NHDP - Does Ovide Lamontagne Support Repealing Birth Control Coverage?

Concord, NH - Does Republican Gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne support repealing New Hampshire's 12-year-old law guaranteeing women equity in contraceptive coverage?  Yesterday, House Speaker Bill O'Brien announced that he would seek to repeal New Hampshire's law, after it was suddenly brought to his attention by national Republican insiders over a decade after it was passed. 
 
"Lamontagne needs to tell the women of New Hampshire whether as governor he would take away equal protection for birth control coverage, and add hundreds of dollars a  year to their health care costs," said Terie Norelli, Democratic Leader in the House.     

A Republican-led House passed the law in 1999 requiring insurers to treat contraceptive prescriptions the same way they treat other prescriptions. SB175 passed the House 243-85, with 120 Republicans, 121 Democrats, and two Independents voting in favor of the measure.  It passed the Senate in similar bi-partisan fashion, and had four Republican co-sponsors.

"I voted for this law because it is about fairness and equity. Women deserve to have their prescriptions covered the same way other prescriptions, like Viagra, are covered," said Norelli.    

Lamontagne has already made clear that he will serve as a rubber stamp for Bill O'Brien's agenda, showing up last week to support their efforts to repeal same-sex marriage and collective bargaining rights for employees. Another Republican gubernatorial candidate, Kevin Smith, showed up at yesterday's Republican leadership press conference to support repealing birth control coverage for women.

"Ovide Lamontagne needs to tell us now: Does he stand with the Republican Leadership in the legislature or for fairness for the women of New Hampshire," added Norelli.

NHDP - How Far Do Lamontagne and Smith's Endorsements of the Reckless GOP State House Agenda Go?

Lamontange endorses ending Medicare in New Hampshire

Concord, NH - Republican candidates for Governor Kevin Smith and Ovide Lamontagne were in full support of the reckless agenda at the State House this week, including repeal of equal marriage rights and the wage killing so called right-to-work bill. In addition, in an op-ed for the Union Leader this morning, Lamontagne endorsed ending Medicare in New Hampshire as we know it. Just like Concord Republicans, he wants to take over control of Medicare by turning it into a block grant, making eligibility age increases and drastic cuts care a possibility every year.

"New Hampshire is already being sued by hospitals and disability rights advocates because of decisions made by the Tea Party politicians in Concord," said Harrell Kirstein, press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "Are these really the ideologues that should be put at the switch and in control over our senior citizens' Medicare?"

Just like the Republican leadership in the State House, both Kevin Smith and Ovide Lamontang have made fringe social issues their priority. On Wednesday, Ovide Lamontange attended his first major public event of 2012, a sparsely attended rally outside the State House to repeal equal marriage rights for all citizens. Just days after announcing a run for Governor, Kevin Smith filed to be a lobbyist for the out of state anti-equal rights hate group the National Organization for Marriage.

Yesterday, both Smith and Lamontagne testified at the so called right-to-work hearing. But in a stark contrast to the so-called right to work states, New Hampshire's unemployment rate is significantly lower and New Hampshire's median income is nearly 20,000 dollars per year higher.  

"The question voters want to know now is how far do Ovide Lamontange and Kevin Smith's endorsements of O'Brien's reckless State House agenda go?" asked Kirstein. "Do they support....

• Teaching religion in public schools(HB 1457)?
• Giving out of state for profit hospitals special exemptions from New Hampshire laws(HB 1642)?
• Ending the 30 minute lunch break for workers who work more than five hours(HB 1574)?
• Cutting over 60 million dollars from public schools by opting out of No Child Left Behind(HB 1413 and 1517)?
• Ending Medicare, Medicare and the Children's Insurance Program in New Hampshire(HB1560)?

These aren't the values of New Hampshire voters. But they are part of the reason why O'Brien is the most unpopular elected official in the state and New Hampshire voters consider the Republican legislature the second biggest problem in the state. [UNH Poll, 02/07/2012; 02/08/2012]

"Instead of talking about jobs, the economy, or common sense solutions to the problems facing New Hampshire, Lamontagne and Smith spent the week paling around with Tea Party conservatives and helping them force their out of touch agenda on New Hampshire." continued Kirstein. "With Valentine's Day on Tuesday, Lamontange and Smith have some serious shopping to do this weekend to demonstrate their love of Speaker O'Brien's out of touch Tea Party agenda"

NHDP - Ovide Puts Social Issues, Taking Away NH Citizens' Rights at Forefront of Campaign

Concord, NH - This afternoon, Republican candidate for Governor Ovide Lamontagne made his first public campaign appearance of 2012 at a sparsely attended anti-marriage equality rally at the State House. New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley released the following statement on Lamontagne making fringe social issues the focus of his campaign.

"It is clear Ovide's priorities lie in exactly the same place where they were 20 years ago when he began his career as a four time losing candidate - he is focused on fringe social issues and the reckless Tea Party agenda at the State House. Instead of talking about jobs, the economy, or common sense solutions to the problems facing New Hampshire, Ovide spent the day paling around with far right social conservatives and helping them force their out of touch agenda on New Hampshire."

A recent University of New Hampshire poll reported that New Hampshire remains opposed to repeal of marriage equality. "Strong opponents of repealing same-sex marriage continue to outnumber strong proponents by more than 2 to 1," said Andrew Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center. "The New Hampshire public is not showing any strong desire to repeal this law." [10/13/2011]

"Ovide should have spent the afternoon chastising House Speaker Bill O'Brien and the other members of the Republican legislature on the stage next to him instead of trying to strip away rights from New Hampshire citizens. The legislature's reckless and irresponsible agenda is what concerns New Hampshire voters, not who their friends and relatives are marrying," continued Buckley.

When asked in the most recent UNH poll, Granite State voters are self-identifying the Republican legislature as the second most serious problem facing the state of New Hampshire. The Republican legislature has been one of the three most serious problems facing the state in four consecutive polls. [02/06/2012]

Rally For Ovide & My Endorsement

Fellow Republicans,

In November 2nd of 2010, the voters of New Hampshire came out in a tsunami of support for Conservative GOP Candidates,  at all levels.  At the end of that day the GOP had won 298 of 400 State Representative Seats, 19 of the 24 State Senate Seats, and all 5 Executive Council Seats.  The only missing trophy was the Governorship. 

In 2012 we will have the opportunity to correct that situation and correct it, we must.  We need a Governor who is business friendly and understands what is required to create an environment where small businesses can flourish.  We need a governor who realizes that a government that governs best is that which governs least and that government needs to get out of the way of it citizens and its businesses.  We need a Governor that will set an example when it comes to standing up for the weakest of us.  A person who believes firmly in the sanctity of life, a person who believes in family values and a person who will protect and defend the Constitution of our State and of the United States of America.  Someone who will insure that our 2^nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms will not be infringed upon.  We will also need a leader who believes in the 10^th Amendment and States Rights and pushing back against an ever encroaching Federal Government. 

We have such a person who is running for Governor.  That person is Ovide Lamontagne.  He is a man of Honor and Integrity.  A man who ran a great race for the US Senate only to come up short by some 1400 votes but who unselfishly chose not to request a recount so as to provide his primary opponent , Kelly Ayotte, with as much campaign time as possible, to defeat her Democratic  General Election opponent, Paul Hodes. 

It is for these reasons, and many more, that I am enthusiastically endorsing Ovide Lamontagne for Governor in 2012.  I am also asking all Conservative and Liberty loving voters to get behind Ovide in this critically important election.

There will be a rally for Ovide on January 14. Here is the information. I hope you can attend.

Mike and Mar-Mar Rogers

Cordially invite you to attend a Rally for

OVIDE LAMONTAGNE

Candidate for Governor of New Hampshire

With Guest Speaker, Jack Kimball

MC, Jeff Chidester

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

6pm-8pm

The Crowne Plaza

2 Somerset Parkway

Nashua, New Hampshire

Please RSVP by January 12th to Laurel at

laurel@ovide2012.com

Donations may be made

Payable to: Friends of Ovide 2012

Mail to: Friends of Ovide 2012 Committee

P.O. Box 1007

Manchester, NH 03105-1007

New Hampshire Democrats: "Ovide Lamontagne Is No John Lynch"

Concord, NH - After his gubernatorial announcement Ovide Lamontagne told WMUR, "I want to be a lot like John Lynch in terms of bringing people together." 

   

Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, responds:

"Ovide Lamontagne is no John Lynch. John Lynch focuses on bringing people together to make progress on the issues that matter: helping workers, creating jobs, and improving education.

Ovide Lamontagne will take New Hampshire backwards. He will be a rubber stamp for this legislature's extreme social agenda: restricting women's access to birth control; eliminating the state's efforts to improve public schools; and gutting workers' rights. For his entire career he has purported extreme policies that are far to the right of where the vast majority of Granite Staters are."

Lamontagne supports divisive policies that are out of touch with the majority of Granite Staters:

Lamontagne Supports a Federal Marriage Amendment That Would Outlaw All Same Sex Marriage. According to the Nashua Telegraph, "Lamontagne said he's the only one to support a heterosexual-only marriage amendment to the Constitution." [Nashua Telegraph, 9/10/10]  

Lamontagne Called Schools "Glorified Social Service Agencies." In 1993, Lamontagne called schools "glorified social service agencies." [Union Leader, 11/4/93]

Lamontagne Opposed Extending Unemployment Benefits, Said They are the Reason People Aren't Returning to Work. According to the Concord Monitor, "Lamontagne said he would oppose extending unemployment benefits. He has heard anecdotal evidence that people are not returning to work because they are getting benefits. [Concord Monitor, 8/9/2010]

 

Lamontagne Supports Right to Work Laws. In a recent op-ed, Lamontagne argued in favor of turning New Hampshire into a so-called right to work state. "The Granite State is currently engaged in a debate about whether to become the nation's 23rd right-to-work state. I support the view that employees should be free to choose whether or not to join a union in the workplace." [Union Leader, 6/13/11]  

Lamontagne Is Anti-Choice With "No Exceptions" For Rape or Incest. According to Fosters Daily Democrat, "Lamontagne said he is 'pro-life' with no exceptions and does not support embryonic stem cell research or gay marriage."[Fosters Daily Democrat, 5/27/10]  

 

Lamontagne Says Reckless State House Agenda is "Just the Beginning." At a Tea Party rally this year, Ovide Lamontagne told a sparse crowd that the Republican legislature's job killing agenda was "just the beginning." [4/16/2011]  The Republican state budget passed earlier this year has already killed over 1,300 New Hampshire jobs. [Portsmouth Herald, 8/31/2011]