Our mission:

Democracy for New Hampshire is a nonpartisan big-tent organization that promotes grassroots community involvement in the democratic process in New Hampshire. DFNH works to protect the foundations of our democracy and the integrity of our political process and supports fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates who speak honestly about policy choices.

SOURCE:New York Times

Congress Reduces Drug Sentence Gap
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: July 28, 2010

Congress passed a bill on Wednesday that would reduce the disparities between mandatory sentences for crack and powdered cocaine violations, a step toward ending what legal experts say have been unfairly harsh punishments imposed mainly on blacks.

/snip/
Under the current law, adopted in 1986 after a surge in crack smoking and drug-related murders, someone convicted of possession of five grams of crack must be sentenced to at least five years in prison, and possession of 10 grams requires a 10-year minimum sentence. With powdered cocaine, the threshold amounts for those mandatory sentences are 100 times as high.

For Immediate Release

By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on July 23, 2010, I vetoed HB 53.

The Right to Know Law plays a critical role in assuring transparency and accountability in the operation of government at all levels. The provisions of the law governing public meetings and access to the records of public bodies and public agencies should be understandable and clear to citizens and officials alike. I am vetoing this bill because it could potentially dilute the public’s access to documents and information that constitute governmental records under RSA 91-A.

The existing provisions of RSA 91-A subject “public bodies” to the requirements for open meetings and access to governmental records. “Public agencies” must also provide access to governmental records, but may not be subject to the open meeting requirement depending upon whether such agencies act or vote by agreement of their members.

SOURCE: The Nation

BP Hires Prison Labor to Clean Up Spill While Coastal Residents Struggle
Abe Louise Young
July 21, 2010
In the first few days after BP's Deepwater Horizon wellhead exploded, spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, cleanup workers could be seen on Louisiana beaches wearing scarlet pants and white t-shirts with the words "Inmate Labor" printed in large red block letters. Coastal residents, many of whom had just seen their livelihoods disappear, expressed outrage at community meetings; why should BP be using cheap or free prison labor when so many people were desperate for work? The outfits disappeared overnight.

But not the prisoners. Read the whole shameful story

For Immediate Release

CONCORD — Gov. John Lynch today announced that five New Hampshire companies and nearly 400 workers will benefit from Job Training grants awarded in the month of July.

Job Training grants are aimed at keeping good jobs in New Hampshire by helping companies train their workers with new skills to compete in a changing economy Gov. Lynch made it a priority to reinstate the Job Training Fund, which distributes up to $1 million annually in matching grants to allow companies to train new workers or retrain longtime employees.

Since the Job Training Fund was reinstated in late 2007 ago, more than 7,000 workers from across New Hampshire have received training and enhanced skills through the matching grant program.

All told, more than 430 industry lobbyists once had jobs in the legislative or executive branches, according to the Post analysis, which was based on CRP lobbying data, employment histories and other records. Scores had ties to major committees that shape federal oil policies or to lawmakers who supported industry priorities while in Congress, records show.

SOURCE: WaPo

By Dan Eggen and Kimberly Kind

Washington Post Staff Writer

Three out of every four lobbyists who represent oil and gas companies previously worked in the federal government, a proportion that far exceeds the usual revolving-door standards on Capitol Hill, a Washington Post analysis shows.

For Immediate Release

CONCORD — Gov. John Lynch today released the following statement regarding Maine Gov. John Baldacci’s intention to send a letter in support of New Hampshire’s application for federal funding to replace the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth:

“The Memorial Bridge is a critical transportation and economic link for the people of Portsmouth and the surrounding area, and the bridge is in desperate need of replacement. In New Hampshire, we have taken the necessary steps that will allow us to move forward immediately with replacing the bridge. The 10-year transportation plan I recently signed into law includes the necessary state funding to begin this critical project.

"Sowing the Seeds of Change"
Please join NH Citizens Alliance for Action
for a Summer Garden Party

Tuesday, July 27 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Mill Brook Gallery and Sculpture Garden
236 Hopkinton Road, Concord

Join us as we honor legislators who have championed a progressive
vision for the Granite State!

Enjoy wine and sumptuous desserts and learn more about our work for social and economic justice.

There is no cost to attend, although we hope you will contribute once you hear about our good work! RSVP is required - please email our office or call us at 225-2097.

Can't attend, but still want to have an impact?
Click here to make a contribution towards our voter outreach, leadership development, and policy work in support of social and economic justice!

For Immediate Release

By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on July 20, 2010, I vetoed SB 440.

Since becoming Governor, I have worked hard to establish effective, comprehensive and clear ethics standards for state government. As part of my efforts to assure integrity in state government, I signed into law in 2006 bipartisan legislation strengthening state ethics laws, including the establishment of the first-ever Executive Branch Ethics Committee. The Committee consists of seven members, who are charged with investigating allegations of violations of state ethics laws by executive branch officials and issuing interpretive rulings and advisory opinions on the application of ethics standards.

Each day Senators receive an email from press secretary Anne Saunders letting us know what meetings are being held in the State House and Legislative Office Building the next day. On several days over the last month, Anne has reported “no meetings scheduled” reflecting the quiet that has descended on Concord as legislators enjoy their summer off.
There are still important activities to report. The governor, for example, has asked department heads to present him with budgets for the next two years with a 5 percent reduction in spending. One of his opponents has called for a 10 percent cut and argues he proposed his cuts before the Governor did.

For Immediate Release

CONCORD — Gov. John Lynch today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate’s passage of an extension of unemployment benefits. The House has already approved a bill including extended unemployment benefits. Gov. Lynch urged Congress to move quickly to pass a final bill. Without Congressional action about 20,000 in New Hampshire people would lose their unemployment coverage and will take $75 million out of New Hampshire’s economy:

“New Hampshire is leading the region in economic recovery, and as we continue to work to get people working again it is important that Congress act quickly to extend federal unemployment benefits. Failure to do so will jeopardize the economic progress we are making, and hurt thousands of New Hampshire families.

SOURCE: CNN

Today, Karen Handel, former Secretary of State for Georgia, is on the Republican primary ballot for Governor of Georgia.

Some voters 'purged' from voter rolls
By Abbie Boudreau and Scott Bronstein
CNN Special Investigations Unit

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- College senior Kyla Berry was looking forward to voting in her first presidential election, even carrying her voter registration card in her wallet.

But about two weeks ago, Berry got disturbing news from local election officials.

"This office has received notification from the state of Georgia indicating that you are not a citizen of the United States and therefore, not eligible to vote," a letter from the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections said.

But Berry is a U.S. citizen, born in Boston, Massachusetts. She has a passport and a birth certificate to prove it.

The object for the financial class is to get their “cut” of the taxes our public corporations collect. They have a need to intercept the flow of currency from the public purse to the public treasury and out again. That’s the “trickle” they’re concerned about. The preferred point at which this capture of taxes occurs is called “dividends on bonds.” The bonded debt is the financial gravy train and the engineer of this train is the Federal Reserve.

Dear --
When you hear about the new health reform law these days, too much talk is focused on the political.

What I've found is that most Americans just want to know how this new law helps their families stay healthy -- and how it reduces their costs.

SOURCE:The White House

The President blasts Republicans in the Senate who are blocking unemployment insurance and small business tax breaks to create jobs -- even as they push for permanent, massive tax cuts for the richest Americans.

SOURCE:White House Press Release

With today’s vote in the Senate, the United States Congress has now passed a Wall Street reform bill that will bring greater economic security to families and businesses across the country.

Why does our Treasury issue currency to the Federal Reserve Banks to distribute to their cronies and then borrow it back at interest to pay for necessary public services and obligations?

SOURCE: blogs.nashuatelegraph.com

One of the state’s most important and politically active unions has gotten behind Democratic congressional candidate Anne McLane Kuster, The Telegraph has confirmed.

The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire delegates unanimously endorsed the Hopkinton lawyer Kuster over 2002 nominee Katrina Swett of Bow.

President David Lang said Kuster’s “been just great” on safety, public pension and other key issues for the union and they solidified a kinship during the 2004 presidential primary when both were staunch supporters of NH primary winner and Democratic nominee John Kerry.

“She is from Main Street, she understands the issues that are vitally important to working people,” Lang said.