we’re making over $250,000,” Wendall Woodard said. “It really won’t negatively affect these small businesses.”

Woodard, a tax accountant knew what he was talking about: according to several studies, the policy change would end the Bush-era tax cuts for businesses making over $250,000 a year and wouldn’t affect 97% of small businesses.

“The fact is that only between two and three percent of small businesses would see any increase at all and those businesses are making a profit of over $250,000 annually, “ said Taylor Coots, Lead Organizer for The Action NH/NHCA. “Sen. Ayotte seems eager to protect the wealthiest taxpayers – small business owners or not – at the expense of needed investments in things like education and infrastructure.”

Ayotte struggled to recover from the exchange; former state senator John Gallus ultimately tried to cover for Ayotte’s misstep.

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.

NH Citizens Alliance For Action, Protests In Front Of Ayotte’s Office

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 16, 2012 - 12:16 pm |
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Over twenty activists stood in unity outside Senator Ayotte’s office on Main Street in Nashua on Saturday afternoon. Their message was clear: if cuts need to be made in a deal to avoid an austerity crisis, Sen. Ayotte should consider trimming Pentagon waste, not slashing funds for programs that matter most to the middle class, children, and the elderly, like Social Security and Medicare.

Senator Ayotte has been touring the country, meeting with millionaire Pentagon contractor executives, and emphasizing her belief that the indutry should be exempt from the budget downsizing that would face nearly all federal departments if automatic cuts take place next year.

Senator Ayotte has said her concern over cuts to Pentagon spending are about jobs. However, as activist Mark Provost of Manchester pointed out, dollar-for-dollar, the federal government creates more jobs when they fund education, health care, and clean energy.

The rally was organized by the group New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, a non-profit based in Concord that works for social, economic, and political justice. You can find their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NHCitizensAllianceforAction.

Staff member Jillian Andrews Dubois of Hudson emphasized that the Pentagon has waste that can be cut without harming miltary members and their families. “We Americans are responsible for 41% of the world’s defense spending, despite being less than 5% of the world’s population,” she stated. “The Pentagon even ended fiscal year 2012 with $105 billion dollars just sitting in a bank account.”

UPDATED: New Ad Targets Senator Kelly Ayotte Defense Of Defense Contractors Spending

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 14, 2012 - 2:21 pm |
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Cut Pentagon Waste Video Screenshot

Have you seen this new ad?

The ad talks about how NH Senator Kelly Ayotte is fighting to keep funding for defense contractors instead of protecting the middle class families in New Hampshire.

“Sen. Ayotte is trying to balance the budget on the backs of New Hampshire’s most vulnerable citizens,” Cynthia Ward Wikstrom, campaign director at USAction, said.

In Nashua on Saturday (12/15), grassroots activists will gather to ask Senator Ayotte why she has been protecting Pentagon contractors, some of whom have executives making up to 26 million dollars a year. Senator Ayotte has repeatedly sided with these contractors who benefit from Pentagon waste, while at the same time setting up hard-working, middle class Americans for drastic cuts as part of a deal to avoid an austerity crisis.

“Senator Ayotte has been traveling the country to show her support for millionaire defense contractor executives,” said Jillian Andrews Dubois, a community organizer with NH Citizens Alliance for Action. “We just want her to listen to her constituents here in New Hampshire who are asking for her to instead protect programs that help the middle class, children, and the elderly, like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”

Ayotte has tried to scare voters by saying that defense contractors will have to cut jobs if we spend our Pentagon budget smarter. The truth is, the amount of federal funding it takes to create 100 Pentagon jobs could make 251 jobs in education, 169 jobs in health care, or 147 jobs in clean energy. If she were really concerned about jobs for Granite Staters, she would rethink where she’d like to make budget cuts.

Check it out then share it if you agree that we should not be subsiding exuberant CEO salaries at the cost of social security and medicare programs. (more information contact Jillian jdubois@nhcitizensallaince.org)

 

Take a minute to go to Cut Pentagon Waste and sign their petition.

Pentagon spending is out of control and defense contractor CEOs couldn’t be happier. Even though the Iraq War is over, and the drawdown in Afghanistan continues, contractor CEOs making up to $26,000,000 a year are lobbying their friends in Washington to protect their exorbitant salaries and corporate profits, all at the expense of middle class and military families.

Enough is enough. Now is the time to CUT THE WASTE at the Pentagon and get serious about strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid!

Sign this petition and send a clear message to members of Congress that they were elected to represent America’s middle class families, not defense contractors getting rich off of our bloated Pentagon budget.

 

399 Days Without Action on American Jobs Act

  By Liz Iacobucci | November 8, 2012 - 2:30 pm | ,
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399

Today marks Day 399 of the Senate filibuster of President Obama’s American Jobs Act.

What’s a “filibuster”?  It’s a procedural method used by a minority of Senators to prevent a vote on proposed legislation.  In this case, Republican Senators have been blocking a vote on the American Jobs Act since October 2011.

The American Jobs Act would provide $132.6 million for highways, transit, rail and aviation here in New Hampshire.

It would provide $120.9 million in funding to pay for teachers, police and fire fighters, right here in New Hampshire.

More than $70 million in funding for public school construction, here in the Granite State.  Another $8.7 million to modernize facilities in the Community College System of New Hampshire.

Read more about how the American Jobs Act could benefit New Hampshire here.

Tomorrow will be Day 400.  It takes a two-third vote of the Senate to end a filibuster — and that’s not likely to happen if Senate Republicans continue to care more about party loyalty than they care about our nation’s economy.

One of those Senate Republicans represents us, here in New Hampshire — and you can call her to ask that she help end the filibuster on S.1660, so the Senate can finally vote on the bill.  Sen. Kelly Ayotte has offices in Manchester (603-622-7979), Nashua (603-880-3335), Berlin (603-752-7702) and Portsmouth (603-436-7161).