NRCC - Happy Anniversary! Shea-Porter Voted for Job-Destroying Healthcare Law One Year Ago Today

Former New Hampshire Constituents Won’t Forget the Democrat’s Big-Government Record

Washington --- As Carol Shea-Porter is being courted by Washington Democrats to run for her old seat, we can remember that it was exactly one year ago today that she voted for the big-spending, job-crushing healthcare bill that has since become law. Although Shea-Porter lost her job, many ObamaCare supporters are already having regrets as new burdens are being placed on small businesses and the national debt continues to skyrocket. Having fired her once, New Hampshire voters won’t forget Shea-Porter's support for the big-spending, job-destroying status quo that her fellow Democrats continue to defend to this day.

“Carol Shea-Porter's former constituents in New Hampshire won’t soon forget how she marched right alongside the Democrats’ spending spree that preceded the record deficit we now face, and her vote for ObamaCare exactly one year ago today is no exception,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “This makes Shea-Porter's potential comeback attempt doubtful at best, since debt is still being piled onto middle-class families and burdens are still being placed on small businesses throughout New Hampshire as a result of the harmful Democrat policies she supported before she was fired.”

One year ago today, Carol Shea-Porter helped pass ObamaCare in the House. (H.R. 4872, Roll Call Vote #167: Passed 220-211: D 220-33; R 0-178, 3/21/10; H.R. 3590, Roll Call Vote #165: Passed 219-212: D 219-34; R 0-178, 3/21/10)

And despite ObamaCare’s unpopularity, many defeated Democrat Members are still considering running for the old seats they lost in November 2010:

“Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) has formed an alumni association of members defeated in the landslide 2010 election in an effort to capitalize on their political knowledge and connections to help the party regain the House majority next November.

“The group, which includes members who lost their re-election bids as well as those who retired last cycle, first met during last year's lame-duck session of Congress. They now huddle by phone once or twice a month with Israel and DCCC recruiting chair Allyson Schwartz (Pa.) leading the chat. Roughly 90 percent of the Democrats who lost in 2010 participate.” (Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake, “Steve Israel's alumni association,” Washington Post’s The Fix Blog, 2/16/11)

As Carol Shea-Porter decides whether to run for the seat she lost in November, New Hampshire voters should remember how it was exactly one year ago today that she voted for the deficit-busting spending and red tape that ObamaCare brought with it. And this vote is simply one in a pattern of supporting the Democrats’ job-crushing spending spree that they continue to advocate today, which makes Shea-Porter's chances for regaining her old seat rather unlikely.

Lynch, Shaheen, Shea-Porter Formally Announce $20 Million for Memorial Bridge Upgrade

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in New Hampshire for Announcement

NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, Governor John Lynch, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter joined with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and members of the Maine delegation to formally announce $20 million to replace Portsmouth’s Memorial Bridge.  These funds were issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation under its TIGER II program.

"I'm thrilled to announce that we are committing $20 million to replace the deteriorating Memorial Bridge, keeping open a crucial river crossing for cars, trucks, cyclists and pedestrians.  The Memorial Bridge replacement project is vital to the region's economy, not only because it will create jobs, but because it will also eliminate barriers to freight movement and improve access to the region's transportation network,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“The Memorial Bridge is in critical need of replacement and that is exactly what we are going to do.  As Governor, I feel we should not and we cannot wait any longer to address this transportation priority,” Governor John Lynch said.  “That is why New Hampshire has taken the lead in ensuring we replace this bridge as soon as possible.  Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to our goal of replacing the Memorial Bridge and ensuring the Seacoast has the strong transportation network it needs.”

“Memorial Bridge is critical to the Seacoast economy, connecting the commercial centers of Portsmouth and Kittery, as well as helping ensure access to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,” said U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen.  “This project is a smart investment of Recovery Act dollars: it will save New Hampshire money in the long run and will create many much-needed construction jobs.  It is also an example of what is possible when we put aside party labels and come together in a bipartisan way to get things done for our communities.”

“We have to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure in New Hampshire and around the country,” said U.S. Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter.  “This is a jobs issue and a safety issue.  This funding will benefit the local communities in both Maine and New Hampshire and I am very pleased that the New Hampshire and Maine delegations were successful in securing this funding.”

The announcement today took place at 1 Harbour Place in Portsmouth.  Governor Lynch, Senator Shaheen, Congresswoman Shea-Porter, and members from the Maine delegation had all worked together with Secretary LaHood to secure the TIGER II grant.

Shea-Porter Introduces Bill to Create Fisheries Ombudsman

WASHINGTON, DC  — Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter introduced the National Marine Fisheries Service Ombudsman Act of 2010 (H.R.5180). This legislation will create an Office of the Ombudsman within National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).  Shea-Porter is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, which has jurisdiction over NMFS.  

“The fishing industry is a critical part of New Hampshire’s coastal economy, culture and history,” Shea-Porter said. “Fisheries regulations have become increasingly complex and the relationship between our local fishermen and the National Fisheries Service has been strained.  An Ombudsman would provide a needed point of contact and source of information for our fishermen.”

In a January 2010 report, the Department of Commerce Inspector General recommended reestablishing the position of Ombudsman.   Shea-Porter’s bill would do so, creating an independent office that will act as a neutral third party to identify points of conflict and contention between NMFS and fishermen, undertake impartial fact-finding and investigations and mitigate those points of conflict.  The Ombudsman will also serve as a point of contact and receive complaints from those regulated by NMFS and will conduct community outreach and disseminate information about new regulations and requirements.

The Ombudsman will report to Congress annually on their recommendations to improve the services and responsiveness of NMFS, summarize the most pervasive and serious points of conflict, and make recommendations to resolve those points of conflict.

Shea-Porter to Attend White House Signing Ceremony Tuesday

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, March 23^rd, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter will attend a Bill Signing Ceremony at the White House for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  On Sunday the House of Representatives passed this historic health care legislation that will lower costs, expand coverage, and reduce our nation’s deficit.  According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will reduce the deficit by $143 billion in the first ten years and by $1.2 trillion in the second ten years. 

On Sunday afternoon, Shea-Porter spoke on the floor of the House in support of the bill. Click here to watch her remarks.

The Bill Signing Ceremony will take place in the East Room with President Obama at 11:15 a.m.  

Shea-Porter on Health Care

Last night Congresswoman Shea-Porter spoke on the House floor in favor of the health care bill.  http://www.shea-porter.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=610&Itemid=71