Bass For Congress - Kuster Continues to Dance around Her Position on NH Income Tax

Kuster Proudly Supports Tax Hikes at Federal Level

Concord, NH – Liberal activist Annie Kuster’s long record of fighting to impose an income tax in New Hampshire, as well as her strident support to raise income and other taxes at the federal level, tell voters exactly what she will fight for in Congress, Congressman Charlie Bass (NH-02) told reporters today.   Bass spoke at a press conference in Concord, joined by Peter and Rob Thomson, sons of the late former Governor Meldrim Thomson, Jr., who is well-known as one of New Hampshire’s greatest leaders against a state income tax. Kuster, who described Governor Thompson as a "worm" in the press, has actively fought his legacy by trying to help candidates favoring a state income tax get elected, directing political action committee funds to their campaigns.

Despite her long record of pushing for a New Hampshire income tax, Annie Kuster has changed her position repeatedly during this campaign, leaving voters to wonder where she actually stands:

        October 7 – Southern NH Jewish Men’s Club Forum – Kuster grabs microphone from Bass and tries to interrupt his closing statement, which noted her support for an income tax.

        October 9 – Kuster campaign tells Concord Monitor that she opposes an income tax at this time because the New Hampshire economy is down.

        October 10 – WBIN Debate – Kuster defiantly claims, “I do not support an income tax for New Hampshire.  Period!”   But when asked twice if she will support ballot Question #1 to constitutionally prohibit an income tax, Kuster refused to answer.

        October 11 – Kuster says in a Concord Monitor article that she does not support the Question #1 ban on an income tax.

Noting this inconsistency, Bass remarked, “Either you are for an income tax, or you’re not.”  He added “I guess I would ask, is this a commitment to support the New Hampshire value against broad based taxes, or a 20-day flip-flop for electoral convenience?"

Bass made clear his opposition to a New Hampshire income tax, without qualifications, and his commitment to voting for Question 1, which would institute a constitutional ban against a state income tax.  Said Bass, "In the tradition of New Hampshire not having an income tax, I will vote for that amendment and my opponent... won't."

Bass said that if Kuster elected to Congress, one of the very first votes she will take is to raise income taxes on the so-called “rich,” which will raise taxes on thousands of small business owners all across New Hampshire who operate their companies as Limited Liability Companies, since the company earnings are taxed as the individual owners’ income.   A recent Ernst & Young study concluded that Kuster’s income tax hike on small business owners will cost New Hampshire 3,400 jobs and $900 million in economic output.

Peter Thompson, Governor Thompson's eldest son emphasized his support for Charlie Bass and said it was vital that anti-income tax advocates have an ally in Congress.  

In closing the press conference, Rob Thompson urged voters not to buy Annie Kuster's evasions and dodges on the issue of an income tax.  "Voters need to ask Annie Kuster directly: 'Do you support an income tax for New Hampshire?'.” 

Thompson offered voters a piece of advice: "Don't let Annie Kuster worm her way out of it."

Annie Kuster’s Record of Strong Support for an Income Tax:

         Kuster has been a longtime supporter of a statewide income tax. In 1999 Kuster joined the board of the “Courage and Leadership PAC” – a group dedicated to imposing an income tax on New Hampshire. The PAC, founded by pro-income tax activist Gary Hirshberg, raised money to support “candidates of either party who support an income tax.” (Boston Globe, 7/4/1999).

         “In the letter, Hirshberg said the goal of the PAC is to ‘examine and educate the public on ALL fair taxation’ options for education funding. Translation: They favor the income tax but they won’t rule out talking about other options. That is except for one big one dear to the heart of the Senate president, Junie Blasidell, and Governor Jeanne Shaheen - expanded gambling. The PAC says it will have no part of it.” (Boston Globe, 7/4/1999)

        “Other members of the PAC board include possible congressional candidate Glen Secor, former Concord mayor Martin Gross, Ann McLane Kuster, Harold Janeway of Concord, Meg Hirshberg and Mary Townsend Scheffey.”  (Boston Globe, 7/4/1999)

        During the 2010 Democrat primary for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2^nd District, Kuster’s opponent called her a “vigorous supporter of an income tax in New Hampshire” for supporting legendary income tax advocate Mark Fernald in his gubernatorial primary campaign against Jeanne Shaheen in 2000. Kuster also supported Fernald for governor in 2002.

        On Sept. 9, 2010, the Concord Monitor reported, “[Katrina] Swett also called Kuster a ‘vigorous supporter of an income tax in New Hampshire.’ Kuster supported former state senator Mark Fernald in his 2002 gubernatorial bid, citing at the time his support for an income tax to stabilize education funding in the state.”

Bass for Congress FEC Filing

It has come to our attention that the latest Bass Victory Committee FEC filing, which was submitted last evening around 11:35 pm, has not been posted on FEC.gov.

Here are the broad numbers.

$385k raised, $482k spent, $752k Cash on Hand.

Please be aware that this filing is not the 3^rd Quarter filing – which would begin 7/1.     This filing covers 8/22 – 9/30.   

Other candidates’ press releases report numbers going back to 7/1 – which is playing games on reporters and making their totals look even bigger.   But the numbers from 7/1 – 8/22 were already reported in the campaigns’ pre-primary reports.

So – if you plan on making comparisons to any other campaign – please ensure that you are comparing apples to apples – 8/22 – 9/30.

Here’s a statement from our campaign on our totals:

"The support for Charlie Bass and his record of seeking bipartisan solutions in Congress has been tremendous.   Our campaign has raised more funds than ever before, because people are tired of partisan gridlock in Washington, and they know that if we elect Charlie Bass he will continue to work on bringing leaders together to find common ground and bipartisan solutions to our nation's biggest problems, just as he did in supporting the bipartisan budget based on the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction commission."

Bass Releases Video: Bipartisan Leadership for Women

CONCORD – Charlie Bass is a strong supporter and advocate of protecting women’s health, equality and reproductive rights.  Today, the Bass for Congress campaign released a video titled “Bipartisan Leadership for Women,” featuring Charlie Bass (R-NH) and his statement on fighting for women’s health and equality.

Charlie Bass is a strong supporter and advocate of protecting women’s health and equality. Bass co-sponsored the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2011, to streamline research and funding to find a cure and end to the disease. Bass called for action on the bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) to protect all victims of violence.  Bass is proud to be a strong advocate for women’s rights.

Transcript (Charlie Bass):

 “Women’s health issues have always been a major concern for me. That’s the reason why I joined my colleague Karen Bass from California, in co-sponsoring a bill that seeks to prevent metastasis in breast cancer by the year 2020. That’s why I believe that women’s health issues in general are very important; that women should have a right to make choices over their own health decisions in consultation with their doctors and not have the federal government seeking to regulate a women’s right of access to health care. Now with respect to these issues, I happen to believe that women should have a right to contraception, that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and that it should be upheld. That is not the way that most of my Republican colleagues feel, but I believe that women’s health issues are important and that the decisions that women make about their own personal health are ones that should be made between them and their doctors, not between them and the federal government or a bureaucrat. It is very important to me as it is, I know, to all women across this nation.”

The Bass Campaign video can be viewed here.

Bass Support for Women:

Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act 2011 - H.R. 3067

Violence against Women Health Initiative Act of 2011 - H.R. 1578

Proposed Constitutional amendment relative to equal rights for men and women - H.J. Res.69

Bass For Congress - Help Fight Super PAC Money!

Dear Friend, 

Earlier today, one of our supporters made a contribution to the campaign in the amount of $50. The attached note said, "I'm donating because I want to help fight off the SUPER PACS attacking you." I appreciate every financial commitment that is made to our campaign, but this supporter's note sums up the fact that not only are we facing Annie Kuster in this campaign, but we are also fighting millions of dollars from outside liberal special interest groups looking to buy a seat for another vote for Nancy Pelosi.  Just this week, John Soros, the son of liberal Millionaire George Soros, announced that his Super PAC will spend $200,000 on mail to spread negative attacks on us. This is why our campaign needs your help. 

From now through November 6, you can make sure that our team has the resources to win this election by contributing to the campaign today- and by clicking on one of the options below, here is what your dollars will guarantee: 

$20 for a Bass 2X4 Sign

$40 for a Bass 4X8 Sign

$50 for 1000 Pieces of Literature for Door to Door

$100 for one day of Internet Ads

$350 for one ad on WMUR 

$470 to mail 1000 Voters in the Second District

Every penny that we raise will be utilized to support the best grassroots campaign in the state.  Your financial assistance will also ensure that our message of lowering the debt, cutting federal spending, and using common-sense approaches to solve this nations problems will be heard loud and clear across the district. Please visit votebass.com and  contribute $20 or more to help the campaign today.

Thanks again for your support and I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail over the next 27 days!

   

PS- If you have already contributed, and you still are looking for a way to help, please sign up to volunteer for door to door or to make phone calls in your area!  We also need locations for yard signs, and can deliver a sign to you with 48 hours. Please click here to volunteer.

Bass For Congress - Annie Kuster Runs from Long Record of NH Income Tax Support

Kuster Says She’s Flip-flopped on the Income Tax – but with a Qualifier

Concord, NH – A day after grabbing a microphone from Charlie Bass during a debate, and just over two weeks since she grabbed a camera from a Bass for Congress campaign staffer during a public event, liberal Democrat Annie Kuster is denying her record as one of New Hampshire’s most ardent income tax supporters – sort of. Kuster grabbed a microphone from Charlie Bass during his closing statement at the Southern New Hampshire Jewish Men’s Club forum Sunday, October 7, 2012. When Bass continued delivering his statement, Kuster leaned over to the microphone, interrupted Bass, and denied her long record of supporting income tax for New Hampshire.

Today, in a Concord Monitor story, Kuster’s campaign manager Garrick Delzell attempts to qualify Kuster’s position, “She had been on the board of a political action committee that advocated a state income tax in the late 1990s, Delzell conceded, but she doesn't support one now, given the fragile state of the economy.”

Bass for Congress spokesperson Scott Tranchemontagne responded, “Passing an income tax in New Hampshire was a passion for Annie Kuster.  More than just support an income tax, Kuster fought for it. She helped direct PAC funds to pro-income tax candidates, to defeat candidates like Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, who did not support one. It’s just not credible for Kuster to say a few weeks before a close election that she has suddenly changed her mind about the one issue on which she has been most active during her political career.”

Tranchemontagne noted Kuster did not deny her income tax support during the Democratic Primary campaign in 2010, and the economy was worse at that time. Rather, Kuster ducked addressing the income tax issue when challenged during a debate by Katrina Swett.

“Swett also called Kuster a "vigorous supporter of an income tax in New Hampshire." Kuster supported former state senator Mark Fernald in his 2002 gubernatorial bid, citing at the time his support for an income tax to stabilize education funding in the state. Kuster did not respond last night to several of Swett's references to an income tax.”   Concord Monitor, September 9, 2010

Annie Kuster’s Record of Pro-Income Tax Activism

• Kuster has been a longtime supporter of a statewide income tax. In 1999 Kuster joined the board of the “Courage and Leadership PAC” – a group dedicated to imposing an income tax on New Hampshire. The PAC, founded by pro-income tax activist Gary Hirshberg, raised money to support “candidates of either party who support an income tax.” (Boston Globe, 7/4/1999).
  
  
• “In the letter, Hirshberg said the goal of the PAC is to ‘examine and educate the public on ALL fair taxation’ options for education funding. Translation: They favor the income tax but they won’t rule out talking about other options. That is except for one big one dear to the heart of the Senate president, Junie Blasidell, and Governor Jeanne Shaheen - expanded gambling. The PAC says it will have no part of it.” (Boston Globe, 7/4/1999)

• “Other members of the PAC board include possible congressional candidate Glen Secor, former Concord mayor Martin Gross, Ann McLane Kuster, Harold Janeway of Concord, Meg Hirshberg and Mary Townsend Scheffey.”  (Boston Globe, 7/4/1999)

During the 2010 Democrat primary for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2^nd District, Kuster’s opponent called her a “vigorous supporter of an income tax in New Hampshire” for supporting legendary income tax advocate Mark Fernald in his gubernatorial primary campaign against Jeanne Shaheen in 2000. Kuster also supported Fernald for governor in 2002.

• “No hard feelings. Democratic activist Ann McLane Kuster, who bucked the party line and backed [Mark Fernald] for governor in the primary, received the party’s Eleanor Roosevelt Award on Oct. 19.” (Boston Globe, October 29, 2000)

• On Sept. 9, 2010, the Concord Monitor reported, “[Katrina] Swett also called Kuster a ‘vigorous supporter of an income tax in New Hampshire.’ Kuster supported former state senator Mark Fernald in his 2002 gubernatorial bid, citing at the time his support for an income tax to stabilize education funding in the state.”

Tranchemontagne concluded, “Annie Kuster has been running and dancing from her record of fighting for a New Hampshire income tax, but the voters will see through it. After all, Kuster proudly supports the president’s health care law and its medical device tax that will directly impact 3,700 New Hampshire jobs. She has made a small business tax that will cost the state another 3,400 jobs - disguised as a tax hike on the ‘rich’ - a centerpiece of her campaign. Kuster publicly supports a national energy tax that will cost the state up to 9,500 jobs. It’s very easy for voters to conclude that Kuster’s answer to just about every problem is to raise taxes and spend more money.”