Today Grant Bosse outlined a simple, three-point plan to reform the Congressional Franking Privilege and prevent abuse like that of Paul Hodes:
This weekend, WMUR's Close Up NH examined Hodes unmatched use of tax dollars to promote himself:
Monday, June 30, 2008
From PolitickerNH.com
Brian Lawson from PolitickerNH.com writes about Grant's proposed reform of the Congressional Franking Privilege:
Bosse contends the reforms are needed after it was reported that U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord) has spent $130,000 on the free mailers sent to constituents in the 2nd Congressional District.
"Just because it's legal doesn't make it right," Bosse said.
Campaign Snapshot
Grant was all over the 2nd District this weekend. Grant began in Hollis, meeting voters at a "Coffee with the Candidates". Grant then stopped in Deering before traveling to Northfield for the Tilton-Northfield Old Home Days. On Sunday, Grant spoke to the Mont Vernon-Lyndeborough Republican Committee. And this morning, Grant became the first candidate to call for real reform of the Congressional Franking Privilege, outlining his three-step plan to eliminate the process and calling for Paul Hodes to stop his abuse of taxpayer money.
Bosse Calls for Franking Reform
Challenges Hodes to stop abusing taxpayer privileges
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today introduced a plan to end Congressional abuse of tax dollars and the use of the Franking Privilege to re-elect Members of Congress. Bosse outlined three steps that would prevent Congressmen from using tax dollars for self-promotion, and challenged incumbent Democrat Paul Hodes to support these overdue reforms.
“Paul Hodes has sent out over a million pieces of mail and spent nearly a quarter million taxpayer dollars to get re-elected,” Bosse said. “With these reforms, we can preserve the right of the people to communicate with their government while ending such abuse of the franking privilege.”
Bosse’s plan includes three simple steps:
• Prevent the transfer of tax dollars to political organizations, and make anyone who does personally responsible for reimbursing the Treasury. Both Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter paid the New Hampshire Democratic Party for its politically-targeted mailing list using taxpayer funds.
• Prohibit unsolicited mass mailings. Rep. Ray LaHood has introduced similar legislation, which has received no action by the Democratic Leadership for over a year.
• Require all mass mailings to include the total cost to taxpayers. Rep. Jeff Flake has introduced legislation to let taxpayers know how much of their money is being spent on Congressional propaganda. This proposal has also languished for over a year.
“The public deserves to get answers when they ask Congress a question. They don’t deserve to be flooded with political propaganda, and then be forced to foot the bill,” Bosse added. “By supporting these reforms, Paul Hodes can show that he’s more concerned about protecting taxpayers than his own re-election.”
Find more about Bosse’s campaign at www.Bosse2008.com.
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today introduced a plan to end Congressional abuse of tax dollars and the use of the Franking Privilege to re-elect Members of Congress. Bosse outlined three steps that would prevent Congressmen from using tax dollars for self-promotion, and challenged incumbent Democrat Paul Hodes to support these overdue reforms.
“Paul Hodes has sent out over a million pieces of mail and spent nearly a quarter million taxpayer dollars to get re-elected,” Bosse said. “With these reforms, we can preserve the right of the people to communicate with their government while ending such abuse of the franking privilege.”
Bosse’s plan includes three simple steps:
• Prevent the transfer of tax dollars to political organizations, and make anyone who does personally responsible for reimbursing the Treasury. Both Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter paid the New Hampshire Democratic Party for its politically-targeted mailing list using taxpayer funds.
• Prohibit unsolicited mass mailings. Rep. Ray LaHood has introduced similar legislation, which has received no action by the Democratic Leadership for over a year.
• Require all mass mailings to include the total cost to taxpayers. Rep. Jeff Flake has introduced legislation to let taxpayers know how much of their money is being spent on Congressional propaganda. This proposal has also languished for over a year.
“The public deserves to get answers when they ask Congress a question. They don’t deserve to be flooded with political propaganda, and then be forced to foot the bill,” Bosse added. “By supporting these reforms, Paul Hodes can show that he’s more concerned about protecting taxpayers than his own re-election.”
Find more about Bosse’s campaign at www.Bosse2008.com.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Good sign from North Korea
Last week, I mentioned skepticism about North Korea's progress in giving up its nuclear program. However, this weekend we had a very public and very positive sign, as they demolished the most visible symbol of that program:
Still early, but a concrete step in the right direction.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — There hasn't yet been any official North Korean reaction to the destruction of the most visible symbol of its nuclear program, but a U.S. diplomat who witnessed it said Saturday that the big blast saddened government officials there.
A day after North Korea blew up the cooling tower at its Yongbyon reactor complex to demonstrate its commitment to abandoning nuclear weapons, the State Department's top Koreas expert said he believed the event was an emotional loss for the Stalinist state.
Still early, but a concrete step in the right direction.
From the Nashua Telegraph
Grant appears twice in this morning's Nashua Telegraph. Kevin Landrigan highlights Grant's Comprehensive Health Care Plan.
Also in the Telegraph, Kyle Stucker writes about a candidates' coffee held yesterday in Hollis. Stucker details Grant's support of last week's Supreme Court decision defending the Second Amendment.
Another health plan
Republican congressional candidate Grant Bosse of Hillsboro continues to serve as the policy wonk among the five competing for the 2nd District nomination.
Bosse unveiled his health-care plan in David's House at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.
The plan encompasses much of the McCain/Republican National Committee agenda on the subject: full deductibility of health-care freedom, letting seniors choose a private plan option to Medicare, expanding use of a health-care savings account and allowing all consumers to choose plans across state lines.
"America has the best health care in the world, but we've designed a health-insurance system that makes it too difficult and too expensive for everyone to use," Bosse said.
Also in the Telegraph, Kyle Stucker writes about a candidates' coffee held yesterday in Hollis. Stucker details Grant's support of last week's Supreme Court decision defending the Second Amendment.
Candidates talk shop, drink coffee
By KYLE STUCKER Staff Writer
In addition to oil-drilling restrictions, Bosse said there is another piece of legislation interfering with the American way of life. Bosse wants to fully restore the Second Amendment and pass legislation that would allow gun owners to carry weapons on federal land, as well as over state lines, without prosecution.
"We're essentially telling people they don't have a right to defend themselves," said Bosse, referring to current restrictions on certain weapons.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Building support in Cheshire County
Grant continues to build support following a great performance at the Cheshire County Debate this week:
To the Editor:
When attending the Republican congressional debate on June 25, I heard Grant Bosse prove himself to be very knowledgeable about all the important issues of the day. Besides knowledge, he has common sense solutions to these problems. As a candidate for State Rep (Cheshire 1), I support Bosse's ideas for NH as well.
Bosse knows that we need to free our economy in order to prosper. We need to get the government out of the way and let the free market do it's job. I fully agree with Bosse that high taxes are the direct result of excessive governmental spending. He knows that over regulation of business drives up the costs of everything and leads to a loss of jobs throughout our state and country.
Please take a moment and inform yourself about Bosse at www.bosse2008.com. I hope you will consider using the 80% rule - if you agree with Bosse on 80% of the issues, you should consider voting for him on September 9th.
Dawn Lincoln
Westmoreland
dawnlincoln.org
Friday, June 27, 2008
From the Associated Press
The Associated Press wraps up reaction to the Heller case. Grant Bosse is the only candidate who goes beyond praising the Court's decision and advocates fully restoring our Second Amendment rights:
Congressional hopefuls Grant Bosse, Jennifer Horn and Bob Clegg also applauded the ruling — the court's first major pronouncement on gun rights. The Republicans hope to challenge Democrat Paul Hodes in the 2nd District race.
"Hopefully this decision will show the activist judges and liberal organizations that when the founding fathers wrote that 'the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed' they actually meant it," Horn said.
Bosse wants Congress to go even further, including lifting a ban on carrying weapons for self-defense in National Parks, "where hikers and campers face threats from predators, both animal and human." He also would lift bans on making weapons that are legal to own and would push for a federal law "honoring the rights of Americans to carry (weapons) across state lines without fear of prosecution."
Clegg said the ruling confirmed the Second Amendment's intent regarding gun ownership — and the role of government.
"The writers knew that protections of the citizen must be granted to protect us from the natural progression of new government, which tends to grow and attempt to increase their controls over the people," Clegg said.
Bosse Dominates Debate
Impartial observers agree that Grant is dominating the battle of ideas.
You can help Grant get his message out by contributing today.
Check out Grant's answers from this week's debate in Keene:
Part I
Part II
Bosse is getting a lot of praise from those attending the candidate forums as maybe the most knowledgeable candidate in the race. But he still needs to raise money to get that message out there if he wants to be competitive. Bosse raised $12k in the first quarter and finished with $10k in the bank. Look to see if Bosse was able to turn any of the knowledge praise into green. -Wally Edge, PolitickerNH.com
You can help Grant get his message out by contributing today.
Check out Grant's answers from this week's debate in Keene:
Part I
Part II
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Highlights from the first Debate
The New Hampshire Press noted Grant's stellar performance in last night's Candidates Debate in Keene.
From the Keene Sentinel:
We're going to agree on 80 percent of the issues 80 percent of the time, but that other 20 percent is so important," Bosse said. "That 20 percent is the difference between victory and defeat; between recreating, rebuilding a conservative, Republican majority in this state and in this country, and between another Democratic tsunami like 2006."
From the Concord Monitor:
The candidates agreed that government's role in bailing out the troubled loan market should be limited, if not nonexistent.
"The worst thing government can do is bail people out of bad decisions and create the next housing bubble," Bosse said...
Near the end of the debate, the candidates were given a chance to criticize Hodes, a Concord lawyer. They were asked to name the most irresponsible thing he's done during his first term in office.
"There's just so many choices," joked Bosse, who got the most laughs of the night. He went on to cite Hodes's support of a $300 billion farm bill that Bosse said has driven up the price of food. Farmers are planting too much corn for ethanol, he said, which means they're not planting other crops, such as wheat.
"Hey, it makes beer more expensive," he said, to laughter.
From PolitickerNH.com:
The candidates began the forum stating the reasons why people should vote for them.
"We're going to choose the message of the Republican Party when we choose the messenger," Bosse said. "I'm the only candidate to put together a conservative message."
We'll post video highlights from the debate soon.
From the Keene Sentinel:
We're going to agree on 80 percent of the issues 80 percent of the time, but that other 20 percent is so important," Bosse said. "That 20 percent is the difference between victory and defeat; between recreating, rebuilding a conservative, Republican majority in this state and in this country, and between another Democratic tsunami like 2006."
From the Concord Monitor:
The candidates agreed that government's role in bailing out the troubled loan market should be limited, if not nonexistent.
"The worst thing government can do is bail people out of bad decisions and create the next housing bubble," Bosse said...
Near the end of the debate, the candidates were given a chance to criticize Hodes, a Concord lawyer. They were asked to name the most irresponsible thing he's done during his first term in office.
"There's just so many choices," joked Bosse, who got the most laughs of the night. He went on to cite Hodes's support of a $300 billion farm bill that Bosse said has driven up the price of food. Farmers are planting too much corn for ethanol, he said, which means they're not planting other crops, such as wheat.
"Hey, it makes beer more expensive," he said, to laughter.
From PolitickerNH.com:
The candidates began the forum stating the reasons why people should vote for them.
"We're going to choose the message of the Republican Party when we choose the messenger," Bosse said. "I'm the only candidate to put together a conservative message."
We'll post video highlights from the debate soon.
White House lifts sanctions on North Korea
The Heller Decision is getting a lot of our attention today, but we shouldn't miss a significant announcement concerning North Korea's quest for nuclear weapons:
But these documents aren't everything we had hoped for:
"This seems like an awfully big carrot to be handing out for incomplete cooperation. If this is a first, positive step towards North Korea giving up its quest for nuclear blackmail, removing the sanctions and taking the country off the State Department's list of terrorist sponsors in worthwhile. I'm not convinced." -Grant Bosse
Bush administration lifts North Korea sanctions
Jun 26, 9:34 AM (ET)
By DEB RIECHMANN
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said Thursday he will lift key trade sanctions against North Korea and remove it from the U.S. terrorism blacklist, a remarkable turnaround in policy toward the communist regime he once branded as part of an "axis of evil."
The announcement came after North Korea handed over a long-awaited accounting of its nuclear work to Chinese officials on Thursday, fulfilling a key step in the denuclearization process.
But these documents aren't everything we had hoped for:
A senior U.S. official said the declaration contains detailed data on the amount of plutonium North Korea produced during each of several rounds of production at a now-shuttered plutonium reactor. It is expected to total about 37 kilograms of plutonium - enough to make about a half-dozen bombs.
However, the declaration, which covers nuclear production dating back to 1986, does not contain detailed information about North Korea's suspected program of developing weapons fueled by enriched uranium.
It also does not provide a complete accounting of how it allegedly helped Syria build what senior U.S. intelligence officials say was a secret nuclear reactor meant to make plutonium, which can be used to make high-yield nuclear weapons. Israeli jets bombed the structure in the remote eastern desert of Syria in September 2007.
"This seems like an awfully big carrot to be handing out for incomplete cooperation. If this is a first, positive step towards North Korea giving up its quest for nuclear blackmail, removing the sanctions and taking the country off the State Department's list of terrorist sponsors in worthwhile. I'm not convinced." -Grant Bosse
Pelosi Calls for More Gun Control- Does Hodes Agree?
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today asked Congressman Paul Hodes if he agrees with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s call for more gun control laws in the District of Columbia, even as the Supreme Court has thrown out the District’s oppressive ban on handgun ownership.
In the wake of the landmark District of Columbia v Heller decision, the Court threw out the gun ban and reaffirmed an individual right to keep and bear arm. Pelosi responded by claiming that the Court decision leaves plenty of room for new gun control laws.
"I think it still allows the District of Columbia to come forward with a law that’s less pervasive," Pelosi said. "I think the court left a lot of room to run in terms of concealed weapons and guns near schools."
Paul Hodes has voted with Pelosi almost unanimously in his two years in Congress, which prompted Bosse to ask if Hodes would again follow the lead of Democratic leadership.
“Is Paul Hodes going to stand up to Nancy Pelosi, as she tries to rebuild DC’s oppressive gun laws, or will he support the rights of gun owners by rolling back unneeded restriction on the right to keep the bear arms?” Bosse asked.
Bosse is the most consistent support of gunowners’ rights in the Republican field to challenge Hodes. Following the Heller decision, Bosse noted that Congressional action was needed to secure the rights that the Supreme Court recognized.
Find more about Bosse’s campaign at www.Bosse2008.com.
In the wake of the landmark District of Columbia v Heller decision, the Court threw out the gun ban and reaffirmed an individual right to keep and bear arm. Pelosi responded by claiming that the Court decision leaves plenty of room for new gun control laws.
"I think it still allows the District of Columbia to come forward with a law that’s less pervasive," Pelosi said. "I think the court left a lot of room to run in terms of concealed weapons and guns near schools."
Paul Hodes has voted with Pelosi almost unanimously in his two years in Congress, which prompted Bosse to ask if Hodes would again follow the lead of Democratic leadership.
“Is Paul Hodes going to stand up to Nancy Pelosi, as she tries to rebuild DC’s oppressive gun laws, or will he support the rights of gun owners by rolling back unneeded restriction on the right to keep the bear arms?” Bosse asked.
Bosse is the most consistent support of gunowners’ rights in the Republican field to challenge Hodes. Following the Heller decision, Bosse noted that Congressional action was needed to secure the rights that the Supreme Court recognized.
Find more about Bosse’s campaign at www.Bosse2008.com.
Heller Reaction
Grant Bosse has been a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment, and predicted not only today's decision, but the next step to protect the rights of gunowners:
ScotusBlog and the Volokh Conspiracy continue to provide invaluable reaction to the Heller decision.
ScotusBlog and the Volokh Conspiracy continue to provide invaluable reaction to the Heller decision.
Bosse Applauds Heller Decision
Urges Congressional Action to Guarantee Right of Gunowners
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today applauded the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v Heller, which overturned the District of Columbia’s oppressive ban on private gun ownership and affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms found in the Second Amendment to the Constitution.
“While Jennifer Horn supported more gun control laws, and Bob Clegg has sponsored a bill to regulate local gun ranges, I have been a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment,” Bosse added. “I don’t expect the Paul Hodes-Nancy Pelosi Congress to do anything to implement the Heller Decision, which is why we need to send people to Congress who understand the history and importance of the Second Amendment. We need candidates who support the Second Amendment out of principle, and not out of political expediency.”
Bosse called for lifting a ban on carrying weapons for self-defense in National Parks, where hikers and campers face threats from predators, both animal and human. He also advocated re-examination of archaic statutes banning the manufacture of firearms that are legal to own and operate, and pushed for a federal reciprocity law honoring the rights of Americans to carry across state lines without fear of prosecution.
“The Second Amendment contains a civil right, to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities,” Bosse said. “I’m thrilled that the Supreme Court has clarified this simple truth. Now we need Congress to implement this decision by rolling back the useless restrictions on the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.”
Read the Court's opinion here.
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today applauded the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v Heller, which overturned the District of Columbia’s oppressive ban on private gun ownership and affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms found in the Second Amendment to the Constitution.
“While Jennifer Horn supported more gun control laws, and Bob Clegg has sponsored a bill to regulate local gun ranges, I have been a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment,” Bosse added. “I don’t expect the Paul Hodes-Nancy Pelosi Congress to do anything to implement the Heller Decision, which is why we need to send people to Congress who understand the history and importance of the Second Amendment. We need candidates who support the Second Amendment out of principle, and not out of political expediency.”
Bosse called for lifting a ban on carrying weapons for self-defense in National Parks, where hikers and campers face threats from predators, both animal and human. He also advocated re-examination of archaic statutes banning the manufacture of firearms that are legal to own and operate, and pushed for a federal reciprocity law honoring the rights of Americans to carry across state lines without fear of prosecution.
“The Second Amendment contains a civil right, to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities,” Bosse said. “I’m thrilled that the Supreme Court has clarified this simple truth. Now we need Congress to implement this decision by rolling back the useless restrictions on the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.”
Read the Court's opinion here.
Bosse Clear Winner at Cheshire County Debate
Injects humor, passion, and expertise to first Republican debate
(Keene) Grant Bosse was the clear winner at tonight's debate among the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District Republican nomination. The event was held at the Keene Public Library, sponsored by the Cheshire County Republican Committee, and moderated by former New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed. Bosse brought his unique humor, passion and expertise to the debate, providing the most detailed answers to each of the questions posed by the three-person panel. Bosse particularly distinguished himself on a question about the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies. After Jennifer Horn blamed the falling dollar on business taxes, and Jim Steiner blamed it on high energy prices, Bosse took both to task.
"You're both dead wrong," said Bosse. "The value of the dollar is falling because we're printing too many dollars."
Bosse went on to outline the Federal Reserve's role in setting interest rates, and advocated a more limited role for the central bank. Bosse also addressed such issues as energy policy, immigration, and the war in Iraq, providing more detailed and responsive answers than any of the other candidates.
Tonight's debate comes just hours after Bosse released his comprehensive health care plan, calling for Congress to get out of the way and allow consumers to make their own health care decisions. For more information on Bosse's campaign, go to www.Bosse2008.com.
(Keene) Grant Bosse was the clear winner at tonight's debate among the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District Republican nomination. The event was held at the Keene Public Library, sponsored by the Cheshire County Republican Committee, and moderated by former New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed. Bosse brought his unique humor, passion and expertise to the debate, providing the most detailed answers to each of the questions posed by the three-person panel. Bosse particularly distinguished himself on a question about the Federal Reserve's inflationary policies. After Jennifer Horn blamed the falling dollar on business taxes, and Jim Steiner blamed it on high energy prices, Bosse took both to task.
"You're both dead wrong," said Bosse. "The value of the dollar is falling because we're printing too many dollars."
Bosse went on to outline the Federal Reserve's role in setting interest rates, and advocated a more limited role for the central bank. Bosse also addressed such issues as energy policy, immigration, and the war in Iraq, providing more detailed and responsive answers than any of the other candidates.
Tonight's debate comes just hours after Bosse released his comprehensive health care plan, calling for Congress to get out of the way and allow consumers to make their own health care decisions. For more information on Bosse's campaign, go to www.Bosse2008.com.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Campaign Snapshot
Grant was the clear winner at tonight's Cheshire County Republican debate among the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District Republican nomination. Grant provided the most detailed and responsive answers to all the questions posed by the three-person panel.
Thanks to the Cheshire County Republican Committee for sponsoring the debate, the Keene Public Library for hosting the event, and to former New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed for moderating.
Thanks to the Cheshire County Republican Committee for sponsoring the debate, the Keene Public Library for hosting the event, and to former New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed for moderating.
Bosse Unveils Comprehensive Health Care Plan
Gives patients and doctors more power; boosts choices for veterans
(Lebanon) Republican Grant Bosse today unveiled a comprehensive Health Care Plan that would increase the power of doctors and patients to make health care decisions, make health insurance more affordable, and increase health care choices for America’s veterans.
“America has the best health care in the world, but we’ve designed a health insurance system that makes it too difficult and too expensive for everyone to use,” Bosse said. “By reducing mandates, increasing choice, and giving our veterans more control over their health care benefits, we can bring down the cost of health care and improve medical results.”
The Bosse Health Care Plan contained ten recommendations to lower the amount of Congressional interference in the health care marketplace, lower health insurance premiums, and improve the standard of care for America’s veterans:
• Provide full deductibility for health insurance premiums.
• Focus Veterans Administration resources on service-related care.
• Give veterans access to private hospitals for general health care needs.
• Expand use of Health Savings Accounts.
• Allow Small Business Health Plans.
• Allow Interstate Insurance Choice.
• Reform Medicare to allow consumer choice.
• End Defensive Medicine by capping non-economic malpractice awards.
• Increase flexibility for Community Health Centers.
• Support Medical Information Technology.
Bosse unveiled the plan before a tour of David’s House in Lebanon, a home away from home for children receiving care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. For more information on Bosse’s Health Care Plan, log onto www.Bosse2008.com.
Bosse Health Care Plan
Rising health care costs are putting America’s incredible health care system out of reach of many Americans, straining local and state budgets, and making it much more difficult for businesses to supply health insurance benefits to their employees. Yet these rising costs are driven largely by three factors not directly related to the quality of care patients receive: an aging population, defensive medicine, and insurance mandates.
Current federal policy ignores these challenges, and prevents competition and choice from bringing down health care spending. Overall health care spending is increasing at alarming rates, without any evidence that these extra dollars are providing better medical outcomes. By removing barriers between patients and doctors, the Bosse Health Care Plan would help ensure that health care spending led to healthier patients.
1) Provide full deductibility for health insurance premiums.
Large businesses deduct the cost of employee health benefits from their taxes, making it more affordable to offer health insurance to their workers. By allowing small business and the self-employed to take similar deductions, health insurance benefits would cost less. By allowing taxpayers to take these deductions on their individual taxes, consumers could decide for themselves whether to obtain health coverage through their employers or through the private marketplace.
2) Focus Veterans Administration resources on service-related care.
The Veterans Administration hospitals should provide our servicemen and women the best possible service-related care. However, we can not expect a government bureaucracy to compete with the innovation and flexibility of the private sector in delivering general health care services. By concentrating limited VA resources on service-related injuries and diseases, we can improve medical outcomes for veterans, while supporting research into the unique health challenges facing the military.
3) Give veterans access to private hospitals for general health care needs.
Our nation’s veterans should not be relegated into a second-class health care system, yet this is precisely what current federal policy dictates. By limiting veterans benefits to the VA System, veterans are forced to choose between receiving less than the best possible care, or paying for private health care out of pocket. If general or specialty treatments are not available in the VA System, veterans who have earned benefits should be able to obtain treatment at outside hospitals. Sen. John McCain has proposed such a change under Tri-Care.
4) Expand use of Health Savings Accounts for Veterans.
The use of Health Savings Accounts, along with High Deductible Health Plans for catastrophic care, has expanded greatly since first signed into law in 2003, and has greatly expanded choice and lowered health care spending for those eligible. But there are still several restrictions on HSAs that limit their availability to veterans. Anyone who has received care from the VA System within the last three months is not eligible for an HAS, and veterans under Tri-Care can not set up HSAs because Tri-Care does not offer High Deductible Health Plans. Removing these restrictions would give veterans access to the same
5) Allow Small Business Health Plans.
Because health insurance rates are set based on the relative risk of those covered, small businesses with few employees have difficulty spreading this risk and lowering costs. By allowing small businesses to pool their employees into larger groups, Small Business Health Plans (SBHPs) would reduce administrative expenses, create greater bargaining power, and lead to lower costs from a broader risk pool. Similar legislation has received majority support from both Houses of Congress in the past, but has consistently been blocked by Democratic leadership.
6) Allow Interstate Insurance Choice.
Consumers looking for competitive health insurance are currently at the mercy of state regulators, who routinely impose costly and inefficient mandates on health insurance coverage. By requiring insurers to cover unnecessary and often counter-productive treatments, competition and incentive for efficiency are driven from the health insurance marketplace. Health insurance companies are forced to offer overly expensive plans with unwanted benefits, or forced out of the state completely. Allowing consumers to purchase insurance from companies licensed in any state would instantly restore competition to this industry, and free consumers from the tyranny of state regulators.
7) Reform Medicare to allow consumer choice.
Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has proposed giving new Medicare recipients the choice of remaining in the current Medicare program, or instead receiving a payment to enroll in a private health care plan. This payment, indexed to medical costs, would go directly to the Medicare-approved insurance provider, with any access going directly to the recipient. This would give seniors receiving Medicare greater control over their health care decisions.
8) End Defensive Medicine by capping non-economic malpractice awards.
Diagnostic costs are rising twice as fast as other medical expenses, in large part because doctors feel pressures to order costly and unnecessary tests in order to avoid nuisance lawsuits. By capping non-economic damages in medical malpractice awards, doctors would be freed from the threat of unlimited liability for unforeseen medical complications. While holding negligent doctors accountable for their mistakes, liability reform would lower the crushing malpractice premiums that are driving medical specialists out of rural areas like Northern New Hampshire.
9) Increase flexibility for Community Health Centers.
Currently Community Health Centers must be publically owned in order to qualify for federal assistance as Federally Qualified Health Center. By allowing private hospitals, often the only health providers in rural areas, to compete for federal assistance, Congress could remove a significant barrier for private medical service to rural areas. Federally Qualified Health Centers receive higher Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, receive medical liability coverage through the Federal Tort Claims Act, access prescription drugs at reduced cost, and can participate in the Vaccine for Children Program. Allowing private hospitals to qualify for these benefits would help restore competition in medically underserved areas.
10) Support Medical Information Technology.
As health care costs rise, one area that promises lower costs is Medical Information Technology. By leveraging this technology to streamline medical records, Medical IT leads to lower administrative costs, fewer medical errors, and better health care outcomes. Existing federal programs should prioritize improvements in Medical IT that lead to greater accuracy and efficiency, while protecting the privacy of patients’ medical records.
Much of the high cost of health care can’t be fixed by government action; even by removing the barriers Congress has placed in the health care marketplace. Americans are living longer, leading to drastically higher spending at the end of life. Perhaps most alarmingly, Americans are eating too much and not exercising enough. Such lifestyle choices are well beyond the well-intentioned interference of government bureaucrats. But by freeing the health insurance marketplace from mandates and restrictions, we can use the free market to provide incentives for healthier living. Customers who eat right, don’t smoke, exercise regularly, and make other good lifestyle choices are healthier and cheaper to insure. In a free market, this would mean lower health insurance rates, and provide real incentives to live healthier. We don’t need Congress to make these lifestyle choices for us. We need Congress to get out of the way.
(Lebanon) Republican Grant Bosse today unveiled a comprehensive Health Care Plan that would increase the power of doctors and patients to make health care decisions, make health insurance more affordable, and increase health care choices for America’s veterans.
“America has the best health care in the world, but we’ve designed a health insurance system that makes it too difficult and too expensive for everyone to use,” Bosse said. “By reducing mandates, increasing choice, and giving our veterans more control over their health care benefits, we can bring down the cost of health care and improve medical results.”
The Bosse Health Care Plan contained ten recommendations to lower the amount of Congressional interference in the health care marketplace, lower health insurance premiums, and improve the standard of care for America’s veterans:
• Provide full deductibility for health insurance premiums.
• Focus Veterans Administration resources on service-related care.
• Give veterans access to private hospitals for general health care needs.
• Expand use of Health Savings Accounts.
• Allow Small Business Health Plans.
• Allow Interstate Insurance Choice.
• Reform Medicare to allow consumer choice.
• End Defensive Medicine by capping non-economic malpractice awards.
• Increase flexibility for Community Health Centers.
• Support Medical Information Technology.
Bosse unveiled the plan before a tour of David’s House in Lebanon, a home away from home for children receiving care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. For more information on Bosse’s Health Care Plan, log onto www.Bosse2008.com.
Bosse Health Care Plan
Rising health care costs are putting America’s incredible health care system out of reach of many Americans, straining local and state budgets, and making it much more difficult for businesses to supply health insurance benefits to their employees. Yet these rising costs are driven largely by three factors not directly related to the quality of care patients receive: an aging population, defensive medicine, and insurance mandates.
Current federal policy ignores these challenges, and prevents competition and choice from bringing down health care spending. Overall health care spending is increasing at alarming rates, without any evidence that these extra dollars are providing better medical outcomes. By removing barriers between patients and doctors, the Bosse Health Care Plan would help ensure that health care spending led to healthier patients.
1) Provide full deductibility for health insurance premiums.
Large businesses deduct the cost of employee health benefits from their taxes, making it more affordable to offer health insurance to their workers. By allowing small business and the self-employed to take similar deductions, health insurance benefits would cost less. By allowing taxpayers to take these deductions on their individual taxes, consumers could decide for themselves whether to obtain health coverage through their employers or through the private marketplace.
2) Focus Veterans Administration resources on service-related care.
The Veterans Administration hospitals should provide our servicemen and women the best possible service-related care. However, we can not expect a government bureaucracy to compete with the innovation and flexibility of the private sector in delivering general health care services. By concentrating limited VA resources on service-related injuries and diseases, we can improve medical outcomes for veterans, while supporting research into the unique health challenges facing the military.
3) Give veterans access to private hospitals for general health care needs.
Our nation’s veterans should not be relegated into a second-class health care system, yet this is precisely what current federal policy dictates. By limiting veterans benefits to the VA System, veterans are forced to choose between receiving less than the best possible care, or paying for private health care out of pocket. If general or specialty treatments are not available in the VA System, veterans who have earned benefits should be able to obtain treatment at outside hospitals. Sen. John McCain has proposed such a change under Tri-Care.
4) Expand use of Health Savings Accounts for Veterans.
The use of Health Savings Accounts, along with High Deductible Health Plans for catastrophic care, has expanded greatly since first signed into law in 2003, and has greatly expanded choice and lowered health care spending for those eligible. But there are still several restrictions on HSAs that limit their availability to veterans. Anyone who has received care from the VA System within the last three months is not eligible for an HAS, and veterans under Tri-Care can not set up HSAs because Tri-Care does not offer High Deductible Health Plans. Removing these restrictions would give veterans access to the same
5) Allow Small Business Health Plans.
Because health insurance rates are set based on the relative risk of those covered, small businesses with few employees have difficulty spreading this risk and lowering costs. By allowing small businesses to pool their employees into larger groups, Small Business Health Plans (SBHPs) would reduce administrative expenses, create greater bargaining power, and lead to lower costs from a broader risk pool. Similar legislation has received majority support from both Houses of Congress in the past, but has consistently been blocked by Democratic leadership.
6) Allow Interstate Insurance Choice.
Consumers looking for competitive health insurance are currently at the mercy of state regulators, who routinely impose costly and inefficient mandates on health insurance coverage. By requiring insurers to cover unnecessary and often counter-productive treatments, competition and incentive for efficiency are driven from the health insurance marketplace. Health insurance companies are forced to offer overly expensive plans with unwanted benefits, or forced out of the state completely. Allowing consumers to purchase insurance from companies licensed in any state would instantly restore competition to this industry, and free consumers from the tyranny of state regulators.
7) Reform Medicare to allow consumer choice.
Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has proposed giving new Medicare recipients the choice of remaining in the current Medicare program, or instead receiving a payment to enroll in a private health care plan. This payment, indexed to medical costs, would go directly to the Medicare-approved insurance provider, with any access going directly to the recipient. This would give seniors receiving Medicare greater control over their health care decisions.
8) End Defensive Medicine by capping non-economic malpractice awards.
Diagnostic costs are rising twice as fast as other medical expenses, in large part because doctors feel pressures to order costly and unnecessary tests in order to avoid nuisance lawsuits. By capping non-economic damages in medical malpractice awards, doctors would be freed from the threat of unlimited liability for unforeseen medical complications. While holding negligent doctors accountable for their mistakes, liability reform would lower the crushing malpractice premiums that are driving medical specialists out of rural areas like Northern New Hampshire.
9) Increase flexibility for Community Health Centers.
Currently Community Health Centers must be publically owned in order to qualify for federal assistance as Federally Qualified Health Center. By allowing private hospitals, often the only health providers in rural areas, to compete for federal assistance, Congress could remove a significant barrier for private medical service to rural areas. Federally Qualified Health Centers receive higher Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, receive medical liability coverage through the Federal Tort Claims Act, access prescription drugs at reduced cost, and can participate in the Vaccine for Children Program. Allowing private hospitals to qualify for these benefits would help restore competition in medically underserved areas.
10) Support Medical Information Technology.
As health care costs rise, one area that promises lower costs is Medical Information Technology. By leveraging this technology to streamline medical records, Medical IT leads to lower administrative costs, fewer medical errors, and better health care outcomes. Existing federal programs should prioritize improvements in Medical IT that lead to greater accuracy and efficiency, while protecting the privacy of patients’ medical records.
Much of the high cost of health care can’t be fixed by government action; even by removing the barriers Congress has placed in the health care marketplace. Americans are living longer, leading to drastically higher spending at the end of life. Perhaps most alarmingly, Americans are eating too much and not exercising enough. Such lifestyle choices are well beyond the well-intentioned interference of government bureaucrats. But by freeing the health insurance marketplace from mandates and restrictions, we can use the free market to provide incentives for healthier living. Customers who eat right, don’t smoke, exercise regularly, and make other good lifestyle choices are healthier and cheaper to insure. In a free market, this would mean lower health insurance rates, and provide real incentives to live healthier. We don’t need Congress to make these lifestyle choices for us. We need Congress to get out of the way.
Debate Tonight!
KEENE, N.H. (AP) - The five Republican candidates seeking to challenge Democratic incumbent Paul Hodes this November for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled to appear in Keene tonight for a 90-minute debate.
The race to represent New Hampshire's 2nd District will pit Hodes, of Concord, against 1 of the following: Grant Bosse of Hillsboro; Bob Clegg of Hudson, Jennifer Horn of Nashua; Alfred L'Eplattenier of Rindge or Jim Steiner of Concord. They will face off in the primary election on September 9th.
Tonight's debate will be moderated by Cheshire County Attorney Peter Heed.
(7 p.m., Keene Public Library's Fox Room).
The race to represent New Hampshire's 2nd District will pit Hodes, of Concord, against 1 of the following: Grant Bosse of Hillsboro; Bob Clegg of Hudson, Jennifer Horn of Nashua; Alfred L'Eplattenier of Rindge or Jim Steiner of Concord. They will face off in the primary election on September 9th.
Tonight's debate will be moderated by Cheshire County Attorney Peter Heed.
(7 p.m., Keene Public Library's Fox Room).
Horn abuses non-profit to raise campaign cash
WMUR and the Union Leader report on Jennifer Horn's use of a non-profit Washington foundation to raise campaign funds, in violation of IRS rules. Grant Bosse has asked Horn to cancel this event, and ensure that the group's tax-exempt status is protected:
Horn contends that Gartenstein-Ross is coming to raise money for her on his own, with no connection with his work for the Foundation. Yet the FDD sent Gartenstein-Ross on Horn's radio show eight times over the last year, and Horn has been using the Foundation's name and Gartenstein-Ross's position with it to promote the event. If Jennifer Horn wants to use Washington-based think tanks to raise money, she shouldn't be trying to sneak a non-profit group through the back door into a New Hampshire election.
CONCORD – Two Republican candidates for Congress exchanged charges yesterday over a fundraising dinner GOP hopeful Jennifer Horn plans on Tuesday.
Grant Bosse accused Horn of breaking campaign finance laws by inviting Daveed Gartenstein-Ross of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies to be the featured speaker the event.
Bosse said federal tax laws clearly state that a tax-exempt non-profit cannot involve itself in a political campaign.
Horn contends that Gartenstein-Ross is coming to raise money for her on his own, with no connection with his work for the Foundation. Yet the FDD sent Gartenstein-Ross on Horn's radio show eight times over the last year, and Horn has been using the Foundation's name and Gartenstein-Ross's position with it to promote the event. If Jennifer Horn wants to use Washington-based think tanks to raise money, she shouldn't be trying to sneak a non-profit group through the back door into a New Hampshire election.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Everyone Does It
WMUR reports on Paul Hodes continued abuse of tax dollars by using taxpayer funding mailings to get re-elected. But it's okay, because Republicans and Democrats both do it:
Hodes said he just wants to keep people in his district informed, but Republicans said his efforts are a waste of public funds.
According to the National Taxpayer's Union, Hodes has spent more than $133,000 on the mailings this year.
Click here to find out more!
"Well, I think the congressman is proud of the communication he sent to the people he represents," said Hodes spokesman Mark Bergman. "He believes it is important to stay in touch."
New Hampshire Republicans attacked Hodes over the mailing, saying that his predecessor, Republican Rep. Charlie Bass, spent $13,760 in all of 2006.
Campaign Snapshot
Grant was welcomed last night at a hometown reception in Hillsboro, hosted by Mike and Gloria Reopel. More than sixty supporters heard Grant's message of returning Congress to its core priorities. The crowd also heard from Gubernatorial candidate Joe Kenney, representatives for Senators John McCain and John Sununu, and candidates for the New Hampshire State House and Senate, Hillsborough County Commissioner's Office, and Registar of Deeds.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Dispatch from Hillsboro
It's not often I can walk from my home to a campaign event, but I did tonight in Hillsboro. Thanks to Mike and Gloria Reopel for hosting a Candidates' Night for my campaign, and give people from my hometown a chance to meet some of the Republicans running for office this year.
Walt and Bonnie Morse did a great job organizing the event, and getting candidates from up and down the ballot to attend. Thanks to our gubernatorial candidate, Joe Kenney, who gave a great speech, highlighting his underdog campaigns for State House and State Senate. We need his focus on spending, and his leadership, in Concord.
Thanks to Matt from the McCain campaign and Jay from Team Sununu for showing the flag, and letting people know how to sign up for those campaigns.
And thanks to Pam Coughlin, Carol Holden, Bob Fredette, Dave Fullerton, and Larry Elliot for taking a few minutes to talk about their campaigns. I was pleased to use some our of campaign's time and energy to help build the Republican ticket this fall. After the primaries, we're going to need each other to win in November.
Tonight was a special night for me, and I'm so proud to be representing Hillsboro as a candidate for Congress.
-Grant Bosse
Walt and Bonnie Morse did a great job organizing the event, and getting candidates from up and down the ballot to attend. Thanks to our gubernatorial candidate, Joe Kenney, who gave a great speech, highlighting his underdog campaigns for State House and State Senate. We need his focus on spending, and his leadership, in Concord.
Thanks to Matt from the McCain campaign and Jay from Team Sununu for showing the flag, and letting people know how to sign up for those campaigns.
And thanks to Pam Coughlin, Carol Holden, Bob Fredette, Dave Fullerton, and Larry Elliot for taking a few minutes to talk about their campaigns. I was pleased to use some our of campaign's time and energy to help build the Republican ticket this fall. After the primaries, we're going to need each other to win in November.
Tonight was a special night for me, and I'm so proud to be representing Hillsboro as a candidate for Congress.
-Grant Bosse
Winning the battle of ideas
Republican Congressional Candidate Grant Bosse statement on John McCain's Energy Incentive Plan:
"I'm pleased that John McCain is proposing an incentive-based approach to create new energy breakthroughs, much as I proposed last month. Rather than wasting tax dollars through Congressional earmarks, we should reward those who can produce results. The X-Prize got results in the private space flight, and similar incentives could lead to remarkable breakthroughs for efficient and renewable energy. John McCain should be applauded for embracing this innovative, market-based approach to energy research."
Bosse called for an X-Prize Program for new energy breakthroughs as part of his comprehensive Energy Plan on May 22nd.
"I'm pleased that John McCain is proposing an incentive-based approach to create new energy breakthroughs, much as I proposed last month. Rather than wasting tax dollars through Congressional earmarks, we should reward those who can produce results. The X-Prize got results in the private space flight, and similar incentives could lead to remarkable breakthroughs for efficient and renewable energy. John McCain should be applauded for embracing this innovative, market-based approach to energy research."
Bosse called for an X-Prize Program for new energy breakthroughs as part of his comprehensive Energy Plan on May 22nd.
Hodes Votes to Endanger America
Hodes puts liberal agenda ahead of national security
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today blasted Democrat Paul Hodes for a series of votes that would have left the United States vulnerable. Fortunately, Hodes and his liberal colleagues did not prevail in their efforts to block funding for American military forces and to block a vital terrorist surveillance program.
“Paul Hodes has consistently voted against keeping America safe. He has a pattern of putting liberal fantasies ahead of national security,” Bosse said. “Monitoring overseas terrorist networks is more important than letting trial lawyers file nuisance lawsuits, and Paul Hodes should know it.”
On Friday, Hodes voted against a bipartisan agreement to renew the nation’s terrorist surveillance program (Roll Call #437). He also voted last week against an emergency supplemental funding bill for ongoing military operations (Roll Call #431), which is the second time Hodes has voted against funding troops in the field. Hodes has also pushed a bill to prevent the Department of Defense from communicating military successes to the American people, calling such efforts “propaganda.”
“Paul Hodes is wrong on defense, wrong to vote against our troops, and wrong to put trial lawyers ahead of terrorist surveillance,” Bosse added. “When he ran for Congress, Paul Hodes said he would make funding our troops ‘the top priority.’ Clearly, his priorities have changed.”
Find more about Bosse’s campaign at www.Bosse2008.com.
(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today blasted Democrat Paul Hodes for a series of votes that would have left the United States vulnerable. Fortunately, Hodes and his liberal colleagues did not prevail in their efforts to block funding for American military forces and to block a vital terrorist surveillance program.
“Paul Hodes has consistently voted against keeping America safe. He has a pattern of putting liberal fantasies ahead of national security,” Bosse said. “Monitoring overseas terrorist networks is more important than letting trial lawyers file nuisance lawsuits, and Paul Hodes should know it.”
On Friday, Hodes voted against a bipartisan agreement to renew the nation’s terrorist surveillance program (Roll Call #437). He also voted last week against an emergency supplemental funding bill for ongoing military operations (Roll Call #431), which is the second time Hodes has voted against funding troops in the field. Hodes has also pushed a bill to prevent the Department of Defense from communicating military successes to the American people, calling such efforts “propaganda.”
“Paul Hodes is wrong on defense, wrong to vote against our troops, and wrong to put trial lawyers ahead of terrorist surveillance,” Bosse added. “When he ran for Congress, Paul Hodes said he would make funding our troops ‘the top priority.’ Clearly, his priorities have changed.”
Find more about Bosse’s campaign at www.Bosse2008.com.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
From the Walk to the Walk-Off
UPDATE- Video of Youk's Walk Off:
Grant spent a busy day on Sunday, beginning before dawn. Grant joined the Salem Republican Pachyderms at the Salem Relay for Life, helping raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. Grant took the 6am shift during the all-night relay.
Later, Grant celebrated "New Hampshire Day" at Fenway Park, which included a lengthy rain-delay and a thrilling 13-inning classic against the St. Louis Cardinals. Kevin Youkilis sent the crowd back to the Granite State tired and happy with a two-run shot over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a walk-off 5-3 win.
Grant spent a busy day on Sunday, beginning before dawn. Grant joined the Salem Republican Pachyderms at the Salem Relay for Life, helping raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. Grant took the 6am shift during the all-night relay.
Later, Grant celebrated "New Hampshire Day" at Fenway Park, which included a lengthy rain-delay and a thrilling 13-inning classic against the St. Louis Cardinals. Kevin Youkilis sent the crowd back to the Granite State tired and happy with a two-run shot over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a walk-off 5-3 win.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Video Diary: Salem
Grant addresses the Salem Republican Committee on the turning points in his life that he owes to Republicans from Salem:
Friday, June 20, 2008
An Invitation from Grant: Join Bosse's Posse!
Dear Friends,
It has been an honor and a pleasure to campaign across New Hampshire for the past four months, seeking the Republican nomination for Congress in the 2nd District. I have received tremendous support from old friends and new as I talk about restoring Congress to its core priorities: a strong defense, secure borders, and an economy free from taxes, mandates, and over-regulation.
I am gratified that this campaign is leading the debate. On earmarks, energy, and economic freedom, we've been winning the battle of ideas, and forcing my opponents to address these important issues.
I can't win the campaign alone, and I wouldn't want to. I need the support of hundreds of volunteers and contributors, and I'm asking for your help today.
We're forming "Bosse's Posse", a grassroots coalition dedicated to reducing the power of the federal government and returning that power to the American people. Please join us. Your membership will help ensure that this campaign has the resources we need to bring our message to the voters of New Hampshire, take back the Republican Party, and ultimately fix Congress.
God Bless,
Grant Bosse
Join Bosse's Posse
Member- $25
Deputy- $100
Captain- $500
Sheriff- $1,000
Marshall- $2,300
Join Today at http://www.bosse2008.com/contribute2.html
1-800-834-2246
Or mail your contribution today:
Bosse for Congress
PO Box 730
Hillsboro, NH 03244
Please include employer and occupation for contributions over $200.
Bosse for Congress can not accept contributions from corporations or foreign nationals.
Thank you for your generous support.
Paid for by Bosse 2008
It has been an honor and a pleasure to campaign across New Hampshire for the past four months, seeking the Republican nomination for Congress in the 2nd District. I have received tremendous support from old friends and new as I talk about restoring Congress to its core priorities: a strong defense, secure borders, and an economy free from taxes, mandates, and over-regulation.
I am gratified that this campaign is leading the debate. On earmarks, energy, and economic freedom, we've been winning the battle of ideas, and forcing my opponents to address these important issues.
I can't win the campaign alone, and I wouldn't want to. I need the support of hundreds of volunteers and contributors, and I'm asking for your help today.
We're forming "Bosse's Posse", a grassroots coalition dedicated to reducing the power of the federal government and returning that power to the American people. Please join us. Your membership will help ensure that this campaign has the resources we need to bring our message to the voters of New Hampshire, take back the Republican Party, and ultimately fix Congress.
God Bless,
Grant Bosse
Join Bosse's Posse
Member- $25
Deputy- $100
Captain- $500
Sheriff- $1,000
Marshall- $2,300
Join Today at http://www.bosse2008.com/contribute2.html
1-800-834-2246
Or mail your contribution today:
Bosse for Congress
PO Box 730
Hillsboro, NH 03244
Please include employer and occupation for contributions over $200.
Bosse for Congress can not accept contributions from corporations or foreign nationals.
Thank you for your generous support.
Paid for by Bosse 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
More bad ideas
Paul Hodes proved today that he doesn't know what he's talking about on energy policy. Now, another Obama adviser is showing economic ignorance, calling for nationalization of oil refineries:
We can not afford to have Congress take over a major sector of the American economy. Their failed policies have driven prices through the roof, and giving them more power will only make the problem worse. That's why we need candidates who back small government and market-based solution, not candidates who insist that they can fix the energy markets, if only they had the chance to wield power for a few years.
Hattip: FreedomTalks
We can not afford to have Congress take over a major sector of the American economy. Their failed policies have driven prices through the roof, and giving them more power will only make the problem worse. That's why we need candidates who back small government and market-based solution, not candidates who insist that they can fix the energy markets, if only they had the chance to wield power for a few years.
Hattip: FreedomTalks
From PolitickerNH.com
Will Bredderman from PolitickerNH.com writes about Grant's attack on Congressman Paul Hodes' defense of an energy initiative labeled the "dumbest of them all".
The campaign of New Hampshire Republican congressional candidate Grant Bosse today issued a press release attacking Democratic incumbent Paul Hodes for supporting a proposal from Congresswoman and fellow Democrat Carol Shea-Porter that would mandate oil companies to drill on any federally-leased land in their possession. Bosse is running against Hodes for New Hampshire's 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The press release labeled Shea-Porter--who represents New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District--as a "radical" and cited an editorial from the Union-Leader that referred to the Democrats' proposal as possibly "the dumbest idea of them all." The document also quoted Bosse accusing Hodes of not being "serious about bringing down gas prices" and of trying to "distract voters with gimmicks."
Hodes Continues to Abuse Taxpayer Dollars
The Concord Monitor investigates Paul Hodes out-of-control spending of your tax dollars to get himself re-elected, this time by sending out over a million pieces of campaign propaganda at your expense:
Hodes may end up spending more of your money to make himself look good than any Member of Congress did last year:
Rep. Paul Hodes has spent more than $235,000 in taxpayer money to print and send mass mailers across his district in the first half of this year, an amount that tops what all but a fraction of congressmen have spent on such mail in recent years. All told, in less than two years in Congress, Hodes has sent out more than a million pieces of mass mail.
Federal law allows congressmen to tap their office budgets to send mail to their constituents, but in an election year the colorful, glossy mailers could easily be mistaken for campaign pamphlets.
Hodes may end up spending more of your money to make himself look good than any Member of Congress did last year:
In the first two quarters of 2008, Hodes has spent more than all but a handful of his colleagues did in 2006 and 2007, according to press accounts and compilations by the National Taxpayers Union. In 2006, said Taxpayers Union spokesman Pete Sepp, only 19 congressmen had postal budgets bigger than what Hodes has in 2008 to date.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Campaign Snapshot
Grant was in Coos County Tuesday night, stopping by the New Hampshire Association of Police Chiefs' Annual Meeting. Grant met with Chiefs of Police from all across the Granite State, and dignitaries like Executive Councilor Ray Burton.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
From the Concord Monitor
Concord Monitor columnist Katy Burns addresses Congressman Paul Hodes' abuse of taxpayer dollars by sending out franked mail at taxpayer expense:
Democrats behaving badly
Paul Hodes is a very smart guy. From all accounts he was a terrific lawyer. And when he went to Washington to represent New Hampshire's 2nd District in Congress, other members of his freshman class elected him president. I am not sure exactly what that means, but it sure sounds as if they, too, were pretty impressed with their fellow newcomer.
So why on earth is he sending outrageously over-produced glossy, full color barely disguised campaign brochures as franked - that is to say, taxpayer-financed - mail?
So far there have been, according to Union Leader reporter John DiStaso, nine of the things, including three in about a month. (We've received only seven. Should I be miffed?) The last, touting all that Hodes is allegedly doing to help his constituents deal with skyrocketing gas prices, set us taxpayers back a cool $59,236, says DiStaso.
Sure, in times when we're blowing $3 billion a week in Iraq, that's small beans. But it's a surprisingly arrogant move for a new legislator. And at least a few of his constituents are bound to compare these slick pieces with former congressman Charlie Bass's boring announcements of such mundane matters as town meetings on cheap paper with black ink.
Campaign Snapshot
Grant spoke to the Sougehan Valley Republican Women's meeting at the Mile Away Restaurant in Milford. Grant gave the most detailed message of how to get Congress out of the way of education, health care, and energy policy.
Video Diary- 300th Post
We mark the 300th post on the Bosse for Congress blog with a video diary. Here are Grant's remarks to the Cheshire County Republican Committee. Grant spoke on the need to take back the Republican Party before we can take back Congress.
Good Enough Isn't Good Enough Anymore
Good Enough Isn't Good Enough Anymore
Monday, June 16, 2008
Campaign Snapshot
Grant addressed the Reagan Network dinner Friday evening. Grant spoke of the role of primaries in determining the direction the Republican Party will take in the 2008 election.
From the Eagle-Tribune
The Eagle-Tribune reports on Grant's letter welcoming Senator John McCain back to New Hampshire for last week's Town Hall Meeting:
Congressional hopeful welcomes McCain back to N.H.
John McCain returned to New Hampshire last week for a Town Hall meeting in Nashua, and while some Democrats seized on the visit as a chance to rip the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Bosse was quick to welcome the Arizona senator back to the Granite State.
In his open letter to McCain, which he posted on the conservative blog Granite Grok, Bosse praised McCain for his willingness to say what he believes and stand up for it.
That, he said, is in stark contrast to McCain's Democratic opponent, Barack Obama.
Obama, Bosse said, "has adopted Jimmy Carter's policies, Al Gore's knack for self-promotion, and John Kerry's talent for being on every side of every issue."
Win One for the Gipper
Grant gave a rousing speech at the Ronald Reagan Dinner, hosted by the New Hampshire Reagan Network. Grant told the story of how he met Ronald Reagan in 1980, and also spoke about setting the direction of the Republican Party during the Republican Primary on September 9th:
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Fathers Day
Happy Fathers Day is all the dads out there, an idea first proposed 99 years ago.
I'm hoping to get my father an NBA Championship this year. I'm going with him to the American Legion convention in Nashua, and then we'll spend the afternoon as a family watching the U.S. Open, and the Celtics game.
I hope everyone else is able to spend some time with their fathers, or has a chance to think about those who are no longer with us.
Happy Fathers Day, Dad.
I'm hoping to get my father an NBA Championship this year. I'm going with him to the American Legion convention in Nashua, and then we'll spend the afternoon as a family watching the U.S. Open, and the Celtics game.
I hope everyone else is able to spend some time with their fathers, or has a chance to think about those who are no longer with us.
Happy Fathers Day, Dad.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Previewing the Heller Decision
Mike O'Shea at Concurring Opinions writes about what to look for when the Heller decisions comes down, possibly as soon as Monday:
There's much more there.
Hattip: Instapundit
1. Recognition of an Individual Right to Arms? The threshold issue. Will the Court recognize a genuinely individual right to arms, i.e., one that is not contingent upon participation in a state-regulated military organization? Like most observers, I interpreted the oral argument as revealing that there were between five and seven votes among the Justices for a genuine individual right.
2. What Purposes Does the Right Protect? Privately owned firearms can potentially serve a variety of legitimate purposes. Some of these are civic purposes: deterring tyranny; protecting against invasion or internal disorder; promoting military readiness through individual practice with firearms. Others are private, personal purposes: self-defense against criminal violence; hunting; participating in the shooting sports. Assuming that the Court recognizes an individual Second Amendment right to arms, will it interpret that right in a way that stresses protection for the private purposes of citizen arms — as urged by the provocative amicus brief of Professor Nelson Lund? Or will it emphasize the civic purposes of citizen arms — as it seemed to do in the 1939 Miller decision? Or will it (correctly, in my view) embrace both kinds of purposes, as do many state constitutional decisions? The answer to this question will greatly influence the success of future Second Amendment challenges to restrictive gun legislation. ...
Some kinds of restrictions (such as D.C.’s draconian “safe storage” requirements that do not allow a resident to keep any firearm in a usable defensive condition in her home) impinge most strongly on the private purposes of gun ownership. Others, such as bans on modern semiautomatic rifles, seem more likely to come into tension with the civic purposes of gun ownership, to the extent those are recognized as part of the Second Amendment.
There's much more there.
Hattip: Instapundit
Old Glory
Happy Flag Day.
Here's a suggestion on a great way to spend it:
Here's a suggestion on a great way to spend it:
As noted at the top of this post, the military families and veterans and supporters have not backed down on this. In fact, The Blue and Gold Star Families, veterans, and supporters will stand in support of that town’s defending its right to fly Old Glory this Saturday, Flag Day (June 14). The gathering starts at 1:00pm at Mathew Stanley’s bench located at Brewster Academy Field.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Campaign Snapshot From the Straight Talk Express
Grant had the honor of attending the John McCain Straight Talk Town Hall meeting in Nashua. Grant helped hand out McCain stickers to the hundreds of supporters in line. We heard from former Congressman Charlie Bass and Senator John Sununu, before listening to the next President of the United States.
Republicans in Nashua
A great day in the Gate City, starting with Senator McCain's Town Hall Meeting, and wrapping up with a Candidates' Rally at City Hall.
Kevin Landrigan reports on the McCain Meeting, and Joseph Cote writes about the City Hall Rally.
I was proud to stand with our Nashua slate of Republican candidates. I spoke briefly about the importance of winning back the Republican Party, and running on the unifying theme of controlling spending at the local, state, and federal level. We have a great Republican team in Nashua, and we're going to work hard to win back Republican voters, as well as Independents and Democrats willing to support those ideas.
Kevin Landrigan reports on the McCain Meeting, and Joseph Cote writes about the City Hall Rally.
NASHUA – Thursday's rally hosted by the Nashua Republican City Committee was the first of several planned events designed to convince voters to give at least some of their attention to local candidates this campaign season.
About 40 people, including almost 20 candidates for state and county seats, gathered at City Hall Plaza last night as a kickoff of sorts for local elections. Only a handful of candidates spoke to the crowd, but a theme quickly emerged: working together to recover seats the party lost when Democrats dominated 2006 elections.
"We want to show that the presence of the Republican Party is stronger than in the past," said NRCC Chairman Carl Seidel, who organized the rally. "We want to take back the legislature."
I was proud to stand with our Nashua slate of Republican candidates. I spoke briefly about the importance of winning back the Republican Party, and running on the unifying theme of controlling spending at the local, state, and federal level. We have a great Republican team in Nashua, and we're going to work hard to win back Republican voters, as well as Independents and Democrats willing to support those ideas.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Welcome Back, Senator McCain
As state Democrats continue to distort John McCain's record of public service, Grant Bosse issued the following open letter welcoming the Arizona Senator and Republican Presidential Nominee back to the Granite State in this guest post on Granite Grok:
Dear Senator McCain,
Welcome back to New Hampshire, the state that sent you on your way to the Republican nomination, and the state that will help you become the next President of the United States.
I don’t always agree with you. And that’s a good thing. Because I know where we agree and disagree. You’ve taken the rather revolutionary view that voters deserve to know where you stand on the important issues facing this country.
This stands in stark contrast to your presumed opponent, Senator Obama. He has adopted Jimmy Carter’s policies, Al Gore’s knack for self-promotion, and John Kerry’s talent for being on every side of every issue.
One area where Senator Obama has been clear about his preferences has been federal spending. He wants more of it. His billion dollar promises have ballooned into a trillion dollar agenda; one that will greatly increase not just the federal government, but the tax burden on American families, and the crushing debt on future generations. And Senator Obama is unwilling to even address the mounting challenges to Social Security and Medicare.
You have led efforts to cut wasteful federal spending, and as President would abolish the corrupt earmark system once and for all.
In meeting the challenge to keep America safe, the choice between you and Senator Obama is even clearer. As American troops in Iraq paid the price for our failure to change strategy and tactics in the face of a changing threat, you were an often lonely voice calling for more boots on the ground. You realized that the only way to bring American soldiers home was to give them the tools and support to complete their mission. Senator Obama declared that the “Surge” couldn’t possibly work, and refused to support it in the Senate. This stands as the only major foreign policy decision he has been forced to make, and it was completely wrong. In the only test of his abilities as Commander in Chief, he failed.
I salute your willingness to buck both conventional wisdom and political fortune to do what is right. As President, I know you will remain committed to keeping America safe and build on the progress we have made in helping Iraq rebuild from forty years of tyranny.
Thank you again for your continued support for the Granite State. Be assured that New Hampshire appreciates you. And America needs you. Good luck and God speed,
Sincerely,
Grant Bosse
Dear Senator McCain,
Welcome back to New Hampshire, the state that sent you on your way to the Republican nomination, and the state that will help you become the next President of the United States.
I don’t always agree with you. And that’s a good thing. Because I know where we agree and disagree. You’ve taken the rather revolutionary view that voters deserve to know where you stand on the important issues facing this country.
This stands in stark contrast to your presumed opponent, Senator Obama. He has adopted Jimmy Carter’s policies, Al Gore’s knack for self-promotion, and John Kerry’s talent for being on every side of every issue.
One area where Senator Obama has been clear about his preferences has been federal spending. He wants more of it. His billion dollar promises have ballooned into a trillion dollar agenda; one that will greatly increase not just the federal government, but the tax burden on American families, and the crushing debt on future generations. And Senator Obama is unwilling to even address the mounting challenges to Social Security and Medicare.
You have led efforts to cut wasteful federal spending, and as President would abolish the corrupt earmark system once and for all.
In meeting the challenge to keep America safe, the choice between you and Senator Obama is even clearer. As American troops in Iraq paid the price for our failure to change strategy and tactics in the face of a changing threat, you were an often lonely voice calling for more boots on the ground. You realized that the only way to bring American soldiers home was to give them the tools and support to complete their mission. Senator Obama declared that the “Surge” couldn’t possibly work, and refused to support it in the Senate. This stands as the only major foreign policy decision he has been forced to make, and it was completely wrong. In the only test of his abilities as Commander in Chief, he failed.
I salute your willingness to buck both conventional wisdom and political fortune to do what is right. As President, I know you will remain committed to keeping America safe and build on the progress we have made in helping Iraq rebuild from forty years of tyranny.
Thank you again for your continued support for the Granite State. Be assured that New Hampshire appreciates you. And America needs you. Good luck and God speed,
Sincerely,
Grant Bosse
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
From PolitickerNH.com
Megan Stewart writes on PolitickerNH.com about Grant's criticism of Paul Hodes' and Nancy Pelosi's failed attempt to increase gas taxes.
In New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District, candidate Grant Bosse issued a statement this afternoon that took swipes at U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes' (D-Concord) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) efforts to pass legislation that would increase gas taxes.
"I'm pleased that New Hampshire drivers will not have to pay for Paul Hodes latest tax increase at the pump," said Bosse. in the statement. "Now we can look for ways to lower energy prices, such as the comprehensive Energy Plan I've proposed."
Bosse also mentioned that the bill, which stalled in the Senate, is a sign that voters are regaining their trust for the Republican Party.
The importance of taking responsibility
Grant recently had the chance to speak to students at Camp E-Toh-Anee in Stewartstown. The camp is a place for teenage boys who have run into a bit of trouble at home. Grant told the young men about actions having consequences, both in school and in government. Grant also answered some great questions from the students, from why he is running to what kind of car he drives.
Dispatch from Hanover
I've spent the morning in Hanover, marking the 50th Anniversary of Dartmouth College Broadcasting. For half a century, students in the Upper Valley have provided news, sports, and music over the airwaves. Today, both 99 Rock-WFRD and AM 1340 WDCR are student-run radio stations, competing in the very competitive Upper Valley radio market.
I owe a lot to Dartmouth College Broadcasting. As a freshman, I joined the radio news staff covering the elections, and soon became heavily involved in all aspects of the stations. In fact, I ended up going into broadcast journalism after graduation, spending five years as a local reporter in Manchester and Lebanon.
Today, I'm proud to serve on the Dartmouth Broadcasting Board of Overseers, providing advice and support to the students running these stations. I'm very excited to take part in the Dartmouth Election Network this fall, this time as a candidate.
99 Rock
1340 WDCR
I owe a lot to Dartmouth College Broadcasting. As a freshman, I joined the radio news staff covering the elections, and soon became heavily involved in all aspects of the stations. In fact, I ended up going into broadcast journalism after graduation, spending five years as a local reporter in Manchester and Lebanon.
Today, I'm proud to serve on the Dartmouth Broadcasting Board of Overseers, providing advice and support to the students running these stations. I'm very excited to take part in the Dartmouth Election Network this fall, this time as a candidate.
99 Rock
1340 WDCR
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Hodes' Gas Tax Increase Fails
Statement of Republican Congressional Candidate Grant Bosse following the failure of Paul Hodes' gas tax increase today in the Senate:
"With gas prices topping $4 a gallon, Paul Hodes and Nancy Pelosi tried to make gas even more expensive. Fortunately, their bad idea has stalled in the Senate. With this vote to protect taxpayers and free market ideas, the Republican Party is starting to restore the trust of voters. I'm pleased that New Hampshire drivers will not have to pay for Paul Hodes latest tax increase at the pump. Now we can look for ways to lower energy prices, such as the comprehensive Energy Plan I've proposed."
"With gas prices topping $4 a gallon, Paul Hodes and Nancy Pelosi tried to make gas even more expensive. Fortunately, their bad idea has stalled in the Senate. With this vote to protect taxpayers and free market ideas, the Republican Party is starting to restore the trust of voters. I'm pleased that New Hampshire drivers will not have to pay for Paul Hodes latest tax increase at the pump. Now we can look for ways to lower energy prices, such as the comprehensive Energy Plan I've proposed."
Campaign Snapshot
Grant addressed the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women's Annual Lilac Luncheon yesterday afternoon. Grant recognized Theresa Drabinowicz, a woman who served 34 years in the New Hampshire House as a Democrat, then switched to a Republican to vote for John McCain in the 2008 primary. The crowd gave Theresa a well-deserved standing ovation. Grant also recognized Sydney Marie Rak, the 2008 Miss Pre-Teen New Hampshire.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Grant Bosse has been everywhere!
Check out our latest web video, which highlights Grant's grassroots campaign across the 2nd Congressional District.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Campaign Snapshot
Grant was in Keene on Saturday, stopping by Lindy's Diner for coffee. Grant then spoke to both the Cheshire County Republican Committee and the Cheshire Republican Women's Club.
From GraniteGrok
Granite Grok summarized its candidate Question and Answer series. Grant provided the strongest and most detailed answers of anyone in the 2nd District race. Grant continues to make the strongest case to stand alongside John McCain and John Sununu on the 2008 Republican ticket.
From the Concord Monitor
Lauren Dorgin of the Concord Monitor writes in this morning's Capital Beat about Grant being the first person in the state of New Hampshire to file for office.
Republican Grant Bosse won the first race of the primary season - he snagged the first spot in line to sign up for the run early Wednesday morning.
The now-official congressional candidate woke up at 4:30 in Hillsboro and was at the State House by 6 a.m. at the Park Street entrance (those doors open first, he said).
"We figured if somebody beat me, they deserved it," Bosse said.
By 8 a.m., when the secretary of state's office opened, he was at the head of a line estimated at 15 strong.
"I wanted to show people that I'm going to work as hard as I can," said Bosse, who is expected to face Jennifer Horn, Bob Clegg and Jim Steiner in a face-off for the Republican nod to challenge Concord Democrat Paul Hodes.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Campaign Snapshot
Grant spent his Friday in Grafton County. Grant met with a group of local activists at the Eastgate Motor Inn in Littleton, before appearing once again on WLTN's "North Country Outlook" with Duncan McKee. He also met with a group of activists in Littleton, stopped by the new home of the Lincoln/Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, and visited the Bonnie Brae Farm in Plymouth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
