I’ve never met the fellow. Nor do I know anyone who has.
And yet, people who actually believe in small government, low taxes, reduced government spending, and individual liberty seem to be coming out of the woodwork. They are all heros. The GOP state house candidate who wrote the following letter in the July 30, 2010 SeacoastOnline.com appears to be one of them:
for N.H.’s heart and soul
July 30, 2010 2:00 AM
To the Editor:
As a Republican candidate for state representative, I have been chatting with Democrats to better understand their point of view. At the American Independence Festival in Exeter, I had an engaging conversation with an official in the Democratic booth. He argued that N.H. does not spend enough or tax enough, citing N.H. is ranked 49th in tax burden. He therefore indicated there was a need to have an income tax and a sales tax so we can spend more. He did not even try the ruse argument that these two broad-based taxes would reduce property taxes (from what I see in other states this is untrue). I told him that the 48 states with higher tax burdens should be lowering their taxes not the other way around. In my travels to 30 of these states in recent years, there is an outcry by the taxpayers for tax relief. N.H.’s tax structure should be emulated by other states because it fosters wise spending decisions. The second recent conversation was with a very liberal couple, whom have been friends of mine for years, who recently moved to N.H. from New York. They asked me as a candidate if I took "the pledge." I jokingly said, "Take the pledge? I am the pledge." Then I told them even Governor Lynch had taken "the pledge" in the past. They went on to say Lynch must go even though he is a Democrat, because he is not liberal enough for progressives such as themselves.
The reality is that the Democratic Party in N.H. has been hijacked by its extreme liberal wing. If the Republicans do not win the House, Senate, and governor’s office back, the N.H. we know and love will be gone forever. Moderate Democrats please take note, this is no longer the party of JFK who understood low taxes stimulate economic growth. The last four years’ actions by the Democrats in control are proof enough of what is ahead. Spend then tax.
1. Two sessions ago, the Democrats increased spending 11.2 percent while increasing/creating 29 taxes and fees.
2. This session, the Democrats increased spending in the middle of a recession another 10.5 percent while increasing/creating 38 taxes and fees.
3. Many Democrats tried to implement a capital gains tax, an estate tax, remove a key business tax credit, and raise the gasoline tax.
4. The Democrats also short-changed cities and towns by nearly $100 million, resulting in increases in property taxes.
5. The LLC tax and camping tax approved by the Democrats proved so toxic to the economy even the Democrats who proposed them, without public hearing, capitulated and joined Republicans in repealing them.
6. This year’s budget relies on an unprecedented one-time funding approaching $800 million. These one-time dollars include unspecified sale of state assets, unsustainable amounts of abnormal borrowing, and federal stimulus funds which will never be replicated in future years.
7. The Democrats are unwilling to work with Republicans to address in a thoughtful but firm way the $7 billion unfunded liability in our public employee retirement system.
What is needed is a common sense approach to governing that prides itself in ensuring the most efficient government as possible. Republicans have such ideas from Medicaid managed care to the line item veto. I believe we can provide for all N.H.’s needs including those who need a hand-up and not totally change our traditional model as most Democrats want us to do so that we will look like California and be as bankrupt as Greece. We are in a fight for the heart and soul of New Hampshire.
Patrick F. Abrami
Stratham
District 13 candidate
To the Editor:
As a Republican candidate for state representative, I have been chatting with Democrats to better understand their point of view. At the American Independence Festival in Exeter, I had an engaging conversation with an official in the Democratic booth. He argued that N.H. does not spend enough or tax enough, citing N.H. is ranked 49th in tax burden. He therefore indicated there was a need to have an income tax and a sales tax so we can spend more. He did not even try the ruse argument that these two broad-based taxes would reduce property taxes (from what I see in other states this is untrue). I told him that the 48 states with higher tax burdens should be lowering their taxes not the other way around. In my travels to 30 of these states in recent years, there is an outcry by the taxpayers for tax relief. N.H.’s tax structure should be emulated by other states because it fosters wise spending decisions. The second recent conversation was with a very liberal couple, whom have been friends of mine for years, who recently moved to N.H. from New York. They asked me as a candidate if I took "the pledge." I jokingly said, "Take the pledge? I am the pledge." Then I told them even Governor Lynch had taken "the pledge" in the past. They went on to say Lynch must go even though he is a Democrat, because he is not liberal enough for progressives such as themselves.
The reality is that the Democratic Party in N.H. has been hijacked by its extreme liberal wing. If the Republicans do not win the House, Senate, and governor’s office back, the N.H. we know and love will be gone forever. Moderate Democrats please take note, this is no longer the party of JFK who understood low taxes stimulate economic growth. The last four years’ actions by the Democrats in control are proof enough of what is ahead. Spend then tax.
1. Two sessions ago, the Democrats increased spending 11.2 percent while increasing/creating 29 taxes and fees.
2. This session, the Democrats increased spending in the middle of a recession another 10.5 percent while increasing/creating 38 taxes and fees.
3. Many Democrats tried to implement a capital gains tax, an estate tax, remove a key business tax credit, and raise the gasoline tax.
4. The Democrats also short-changed cities and towns by nearly $100 million, resulting in increases in property taxes.
5. The LLC tax and camping tax approved by the Democrats proved so toxic to the economy even the Democrats who proposed them, without public hearing, capitulated and joined Republicans in repealing them.
6. This year’s budget relies on an unprecedented one-time funding approaching $800 million. These one-time dollars include unspecified sale of state assets, unsustainable amounts of abnormal borrowing, and federal stimulus funds which will never be replicated in future years.
7. The Democrats are unwilling to work with Republicans to address in a thoughtful but firm way the $7 billion unfunded liability in our public employee retirement system.
What is needed is a common sense approach to governing that prides itself in ensuring the most efficient government as possible. Republicans have such ideas from Medicaid managed care to the line item veto. I believe we can provide for all N.H.’s needs including those who need a hand-up and not totally change our traditional model as most Democrats want us to do so that we will look like California and be as bankrupt as Greece. We are in a fight for the heart and soul of New Hampshire.
Patrick F. Abrami
Stratham
District 13 candidate