RLCNH - lawsuit claiming that HB 1297 prohibits a partnership exchange as a type of state exchange

A lawsuit claiming that HB 1297 prohibits a partnership exchange as a type of state exchange may be worth pursuing. Also, Gov. Hassan should not be doing anything without first getting approval from the Oversight Committee we created. If you approved a partnership with the condition of a Memo of Understanding, then quite simply, that MOU is required before the governor can move forward, regardless of what the feds say.

UPDATED: Legislative panel refuses to endorse health insurance exchange provisions

www.unionleader.com

CONCORD — New Hampshire has been awarded a $5.3 million federal grant to help implement a health i...

RLCNH SPONSORING FORUM WEDNESDAY TO EDUCATE VOTERS ON TWO CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS

If There Ever Was Any Doubt, RLCNH Supports the Income Tax Ban and the Balance of Powers Amendments

CONCORD, N.H.—The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is sponsoring a forum Wednesday evening at St. Thomas More College to educate voters on the importance of passing questions one and two on the Nov. 6 ballot. These two constitutional amendments would permanently ban a New Hampshire income tax and properly balance the power of the courts by providing legislative oversight of the court’s rule-making process.

Details: 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, 6 Manchester Street, Merrimack, N.H.

State Reps. Paul Mirski, Paul Ingbretson, Dan Itse and Gregory Sorg will present information on the two constitutional questions, and then they will answer questions from the audience. Rep. Mirski is the prime sponsor of both amendments, and the three other representatives are well versed in the rationale behind these changes. All four of them will be a great resource for anyone who doesn’t understand why these changes are necessary.

Question 1 on the ballot would add a constitutional ban on a personal income tax in New Hampshire using the language passed by the Legislature as CACR 13.

“With the passage of question one, the people will be helping to guarantee future generations a limited, affordable government that does only what is essential to keep order and leaves the rest to a free people, just as our founders intended,” said Carolyn McKinney, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “By passing this constitutional amendment, the People will be agreeing with the Legislature that its budget cuts this past session were just the start of a new era in New Hampshire of responsible governing. The people will be ensuring stability in budgeting and taxation, and consequently, a more stable economic environment for job growth, entrepreneurship and prosperity.”

Question 2 would restore some oversight over New Hampshire’s Judicial Branch by the people through their Legislature. Due to an amendment in 1978, there is currently no oversight over New Hampshire’s court system, a very dangerous situation that this amendment would fix. The Legislature passed this language on to the people for consideration via CACR 26.

“This constitutional amendment will put the court back in its place as an interpreter of law for individual cases and not as the policy maker that explains how the law must be applied in all situations—that is a power reserved for the people’s Legislature alone,” McKinney said. “When the powers of government are balanced and held in check by one another, there is a greater chance that no branch of government will grow too strong or powerful, and that the people will remain free. Restoring this balance of power is the purpose of question two.”

###

About The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire
The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, a state chapter of the national Republican Liberty Caucus, was launched in December 2004 to promote the ideals of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free enterprise and adherence to the N.H. and U.S. Constitutions among Republican Party officials and throughout the state by identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with the organization’s ideals, and by supporting, through public education and outreach, initiatives in the N.H. Legislature that further these ideals. For more information about the RLCNH, please visit rlcnh.org.

RLCNH-SPONSORED RESOLUTION FOR OPPOSING RNC RULE CHANGE PASSES AT N.H. GOP STATE CONVENTION

Delegates to N.H. GOP State Convention Overwhelmingly Reject RNC Rule 12 As Antithetical to Republican Values

CONCORD, N.H.—New Hampshire Republicans overwhelmingly supported the party’s traditional bottom-up power structure at the N.H. GOP State Convention on Saturday in a nearly unanimous voice vote that passed a RLCNH-sponsored resolution rejecting RNC Rule 12 and asserting the primacy of RNC delegates in setting party rules.

The resolution, incorporated below, is a rejection of Rule 12, which was passed under questionable circumstances during the Republican National Convention in Tampa along with other problematic rules. The rules impose a top-down structure of governance over the party’s traditional grassroots makeup and reduce the power and autonomy of state and local party organizations by removing their oversight over the national organization.  

“Although the effort to pass Saturday’s resolution was led by liberty-minded Republicans through the RLCNH, it is clear from the overwhelming support of the New Hampshire GOP delegates that Republicans from all corners of the party are concerned about the new national party rules,” said Carolyn McKinney, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “I’m so proud that even after a contentious state party platform debate, the New Hampshire Republican Party sent a strong, united message to the RNC.

“After all, one of the cornerstones of the Grand Old Party is a belief in republicanism, which is the idea that power is distributed and limited by checks and balances,” McKinney added. “Those values are embodied in our Constitution and they were the basis of the Republican Party when it was founded and for most of its history. This resolution will hopefully send a message from all Republicans in New Hampshire that we want our party to remain republican, because those are the values that will give us the moral foundation to continue to advance our Republican ideals.”

RESOLUTION TO RESTORE THE POWER OF THE GOP GRASSROOTS

Whereas, the new party rules at the Republican National Convention in Tampa were adopted under questionable circumstances with disregard for convention rules;

Whereas, the new rules impose a top-down structure of governance in place of the party’s traditional bottom-up structure and reduce the power and autonomy of state and local party organizations;

Whereas, the changes to Rule 12 give unprecedented power to the national committee to change party rules without the input and approval of state parties and their members;

Whereas, it is to benefit of the New Hampshire Republican Party that First in the Nation rules not be open to change between conventions;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

We condemn Rule 12 as antithetical to Republican values and assert the primacy of the delegates to the Republican Convention in setting party rules;

We reject the new top-down structure of governance as detrimental to the long-term success of the Republican Party.

It’s important to note that New Hampshire Republicans were the first to advance this resolution at a state party convention in an effort to lead the nation’s Republicans in a grassroots’ effort to reclaim the party for the people. RLCNH Chairman Carolyn McKinney was the author and sponsor of the resolution, and she was the only state delegate to speak about the resolution before it was almost unanimously adopted. Various observers said the voice vote enjoyed 90:10 support.

###

About The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire
The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, a state chapter of the national Republican Liberty Caucus, was launched in December 2004 to promote the ideals of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free enterprise and adherence to the N.H. and U.S. Constitutions among Republican Party officials and throughout the state by identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with the organization’s ideals, and by supporting, through public education and outreach, initiatives in the N.H. Legislature that further these ideals. For more information about the RLCNH, please visit rlcnh.org.

RLCNH SUPPORTS N.H. GOP PLATFORM PROPOSAL

UGGESTS RESOLUTION OPPOSING RNC RULE CHANGES

Proposed Platform Advances Limited Government, Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility and Free Enterprise

CONCORD, N.H.—The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire endorses the proposed New Hampshire Republican Party platform, which will be considered on Saturday by party delegates in Derry, as a document that advances the founding principles of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise, which the RLCNH supports.

In addition to endorsing the platform and supporting it during Saturday’s convention, the RLCNH will be introducing a resolution to challenge the legitimacy of the national party rule changes passed during the Tampa convention and to assert the primacy of the state parties in their long-standing ability to conduct party elections, nominate candidates and appoint delegates without the interference of the national committee or any other outside authority.

“This year’s GOP State Convention will be bitter-sweet for the RLCNH, as we are happy to endorse and support changes to the state Republican Party platform as beneficial to the long-term liberty and prosperity of New Hampshire citizens,” said Carolyn McKinney, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “At the same time, we regret to have to bring forward a resolution rejecting the changes of the national convention. We think the resolution is necessary considering the authoritarian power grab we witnessed at the RNC that has trampled the liberties of the 50 state parties.”

The proposed N.H. GOP platform includes a statement of principle in the beginning of the document that highlights Republicans’ respect for the traditional values of liberty that ensured America’s initial success. It continues by applying those principles to the several issues now important to voters, including “jobs and the economy,” “taxes and spending,” “health,” “education,” “the family,” “law and order,” “the judiciary,” “the environment” and “federalism.” Many of the policy proposals under the new platform’s application of principles align perfectly with the RLCNH’s Liberty and Prosperity for New Hampshire 2013-2014 Legislative Agenda.

“We’re excited to see that the New Hampshire Republican Party is headed in the right direction, and we firmly believe that an increasing number of New Hampshire voters will find themselves aligning with it as time goes on,” McKinney said. “We expect elected Republicans will abide by this proposed platform with their votes in Concord, and we are confident that Republicans who stick with this platform will gain the respect of voters for their re-election. Over time, a strengthened Republican Party and the representatives, senators and governors who stand with its principles, will lead New Hampshire toward the liberty and prosperity that it has always deserved.”

While it is important that New Hampshire Republicans continue to set the right direction for the state, it’s also important that New Hampshire Republicans stand united with Republicans in state parties across the country to take back the national party from those who want to run everything from the top. 

In Tampa earlier this summer, RNC management showed a blatant disregard for the party rules by removing legitimately elected delegates, removing members of the rules committee or preventing them from voting, silencing dissent, and disregarding the results of votes. Because such fraud and coercion were used to pass new rules that reduce the power and autonomy of state and local party organizations and impose a top-down structure of governance in place of the party’s traditional bottom-up structure, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is proposing a resolution from the New Hampshire Republican Party that outright rejects the rules changes.

“We are asking Republican delegates in New Hampshire to respect the value of their own legitimate power by passing this RLCNH-proposed resolution,” McKinney said. “We hope to restore the traditional principles to the RNC that we already know and love here in New Hampshire. Only when state primaries and processes are given the respect they deserve can we expect our First in the Nation Primary status to mean something again. If the national rule changes remain, our primary will become a facade.”

###

About The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire
The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, a state chapter of the national Republican Liberty Caucus, was launched in December 2004 to promote the ideals of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free enterprise and adherence to the N.H. and U.S. Constitutions among Republican Party officials and throughout the state by identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with the organization’s ideals, and by supporting, through public education and outreach, initiatives in the N.H. Legislature that further these ideals. For more information about the RLCNH, please visit rlcnh.org.

RLCNH Celebrates Extensive Primary Election Successes

Caucus Advances 86 Percent of Its Primary Candidates Who Will Work to Restore Liberty and Prosperity in N.H.

CONCORD, N.H.―According to preliminary primary election results, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is excited to announce that 124 of its 145 endorsed or recommended candidates for state offices, or 86 percent, were nominated as Republican candidates and will appear on their respective general election ballots on Nov. 6. These results are essentially equivalent with the 88 percent success rate from the 2010 primary.

Of the 83 endorsed or recommended candidates in contested races, 62 of them, or 75 percent, earned the support of voters in their districts. Again, these numbers are nearly equivalent with the 79 percent success rate from 2010.

“As an organization that is trying to push the envelope in the Republican Party to bring liberty and prosperity to New Hampshire by electing liberty-minded, conservative legislators, these consistent results indicate that our efforts so far have been successful,” said Carolyn McKinney, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. 

Of the total 124 candidates who will move forward after Tuesday’s primary, 116 are candidates for state representative, six are candidates for state senator and two are candidates for executive councilor. 

“These election results clearly show that Republicans in New Hampshire want a party and a government that represents the nation’s founding principles of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise,” McKinney said. “I’m confident that New Hampshire voters as a whole want to advance these same ideals, because most people know that individual freedom and free markets led to our state and nation’s early success, and once we reinstall these principles by restoring a leaner, more affordable government, the state and nation will prosper once more.” 

Of further note from Tuesday’s primary election, 26 of the 32 candidates RLCNH actively supported heading into the primary, or 81 percent, advanced to their general election contest. These are the candidates who received financial assistance, Web site development, dedicated election-day volunteers or other active support in their campaigns. Additionally, 97 of the 113 candidates the RLCNH endorsed made it past the primary. This is also an 86 percent success rate.

Even more impressive, the RLCNH was able to knock out at least half of the six big-government Republicans that it targeted for defeat in their primaries: RLCNH-endorsed Cliff Newton knocked out Julie Brown in Strafford 23, RLCNH-endorsed Jane Cormier defeated Peter Bolster in Belknap 8 and RLCNH-recommended Leon Rideout topped Bill Remick in Coos 7. A fourth race between Joanne Ward and big-government Republican Tim Copeland in Rockingham 19 is still being contested. 

“People have lost trust in politicians because of people like the six incumbents we targeted, who misrepresent themselves as Republicans and actively work against Republican campaign rhetoric once they get into office,” McKinney said. “The elimination of just one of these turncoats is a victory for the people of their district, the state as a whole and the Republican Party, and we’re elated we were able to defeat three of them.”

To educate voters leading up to the primary election, the RLCNH released its 2012 RLCNH Voter Guide, which identified the 145 endorsed or recommended Republicans who made it through a vigorous reputation-screening process run by the RLCNH Endorsements Committee. The committee confirmed that these candidates would likely advance RLCNH’s Liberty and Prosperity for New Hampshire agenda upon their election to office. The committee’s endorsements and recommendations were then confirmed by the RLCNH Board of Directors.  

Endorsed Republicans earned a score of 85 percent or higher on the 2012 RLCNH Legislative Scorecard if they were incumbents, or they scored an 85 percent or higher on the 2012 RLCNH Candidate Survey if they were first-time candidates. They were also rated on their overall understanding of liberty. A recommended candidate earned this lower standard for scoring at least 80 percent on the scorecard or survey and generally supporting the RLCNH’s Liberty and Prosperity for New Hampshire agenda. 

“We will continue to support the 124 endorsed or recommended candidates who have advanced past their primary to ensure their election in November,” McKinney said. “We expect the group that makes it into office to lead New Hampshire back to its roots, which will ensure liberty and prosperity for the most people.”