The following was submitted by Gary Hoffman, who ran against Jeb Bradley and the rest in the 2002 1st Congressional District Republican primary…
Summer Blockbuster
by Gary Hoffman
A blockbuster race for the Republican Nomination in the First Congressional District is shaping up this summer. Jeb Bradley is working hard to return to Congress and John Stephen is again challenging him in the Republican primary. I have a unique perspective on this race, as I ran against them both in the 8-way 2002 primary that Bradley won.
Jeb, a former small business owner, did a great job for New Hampshire in Congress. He supported tax relief, border security, and spending restraint. New Hampshire veterans saw in Jeb a champion who fought for more funding for veterans healthcare and to keep the emergency room at the Manchester VA Medical Center open. He worked to keep the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard open, protecting 5000 jobs and preserving the most efficient center of service for our submarine fleet. Jeb has been unwavering in is his support for American troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. When many politicians in Washington were heading for the hills, Jeb did not abandon our troops. But, Jeb’s biggest attributes are his honor, integrity and work ethic. It’s why we can trust Jeb Bradley.
Stephen has gone on the attack. But as is always the case, there is the rest of the story: John Stephen is not the conservative he claims to be, has changed his mind on big issues, and dodged others.
Exhibit 1: John Stephen, as Commissioner of NH Health and Human Services, prepared a budget with a whopping $438 million (13%) increase. New Hampshire is now facing a $200 deficit, in part because of his mammoth spending increase.
Exhibit 2: Stephen claims to be a budget hawk and promises to reduce the federal deficit. However, at HHS, John inflated state Medicaid costs which simply shifts costs to Washington and increases the federal deficit. Stephen may have believed he was clever shifting these costs to make his budgets appear balanced. However, a federal audit has already ordered NH to re-pay $35 million and that could end up as high as $87million.
Exhibit 3: According to State Representative Jessie Osborne, writing in the Concord Monitor, Stephen "devised" a plan to shift state costs for caring for seniors in nursing homes to NH Counties. Naturally, the Counties sued claiming this violates Article 28-a of the NH Constitution because within a few years, property taxes will climb nearly $30 million according to County lawsuit! What was Stephen’s role in this tax hike, as the Commissioner of Health and Human Services is specifically cited as a defendant in the lawsuit? When the Legislature debated this provision added by committee of conference Stephen was a “no show” according to the Nashua Telegraph. Less than two months later he quit his job. Now voters should reward this performance with a seat in Congress?
Exhibit 4: Stephen had his hand out for federal earmarks, which he now condemns. After receiving a $250,000 earmark to help police monitor juvenile offenders Stephen said, "I want to thank our Congressional Delegation for their tremendous efforts to help protect the citizens of New Hampshire."
Three short years later, when Stephen changed hats from government bureaucrat to political candidate, he calls earmarks "taxpayer subsidized campaigning". Bradley, on the other hand, makes no apologies about requesting earmark funding that sent enhanced night vision equipment to Marines in Iraq, to help them identify roadside bombs that have killed and injured many of our brave troops. I will take Bradley’s commitment to our troops vs. Stephen’s political pandering for votes any day.
John Stephen is not only flip-flopping positions for political convenience but hiding his big spending habits as a life-long bureaucrat. On the most important issue of the day-protecting our nation–Jeb Bradley has been there for us. We need Jeb back in Washington and John needs to see what a private sector job is like.
[Click here to read the ‘Grok endorsement of Jeb Bradley. Click here to read his answers to our Q&A series and here to visit his website.]