NHGOP RESPONDS TO HASSAN CASINO LOBBYING LETTER
Friday, March 15, 2013 at 07:53AM 
The Honorable Maggie Hassan
Governor of New Hampshire
State House
107 North Main Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Dear Governor Hassan,
Thank you for the prompt response. I would like to acknowledge your Chief of Staff for admitting that your official office is pushing government employees to lobby the legislature on behalf of gambling legislation that is being promoted by deep-pocketed special interest groups.
Your decision to use the Office of the Governor to compel Executive Branch officials to lobby the legislature on your irresponsible and illegal $80 million revenue scheme raises serious ethical questions. The casino lobby is already spending millions on high paid lobbyists and public relations campaigns designed to promote your risky budget proposal. It is of great concern that you are taking the unprecedented step of enlisting taxpayer paid, government workers to supplement the efforts of outside special interest gambling groups.
Given your admission that your office has been in contact with Executive Branch officials, I would like to expand my request and ask for any phone logs that exist on this matter. I would also like to know if you have sought an official opinion from the New Hampshire Attorney General regarding this Executive Branch advocacy on behalf of the casino lobby. RSA 15:5 states that “no recipient of a grant or appropriation of state funds may use the state funds to lobby or attempt to influence legislation.” Your actions raise serious questions about your compliance with New Hampshire law.
My updated request is under the New Hampshire Right To Know Law (RSA 91-A.) Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to another prompt response.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Horn
Chairman
New Hampshire Republican State Committee
Casinos, Gov Hassan, Lobbyists, Lottery, NH GOP