AFP - Victory on GOP Earmark Ban

Today, just minutes after our November Speaks rally at the Capitol featuring Senator Jim DeMint and just days after tens of thousands of you called and e-mailed Senate Republicans, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell walked to the floor of the Senate and announced that Republicans are going to impose a moratorium on pork barrel earmarks.

Click here for more pictures and Fox News coverage. 

This is a victory for you and our free market movement. It also is an important first step in showing that Republicans have perhaps learned the right lessons from their mistakes in the past.

At our rally today, as always, I heard from folks who have sacrificed much and traveled long distances to send their message. To give you an idea of why we are winning, let me tell you this story - several ladies from the McMinn County Tennessee Tea Party (wearing their distinctive orange jackets) drove all the way up from eastern Tennessee to send their message. In addition to their local tea party work, they have made the long trip to Washington on many occasions. They introduced me to Lisa from Northern Virginia, a lady who they had met at our past rallies, and now opens up her home for free lodging to her new friends in our movement.

With the earmark battle won, we must now turn our full attention to the lame duck battle. Congressman Mike Pence put it so well at our rally today when he said that "The American people have spoken and this time Nancy Pelosi and her friends would be well advised to listen." As usual, Congressman Pence is exactly right.

Today I'm asking you to call or e-mail your member of the House and your two senators (including, perhaps, a "lame duck" who has already been voted out!) with two simple requests.

One, extend ALL of the current tax rates for every American.  Do not ignore the smaller government the American people voted for by hitting any American with a tax hike in this economy.

Two, do not pass ANY new legislation that spend more money or makes government any bigger.  No massive trillion dollar omnibus spending bill on the way out the door.  No funding for ObamaCare.

Click here to call your members of Congress and click here to send them an e-mail.

Let's keep the pressure on. We're winning.

Sincerely,

Tim Phillips

P.S. To see more coverage from today's November Speaks rally to stop the lame duck session click here.

And please take a minute to e-mail Senator Jim DeMint and thank him for standing up and fighting on this earmark battle.



Shea-Porter For Congress - Statement on Guinta Refusing to Debate

NEW HAMPSHIRE – Carol Shea-Porter released the following statement on Frank Guinta’s refusal to debate her.   

“Today, once again, Frank Guinta refused to debate me.  In the past couple of weeks, Mr. Guinta canceled a forum with the Fire Chiefs, refused to debate me in Conway even though he was in the community, and declined to attend a candidate’s forum this morning.  He even cancelled on college students to hang out with a presidential wannabe. His silence is truly deafening.” 



Shea-Porter For Congress - Guinta Cancels Debate with Shea-Porter

NEW HAMPSHIRE – After a series of embarrassing debates where he refused to answer questions on important issues ranging from Social Security to the $500,000 slush fund he is using to finance his campaign, Frank Guinta canceled a debate with Carol Shea-Porter that was scheduled for this Sunday at the Temple Adath Yeshurun.  Mr. Guinta also recently canceled a candidates forum with the New Hampshire Fire Chiefs at the last minute, and he refused to debate Carol in Conway, New Hampshire.

“Frank Guinta has trolled around the First District claiming he is going to be available to Granite Staters, but he can’t even be bothered to show up to debates to answer questions,” said Shea-Porter spokeswoman Jamie Radice.  “Maybe if Mr. Guinta wasn’t so busy laundering money into his campaign, he would actually have time for these important forums.”



Shea-Porter - Frank Guinta Can’t Be Trusted to Run Manchester or Pay His Own Bills, How Can He Be Trusted to Fix Our Economy?

NEW HAMPSHIRE – As both the mayor of Manchester, and as a candidate for Congress, Frank Guinta has demonstrated a complete lack of honesty, judgment, and accountability.  During Guinta’s tenure, Manchester’s unemployment rose, crime shot up, and failing schools nearly tripled.  Yet in an October 2010 debate, Guinta said he would take the same approach in Congress as he did as mayor of Manchester.

“Frank Guinta was a terrible mayor, and the city of Manchester suffered because of his poor leadership,” said Shea-Porter spokeswoman Jamie Radice. “Maybe if Mr. Guinta wasn’t so busy being interviewed by police about his involvement in a violent bar brawl, he could have done a better job at managing New Hampshire’s largest city.  He’s not only ineffective, he’s incompetent; and Granite Staters deserve better.”

In addition to his disastrous term as mayor, Guinta also has a troubling financial record. Frank Guinta talks a big talk about his plans for the economy, but how are Granite Staters supposed to trust him when he can’t even manage his own money? In 2008, Guinta was forced to pay more than $3,000 in back taxes and nearly $300 after failing to pay his sewage bill. 

“It’s no surprise that Mr. Guinta has to be forced to pay his bills; he thinks that the rules don’t apply to him,” Radice continued.

If that wasn’t enough, Guinta has also refused to answer legitimate questions surrounding a mysterious bank account containing $500,000 which he is now using to finance his campaign. A recent NHPR investigative report highlighted the inconsistencies in Guinta’s story, and according to WMUR Political Scoop, “Guinta has called the mystery bank account a clerical error, but he has refused to show bank records to prove it's not a new account, which would be an illegal campaign donation.”

“For months, Guinta has lied to the people of New Hampshire about the $500,000 slush fund he is using to finance his campaign, and it’s insulting to voters everywhere,” Radice said.   “Frank Guinta continues to thumb his nose at the law, and he has no place creating legislation.

Shea-Porter For Congress - Frank Guinta Cannot be Trusted to Represent New Hampshire

Extreme-ist Makeover: Guinta Edition
Frank Guinta Cannot be Trusted to Represent New Hampshire

NEW HAMPSHIRE – A week and a half to go before Granite Staters hit the voting booths, Frank Guinta continues to demonstrate that he is a politician that cannot be trusted.  In an interview with the Concord Monitor Editorial Board, Mr. Guinta said we should eliminate the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, and abolish the United Nations.  As the Monitor noted, the Department of Energy, “maintains the country's stockpile of nuclear weapons and contains a regulatory agency to oversee the energy industry.”

Earlier this week, Mr. Guinta said that he does not believe that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should monitor our food.  The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety of our nation's food supply.

“Frank Guinta represents the extreme views of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, and not those of independent-minded New Hampshire voters,” said Shea-Porter spokeswoman Jamie Radice.  “Mr. Guinta wants to ban abortion in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, wants to mandate the teaching of creationism in public schools, eliminate the Departments of Energy and Education, and abolish the United Nations.  He even wants to oust our nation’s food inspectors who make sure the food on our shelves is safe.  Whether it’s lying about his presence at a violent bar brawl, refusing to answer questions about the slush fund he is using to finance his campaign, or threatening to abolish critical programs that help keep us safe, Frank Guinta has consistently demonstrated that he cannot be trusted to represent Granite Staters.  Mr. Guinta’s views are dangerous for New Hampshire workers and families, and voters are going to reject him and his ideas.”