PublicCitizen - New Poll Shows NH Voters’ Strong Support for Limiting Money in Politics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than two-thirds of New Hampshire adults support a constitutional amendment to limit campaign contributions and spending, new polling data released today reveals. The statewide poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center on behalf of People For the American Way, Public Citizen, Free Speech For People and the New Hampshire Coalition for Open Democracy, found that 69 percent of the state feels that such an amendment should be in place – including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

The poll also found that 72 percent of respondents oppose (62 percent strongly oppose and 10 percent somewhat oppose) the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allows corporations to spend an unlimited amount of money to influence elections. The full results of the poll can be found here.

This new data comes on the heels of the recent bipartisan passage in the New Hampshire House of HCR2, a resolution calling on Congress to amend the Constitution to overturn Citizens United by reestablishing the authority of the states and Congress to regulate corporate and special interest election spending. The resolution has moved to the Senate side of the General Court but is being stopped by a new Senate rule requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote to consider House resolutions. Release of the data also coincides with the Coalition for Open Democracy and Public Citizen’s Democracy In Motion Tour, a speaking tour through New Hampshire to get money out and voters in.

“These numbers make it clear that the political will exists to reclaim democracy from corporate and special interest spending – in New Hampshire and around the country,” said Marge Baker, executive vice president of People For the American Way. “Voters across the state are speaking out to insist that our democracy is truly of, by and for the people.”

“This poll shows New Hampshire voters, like most Americans, are fed up with the Citizens United anything-goes approach to money in politics. Six in 10 New Hampshire Republicans, nearly three out of four independents, and nearly eight in 10 Democrats support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. That’s why 10 Republican Representatives joined Democrats in passing HCR2 at the state House last month, and why the state Senate should now also heed the will of the voters,” said Peter Schurman, campaign director at Free Speech For People.

“Across party lines, people in New Hampshire and across America agree that corporations have too much political power, that Citizens United was wrongly decided, and that we need a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore democracy,” said Jonah Minkoff-Zern, senior organizer of Democracy Is For People at Public Citizen. “The only question is: Are the politicians ready to follow the will of the people, rather than the giant campaign spenders?”

“New Hampshire senators need to pass HCR2 in the bipartisan way that the House did last month,” said Olivia Zink, program director at Coalition for Open Democracy. “This poll shows overwhelmingly that voters support an amendment that will stop the flood of special interest money pouring into New Hampshire.”

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Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that has worked to protect health, safety and democracy since 1971.

GCRC - What is NH Senate Candidate Jeff Woodburn hiding?

Woodburn’s Last Two Filings Missing Donors

Grafton County GOP Chair Bruce Perlo demanded today that Democratic State Senate candidate Jeff Woodburn release the names of his donors to his campaign.

A week after the filing deadline for the September 19th report, neither Woodburn’s September 5th or September 19th campaign finance filing on the Secretary of State’s Website shows who his contributors are, in plain violation of RSA 664:6.

Said Perlo, “The law is clear.  Jeff Woodburn has raised nearly $4500 in the last two reports, and he appears to be flouting the law by refusing to report where he is getting his money.It looks like Jeff Woodburn is intentionally trying to avoid telling the rest of the world who’s funding him.”

Perlo added that this failure to disclose is especially serious given Woodburn’s recent false accusations about Debi Warner’s stance on Northern Pass, which she completely opposes.

“The fact is, Jeff Woodburn has been desperately trying to insinuate that Debi Warner is less than 100% opposed to Northern Pass based on her campaign finance filings, but now it looks like he isn’t even reporting who’s funding him -- for all we know, he’s taking money from out-of-state interests in conflict with our way of life up here in the North Country.Just what is Jeff Woodburn trying to hide?”

RSA 664:6 requires that any campaign spending more than $500 must file a report with the Secretary of State reporting all campaign contributions over $25.

Jackie Cilley files financials for Primary Election

Campaign in strong position for final week of primary race

Concord – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jackie Cilley submitted her third financial PAC report with the Secretary of State this afternoon in Concord. The campaign has raised over $350,000 and her campaign goes into the final week of the race with $45,236.40 on hand after having raised $81,000 since the last filing deadline in August. She has raised over $314,814 since formally joining the race and, prior to filing to create Jackie Cilley for New Hampshire, she raised $36,000 for this race using a previous PAC account.

The five pubic polls conducted since the Spring (two PPP, Rasmussen, and two UNH/Granite State) demonstrate that Jackie's campaign, while being significantly outspent, remains neck-and-neck with the other leading candidates.

Hassan Continues Strong Fundraising and Grassroots Momentum

Over 3,100 individual contributors representing 200 New Hampshire cities and towns

MANCHESTER, NH – Continuing her strong fundraising and grassroots support from across New Hampshire, Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan announced she has raised $930,000 since the beginning of her campaign. 

Hassan’s strong fundraising caps off weeks of big momentum for the campaign.  Last night she completed her sixth Ice Cream Social in Concord, where she met with more than 100 voters.  She’ll continue her Ice Cream Social Tour in Keene, Dover and Berlin over the next week.  For more information see maggiehassan.com/events.  

In a report to be filed later today, the Hassan campaign will report having raised approximately $930,000, with $100,000 cash on hand.  With 20 days until the primary, the campaign has been advertising on WMUR and cable television over the last weeks and is continuing an aggressive field effort with hundreds of voters coming out to see Hassan at Ice Cream Socials and other events across the state.  Check out photos here.  The campaign continues to fundraise a solid pace.  

“We are honored by the continued strong show of support for Maggie’s campaign,” said Matt Burgess, Hassan’s campaign manager. “People know that we need to continue moving New Hampshire forward and Maggie is the candidate to do it.”

“In Maggie, people see an experienced leader with a record of standing up for what matters to middle class families.  Maggie helped create a job training program that has served nearly 14,000 workers; took on the insurance companies who were discriminating against sick workers; and stood up to the legislature for trying to limit women’s health care.   As Governor, Maggie will move New Hampshire forward and stand firm against the extremists in the legislature who want to take us backward,” Burgess said. 

More than 3,100 people, including people from 200 New Hampshire cities and towns have contributed to the Hassan campaign.  64% percent of Hassan’s donors have given $100 or less.  In this reporting period (June 19-August 20), Hassan raised approximately $239,308. In this reporting period, 1,785 individuals gave an average of $129 and Hassan attracted 1,441 new donors.  

Maggie Hassan has earned the support of the Carpenters Union Local 118, Iron Workers Local 7, United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 1445 and 791, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Council #35, Communications Workers of America Local 1400, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local #6, the Teamsters Local 633, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 131, and NEA-NH.  She also has the support of EMILY's List and Women's Campaign Fund.

Ovide for Governor raises nearly $1.2 million to date

Reports over $700,000 cash on hand

The Ovide for Governor Campaign today reported raising nearly $1.2 million dollars, with over $718,000.00 cash on hand, at the conclusion of the first filing period. 

 

The campaign has raised over $275,000 since Ovide officially filed for Governor on June 14th, at which time the maximum allowable donation per donor was reduced to $2,000. 

 

The campaign has received support from over 2,000 unique donors and 88% of the funds raised came from within New Hampshire.

 

“Bettie and I are extraordinarily grateful to the host of supporters who have given to our campaign because of their belief in my message of fiscal discipline, government reform, and economic prosperity,” said Lamontagne.  “Because of their support, we have the resources necessary to continue running the aggressive, town-to-town, issues focused campaign the people of New Hampshire expect.”

The first filing period closed on Monday, August 20.