Bass For Congress - The Bass Report

Dear Friends,

You and I know that simply ignoring a problem does not make it go away.  With our nation $16 trillion in debt, and our safety net in danger from demographic pressures, I believe America's leaders have a duty to work swiftly to fix these problems. Being a leader requires confronting problems head-on, not ignoring them.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked in a bipartisan manner for real solutions, and due to my efforts to help introduce a bipartisan budget plan, I was honored to receive the bipartisan endorsement of Bill Clinton's former Chief of Staff, Erskine Bowles, as well as former Republican Senator Alan Simpson.  Annie Kuster referred to the effort as "pitiful".

This begs the question: what kind of budget would my opponent support? Would she support President Obama's budget blueprint, which failed to attract a single vote?  Would she support the other Democratic proposals, which would cause deficits to skyrocket even further, and taxes to rise on small businesses?

She won't say.  We've never needed bold, bipartisan solutions more than we do now, but my opponent seems to believe that ignoring our problems is the best solution.  With your support, I will continue fighting for real solutions.

Sincerely, 

On the Trail...

Join Team Bass for a phone bank and door-to-door this weekend to help spread Charlie's message!

Nashua Door-to-Door

427 Amherst St. in Nashua

Saturday: 12 Noon - 4:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Phone Bank

85 Manchester Street in Concord

Saturday: 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Please email joe@votebass.com if you are able to join us!

Endorsement...

Charlie Bass received the endorsement of former New Hampshire State Representative, and son of former Governor Walter Peterson, Andy Peterson. Here is part of what he had to say...

Monadnock Ledger: It's Time We Take Another Look at Charlie Bass

"Sometimes we can be too close to a subject to see it clearly. In New Hampshire, a common example is when we forget how good our lives are here compared to other regions - a fact not lost on visitors that stream into our state during this time of year to enjoy the foliage.

Soon after the fall colors have faded, the 'leaf-peepers' have gone and the landscape opens up to prepare for winter's snows, many of us will turn our focus to casting our votes to determine the best leadership for our state and nation. Before we do, I hope that we can step back and take another look at our local Congressman, Charlie Bass. 

The other day something truly notable occurred. Erskine Bowles, the former chief of staff to both President Bill Clinton and Alan Simpson, the distinguished former Republican senator from Wyoming, began declaring their endorsements for the upcoming election. And out of the 850 or so congressional nominees nationwide, they started by announcing their support for one: Charlie Bass."

 

Read the full endorsement here. 

From the Papers...

Citizens across New Hampshire's 2nd District continue to write letters to the editor in favor of Charlie Bass. Read a few here...

Concord Monitor: Bass Gets It

The upcoming election presents a contrast of visions, one of big government with bureaucraicc solutions, the other empowering individuals through small government.

As government grows, individuals become more constrained by growing levels of red tape and restrictions. This, combined with an increasing tax burden, is damaging American businessmen and their ability to create jobs.

A good job can empower an individual to pay for food, health care, a decent education and all of the services that the government is increasingly trying to provide for everyone. The key difference lies in the power of choice of an individual. When it's a job providing these services, we are free to choose what we want. But when the government is the provider, there is no choice, just more bureaucracy.

The congressional race presents this choice as two candidates: the big-government advocate Annie Kuster and the small-government advocate Congressman Charlie Bass. Bass wants to make government work more efficiently and empower all of us to get the economy going again without the restrictions that come with government control. Instead of throwing money that we don't have at the problem, it is time to sit down and figure out what works and what does not. Bass understands this. That is why he has my vote.

Stephen A. Cardi, Concord

Union Leader: Bass and His Staff Care About Constituents

Charlie Bass cares about the people of New Hampshire. He proved it to me when first I came to his office needing help navigating the federal retirement system, then again just recently by helping me get a successful result from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans shouldn't need help to get what they deserve from our government, but they do, or else there wouldn't be a DAV or state veterans councilors to help veterans navigate the system. When I called Congressman Bass' office, they cared; they remembered my name, they tried to know me, they fought for me and they succeeded. When I introduced myself to Charlie at an event, he knew who I was, he knew what help was offered. I wasn't just a name or a number, I was a person who mattered. For that, I thank Congressman Bass and his office. For that, I ask you to vote Charlie Bass back into Congress to continue to work for us!

Neil McMillan, Pittsfield

 

If you'd like to write a letter to the editor in support of Charlie and would like our assistance with how best to submit it, please email joe@votebass.com or call us at 603.226.6000.

Volunteer of the Week...

 

Meet Holly! Holly is a Junior at Concord High School and plans to go to college for International Business. Holly comes in after school to phone bank with Team Bass and we are thankful to have her cheerful support! We are proud to name Holly as our Volunteer of the Week!

You could be Volunteer of the Week! Click here and let us know how you'd like to help!

Bass to Kuster - Which Budget Do You Support?

Annie Kuster Offers No Solutions

 

CONCORD (NH) – Liberal activist for Congress Annie Kuster continually refuses to provide voters with new ideas on how to create jobs and get our nation's fiscal house in order. Instead she proposes that we continue with President Obama's failed economic policies that have led to 14,000 more individuals in New Hampshire without jobs, lower incomes, and higher bills over the past 4 years.

In response to the bipartisan endorsement from former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, and former Senator Alan Simpson received by Charlie Bass, Annie Kuster attacked Bass for his efforts to find a bipartisan solution to America’s mounting fiscal troubles. Kuster called the bi-partisan budget plan supported by Bass, based on the Simpson-Bowles Commission recommendations, “pitiful.”

“Annie Kuster’s attack for supporting bold, bipartisan solutions to our nation’s fiscal problems is a pitiful attempt to cover up the fact that she has proposed absolutely no ideas of her own,” said Bass spokesman Scott Tranchemontagne. “She continues to tell voters what she’s opposed to, but refuses to provide any sort of solution. Seven different proposals were voted on this year, Kuster has dismissed two of them already - what about the other five?”

“With our country at the edge of a fiscal cliff, Charlie Bass understands we need real solutions to cut spending and raise revenue through a reformed tax code” continued Tranchemontagne. “Unfortunately, when it comes to ideas for fixing the problem, Annie Kuster has proposed none.”

“Annie Kuster is opposed to the bipartisan budget, but what would she have supported during the budget debate? President Obama proposed a budget that never balances, and that failed to receive a single vote in either the House or the Senate - is Kuster willing to be the only vote? Or does she support Harry Reid and the Senate’s action to not even offer a budget for over three years?“    

“Every New Hampshire family knows how important a budget is for their household. They have a right to know which budget Annie Kuster wants for our nation.” 

Alternatives Budget Offered During Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Debate:

Which One Would Annie Kuster Support?

President Obama’s Budget Proposal (H.Amdt 999 - RC 143)

Contains $1.9 trillion in tax increases on American families and and small businesses

Increases national debt by $6.4 trillion over next 10 years

Congressional Black Caucus Budget  (H.Amdt 1000 - RC 144)

Contains $6 trillion in tax increase on families and small business

$5 trillion in new spending to increase size of government

Congressional Progressive Caucus budget (H.Amdt 1002 - RC 148)

$6.7 trillion tax increases on families and small businesses

$6.8 trillion in new spending

$3.2 trillion added to our national debt

Republican Study Committee Budget (H.Amdt 1003 - RC 149)

$2.3 trillion in spending cuts

Democratic Caucus Budget - (H.Amdt 1004 - RC 150)

$1.8 trillion tax increase on families and small businesses

$4.7 trillion in new spending

$6 trillion added to our national debt

Allows Medicare to go bankrupt

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