Guinta for Congress

Law Enforcement Community Endorses Frank Guinta

2010-10-18T13:16:00.003-07:00

Manchester Police, County Sheriffs tout Guinta’s proven, tested leadership

Manchester, NH – Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta continues to build momentum leading up to Tuesday’s primary election. Guinta has earned the endorsement of both the Manchester Association of Police Supervisors and the Manchester Police Patrolmen’s Association. Guinta has also been endorsed by the Sheriffs of Hillsborough, Merrimack, Belknap, Strafford and Carroll Counties. These people and groups touted Guinta’s proven, tested leadership as Mayor of Manchester, and his strong record of service to the city.

“Our association stands with Frank Guinta because of his strong leadership and integrity he has shown in his support of public safety in the city of Manchester,” said Manchester Association of Police Supervisors President Peter Bartlett. “We need honest, righteous leadership in Washington. We believe Frank Guinta will deliver.”

“Frank Guinta is a true friend of the law enforcement community, and did great things for the city of Manchester while in office,” said Dave Connare, President of the Manchester Police Patrolmen’s Association. “Frank looked out for his constituents in Manchester. He’ll do it again in Washington.”

“New Hampshire voters can count on Frank Guinta to stand up for them, just as he’s stood with law enforcement throughout the years,” said Strafford County Sheriff Wayne Estes. “The law enforcement community was proud to stand with Frank in Manchester, they’ll be proud to stand with him as he serves in Congress.”

“As Mayor of Manchester I had the privilege of working with the dedicated men and women who served as our first responders. Their commitment to public safety is second to none,” said Guinta. “I’m honored to have the endorsement of these dedicated public servants.”

For more information about Frank Guinta’s campaign, visit http://www.teamguinta.com.

Shea-Porter Lying About DC Lobbyist Money

2010-10-18T13:16:00.001-07:00

Claim that Shea-Porter refuses money from DC lobbyists proven to be false

Manchester, NH – Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta criticized Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter for directly lying to voters regarding campaign contributions from Washington lobbyists. Shea-Porter claims she does not take campaign contributions from DC lobbyists . But an evaluation of Shea-Porter’s latest FEC report proves that claim to be false. Shea-Porter accepted $25,450 from lobbyist groups registered in Washington, DC between August 26th and September 30th of this year. Shea-Porter’s penchant for accepting DC lobbyist cash goes even further, having received $109,950 from 17 registered DC lobbyist groups since the start of 2009.

“Congresswoman Shea-Porter is lying to voters when she says she doesn’t take money from Washington lobbyists,” said Guinta campaign spokesman Brett Bosse. “Carol Shea-Porter is free to take campaign contributions from any legal donor, including Washington lobbyists. But she owes it to the rest of us to have her campaign rhetoric match her record in Washington.”

In just four years, Congresswoman Shea-Porter has become a fully-entrenched member of the Washington establishment. Aside from her accepting Washington lobbyist money despite her claims to the contrary, Shea-Porter has become a loyal foot soldier for Nancy Pelosi’s big-government agenda. Shea-Porter has voted with Pelosi 98% of the time, including a costly deciding vote last month to send Congress home without passing a budget, or extending much-needed tax cuts for all Americans.

“Congresswoman Shea-Porter condemns special interests, then gladly cashes her checks,” Bosse continued. “Carol Shea-Porter claims she stands with the rest of us and against Washington lobbyists, but her record proves that these claims are nothing but lies.”

For more information about Frank Guinta’s campaign, visit http://www.teamguinta.com.

Hindsight on Shea-Porter’s Stimulus is 20/20

2010-10-08T15:04:00.001-07:00

20th straight month of unemployment over 8% confirms stimulus’ failure

Manchester, NH – Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta called on Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter to finally agree with the rest of us who believe her failed stimulus package was a waste. This morning unemployment numbers for September were released, showing the unemployment rate remaining at 9.6% nationwide. This marks the 20th consecutive month unemployment has been over 8%, and over 9% for 17 straight months.[1] Last year, Obama Administration officials promised that the stimulus package would keep unemployment no higher than 8%.[2] Earlier this week, 68% of Americans said they thought the stimulus was a waste of taxpayer money.[3]

“This latest dismal jobs report is further proof that Congresswoman Shea-Porter’s stimulus package was a failure,” said Guinta campaign spokesman Brett Bosse. “When will Congresswoman Shea-Porter finally agree with the rest of us who believe her failed stimulus was a waste of our money?”

Today’s jobs report shows a total loss of nonfarm employment of 95,000 jobs in September.[4] This statistic piles on top of news yesterday that the private sector lost 39,000 jobs last month.[5] Further analysis of the jobless numbers show a record 14th consecutive month of unemployment over 9.5%.

“Congresswoman Shea-Porter promised us job growth with her failed stimulus, instead all we’ve seen is bigger government and a waste of taxpayer money,” Bosse continued. “The rest of us have known all along that Shea-Porter’s failed stimulus was a waste. For her, hindsight is 20/20.”

From the Union Leader: To Carol Shea-Porter, it's Big Government or Nothing

2010-10-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Union Leader for printing my Op-ed on the difference between myself and Carol Shea-Porter on how we view government. The choice on November 2nd is clear.

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the first of what will be many candidate debates with my opponent, Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter. These events serve as a valuable outlet to provide information on where we as candidates stand on the most important issues facing New Hampshire and the nation and to have a dialogue on the different views we have on policy.

At the debate on Monday, we saw a clear difference between me and Rep. Shea-Porter on how large government should be, and what the role of government should be.

Carol Shea-Porter is a proud advocate for bigger government solutions on virtually every issue. No matter what the question is, to Rep. Shea-Porter, the answer is always bigger government. She is a staunch supporter of the federal stimulus package, a trillion-dollar waste which has failed to produce job growth in America. Obama Administration officials promised the stimulus would keep unemployment no higher than 8%. Instead, unemployment has been above that figure for 19 consecutive months. The stimulus wasted billions in unnecessary pork projects, gave millions in bonuses to Wall Street executives, and gave billions to companies that ship jobs overseas. It’s a big-government effort, and it has failed.

Shea-Porter also voted for the trillion-dollar takeover of the health insurance industry. Obamacare cut $500 billion from Medicare, raises numerous taxes and has done nothing to lower health care costs. The law also contains a provision that requires small business owners to fill out a 1099 tax form with the IRS any time they spend more than $600 with a vendor in a year. The White House says this will raise $17 billion over the next ten years. It is yet another tax on small businesses that will do absolutely nothing to improve health care.

Instead of focusing on free-market solutions to tackle the rising cost of health care and health insurance, Congresswoman Shea-Porter again went with the big-government approach. Once again, this approach has failed.

I offer a different approach to answering these challenges. On job growth, I want to lower taxes on individuals and small businesses, and reduce the regulatory red tape small business owners must cut through. I want to provide small business owners with a tax break by allowing them to fully write off the cost of equipment purchases in the year they make the purchase. I want to cut both the payroll tax and corporate tax rate on all businesses, so they have more money available to their employees, and have an increased ability to hire. These are small government solutions that will keep businesses thriving, and put people back to work.

I am proud of my record of leadership as Mayor of Manchester. I was able to produce the city’s first tax cut in nearly a decade, and help put a Spending Cap on the ballot, because I held true to a philosophy of limited government and trust in the taxpayers. I helped make Manchester run better and more efficiently because I held true to those core principles. I was lauded for demonstrating “competent, responsible, fiscally conservative governance”. I will bring that style of governance to Congress if given the chance.

Rep. Shea-Porter knows her big-government approach will not win out among voters when compared to my small-government approach, so she is trying to distort it. She is falsely labeling me as an “extremist”, playing straight out of the Democratic Party handbook. In her mind, if you do not believe in a big-government solution for every challenge facing this country, then you are for no government at all.

Carol Shea-Porter doesn’t believe in good government. To her, it’s either big government or no government. To her, it’s either a complete adoption of Nancy Pelosi’s big-government agenda, or anarchy. We cannot allow this falsehood to go unchallenged.

There is a significant difference between the Pelosi-led big government agenda Shea-Porter advocates, and my plan to bring smaller government and fiscal responsibility back to Congress. The voters of New Hampshire have a clear choice when they go to the polls on Nov. 2: big government, or good government. I know the difference between the two. It’s unfortunate that Rep. Shea-Porter does not.

Shea-Porter Abandons New Hampshire Taxpayers

2010-09-29T15:45:00.001-07:00

Casts deciding vote that paves the way to raise taxes on average NH family by $1,698

Manchester, NH – Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta chastised Carol Shea-Porter for casting the deciding vote that paves the way to raise taxes on New Hampshire families. Shea-Porter voted in favor of motion for Congress to adjourn until after the November elections. The motion passed by a single vote, 210-209. The motion came without the House voting on extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for everyone. Allowing these tax cuts to expire at the end of the year will raise taxes on the average New Hampshire family by $1,698. The motion to adjourn came after it became clear that there was sufficient support in the House to pass a tax cut extension for all.

“Carol Shea-Porter has abandoned New Hampshire taxpayers, and cast the deciding vote that will lead to higher taxes for New Hampshire families,” said Guinta campaign spokesman Brett Bosse. “The Congresswoman has shown she cares more about defending her mentor Nancy Pelosi’s radical liberal agenda than with standing up for New Hampshire taxpayers.”

This is not the first case in which Carol Shea-Porter has been the only thing standing in the way of taxpayer relief. In 2008, Shea-Porter once again was the deciding vote on a motion to adjourn, this time without the House taking up a vote on a measure that would lower gas prices. At the time, gas prices were well over $4.00 per gallon nationwide.

“It’s bad enough that Carol Shea-Porter has voted with her mentor Nancy Pelosi 98% of the time, but now we see once again that she’s too afraid to do her job,” Bosse continued. “The Congresswoman once again has put blind partisan loyalty ahead of her constituents, and was the deciding vote that will lead to higher taxes for every American family.”

Guinta Statement on Preserving Social Security

2010-09-29T15:44:00.001-07:00

Frank Guinta has released the following statement in response to false assertions made by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter's office:

"Carol Shea-Porter continues to deny there is a problem with Social Security. Social Security is projected to run a deficit in 2015 because of the partisan, big-spending agenda championed by Carol Shea-Porter and Nancy Pelosi. They have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on frivolous spending, and trillions on the failed stimulus package and Obamacare takeover. And for too long both parties have raided the Social Security Trust Fund, which is due to become bankrupt by 2037.

The only way to ensure Social Security's future is to cut federal spending, so we can maintain the commitments we've made to our nation's seniors. I believe we need a solution to preserve Social Security which does not privatize the system, does not raise taxes, and does not cut existing benefits. If Carol Shea-Porter is so concerned about our seniors, why did she vote for ObamaCare which cuts half a trillion dollars in Medicare benefits for seniors?"

Will Shea-Porter Raise Taxes on NH Families by $1,698?

2010-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Manchester, NH – Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta called on Carol Shea-Porter to for once stand up for New Hampshire taxpayers. Congress is set to adjourn on Thursday, and will not meet again until after the November elections. Shea-Porter’s mentor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has still yet to hold a vote on extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for all Americans. Failing to extend the tax cuts will raise taxes on the median New Hampshire family by $1,698.

“Carol Shea-Porter has a very easy decision to make in the next two days, will she raise taxes on New Hampshire families by $1,698?” asked Guinta campaign spokesman Brett Bosse. “Carol Shea-Porter needs to show some leadership and ask her mentor Nancy Pelosi to vote immediately on cutting taxes for all Americans.”

Just last week, Shea-Porter signed on to a letter with more than thirty of her far-left colleagues. The letter desperately begged Speaker Pelosi to not hold a vote on the tax cut extension. This stands in stark contrast with dozens of members of Shea-Porter’s own party, who have called for the tax cuts be extended for everyone. It also contrasts with her own party’s history. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy pushed through an across-the-board tax cut, a move which helped the country get out of a recession.

“Carol Shea-Porter has voted with Nancy Pelosi 98% of the time, but this is an opportunity to finally take a stand against her radical liberal agenda,” Bosse continued. “Will Carol Shea-Porter stand with her mentor Nancy Pelosi, or will she for once stand up for New Hampshire taxpayers?”

Guinta Prepared for Victory Tuesday Night

2010-09-13T13:50:00.001-07:00

Highlights of primary campaign include 9 Town Halls, $827 Billion saved

Manchester, NH – Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta has concluded the campaign stage of the race for the GOP Primary nomination, and the chance to challenge Carol Shea-Porter in November. Guinta has run an aggressive, grassroots, issues-based campaign that has seen him traverse the First Congressional District more than a dozen times over. Guinta’s campaign has earned him accolades from conservative Republicans, independents, and members of the media. Here are some of the highlights from the Guinta campaign.

- Editorial endorsements from Foster’s Daily Democrat and the Concord Monitor
- Endorsements from conservative groups like the Family Research Council, and pro-family conservatives all over the district
- 9 in-person Town Hall forums, far and away the most of any candidate in the race
- The People’s Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact, a 15-point pledge to the people of New Hampshire on what Guinta will push for in his first 100 days in office
- 10-point Job Growth and Economic Development Plan, including cutting taxes on individuals and small businesses, defunding Obamacare and working towards its full repeal, and preventing a National Energy Tax
- “Frank’s Fifty” spending cut initiative. 50 specific cuts to the federal budget, totaling more than $827 Billion in savings that can be applied to the federal deficit

Guinta offered the following statement to sum up his primary campaign:

“I’m proud of the race we’ve run over the last year and a half, and humbled by all the hard work everyone has put into it. The grassroots support we’ve gained has been overwhelming. I appreciate all the support we’ve received, and am confident it will result in victory on Tuesday night.”

Guinta Puts a Cap on “Frank’s Fifty”

2010-09-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

Call for national Spending Cap concludes 50-day budget cut initiative

Frank Guinta concluded his successful “Frank’s Fifty” spending cut initiative by calling for a national Spending Cap. A Spending Cap would prevent the government from increasing spending beyond the rate of inflation. As Mayor of Manchester, Guinta helped implement a Spending Cap in the city. Guinta battled the Board of Aldermen for two years to put a Spending Cap on the city ballot, finally succeeding in 2009. Manchester voters responded approvingly, passing a Spending Cap by a nine-point margin. A federal Spending Cap would save taxpayers an estimated $64 billion a year.

“Helping to get a Spending Cap passed in Manchester was one of my proudest accomplishments as Mayor. It was conservative, and it worked,” said Guinta. “I want to show the same commitment in Washington in getting a Spending Cap passed as I did in Manchester.”

Frank Guinta has shown an unmatched commitment to cutting federal spending, and saving taxpayers money. “Frank’s Fifty” proposed more than $827 billion in budget cuts. That accounts for more than half the federal deficit, and more than 20% of the total budget. Guinta has shined a light on waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, targeting programs that are unnecessary, duplicative, or frivolous.

“I’m proud of the commitment I’ve made in this campaign to cut spending, save taxpayers money, and return fiscal responsibility to Washington,” Guinta continued. “I’m worried about the people who sign the back of the paycheck. Those of the people I’ll represent in Congress.”

Guinta’s Conservative Message Stands Alone

2010-09-11T14:55:00.001-07:00

Only tested conservative clear winner of WMUR/Union Leader Granite State Debate

Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta was the clear winner of tonight’s WMUR/Union Leader Granite State Debate, held at Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Guinta’s conservative message stood alone, as he shared with New Hampshire voters his vision for the future. Guinta talked about the tested conservative leadership he will bring to Washington.

“It’s important that we nominate someone next Tuesday who is a tested conservative to go up against Carol Shea-Porter,” said Guinta. “We need someone with a proven record of cutting borrowing, cutting taxes, and implementing a Spending Cap. I’ve done these things in Manchester. It was conservative, and it worked. I’ll do the same in Washington.”

Guinta highlighted where he stood out from his colleagues in coming up with common-sense solutions to America’s challenges. Guinta has proposed a 10-point Jobs Plan, 15-point Fiscal Reform and Responsibility Pact, and his highly-successful “Frank’s Fifty” spending cut initiative. Thus far, Guinta has proposed nearly $750 billion in specific spending cuts.

“New Hampshire voters know exactly where I will do on Day One, because I’ve given them specifics throughout my campaign,” Guinta continued. “I’m worried about the people who sign the back of the paycheck. Those are the people I’ll represent in Congress.”

Foster's Details Frank Guinta's Visit to Turbocom International

2010-09-11T14:53:00.001-07:00

Barrington- Frank Guinta met with business owner Marian Noronha, chairman and founder of Turbocom International on Route 125. The company employs 220 at the Barrington HQ, as well as 130 employees around the globe. Foster's Daily Democrat details Frank's talk at Turbocom.

Fervent, Varied Support for Guinta

2010-09-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

In addition to the over 150 people rallying for Frank Guinta outside last night’s Union Leader/WMUR debate, Foster’s Daily Democrat and The Concord endorsed Frank Guinta in the 1st Congressional District’s Primary this past week. This streak continued with the endorsement of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association (HBRANH), and a number of fervent letters-to-the-editor submitted and printed by supporters of Frank.

The HBRANH said they were backing Mr. Guinta for his work helping small businesses in Manchester, and for the fiscal conservatism with which he approaches problems.

“Before becoming mayor, Guinta was a successful businessman. That, in combination with his time as mayor, gives him a combination of experience not offered by anyone else in the primary race” said HBRANH president Merritt Peasley.

The importance of Mr. Guinta’s experience was echoed in the endorsement from Foster’s. “Guinta is tried and true, not tired and worn — not a retread from a political time gone by. Candidates like Guinta don't come along very often. He is a candidate voters should not let slip through their grasp.”

This past week, Team Guinta was touched by another outpouring of support from the people of New Hampshire. Kenneth J. Rahilly, Doris Gates, and Ann-Marie McKenna were among just a few of those who wrote to their local papers in support of Frank.

In Ms. Gates’ piece, she also stressed the importance of experience in a candidate, “Actions speak far louder than words, and that's why I'm voting Frank Guinta for U.S. Congress. Frank is the only candidate who can say that they have fought for taxpayers and been effective in changing the debate; promoting conservative values, fighting for taxpayers and enacting meaningful reforms.”

Ann-Marie McKenna gets at the core of what this race is about in her letter: restoring conservative New Hampshire values and uniting the party without political attacks. She writes, “Negative advertising and mudslinging (by some of [Frank’s] opponents) turn me off. I seek substance and conviction. That is why I support Guinta to win the nomination and then to unify Republicans with disenchanted independents and Democrats to retire Shea-Porter in November.”

Ms. McKenna’s point is well received. The people of New Hampshire are calling for the leader most equipped to achieve the goal of a Red State. Frank Guinta’s experience in commerce as well as governing, his solid conservative principles, and his ability to lead, are a winning combination in November. Team Guinta is ever grateful for all of the support.

Frank Guinta Endorsed by Foster's, Concord Monitor

2010-09-02T13:26:00.001-07:00

Frank Guinta earned two major endorsements this morning. Guinta was endorsed by both Foster’s and the Concord Monitor.

Foster’s:

Candidates like Guinta don’t come along very often. He is a candidate voters should not let slip through their grasp.

Guinta is tried and true, not tired and worn — not a retread from a political time gone by.

His personality is simple and straight forward. Yet his suggestions for solving the problems Washington has created show a depth of understanding that comes from a seasoned leader.

What this means to voters is that Guinta’s training wheels are off and that he will be able to work with Washington as needed and stand firm when it is in the best interests of Granite Staters.

Concord Monitor:

Guinta’s positions align with those of his party, as do those of most of his rivals. He opposed the federal stimulus program and would pursue tax cuts in Congress to stimulate the economy and create jobs. He believes the health care reform effort was a mistake. We disagree with all those positions but believe Guinta would be an effective advocate for his ideas and an open-minded legislator.

Guinta released the following statement after learning of his multiple endorsements:

“I’m humbled and honored to receive the endorsements of both Foster’s Daily Democrat and the Concord Monitor. They recognize that I am the only tested conservative in the race to take on Carol Shea-Porter in November. This is a testament to all the grassroots support our campaign has received since we began sharing our conservative message with voters last year. We will continue to work tirelessly to earn the ultimate endorsement, the one from New Hampshire voters on Election Day.”

For more information about Frank Guinta’s campaign, visit TeamGuinta.com.

Get Your Guinta Virtual Yard Sign!

2010-08-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

Display a Guinta for Congress Yard sign on your facebook page by tagging yourself in this photo (Click Above).

Or show your support with a Team Guinta Profile Picture. Click the images for different signs on facebook!

From the Conway Daily Sun; Guinta is the type of person we need in Washington

2010-08-31T10:11:00.001-07:00

To the editor:

It is almost primary time again — when members of both political parties must choose candidates that they feel live up to the ideology of both the person and the party, in the hopes that their choices will find general election success.

I write today regarding the 1st District U.S. Congress race. As a conservative Republican, a politically informed and involved individual, and a moral citizen, there is no other candidate I would have represent myself and my party than former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta.
From my own personal experience with Mr. Guinta, I can say that aside from being an exceptional candidate, he is also an exceptional person — one who inspires people to believe in him and the qualities he can bring to our valley, our state and our country.

As a husband and father, Frank understands firsthand the importance of protecting family, and has fought and will continue to fight to protect New Hampshire families.

In our current economic climate, he will ensure that current and future generations will not be burdened by the debt of Washington bailouts and indiscreet spending.

While we face many threats from abroad, it is important to realize we are also under siege from our very own government, which threatens to spend us into an oblivion that, if not stopped, will be impossible to recover from.

This is why it is so very important to vote for fiscal conservatives like Mayor Guinta in the September primary and November general elections, because these are the types of people we need in Washington to correct the financial disaster our country has been plunged into.

Although I am a relatively new to this area, I understand that many times residents of this valley feel neglected and forgotten by those representing them; I can assure you, that will never be the case with Frank Guinta as our U.S. Representative.

Frank understands the financial burden most New Hampshire families are currently facing. He has visited this valley, most recently in mid-August; he understands the employment hardships valley residents face because of our very special niche economy, and would fight to put hiring power back into the hands of the small business owner, where it belongs.

Frank understands that our country has taken a turn away from the free-market economic principles it was founded on and that have brought us economic success; not only would he endeavor to move us back toward those principles, but he would fight for legislation in the U.S. Congress that would cap spending and force government accountability, concepts our current government either has no understanding of or has completely forgotten.

I believe Mayor Guinta’s plan for economic recovery is the most comprehensive and sensible I have seen, and has a genuine chance to bring us the real recovery we desperately need. As mayor of Manchester, Frank cut taxes while also improving government services. An opponent of both Cap and Trade and President Obama’s stimulus plan, he believes the surest way to economic recovery is to cut taxes, end useless spending, and ease the burden of the individual. Frank’s record of success as mayor is all I need to convince me that he would bring the same proactive results to the U.S. Congress as he did to the Manchester mayor’s office.

If Valley Republicans make the right choice on Sept. 14 and choose Frank Guinta to represent us in the general election versus Carol Shea-Porter in November, we have a very real chance to elect someone who, for the first time in four years, would represent we, the people.

Frank Guinta would, on a daily basis, remember who elected him — and it would be us he would consider as he cast each and every single vote.

Danielle Winters
Hale’s Location

Big Bird Makes More Money Than Donald Trump

2010-08-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

Frank Guinta responded to the New Hampshire Democratic Party for their claim that he is “attacking Elmo and Big Bird”. Last week Guinta called for the elimination of taxpayer funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the parent company for PBS and NPR. Guinta points to a 2007 report which shows Sesame Workshop, the company that sells Sesame Street merchandise, made $1.5 billion in sales in 2007.[1] That compares to the $100 million in sales for the Trump Organization in the same year. Ending taxpayer funding to CPB would save taxpayers $422 million a year.

“Big Bird is making more money than Donald Trump, he doesn’t need taxpayers’ help to survive,” said Guinta. “The New Hampshire Democratic Party can quit the political hyperbole and start thinking of ways to solve our economic challenges.”

Guinta has been a leader in calling for fiscal reform, through his innovative “Frank’s Fifty” spending cut program. Each day for the last fifty days of the primary campaign, Guinta is calling for a specific cut in the federal budget. Over the last 35 days, Guinta has called for nearly $700 billion in spending cuts, with that money going to pay down the federal budget deficit.

“I’m glad that New Hampshire Democrats are taking notice of where I would like to cut federal spending. I’m disappointed they haven’t shown the same commitment,” Guinta continued. “If they’re not willing to cut funding to self-sustaining programs, what are they willing to cut?”

For more information about Frank Guinta’s campaign, visit TeamGuinta.com.

Biden in NH is a Big Bleeping Deal

2010-08-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

[To use the Vice President's own words]

Shea-Porter joins Vice President to promote reckless spending, jobless summer

Vice President Joe Biden returned to the Granite State on Thursday. Vice President Biden visited Manchester this morning, joined by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter for a private event. This visit comes near the end of what has been a jobless summer. Unemployment sits at 9.5% nationwide. Last year, the Obama administration promised that passage of the failed stimulus package would keep unemployment below 8%. July was the 18^th consecutive month in which the unemployment rate was above that figure.

Read the rest of this release over at TeamGuinta.com

Frank Guinta's Plan for Job, Economic Growth

In WMUR's 10 Questions with Frank Guinta, Frank tackles the issue of job creation with his response to this first question. His recently released television ad features New Hampshire voters and small business owners who support Frank because of his proven fiscal conservatism and dedication to his constituents.

25 Days, $500 Billion Saved

2010-08-20T10:50:00.001-07:00

Frank Guinta has reached a major milestone in his ground-breaking “Frank’s Fifty” spending cut initiative. Halfway through the program, Guinta has proposed more than half a trillion dollars in spending cuts. This makes Guinta the leader in calling for fiscal responsibility, targeting 25 wastes of taxpayer money. Among Guinta’s proposals are the elimination of Obamacare, Department of Education, and stimulus funding for projects that, according to the government, have created zero jobs.

“This milestone represents the commitment I have made to taxpayers to give them a Representative in Congress who will finally show some respect for their money,” said Guinta. “Halfway through our Frank’s Fifty program, I’ve proposed half a trillion dollars in savings. I will bring this same commitment to saving taxpayer money after I am elected.”

Today’s spending cut is part two of Guinta’s effort to bring accountability to the budgeting process. Guinta calls for a complete elimination of earmarks. Earmarks are appropriations requested by members of Congress. The requests are tucked into the back of often unrelated legislation, included without public debate, or even an up-or-down vote. In Fiscal Year 2010, more than 9,000 earmarks accounted for more than $16 billion in government spending. On August 2nd, Guinta called for the elimination of all anonymous earmarks, saving $6 billion a year. Finishing the job will save another $10 billion annually.

“Earmarks lacked accountability when Republicans abused the process, and they certainly lack accountability now that Democrats are in charge,” said Guinta. We need to ban this process, and bring real accountability to the budget process.”

Frank Guinta has proposed more than $500 billion in specific spending cuts for next year’s budget in the first 25 days of the “Frank’s Fifty” program. Guinta will announce a specific spending cut every day until the Republican primary on September 14th. There are 26 days until this year’s primary. For more information about Frank Guinta’s campaign, visit TeamGuinta.com.

Q&A with Frank Guinta

2010-08-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Former two-term Manchester mayor Frank Guinta had long been mentioned as an up and coming political candidate for the Republican party. He’s putting that status to the test this year in his run for the 1st District. Before being elected mayor, Guinta served two terms as an alderman in Manchester and was elected twice as a state representative from the Queen City. Guinta and his wife, Morgan, live in Manchester with their two children. Visit www.teamguinta.com.

Q: What are you hearing out on the campaign trail?
A: Well, people are fed up with what’s going on with Washington, with the levels of spending, with the levels of government, the taking over of different industries. People are hoping and expecting to see some changes come the fall.

Q: What is the message that you’re looking to get across?
A: What I talk about is the need for solutions-based Congress. Just as I did as mayor, cutting spending, cutting taxes, getting a spending cap passed, protecting taxpayers. At the federal level, the same level of protection is needed. I would bring that same level of advocacy of taxpayers to Congress. People seem to be appreciative of that. Given the $13 trillion debt, and $1.5 trillion deficit, people are expecting someone tested, who can make the tough decisions and deliver for the taxpayers.

Q: How have you differentiated yourself from the other candidates?
A: When I’m asked that question, I simply state that I’ve been able to beat an incumbent Democrat, I’m a tested leader and I’ve actually been able to cut taxes and get the spending cap on the ballot. Those are the things specifically that differentiate me from…the other candidates.

Q: If ultimately elected to go to Washington, what would you say are your top three priorities?
A: I would say cut the deficit, get government out of the way of small business, and cut taxes. Those three are the most important because it’s helping the economy and that’s something everybody is concerned with.

Q: What would you be looking to tackle for New Hampshire?
A: I want to see people in New Hampshire get back to work. We have 6 percent unemployment, which is almost double what we normally have. People are concerned about job prospects. People are under-employed. And there’s the third category of people who have stopped looking for work who are not counted. New Hampshire may be faring better than other states, but it doesn’t give comfort to those that are out of work or under-employed. I want to create an environment where small businesses will create jobs and local economies can begin to thrive again.

Q: Why are you running for office and why are you running for this office specifically?
A: It was a tough decision to leave a job that I loved, but I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do, to complete my term and then run for a different office. I’m running for Congress because we have to change the direction of the country. I feel very strongly about that. That’s where I feel I can best serve New Hampshire.

Q: What would you say are your areas of expertise?
A: I ran the largest city in the state for four years, which has a $300 million budget. That gives me a tremendous amount of experience, first of all prioritizing on behalf of the taxpayers, ensuring accountability, and delivering services that look at not just the short-term but the long-term viability of the city. That combined with my legislative experience, as well as my personal small business experience, gives me the tools to serve the people of New Hampshire at the federal level.

Q: Why should the voters vote for you?
A: Well, I am in this race to earn the nomination and to earn the opportunity to serve the people in New Hampshire. My mindset is to serve others. … My experience is unique, compared to the other candidates, it’s unique. If people want to nominate someone who knows how to win, is tested, and can beat Carol Shea-Porter, I’d ask for their vote.

Portsmouth Congressional Debate Tonight!

2010-08-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Come meet Frank Guinta tonight! He will be participating the Seacoast Republican Women Senatorial & Congressional Debate. The event is open to the public and begins at 6pm.

The event is at the Portsmouth Harbor Event & Conference Center at 100 Deer Street in Portsmouth. The center is adjacent to the Residence Inn in downtown Portsmouth.

Get directions to the event.

For more information call Team Guinta at (603) 836-5620.

Final 5 Reforms Complete Pact for Real Change

2010-08-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

After months of opinions expressed and votes cast on YourVoiceYourHouse.com, Frank Guinta has released his final list of fifteen reforms to bring to Washington in his first 100 days in Congress. The People’s Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact began with ten ways to return accountability to Washington. Since this effort began, enthusiastic voters have cast their ballot for the final five proposals.

Guinta offered the following statement regarding the release of this list:

“The People’s Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact is a commitment I am making to the people of New Hampshire about where my priorities will be as a member of Congress. When I take the Oath of Office to represent the First District, it’s a promise I will make to stand up for taxpayers, and the Constitution of the United States. ‘Your Voice, Your House’ is a way to allow the people to stand with me, and to tell me the most important reforms I can help bring in my first 100 days in Congress. I look forward to the opportunity to live up to my word after I am elected.”

The winning reforms as chosen on YourVoiceYourHouse.com are:

- Reclaiming the People’s House: Establish term limits for members of the House of Representatives
- Show Committee votes online: Post members’ committee votes within 48 hours
- Repeal the Death Tax: The death tax is scheduled to come back to life in 2011 and should be permanently repealed. The death tax discourages saving and investing, undermines job creation, wage growth and hurts those who have their savings tied up in land and other hard-to-sell assets.
- Eliminate the Capital Gains Tax: Encourage businesses to invest in job-creating capital investments
- No to Automatic Congressional Pay Raises: The automatic ‘cost of living’ adjustment for members of Congress is wrong. I will offer legislation to do away with it and to require any increase in compensation to be voted on publicly.

The People’s Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact:

- Enact a National Spending Cap Constitutional Amendment
- Enact a Balanced Budget Amendment
- Enact a simplified tax system, and scrap the Internal Revenue Code
- End the “stimulus” era of endless bailouts, wasteful spending and government ownership of private property
- Open up and develop existing American energy resources, and remove roadblocks and barriers to responsible energy exploration on our soil and off our shores
- Institute a complete audit of all federal agencies and programs to assess their constitutionality and to identify current duplication, waste and inefficiencies
- Encourage job growth through a series of permanent tax cuts and regulatory reforms
- Repeal Obamacare and replace it with free market solutions
- Apply a constitutionality test to every bill brought before Congress
- Institute government transparency: make all non-emergency legislation public, in its final form, at least 72 hours before a vote can be taken on it
- Reclaiming the People’s House: Establish term limits for members of the House of Representatives
- Show Committee votes online: Post members’ committee votes within 48 hours
- Repeal the Death Tax: The death tax is scheduled to come back to life in 2011 and should be permanently repealed. The death tax discourages saving and investing, undermines job creation, wage growth and hurts those who have their savings tied up in land and other hard-to-sell assets.
- Eliminate the Capital Gains Tax: Encourage businesses to invest in job-creating capital investments
- No to Automatic Congressional Pay Raises: The automatic ‘cost of living’ adjustment for members of Congress is wrong. I will offer legislation to do away with it and to require any increase in compensation to be voted on publicly.

Frank's Fifty Racks Up $326 Billion in Cuts in 3rd Week

2010-08-16T08:52:00.001-07:00

Republican Congressional candidate Frank Guinta ended the third week of his innovative “Frank’s Fifty” spending cut initiative by finding two more ways to save taxpayers money. Guinta first called for the collection of all unpaid taxes from federal employees. The IRS reports that in 2008, more than 97,000 federal workers were delinquent on their federal income taxes. The Heritage Foundation estimates this would result in the collection of more than $3 billion, which can go to pay off the deficit.

“It is unacceptable for nearly 100,000 federal employees to have not paid their income taxes. We need to collect this money and use it to help balance the budget,” said Guinta. “We cannot continue to hold honest taxpayers hostage while turning our back on those who are not paying their fair share.”

Guinta’s second proposal for the weekend is to repeal the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998. The act authorized the use of charge cards to cover travel costs for federal employees. Government audits have found numerous cases of waste, fraud and abuse of these charge cards. Repealing this act would save taxpayers more than $8 billion a year, and allow for a new system for covering employee travel to be crafted.

“It is clear that in the 12 years this program has been in place that it does not work,” Guinta continued. “Let’s wipe out this fraud-laden federal program, and work to put one where federal employees are held more accountable in its place.”

Frank Guinta has proposed more than $326 billion in specific spending cuts for next year’s budget in the first eighteen days of the “Frank’s Fifty” program. Guinta will announce a specific spending cut every day until the Republican primary on September 14th. Sunday marks 30 days until this year’s primary.

LTE: Shea-Porter's vote hurts our troops in combat

2010-08-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

A recent letter to the Editor in the Portsmouth Herald illuminates Congresswoman Shea-Porter voting record on the War in Afghanistan.

Shea-Porter's vote hurts our troops in combat

Portsmouth Herald

Aug. 10 — To the Editor:

On Aug. 9, I learned from a letter to the editor that Carol Shea-Porter leads any of the field of her potential Republican opponents by at least 5 percentage points in a UNH-conducted poll.

Recently, I discovered that on July 27 she voted against funding combat operations in Afghanistan. I never saw a newspaper report or a newsletter from the congresswoman announcing that vote. Instead, I learned of it from a site on the Internet. If her position on funding had been known before the poll was taken, I bet the result would have been different.

Her vote was "House Vote 474 — Approve Spending for Combat Operations." She voted no. The House as a whole approved the measure by a vote of 308-114. I guess Congresswoman Shea-Porter feels in addition to a dreary economy, why not a defeat in Afghanistan.

Tom Hayden, the noted antiwar activist, in an article in the Nation on July 29 stated that the Washington peace groups, after a two-week e-mail campaign, were happy about the gain of 14 votes, including that of Shea-Porter, against the Afghanistan combat funding bill. Shea-Porter is a member of the House Committee on Armed Services and you would expect she would not undermine our troops in combat, but she did.

Tom

Rye

___

In addition, here's a link to GovTrack.US showing how each member of the House voted.

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Keeps Spending Unbudgeted Tax Dollars

2010-08-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday Carol Shea-Porter voted to spend taxpayer dollars, once again. Despite Congress not passing a budget this year, our Congresswoman continues to spend. This time for another $26 billion to bail out states. In the face of a $1.5 trillion dollar deficit, does this seem responsible to you?

In addition, The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will be running ads in New Hampshire praising Congresswoman Shea-Porter and Hodes for their efforts. These ads also come at a price for AFSCME, $2.5 million dollars.

These recent events truly show the allegiances our Congresswoman has made while serving our country. Finance reports show that in the 2nd quarter of 2010, Carol Shea-Porter recieved more than $70,000 in contributions from Washington lobbyists.

On Wednesday, Frank Guinta had this to say about our Congresswoman: "Carol Shea-Porter says she doesn't stand for Washington special interests, but her actions and her bank account tell a different tale. Carol Shea-Porter showered with her vote on this bill that she stands with Washington lobbyists, and against New Hampshire taxpayers."

Weekend Update: Frank Guinta Wins 5th Consecutive Straw Poll at NHYR Lobster Bake

2010-08-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, more than 200 people from the greater Kingston area sat down for a Pancake Breakfast with Frank Guinta. After enjoying meeting voters, Frank's next stop was the New Hampshire Young Republicans Lobster Bake at Rye Harbor State Park. Another 200+ people turned out in fervent support of the New Hampshire Young Republicans. The NHYR also held a straw poll which Frank Guinta won with more than half the vote. This 5th consecutive straw poll win for Frank shows consistency and momentum going into the final few weeks before the primary.

Most importantly, the weekend was an example of the enthusiasm we are seeing across the state this election season. These straw poll results demonstrate the strength of a grass-roots network, and Team Guinta is proud to have earned each victory.

NHYR Straw Poll Results

Frank Guinta      91 votes           51.7%
Rich Ashooh            40 votes           22.7%
Sean Mahoney        34 votes           19.3%
Bob Bestani                8 votes             4.5%
Rich Parent                 2 votes             1.1%
Peter Bearse                1 vote              0.6%

Grassroots Campaigning at its Best

2010-08-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

In response to Kevin Lacourse's letter to the editor, Gertie Johnson's letter to the editor today highlights an important aspect of this election. With less than 40 days until the primary, we are seeing the beginning of a dialogue that demonstrates the true citizen-legislature nature of New Hampshire. I am proud to have earned Kevin's support, and proud of our grassroots efforts to engage a diverse voter base.

Below is the letter from Kevin, as well as the response from Gertie. Thank you both for your letters.

Sincerely,

Frank Guinta

Nashua Telegraph- August 6, 2010

Letter Sparked Memory of Passion and Politics

This is in response to Kevin Lacourse’s letter of July 31 titled “First-time voter backs Guinta for Congress.”

When I was younger, I was also very passionate about voting like you seem to be. I recall spending days and many nights in smoky places trying to convince as many people as I possibly could of the “candidate of my choice.”

I, too, have met Frank Guinta recently. I too, was impressed with him, but I would have not thought – after my probably equally intense conversation with him – to sit down and write to urge voters to support him.

I am not that passionate about politics anymore. Voting to me now is knowing that I have a choice, which I am sincerely thankful for.

After reading your letter, I realized that the days of my passionate efforts to convince others that most likely had already made up their minds are gone, remembering their equally passionate responses to my approaches.

I think it is great that you sat down and wrote your letter. Being passionate about something is simply great.

I just want to be the little voice to remind you that people do have choices, and I, for myself, am totally against being told what to do and, even more so, who to vote for.

I do consider suggestions, though, so thank you very much for sharing your opinion and reminding me of the kind of passion that can be found in youth.

Gertie Johnson

Nashua

Nashua Telegraph- July 31, 2010

First-Time Voter Backs Guinta for Congress

This upcoming midterm election will be the first time that I will be able to participate and cast my vote.

One aspect I believe to be important in choosing a candidate is how he or she engages the voters.

Recently, I was at a small event for former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta. Simply put, I was impressed. Unlike a lot of candidates, Mr. Guinta sounded different.

Sometimes candidates would shake my hand loosely and then look over my head at the next group of “acquaintances” to make. Instead, it was clear that when I asked him a question, he was talking to me, not through me.

This type of engagement is also evident in his proposal, the People’s Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact. In it, he outlines 10 changes he would like to enact and then asks voters to help choose five additional reforms. This is exactly what it means to be a representative of the people.

Join me Sept. 14 in voting for Frank Guinta for Congress in the 1st District.

Kevin Lacourse

Chester

Guinta Gets It; Shea-Porter Doesn't

2010-08-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

I have asked U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter to explain how Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution does not apply to federal land buying; she says I have it wrong. I ask how she can vote to increase taxpayers' costs for medical care; she answers they will get $250 if they spend the $2,500 doughnut hole in drug charges. I ask her, and she goes off in another direction.

This shows we should always vote for someone who has the experience in local government to know how federal and state spending keeps raising costs locally and thus raises their property taxes.

Republican congressional candidate Frank Guinta has local experience and understands how our local taxes keeps getting increased by politicians like Shea-Porter who hasn't a clue - except for how to get a photo-op with a veteran.

Our veterans deserve better, and our taxpayers deserve a knowledgeable representative.

HARRIET E. CADY

Deerfield

Frank Guinta's First 10 Cuts Would Save $41 billion

2010-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

In just ten days, Frank Guinta has proposed more than $41 billion in taxpayer savings over the next ten years by eliminating unnecessary or wasteful government programs. Among Guinta’s proposals are a repeal of the costly and wildly unpopular Obamacare health care takeover, an end to road signs promoting the failed Stimulus package, and a one-year moratorium on pay raises for all federal employees.

One particularly outrageous federal expenditure is the taxpayer subsidies for Amtrak sleeper cars. Each year, taxpayers shell out $120 million for Amtrak's first-class passengers to utilize these cars. They come fully equipped with showers, a turn-down service, food, and entertainment.

On the big spending in Washington, Guinta said, “This race represents a clear difference about where we want to go as a country, do we want to continue to waste taxpayer dollars like Carol Shea-Porter has done over the last four years, or do we want to start showing taxpayers a little respect?”

Read the rest of Frank's Fifty

Weekend Review: Freedom Parade

2010-08-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend Team Guinta made its way up to Freedom, NH to march in the Freedom Old Home Week Parade. Amongst the vintage cars and floats, we were lucky enough to have one of our supporters in the area donate a dump truck for us to use as a Team Guinta Mobile! Walking through streets lined with locals, I was able to meet and engage many voters. In addition, many volunteers came out to march with us in the parade. Thank you all very much, we greatly appreciate your support. With 43 days left until the primary, Team Guinta continues to gain momentum as we move towards victory.

Team Guinta Campaign Update

2010-07-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

It has been four weeks since this blog last released our field statistics. During that short period of time, our number of Facebook fans grew to more than 3,550 and our county co-chair leadership team also continues to swell, approaching 800 members. We also have a growing constituency of veterans – 80 thus far. The support continues to grow steadily each day and we are honored to have you on our side!

This week, Team Guinta will begin a new leg of our Your Voice, Your Vote, Your House tour. The team will make stops in Londonderry, Hooksett and Hampstead, including meet & greets in both Londonderry and Hampstead, and business stops in Hooksett. For specifics about when and where you can meet Frank Guinta, please call our headquarters at 836-5620.

Team Guinta Celebrates Newmarket Office Opening

2010-07-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday, Congressional Candidate Frank Guinta celebrated the opening of a new Team Guinta office in downtown Newmarket. More than 20 voters and volunteers gathered at the office for a short pizza party and phone banking. The office will serve as an alternate headquarters for the team and a place where volunteers can come in to help out. “The energy in this office is impressive,” said Mr. Guinta, commenting on the enthusiastic support of voters and how effective the team has been in engaging volunteers to help spread the message.

Frank Guinta is looking forward to the last 50+ days before the primary. “We can win this race. I think nationally we can win this race and I think we need people around this country who are willing to stand up for freedom.” With the new office up and running, the Team is poised for a successful finish to the campaign season.

Among the volunteers Thursday night was former New Hampshire Senator George Lovejoy, a longtime supporter of Mr. Guinta. “Frank Guinta is the only one with experience,” Lovejoy explained, “All the others will need on the job training experience to legislate.” With regard to the other candidates running for this 1st District Congressional seat, Lovejoy said, “They might be nice guys, but they have not the experience.” As senator and a founder of the NH Advantage Coalition, Senator Lovejoy has established himself as a major tax-fighter in NH. He sees this same type of conviction in Mr. Guinta saying, “Frank took the lead on the tax cap proposition in Manchester. He is a true conservative. He knows how to legislate.”

Weekend Review: Team Guinta Looks Strong

2010-07-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Team Guinta showed strength and momentum this weekend. We started in Exeter before the beginning of the American Independence Festival. Along with several volunteers, we made our way through town, knocking on doors and talking with more voters. The response was great, and many residents were eager to discuss why I’m running for Congress.

Next up was the American Independence Festival in downtown Exeter. Our team organized a station alongside the GOP tent, passing out pocket-sized US Constitutions to the crowd.

The final stop was in Brentwood for the Rockingham County Straw Poll. Here I met with hundreds of voters and gave a short speech before the polls closed. Despite the heat, there was a great turnout for the event. I was especially pleased to see NHGOP chair John Sununu at the event. His presence reinforced the solidarity of the Republican Party this election season.

When all votes were counted, Team Guinta was the victor with 36% of the vote! After buying only 10 tickets for some of my staff, I was heartened by the immense support from our grassroots network. Some campaigns relied heavily on buying a lot of the tickets to influence the outcome of the poll. My team and I have maintained a strong connection with our supporters and with this 4th consecutive poll victory, it shows. Thanks to all the volunteers, attendees, and our entire Team. Together, we can keep this winning streak through to November.

Frank’s Statement on Stimulus

2010-07-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

This morning reports are circulating that I supported the stimulus plan and requested stimulus monies as Mayor of Manchester. Nothing could be further from the truth. These reports are no doubt being spread by one of my opponents who hopes that by distorting my conservative record, he can gain a political advantage. This story is not only inaccurate, but is easily rebutted by a simple search of statements I have made about stimulus since late 2008 (see below and read carefully).

In the spring of 2009, I was busy drafting my final budget as Mayor. I was focused on preventing a tax hike by keeping spending down and I was concerned about how the State budget might affect Manchester’s budget. Governor Lynch’s proposed budget seized Manchester’s portion of the Rooms & Meals Tax and State Revenue Sharing, and replaced it with unspecified and one-time stimulus monies.

When I criticized the Governor’s budget for how it used stimulus monies, I was not advocating for those monies. I was instead very clearly trying to keep their feet to the fire to make the State fulfill on the Governor’s promise. At no time did I ask for stimulus monies and I made it abundantly clear to Governor Lynch and the Legislature that they should not downshift their budget woes upon the cities and towns, and the taxpayers that bear the burden of funding those governments. According to a Union Leader editorial, “That would be good for the state's bottom line, but it could be a disaster for municipalities.” (Union Leader,19 Feb 2009)

As Mayor, I never once asked for stimulus nor put together a stimulus wish list. I never lobbied the Governor or any other official in public or private to send stimulus funds to Manchester. Instead, I asked that State to restore Rooms & Meals and Revenue Sharing, and advocated that they instead cut spending to balance the budget. I have never supported using one-time money to fill a budget gap and I never will.

From the very beginning, I have opposed the stimulus plan because I don’t believe that our government’s role is to create jobs. Rather I believe that government needs to lift hindrances to private business like over regulation and high taxes. Only the private sector creates jobs; the government just needs to get out of the way. And this why our country is suffering from high unemployment because our elected leaders like Carol Shea-Porter think that they can just spend their way out any problem.

###

March 7, 2009 Saturday

By GARRY RAYNO

New Hampshire Union Leader

MANCHESTER -- Uncertainty about future bond payments for Verizon Wireless Arena may be eliminated because Gov. John Lynch yesterday proposed restoring room-and-meals tax revenues to cities and towns.

In his budget address last month, Lynch proposed the state keep money allocated for local aid to help balance the state budget, but yesterday said federal stimulus money would restore the rooms-and-meals funds to municipalities.

Yesterday, New Hampshire Municipal Association officials praised Lynch's plans, but noted the state budget process still has a long way to go.

Lynch proposes taking $120 million from $201 million in stimulus funding allocated to states for education aid and using the money to replace $120 million of state money in the biennial budget for school aid. That would free up state money to restore $120 million of the proposed $187 million reduction in local aid.

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta has scheduled a briefing for aldermen Tuesday on potential problems with paying for the arena should rooms-and-meals tax revenues for cities and towns be eliminated.

Manchester uses rooms-and-meals revenues from the state to pay off the $50 million bond for the arena. The city is counting on about $4.5 million for this year's payment for the 10,000-seat arena, which hosts concerts, high school graduations, and games played by the Monarchs and Wolves.

But officials say if the funding source goes away, the trustee, Bank of New York Mellon, could gain control of the facility. In a default, the trustee could foreclose and put the building up for sale, hire its own management company to run the arena as it sees fit or use revenue generated by the arena to retire the bonds.

The city is banking on an insurance policy protecting its rights to control the arena, but it's unclear whether the policy would accomplish that goal as intended. The insurer, ACA Financial Guaranty Corp., was caught up in the sub-prime mortgage fiasco, but recently reorganized and had its rating upgraded.

Under the worst circumstances, the city's bond counsel has suggested, the city's and the state's credit ratings could be lowered, although the state treasurer and others dispute his point. A downgrade would make it more expensive if not more difficult to bond major projects.

But all the discussion could be moot if lawmakers decide to restore all $187 million Lynch proposed eliminating, instead sending federal stimulus money to cities and towns, much of it for education.

After Lynch made his proposal, local officials protested, saying local services would suffer if aid were directed to school districts rather than to communities.

Yesterday, Pam Walsh, the governor's deputy chief of staff, said Lynch was sensitive to the need to be sure money went into the "right buckets" and will ask lawmakers to move the money around in the budget so communities get some aid restored.

Walsh noted the governor put together his budget before the federal economic stimulus package was finalized and it was unclear how much discretion states had in allocating the money.

Guinta said that while he was pleased Lynch restored the rooms-and-meals revenues to municipalities, he and other mayors and local officials will continue to work with Lynch to restore the $50.4 million in revenue sharing and the 5 percent reduction in payments to the state retirement fund for teachers, police and firemen.

"It's clear the governor feels his original proposal to suspend rooms-and-meals revenue was a mistake. (He) listened to a bipartisan group of mayors and town officials asking him to reverse his decision," Guinta said.

Manchester would stand to lose $3.9 million in revenue sharing and $600,000 in payments to the retirement fund.

Rooms-and-meals and revenue sharing are 40-year sources of funds for cities and towns, he said. "It's an error in judgment to take that money away and use it for the state deficit. To me, this is Phase 1 of three phases of things that need to be restored."

Ward 2 Alderman and state Sen. Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester, said yesterday he would rather see the rooms-and-meals and revenue-sharing money for local aid left alone and distributed under the current formula.

Before the arena was constructed, city officials decided to use rooms-and-meals money to pay for the project rather than ask city taxpayers to foot the bill.

William Craig, long-time attorney for the Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority, which issued the bonds, said the city's only obligation since Day 1 was to include the rooms-and-meals money for the bonds in the budget the mayor presents. "The city does not have to pay for this at all," he said.

The arena bonds are similar to revenue bonds issued for Manchester-Boston Regional Airport construction and repaid from revenues generated by the airport. "As long as the Verizon is doing well, there shouldn't be any concern about the bonds being paid off," he said.

Manchester's bond rating is AA+.

"We should definitely be concerned about our bond rating," Ward 7 Alderman Bill Shea said. "Extremely."

Shea said he supported the arena project as an alderman in the late-1990s but was concerned about plans to use rooms-and-meals tax dollars to finance it. He said he urged the board to consider using a portion of the arena's concession-stand revenues instead. "This was not considered at all," he said.

The arena bonds were recently rated a middling Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service. In December, the rating agency affirmed the bonds' "negative outlook," saying there is a "strong possibility that meals-and-rooms tax revenue will not experience growth sufficient to meet increasing debt service requirements over the near term."

To date, rooms-and-meals revenue -- about half of which is returned to cities and towns -- has been less than was collected a year ago. Through February of the 2009 fiscal year, the state collected $149.8 million in rooms-and-meals revenue compared, with $151.5 million a year ago.

New Hampshire Leader reporter Scott Brooks and The Associated Press contributed to this article.

EDITORIAL: Missing the memo; Our defiant school board The Union Leader (Manchester, NH) March 4, 2009 Wednesday
March 4, 2009 Wednesday

Gov. John Lynch needs to have a talk with the Manchester Board of School Committee. Its members clearly don't understand his plan for juggling public money.

In his new state budget, Gov. Lynch proposes keeping $117 million in rooms and meals tax money and $50 million in revenue sharing, all of which belongs by law to local governments. But he will make localities whole by giving them $120 million more in education aid and $160 million in federal stimulus money (much of which is earmarked for schools), he said.

Manchester school board members didn't get the memo. On Monday night, they proposed using next year's additional $7.4 million in state school aid to increase the city school budget.

Mayor Frank Guinta is not happy. He says, correctly, that the increased school aid was supposed to make up for revenue Gov. Lynch kept for use by the state. It should, therefore, go to the city to fill the hole Lynch created.

"They're in a different world," Guinta says. "They're not adhering to what at least 60 percent of other school boards are realizing."

The New Hampshire School Administrators Association says that 60 percent of the state's school districts plan to cut staff this year to reduce their spending. Not Manchester's. Here, it's spend, spend, spend.

The city schools account for more than half of all city spending. The mayor is trying to prevent a tax increase on people who cannot afford one by controlling costs in the less than 50 percent of the budget he controls. The school board is, as always, doing what it can to make sure taxes and spending go up, not down.

The aldermen need to join the mayor in making it clear that city schools are not going to get a budget increase this year. Spending has to come down to meet revenues. There is no other option. If the school board refuses to accept that reality, the aldermen have to make them by appropriating only what the city can afford.

EDITORIAL: Shifting costs down ; A Lynch property tax hike? The Union Leader (Manchester, NH) February 19, 2009 Thursday

February 19, 2009 Thursday:
Gov. John Lynch proposes balancing the state budget with money that rightly belongs to local governments. It's OK for the state to take that money, he says, because in exchange localities will get even more in state aid and federal stimulus cash. Eh, not necessarily.

The governor intends to suspend rooms and meals tax payments to local governments, which amount to $58.5 million a year, or $117 million over the life of the two-year budget. By tradition and state law, that money belongs to local governments. Legislators would have to change the law to allow the state to keep the cash.

That would be good for the state's bottom line, but it could be a disaster for municipalities. Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta estimates a loss of millions a year. Some of that money covers the city's bond payments on the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The governor also proposes keeping $25 million a year in revenue sharing money, which also legally belongs to local governments. And he wants to level-fund the state's portion of retirement plan cost-sharing, which would equal another $17 million over two years that localities would not receive.

Lynch says local officials shouldn't worry because he is increasing state education aid by $123 million over two years and local governments will get a total of $190 million from the federal stimulus bill. But much of the federal money is earmarked for schools. So while many school boards will have more money, towns and cities might lose millions.

They can make up for some of that by reducing the amount of local property tax revenue they devote to schools. But it is unclear whether every community will receive federal stimulus dollars. Some communities might do better under Lynch's proposal, but others might lose big time.

The governor deserves credit for some creative budgeting. But legislators need to study what this taking of local dollars will do to property taxes. It might not work out as well for localities as the governor suggests it will.

LOAD-DATE: February 20, 2009 Friday

"He should cut items in his own budget, not ask cities and towns to do it for him," said Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, a Republican. "He shouldn't rely on a federal stream of money to dig the state out of its hole."

Guinta insisted he had no intention of asking the federal government for a handout, at least until federal or state officials ask the city to come forward with some requests. Lopez said he wants the board to put together a list of projects it would like to launch, in case the money really does become available.

Guinta confessed he had had two conversations with U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in which, he said, "she asked what earmarks I was interested in." But he maintained he wasn't ready to put anything in writing, saying, "I don't think it's appropriate to send a message to people that we're anticipating money. There's no legislation; there's just discussion about it."

EDITORIAL: Begging for bailouts; It's magic money time! The Union Leader (Manchester, NH) January 5, 2009 Monday

Manchester is putting together a list of its top priorities in case a sack of federal stimulus package cash falls from the sky. That's not a bad idea. It's good to be prepared. An even better idea is what Mayor Frank Guinta and Gov. John Lynch are doing: budgeting under the assumption that no stimulus money will arrive.

Mayor Guinta told us last week that he has no intention of including stimulus package money in any of his budget preparations. The city should get its own budget in order without hoping for miracle money from D.C., he said.

Though Guinta and Lynch are taking the right approach, some aldermen, state department heads and officials in other cities are or are considering actively pitching Washington for cash.

Though any money that would come is supposed to stimulate the economy, most of the projects floated would do no such thing. Sprucing up city parks and upgrading municipal buildings won't create permanent jobs for anyone. But that won't prevent such projects from making the wish lists. Hey, if Washington is passing out free money, why not ask, right?

It is good to see that at least Guinta and Lynch are resisting the temptation to beg for bailouts. More public officials should exercise such restraint.

Frank Guinta's Resume Praised in Foster's

2010-07-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it: A little over two weeks ago Foster’s Daily Democrat published this staff-written editorial laying out Frank Guinta’s strong qualifications to lead Republicans against Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter in the upcoming NH 1st Congressional District Race.

Article published Jun 28, 2010

Guinta's resume is a strong one

There is much to like about Frank Guinta's candidacy for the Republican primary nod to take on U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., in November.

Prime among these is his understanding that Shea-Porter's troops will "walk through fire for her."

This understanding of how Shea-Porter was able to unseat Jeb Bradley then hold him off in a rematch is essential to a November victory.

But if that were all to suggest Guinta is worth consideration by First Congressional District voters, this editorial would end here.

During an editorial board meeting at Foster's Daily Democrat on Thursday, Guinta offered a combination of practical business experience and government right-headedness that was impressive.

As mayor of Manchester until he decided not to seek re-election and run for Congress, Guinta found it anything but easy to fight the demands by both Democrats and some Republicans who wanted to inflate budgets.

He especially raised the ire of a Democratically controlled Board of Alderman, Manchester's version of a city council, when he supported a tax cap — which voters approved after the board stalled a year in putting it on the ballot.

Guinta came to politics from the insurance industry, but found his passion in government.

In 2001, he and his wife, Morgan, were honored by the New Hampshire Union Leader's "40 Under Forty" program. They are the only husband and wife team to be so honored by the newspaper for their accomplishments.

Guinta was then coming off a stint in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and headed for the mayor's chair.

During Guinta's meeting with Foster's editors, the discussion covered a lot of territory beyond the candidate's background.

One particularly striking moment came after a question about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Guinta was mayor of Manchester when Police Officer Micheal Briggs was gunned down. With emotion evident on his face, Guinta told of the 4 a.m. call telling him one of his city's officers had been shot. Later Guinta was the one to break the eventual news of Briggs' death to a legion of fellow officers who had gathered, hoping for the best.

Should Guinta win the primary and then the general election, there is no doubt he will take to Washington a unique understanding of life and death. This, coupled with a deep respect for those who protect, will give him the balance of judgment to cast votes on how and if the war should continue.

It is perhaps this balance of abilities and judgment that most make Guinta a strong candidate.

But a touch of common sense also helps.

Guinta knows that Congress needs to take up unpopular discussions. Among them are entitlement programs and overspending, which have become a way of life for Washington under both Democrats and Republicans.

On Social Security, Guinta makes no bones about its insolvency. And popular or not, he wants to have an open discussion about fixing it ... not decades in the future, but now.

On health care, the newest entitlement, Guinta rightfully notes it missed its mark in controlling costs. To that end he still sees an immediate need to open insurance markets across the country to groups of small businesses, and to allow individuals to purchase policies that may be sold for less in other states, something now prohibited.

As for the national debt, he offers a chilling number. If asked to pony up today to pay the bill, it would cost each American approximately $122,000 — a number that speaks volumes by itself.

As with other candidates for the House, Foster's is not ready to offer a recommendation. But what can be said now is that Guinta joins a long list of quality candidates looking to carry the GOP banner in the fall.

Team Guinta Weekend Review

2010-07-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Team Guinta had yet another strong campaign weekend. On July 10th, our first stop was the Strafford County Republican Picnic. I enjoyed meeting and speaking with New Hampshire conservatives as well as listening to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty speak. It was great to reconnect with so many friends and supporters. I always feel welcome in Strafford County and hope to win the County in the upcoming election.

Later in the day, I joined Team Guinta members at the annual Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers Picnic in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. I had the opportunity to give a short talk to the crowd and was able to meet with many anti-tax/anti-spending activists from throughout the state – people whom I have a close affinity with. There was a great turnout for the event, and 94 votes were cast in the picnic’s straw poll. I am proud to say that Team Guinta won the poll although the most important one doesn’t happen until September.

I want to thank all of you who helped us out this weekend. This truly is a team effort and I cannot be successful this fall without your support. Together we can bring real change and reform to Washington because It is Your Voice, Your Vote and Your House!

An Amazing 4th of July Weekend for Team Guinta

2010-07-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

This past 4th of July weekend, I was honored to see the more than 120 volunteers come out in support of Team Guinta. First and foremost, I want to thank you all for donating your time and effort, especially on this busy holiday weekend. I would also like to thank those of you who donated vehicles. As you can see below, we had a beautiful vintage Packard as well as a dump truck that we were able to turn into a veritable Team Guinta Float!

Over the course of the weekend our team was represented in 8 different parades across the state! I attended as many as time and logistics would allow, marching in Bartlett, Raymond, Merrimack, and Laconia. Additionally, Team Guinta members organized parade sections in Gilmanton, Brentwood, Wolfeboro, and Conway.

At one point in the Raymond parade, a voter asked me, “Mr. Guinta, what are you going to do about this crazy Washington spending?” I replied that I would bring the same fiscal responsibility to Washington that I used in Manchester.

Another man said rather frankly, “What are you going to do better than Carol Shea-Porter? What are you going to do for me?” For me the answer was easy. I said, “Give you back your government and your representation.”

We had great support at each of these parades. Once again, thank you to all the volunteers. We simply could not have done it without you. Considering all the great work done this weekend and the number of volunteers at each event, I think Team Guinta continues to lead all candidates in bringing a message of reform and responsibility back to Washington.

A Look Forward

2010-07-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

Another letter supporting Frank Guinta in this past Saturday's Foster's Daily Democrat.

To the editor:

Fathers Day had me thinking about how my father fought in World War II, his father before him in World War I and me in Vietnam. We all served proudly in defense of our nation and for the freedoms we all enjoy.

What I see going on in Washington today disturbs me. No control on illegal immigration, spending three generations of tax dollars in a year. We have a national debt that is heading this country into bankruptcy. We have a new health care bill that takes billions from Medicare for our seniors yet guarantees care for non residents, illegal or otherwise. It is time for fiscal conservatism.

We have a candidate Mayor Frank Guinta running for U.S. Representative 1st District of New Hampshire who is a proven leader. Leadership, good leadership starts with character.

Mayor Guinta has that character and has proved his ability to face those tough issues and do the right thing for the American people.

He believes in our Constitution, American ideals, and understands if you want the economy to turn around you need to support small business, not put the burden on them and the middle class. He knows how to cut spending yet put programs in place that benefit those citizens that need assistance.

This is the right candidate at the right time. The train is leaving the station, so please get on board and remember to vote, and remember the name Frank Guinta.

Rene Bonnin

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend I am excited to be celebrating the 234th anniversary of our country’s independence. On the 4th of July, we are reminded of all the many reasons that make this country great. For the most part this is summed up by one word- Freedom. This weekend I remind myself that it is imperative not to take our freedoms for granted. Our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and liberty are protected by the men and women in our armed forces. Without their ultimate sacrifice our country would not be all that it is. That is also why my campaign has been passing out pocket size copies of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. We hope that recipients of these pocket Constitutions will reread these documents, and truly appreciate their significance to our country.

In this election season we are also reminded that one of the most sacred freedoms of our country is the ability to choose our representation. I have been privileged to represent our state as a state representative and the former Mayor of Manchester. I only hope to earn your support this fall and become your next Congressman.

I wish you all a very safe and happy holiday.

Sincerely,

Frank Guinta

Frank Guinta is a Doer

2010-06-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a letter to the editor from today's Laconia Citizen:

Editor, The Citizen: With all the problems our country is facing, we really need a leader who will stand up to the special interests and increased spending requests. That's why I am supporting Frank Guinta for Congress this fall.

During his four years as mayor of Manchester, Frank submitted four balanced budgets that kept spending down and actually would have cut our property taxes. He cut annual borrowing by the city in half because taxpayers could not afford any more big ticket projects. He invested in our Police Department which resulted in declining violent crime rates. Simply put, Frank Guinta did more than speak — he actually accomplished something as an elected official.

With all the big spenders in Washington, electing someone like Guinta will be a first step in turning our country around. Join me in September and November as we elect Frank Guinta as our next congressman.

Shona Bowen
Gonic

Frank Guinta Marches in Plaistow's Old Home Day Parade

2010-06-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Frank Guinta attended the annual Old Home Day parade in Plaistow, NH. Hundreds of people lined the main street into town to watch the parade pass. Frank got to meet many voters, shaking upwards of 250 hands!

When asked about Frank, one of the younger voters said, “Some of the other politicians I met at the parade were looking over my head, trying to see who they would target next. Instead, it was clear that Mr. Guinta was engaged in our short talk and that he was talking to me, not through me.”

Frank was the only Congressional candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st District to attend the parade and among the different floats and marching bands, more than 20 members of Team Guinta came to march alongside. Overall the crowd loved the parade and Frank really enjoyed the march into town.

Guinta Praises Supreme Court Decision Upholding 2nd Amendment: Right to Personal Protection Extended to States and Cities

2010-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Manchester – After learning of this morning’s United States Supreme Court ruling which limited the abilities of states and cities to enact firearm bans, congressional candidate Frank Guinta (NH-1) issued the following statement: “Today our Supreme Court ruled in favor of the right of citizens to protect their persons and properties and against attempts by certain states and cities to subvert the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. As a strict constructionist of the Constitution, I welcome this decision which weakens the abilities of local governments like the City of Chicago to take firearms away from law abiding citizens. Americans should be thankful that during a time when our President and Congressional leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Carol Shea-Porter are trying to take away many of our constitutional rights, at least our Supreme Court is trying to restore the rights of the people.”
The ruling is seen as an extension of a previous Court decision that overturned the District of Columbia’s restrictive ban against handguns. The Court did not directly overturn the Chicago ban but did direct the federal appeals court to reconsider an earlier decision that upheld the ban.

On the Three Month Anniversary of ObamaCare

2010-06-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

During the three months since the adoption of ObamaCare, it becomes clearer daily that this act is not the answer to improving access to health care. It is essentially a government takeover that sets a precedent that must not be allowed. Nationalizing healthcare only brings us further away from the democratic government upon which this country was founded and turns us instead into just another European socialistic state.

Not only is this fundamentally not democratic, but it is also costly for the average American taxpayer. The bill comes at a trillion dollar cost to the American people, and could end up tacking on $1.5 trillion to our national debt. As a result, we can expect to see small businesses and individuals suffer in the face of the increased taxes and fines needed to offset the enormous cost of this bill. With less capital to work with, business owners will be forced to make more layoffs and add to our country’s already high unemployment rate of 9.7%. This is not the action of a good government.

When elected, I will support any bill that repeals and replaces this takeover. There is no doubt that health care needs reform, but this is not the way to do it. I believe there are other solutions that stay true to our American values. Our country needs common sense actions and free market solutions like tort reform and the removal of state-to-state boundaries that restrict health plans. Changes like these will more effectively make health care more affordable and accessible without spending away our children’s future.

I have pledged these types of changes in the People’s Fiscal Responsibility & Reform Pact. (YourVoiceYourHouse.com) At that website I propose several reforms our government needs, including the immediate repeal of ObamaCare. There you will also find that I am looking for your feedback in adding five more sensible reforms to the act. Together, we can repeal the health care bill and set our country back on the right track.

Former NH Senator Lovejoy Endorses Frank Guinta

2010-06-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Former New Hampshire Senator George Lovejoy endorsed Frank Guinta in a letter to the editor in today's Foster's Daily Democrat! Thank you Senator Lovejoy!

Full text below:

Responsible Voice for Granite State

To the editor: After spending a great deal of time in New Hampshire politics, always on the side of the taxpayers, today I see that they are in the greatest peril of my lifetime. This peril is precipitated by the excessive taxing and spending of the Democrats who have taken control of our government on both the national and state level.

Carol-Shea Porter, who votes in lock step with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has lent her voice and our vote to every big spending issue that has faced the Congress. Currently she holds New Hampshire's Congressional 1st District seat. Her votes have helped put America in debt by one trillion dollars in the past year alone and taxed future generations $13 to $14 trillion. She has voted to give up our liberties and to put business under federal control.

She must be voted out of office if New Hampshire is to be once again looked to as the voice of growth and frugality. We as a nation must reduce our budget deficit and spending, and we must cut taxes for individuals and small business.

Looking at the field of candidates for Congress in NH's 1st District, the Democrats have just one, Carol Shea-Porter, who promises more of the same if re-elected. The Republicans have several candidates competing for that same office. While any one of them would better represent New Hampshire than Congresswoman Shea-Porter, there is one who stands out in this group of candidates. That is why I am supporting Frank Guinta in his quest to go to Congress.

Former two-term Mayor of Manchester Frank Guinta has a history of cutting taxes and reducing violent crime. He has been a reliable defender of the taxpayers and has stayed close to the people. In addition he had the courage to take on the Shea-Porter voting record long before any others got into the race. Having served in local government as an Alderman and in state government as a Representative to the General Court, Frank Guinta has the experience that others lack. He was still able to cut taxes despite serving as a Republican mayor and working with a Democrat majority.

Frank Guinta has been a true conservative on both fiscal and social issues and has proved himself to be reliable.

I believe that a vote for Frank Guinta on Sept. 14 is an early vote against Shea-Porter and Nancy Pelosi come November.

George Lovejoy

Barrington

Team Guinta Campaign Update

2010-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Things at the Team Guinta headquarters are speeding along as we move towards the primary. We have more than 3,100 fans on our Facebook page! Thank you to all who have “liked.” We also have received a great deal of support from our leadership team across New Hampshire’s 1st District. We now have over 700 county co-chairs.

On a different note, even more Team Guinta signs and stickers have come in and we are happy to see our supporters proudly displaying them across the District. Thanks to all who have gotten involved, we truly appreciate the support.

If you would like to know more about me, or help with the campaign, feel free to visit the Team Guinta homepage. Also, be sure to see our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information.

Guinta Meets with Derry Businessmen and Women

2010-06-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Monday morning I sat down with a number of local businessmen and women in Derry, NH. We met over coffee at T-Bone’s Restaurant. While there were some individual concerns, an overarching theme was that not enough was being done to help improve New Hampshire’s economy and its small businesses. Listening to some of their problems reinforced what I had gathered from my last business roundtable in Laconia, and my recent tour of Exeter.

Once again, the owners cited cash flow as a major issue. This reminded me of comments made by the owner Arjay’s Ace Hardware in Exeter who said, “Flat is the new good.” Everyone at the table seemed to agree that one of their foremost concerns was maintaining their customer base and seeing that their revenue returned to healthy operating levels. What can we do to help this?

A major theme that arose from this discussion was different ways to foster New Hampshire’s local economy using a number of different strategies. One thought was to alleviate those tax burdens that make starting a business difficult, and to then use business incubating measures as a way to ensure that these start-ups can do their best to succeed. Another proposal was to promote public transportation in order to help facilitate commuters and allow more people to work in NH’s strong commercial centers. Everyone was concerned that new healthcare taxes would also threaten their ability to stay in operation. I want to ease these fears and promote economic growth.

This was something that I pursued adamantly as Mayor of Manchester. In order to help our local economy I lowered taxes and instituted a spending cap. I also fought hard for projects like the Elliot at River’s Edge, the largest development in New Hampshire since the Mall of New Hampshire opened in 1977. This new development has created jobs and helped spur growth in surrounding locations. Encouraging private growth creates private sector jobs which add money back into the economy helping everyone. And it didn’t take government stimulus or tax dollars to accomplish.

One story in particular sheds light on the burden small businesses face in their infancy. One of the owners in attendance had started his business five years ago and had just opened a new location in Manchester on Monday morning. However, he remains pessimistic that payroll taxes and new government regulations make starting his new branch even more difficult. I want to restore faith in New Hampshire’s economy and the American dream, and want to work to bring some security to the entrepreneurs who fuel our commercial centers.

This was another productive gathering. Not only was I able meet more of the people I want to represent, but I also continued to learn firsthand what New Hampshire residents need. I am running for Congress to make sure that you the voter is represented to the fullest.

Frank Guinta's Constitutionality Test

2010-06-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

In this 1st District Congressional Race, Frank Guinta has a very solid, common sense approach to new legislation, and he is the first candidate in this race to take this approach.

Mr. Guinta said in a recent speech, “All of the things that the liberal left thinks is good for us will be gone, this November. You know what gets to replace it? This book.... This is what I walk around with, this is what I will hold on the floor of the house to make sure that every piece of legislation I vote on, adheres to this basic principle.”

That book in his hand is the U.S. Constitution. Frank Guinta is so adamant about this point that the first bill he has promised to endorse when elected, “The People’s Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact,” includes applying a Constitutionality Test to all legislation brought through Congress.

Tell Frank what other points you would like to see addressed at YourVoiceYourHouse.com.

Guinta Continues District-wide Tour

2010-06-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday afternoon I had the opportunity to continue my series of walking tours through the First Congressional District. This time I visited Downtown Exeter and met employees and management at four different area businesses. Many of the comments I received from these people had a common theme- they did not feel they were being heard by their congresswoman or that Washington represented their interests.

My first stop was at the Trackside Cafe, where I met with owner Ron Cross. Mr. Cross' primary concern was the LLC Tax. However he also mentioned that he felt the country was being run in an ad hoc manner that those in power are simply throwing ideas at the wall hoping that something sticks! He went on to say that there are simply too many regulations and taxes in our state, and that it seemed like the state government was doing whatever it could to raise taxes on small businesses. One of my major beliefs is that representatives should be judged by the legislation they repeal, not just what they enact. This struck a chord with Cross and his desire to keep his business successful.

The next stop on the tour was Arjay's Ace Hardware, where I met with Rusty Simmons. At Arjay's they are trying to find more ways to engage their customers in order to keep them coming back. For example Rusty encourages employees to go out of their way to help customers. Mr. Simmons pointed out a disappointing but important truth about today's economy: "Flat is the new good," referring to his business' revenue. This was difficult for me to hear. I want to help make New Hampshire flourish by promoting business friendly initiatives. It is clear to me that not only is our Congresswoman not doing enough to allow small businesses to succeed she is actively harming them through oppressive taxation and outrageous spending. Every dollar collected and spent by the government removes choice from the individual and as a result limits freedom. This is what I had in mind when I laid out "The People's Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact," which are the core principles I want to enact if elected. The legislation that I want to pass aims to help small businesses, eliminating a lot of unnecessary regulations placed on small business owners, and encouraging free market solutions for economic problems. These first two stops on the tour showed just how vital this pact is for improved state commerce.

At the Exeter Hospital, a major topic of discussion was the recent healthcare bill where administrators expressed similar concerns. With the new regulations set out by Obamacare, hospital administrators see little hope for continuing to provide excellent and expedient care for patients. I told them that I want to repeal and replace nationalized healthcare because although I believe the healthcare system can be improved, I don’t believe government run healthcare is the answer.

Another small business owner and former state senator, Russell Prescott, shed a lot of light on our Country's economic problems. Russell’s family has passionately run a small family business in Exeter for 50 years, and has 30 employees whose life stories he reads as if they were his own, because essentially they are. Like Mr. Cross, he too is concerned about the LLC tax. After all these years establishing his family business in Exeter and building lifelong relationship with customers and employees alike, he is now worried about keeping this business running and keeping his employees gainfully employed. These stories resonated for me because more than anything, they show the shared concern that the American dream is disappearing. It's hard to see someone work their entire lives to create something, and to now not have the security to continue to strive for success. When elected, I hope to restore faith in our economy, and allow small businesses to continue to pursue the dream of success upon which our Country was founded.

It is clear to me that after making these stops that Carol Shea-Porter is simply not listening to her constituents. Not only is she unconcerned with her constituents wants and needs, she brags about voting with both Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi over 90% of the time. We need leadership that represents New Hampshire instead of Washington.

Through this tour and others like it, I will continue to seek out as much of your input as possible. As I have said it truly is "Your Voice, Your Vote, Your House." I encourage you all to log onto YourVoiceYourHouse.com. There you will find "The People's Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Pact." There are ten reforms which I have already included in the pact, but there are also 10 other reforms, five of which will be chosen based on your feedback. I am running for congress to represent the voices of the 1st district of New Hampshire because people in Washington, including our own congresswoman, are not hearing you.

More Propaganda from Carol Shea-Porter, Paid for by YOU the Taxpayer

2010-06-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

In the mail this past week you probably received a taxpayer funded pamphlet as you were flipping through your daily mail. These were the pamphlets that Carol Shea-Porter sent entitled, “Congressional Update” describing her plan for economic reform and her recent efforts to improve the economy. A large, unconventionally sized pamphlet is also more than likely to cost more than a flyer you may get for a Wal-Mart or Macy’s “One Day Only!” sale. On the front of the Shea-Porter flyer are her ideas and efforts- on the back, in small black font it reads, “This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.”

Clearly this was not an “update,” it was Carol Shea-Porter campaigning with our tax dollars. These flyers were mailed not only to each household, but to individual voters, creating a great waste of taxpayer money and paper. There is a thin line between maintaining a rapport with one’s constituents and electioneering. These pamphlets violate the idea of a “Congressional Update,” and show an abuse of a representative’s franking privileges. This is not the first time either, that Carol Shea-Porter has been singled out in the past as well for exploiting tax dollars for personal gain. Instead of keeping the public informed on the issues, she is using the “update” to propagate her own campaign. Hasn’t she spent enough of our money?

That being said, since the pamphlet is supposed to be a, “Congressional Update” does there really need to be more than one per household? There must be a more efficient, and most importantly, less costly way to distribute these papers. Many of her points in the pamphlet include keeping taxpayers from “paying the price” for acts such as bailouts. In this case, because of her elaborate, expensive design and excessive distribution, the taxpayers did pay the price. How is this supposed to help our deficit? What’s more, we paid the price for what was clearly Carol Shea-Porter propaganda. Simply put, whether we like it or not, we have already started to fund the Shea-Porter campaign!

I am running to eliminate waste and reel in unnecessary spending- unlike Carol Shea-Porter. This is a small example of how reduction in expenditures begins. While this a small issue relative to the federal deficit, only I will take that approach to all government spending in order to reduce our problem. As I have said before, all federal agency spending money must be audited to ensure that we are being fiscally responsible. This small, simple pamphlet change is a perfect example of a common sense adjustment to spending levels that I would strive to enact in Congress.

Guinta organizes petition effort opposing Obamacare

2010-03-17T15:16:00.001-07:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta has organized a petition effort to demand Rep. Carol Shea-Porter respect her constituents and vote against the government health care bill that New Hampshire residents in district one have clearly said they don’t want.

Thanks to Guinta’s Web page, HonestHealthCareReform.com, New Hampshire residents of the first district can add their voices in opposition to the socialized health care plan Shea-Porter and her cronies in Washington are offering. The petition will be delivered to Shea-Porter’s office prior to the vote on health care later this week.

"There are good solutions on the table and we must go back to the drawing board and start again with real reform," Guinta said on the petition Web page. "We need medical malpractice reform, small business pooling, and the right to buy insurance across state lines. We need to provide small businesses the same tax benefits big businesses receive and we need to maintain our current quality of care. This is what the public wants, but is Carol listening?”

Frank Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester, has opposed the Democrats’ health care plan since its inception last year. He has also listened to the majority of citizens across New Hampshire and the country who are in deep opposition to the plan. On Thursday, January 21, he pledged in front of about 100 people in Bedford that he would repeal any health care plan that increases government control over the health care industry. He has reinforced his commitment to this pledge at almost every public event he’s held since January.

Folks across the district have repeatedly engaged in public protests during this past summer and into the winter--in large part, opposing Obamacare--while Shea-Porter arrogantly ignored the people, saying she knows better than they do what kind of health care they need. Tired of this kind of representation from Shea-Porter, former Mayor Frank Guinta launched his campaign to run for Congress and held his own Town Hall meetings during the summer when the congresswoman refused. While Carol Shea-Porter continued to blindly support the Obamacare bill because Nancy Pelosi told her to, Frank read each new iteration of the bill in full and publicly commented about its flaws and what should be done instead.

Since then, Guinta has completed a tour of the first district, where he has made dozens of stops talking with small business owners, customers and folks on the street. He has held six Town Hall meetings, and he's used the occasions to clearly articulate his plans for health care and other issues facing the nation, which he has shared with the world on this blog and via YouTube videos.

Unbalanced national budgeting cannot continue

2010-03-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta told a Town Hall crowd in Wolfeboro that Congress needs strong leaders who are willing to say that the nation’s current tax-and-spend agenda is ‘unacceptable’ and make the tough decisions to change the system.

“Right now, what I think we need to do is stop the bleeding and freeze the spending,” said Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester. “Secondly, I think we should audit not just the Fed, but every federal department or agency that is spending money. Then, I think we need to adjust spending levels. In some cases it could be as significant as 10 [percent] or 15 percent. In other cases, I’d like to be convinced why some of the departments that exist need to exist on the federal level.”

Guinta specifically noted that the departments of education and energy were created only about 30 years ago and should be examined to determine if they’re really necessary. He said these departments and others simply take money from states such as New Hampshire, absorb about a third of the money, and then dictate how the money they send back to the states has to be spent. He said he’d rather keep the money in New Hampshire so citizens and business owners can decide how to spend their own money.

“What this nation needs are a group of people who are going to go down there, and say, ‘Prove to me that first of all this [spending line item] is a constitutional requirement; secondly, prove to me that you’re spending the money effectively; and third, let me see the … goal setting and the outcomes’,” he said. “If you watch the budget process at the federal level, that doesn’t happen right now.”

Guinta said the current way the budget is managed is the reason why President Obama’s current budget proposal is $1.9 trillion out of balance and it is the reason why the national debt has reached $12.4 trillion.

“We don’t have savings accounts,” he said. “What we spend right now is borrowed money or printed money. It just has to stop. It’s so out of control."

Term limits will help keep Congress accountable to the people

2010-03-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta told a Town Hall meeting crowd in Wolfeboro that term limits are needed in Congress to keep senators and representatives accountable to the people and to the law.

The fact that some representatives have been in Washington so long gives them an “entitlement” mentality that the “rules don’t apply to them,” he said.

“The system was not created to give any one person power for a long period of time,” said Guinta, a former mayor and alderman for Manchester and a former state representative for New Hampshire who has never served more than two terms in any office. “I think we would be better served as Americans if you had people who went down for 12 years and then went home, and you always had a new group of people.”

Serving in Congress should be about service to the American people, but it has become more of a career that is self-serving, he said. America should start having a debate and dialogue about amending the U.S. constitution to require term limits, he said.

When “people 100 years ago used to serve, they would go down to Washington for a period of time--they would leave their farm or they would leave their business, they would leave their family--and trek down to Washington, take their votes, and come back,” he said. “It was financially a challenge and a burden, but it was a responsibility. And I think term limits can create that environment.”

Guinta acknowledged that some good representatives and senators would be sent home due to the restriction, but he asserted that other good people “just as smart and equally as dedicated” would rise to the occasion and replace the people who have finished their term. Term limits would give more people the chance to serve and perhaps even make running for office less expensive, he said.

Guinta says his plans for America would reverse the country’s current direction

2010-03-17T11:17:00.003-07:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta said voters in New Hampshire’s first district will have a clear choice between Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and him in the upcoming Midterm elections since their positions on the issues facing the nation couldn’t be further apart.

“I’m going to continue to be the person who listens to constituents,” said Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester, at a Wolfeboro Town Hall meeting. “I’m going to talk about my record of reforming government, cutting taxes and prioritizing government as what I think the country needs right now.

“Right now, the country needs debt and deficit reduction; it needs reform at almost every level; it needs more accountability in government,” he added.

The attempt by Democrats in Congress to label Republicans as the “party of ‘no’” has actually had a positive effect, because most Americans don’t want what Congress is trying to force on them, Guinta said.

The candidate said he is against bills such as card check, which allows unions to end privacy in their elections; Cap & Trade, which would add a massive tax burden on Americans and businesses, and increase the cost of energy; the government health care bill, which would increase the cost of health care while reducing access to quality care; and bailouts to banks and companies such as General Motors, which are simply unconstitutional. He said he is against overspending, particularly at a time when the nation’s debt and deficit are unsustainable.

Carol Shea-Porter “and I could not be on more opposite ends on all of these issues,” Guinta said.

“The country wants progress on the economy, they want to feel stability in the economy, and they want to know that government is not going to take over their business or their life,” he added. “I’ve always tried to make decisions with the best information and the best intent for the people that I represent.”

The country must restore its work ethic and the American concept of self-reliance

2010-03-17T11:17:00.002-07:00

American leaders must set an example of personal responsibility to help the nation restore its honor and common sense, congressional candidate Frank Guinta told a Town Hall meeting crowd in Wolfeboro.

“There was a time in this country that you worked so hard to get here, you refused to take a dime from anybody because you wanted to make it yourself,” said Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester. “That’s the kind of work ethic that we need right now.”

Today, there are too many people who expect the government to take care of them, he said. But it’s not the government, but other hard-working Americans who are actually footing the bill. This “Where’s mine?” attitude needs to be reversed, he said.

“We have got to strive to make this a country where people don’t expect a handout from the government, but they demand of themselves that work ethic that gives them the opportunity to be successful,” he added.

To change the status quo, Americans must start electing the right people who will bring the same responsible attitude to Congress that they should also have for themselves. Congress should only spend as much money as it has and not a dime more, he said.

“I do not subscribe to the notion that government is the solution to our problems,” Guinta said. “I believe we are the solution to our problems, and innovation is the solution to our problems.”

Qualifying his statements, Guinta said there is a need to have a limited safety net for people who legitimately fall on tough times and need some help getting back on their feet. But there are too many abusing the system today, he said.

“People have to feel that they are self sufficient, that they are self-reliant and they are responsible for themselves,” he said. “Personal responsibility should matter.”

The federal government should remove its heavy hand from education

2010-03-05T12:07:00.002-08:00

While it is good that federal, state and local governments are all having a conversation about accountability in education, it really is up to parents, teachers and local school administrators to improve the system that prepares our youth for the global economy, Congressional Candidate Frank Guinta told a Town Hall meeting crowd in Londonderry.

“I believe in local control, and I think local communities should be making decisions, and I think that’s where the best decisions are made,” Guinta said. “And if you don’t like those decisions, you have an opportunity at the local level to influence the people making those decisions.”

Guinta, who as mayor served as chairman of the Manchester School Committee, said the number one complaint he heard from local administrators and teachers was about the federal mandates from the U.S. Department of Education, which overseas the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

“While there were high hopes and expectations from teachers in its inception, the reality that teachers convey to me is that it is time consuming, not effective and it’s burdensome in terms of the regulations that you have to follow,” he said.

The Department of Education has a $47 billion budget this year. It received an additional $81 billion in stimulus funds, and centrally decides how to spend the money on the nation’s roughly 99,000 school districts. For every dollar New Hampshire taxpayers send to Washington, the state receives about 75-to-78 cents back, Guinta said.

“What have we received for that amount of money that we’ve sent to Washington?," Guinta said. "To have them decide federal policy and establish a blanket policy for every school district in the country.

“So, why don’t we just keep the money here--not send it down--then we can figure out locally how to invest in our communities and invest in our state?,” Guinta added. “That’s what limited government means. We don’t need federal policies at every level dictating to us how we need to run our communities. That needs to change.”

Further, Guinta noted that the U.S. Department of Education was established by the Carter Administration in 1979 and took effect in 1980, making the point that it is not a longstanding department. He suggested that Congress should reconsider the usefulness and constitutionality of the Department of Education and consider eliminating it from the federal government.

Congress must cut spending to pay down our debt and regain our position of strength

2010-03-05T12:07:00.001-08:00

The U.S. government’s pattern of irresponsible spending has led to a $12.4 trillion national debt, which already poses great risk to the prosperity and freedom of every man, woman and child in America who each share $41,000 of that burden, Congressional Candidate Frank Guinta told a Town Hall meeting crowd in Londonderry.

With the current leadership in Congress and in the White House, however, the problem is only going to get worse, he said. The current fiscal year’s national budget is operating with a $1.4 trillion deficit, and President Barack Obama has proposed a budget for next year with a $1.9 trillion deficit. That’s before any other special programs the current Congress proposes to waste the people’s hard-earned dollars.

“Our government has stolen our checkbook and has gone wild with borrowing, and spending, and printing money to the point where most of the country is deeply concerned,” said Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester.

“It’s no longer a partisan concern,” Guinta continued. “There [are] concerns [among] Republicans, Independents and Democrats about the direction of our country, the lack of fiscal discipline and responsibility, the new policies of taking over government, of being intrusive in our lives--things that I don’t believe we believe is right in New Hampshire.”

While on his tour of the first district, voters have told Frank repeatedly how they are looking for lower taxes and fairness and equity in a simpler tax system, which are things the candidate said he supports.

“Most people tell me: Constrain spending and reduce the size of government, and do it effectively,” Guinta said. We must “figure out what areas of government are larger than they should be and what areas of government shouldn’t even exist or provide the services they’re providing.”

Ultimately, voters are depending on the people they send to Washington to find solutions to reduce spending, lower taxes and pay down the debt and deficit, Guinta said. The current Congress is just not getting this done.

“How many members of Congress know how much money they’re spending overall in any line item or in any department?,” Guinta said. “We need to get back to that approach, then we can get back to the idea that we can reduce the spending and the liabilities in our country.”

Guinta also said that Congress is putting America in a position of weakness by depending on countries such as China to fund our debt.

“When we spend money that we don’t have, we’re printing or we’re borrowing,” Guinta said. “When you print it, it devalues the dollar. When you borrow it, it puts someone else in control. We talk about being the greatest country. We want to be self sufficient, whether it comes to energy independence, or monetary independence, we don’t want to rely on some other nation.”

Legislators should be judged by how many pieces of legislation they repeal

2010-03-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta at a Londonderry Town Hall meeting on February 24 outlined his first orders of business once he’s sworn in as the first district’s next representative in Congress.

Should government-run health care legislation pass during the current session of Congress, Guinta said he would immediately file or sign-on to legislation to repeal it. Guinta said he would also work to identify legislation that is “outdated or archaic or is invasive personally or overly bureaucratic.”

“Government is onerous, and I think people are feeling that,” Guinta said. “Legislators don’t need to be judged by how many pieces of legislation they file. They can also be judged by how many pieces of legislation they repeal.”

Next, he would work to immediately freeze federal spending to help bring the national debt and budget deficits under control.

“I would institute a spending freeze,” said Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester. “I would do top-to-bottom reviews not just of the Fed, which is the thing that most people want to see right now, but of every single department and agency.”

The former mayor said such audits would identify what’s working and what isn’t and detect where there are duplications in service. Using the constitution as its guide, Congress can then use the audit to determine what departments are no longer needed and what dollars can be used to bring the budget into balance, pay down the national debt and reduce the tax burden on families with children and small businesses.

With national spending and taxes under control, individuals and small businesses will have more of the resources they need to create jobs.

Government must reduce the burden on job creators and cut spending to balance budgets

2010-02-23T10:07:00.002-08:00

Government should be limited by spending constraints so it can keep taxes low to stimulate the economy and focus on providing core services efficiently, said former Mayor Frank Guinta, a candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s First District.

“This economy needs a boost,” Guinta said at a Town Hall meeting in Dover. “It’s all about trying to get money in the hands of people who create jobs [and] providing the environment for them so they can bring back people they’ve laid off.”

With the nation’s current budget deficit hitting about $2 trillion and the debt preparing to climb from $12.4 trillion, it is clear that the country has a spending problem, he said. The president promised 3.5 million jobs with his $1 trillion recovery bill. Instead, the country has lost 3.3 million jobs and unemployment is increasing. It is clear that spending money to stimulate the economy isn’t the right solution, Guinta said.

“What I would do is look at the amount of revenue that’s going to come in and make the tough decision to say we’re going to stop at this level where our revenues are expected to be,” Guinta said. “And at the other side of the ledger, make sure our expenditures don’t reach that level.”

Keeping a budget balanced is not easy, particularly when revenues are declining at the same time that constituents are demanding goods and services, Guinta said. Raising taxes is the easy way out of a budgetary hole. A better premise to start with is that the current revenue is all the government has to work with, he said.

“I think we’re a giving community, and I think we’re willing to help people in need, but ultimately, people want to be self-sufficient; they want to provide for their family,” Guinta said. “The only way you can do that is put everyone in a business environment to be able to be competitive and help make that happen.”

The constitution should be the basis for all federal laws and policies

2010-02-23T10:07:00.001-08:00

Whether Congress is discussing a bill on health care, education, taxes, spending or another issue, the primary concern for any representative should be whether the proposed law is constitutional, former Mayor Frank Guinta told a Town Hall meeting crowd in Dover, N.H.

“When I was mayor, I had the charter. The first thing I would say is, ‘Is this a responsibility of city government?’,” Guinta said. “If it’s not, ‘Why are we doing it?’ If it is, ‘Are we doing it as effectively as we possibly can?’ That’s a very simple rule that I think legislators get away from.”

Guinta, a candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s First District, carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution and The Federalist Papers around on his iPhone. He said members of Congress must read and respect their charter as the law of the land. If a bill is constitutional, representatives have a responsibility to make sure government is working as effectively as possible. If a bill is unconstitutional, Congress should immediately dismiss it, he said.

During the Town Hall meeting, Dover-area residents asked Guinta about the constitutionality of a national education curriculum and about the Obama-Pelosi-Reid plan to force citizens to buy health care.

Guinta noted that the constitution does not allow Congress to pass laws about what children are taught in school, and it doesn’t permit government to force people to buy a product, such as health insurance coverage. But as a father seeking the privilege of a public position, the congressional candidate would advocate for a traditional education that honors the nation’s founding fathers and the country they built.

“I am very much in favor of making sure that anything I do as an elected official is within the confines of the responsibilities outlined in that charter,” he said.

Fix problems, fulfill promises: There are things that government's just not good at

2010-02-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

Former Mayor Frank Guinta told a Town Hall meeting crowd gathered in Dover that government owes citizens the benefits they have paid into systems such as Social Security and Medicare, but Congress must work to reform insolvent entitlement programs for future generations.

“I’ve just been in government for the last four years, and I can tell you firsthand that there are things government is not good at,” said Guinta, a candidate for Congress for New Hampshire in the First District. “If we come up with a different system, we shouldn’t be punishing [people] who have paid into Social Security, who require Medicare and Medicaid, but we should reform it for future users of a potential system.”

In Dover, the congressional candidate reaffirmed his pledge to repeal any law that creates a new government-run health care system. At the same time, the candidate said any existing government-run health care system such as Medicare must be delivered to the folks it’s been promised to. A new system for future generations should be the subject of debate for the next session of Congress, he said.

“There’s a problem at hand, and we have an obligation to solve it,” Guinta said. “Right now, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Retirement, Pensions, they’re not solvent. I think most people, regardless of party affiliation, would agree with that. What I’d hope what people would want me to do is find a reasonable solution to that problem.”

The candidate said the solution to the problem would take some work to resolve, but work that he’s willing to undergo. Guinta said he would give an honest assessment of the issue and all of the bills that might be filed to address it, but more importantly, he will involve his constituents and listen to their suggestions and concerns.

“It’s a combination of representation and leadership,” he said.

Guinta pledges to stop federal spending smorgasbord

2010-02-15T15:23:00.000-08:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta told a Town Hall gathering in Rochester, N.H., that he would not celebrate pet projects or bring home treasure chests from Washington; rather, he will pride himself in halting such practices nationwide.

“The government will spend whatever it gets; this government is spending what it doesn’t even have,” said Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester. “I will not be a congressman that looks to have those ribbon cuttings to [highlight] the millions of dollars I brought to you. I don’t think that’s the role [of government]; nor do I think that’s what people are asking for.”

As an example of government waste, Guinta highlighted a congressional party-line vote a few weeks ago in which the U.S. government purchased a park in the Virgin Islands for $50 million. The sitting congresswoman from New Hampshire’s first district voted in favor of the bill, not one month after the president said the country needs to freeze spending. And all the while, the nation faces a $1.9 trillion budget shortfall if the president gets his way.

“I don’t think there’s a justification for that kind of expenditure, but it’s an example of why people are angry and why they don’t trust their members,” Guinta said. “We need to elect people who are going to take this budget process seriously; who are going to look what the role of government is and do everything to be good stewards with taxpayer dollars.”

To highlight the seriousness of the country’s financial woes, Guinta noted that the country’s $12.3 trillion national debt would cost $41,000 per person to pay back. He also noted that the figure is growing by the week.

“That’s what each of our portion of the debt is, and next week it’s going to be bigger,” he said. “We need people who are going to prioritize, who are going to make tough decisions about how to curtail spending.”

Voters want a representative committed to serving them

2010-02-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

Congressional candidate Frank Guinta pledged at a Town Hall meeting in Rochester, N.H., last week to introduce a constitutional amendment that would make term limits for members of Congress the law of the land.

“I think what you’re seeing in the country is a level of anger, where it’s not just at Democrats, it’s at incumbents who have made these promises [and failed to keep them],” said Guinta. “And I think people around the nation are now starting to realize that if we’re going to trust our government again, there has to be a basic set of principles that each and every member adheres to—and term limits have to be at the top of the list.”

Guinta has self-imposed term limits on each of the offices he’s held. He has served two terms as a Manchester alderman, two terms as a New Hampshire state representative and two terms as the mayor of Manchester. Seeking a constitutional amendment to require term limits for members of Congress is simply the next step.

“I’ve been to Washington to meet with some of the legislators already, and I said, ‘Look, New Hampshire [residents] need an independent voice. They want an independent voice. They want someone who’s going to break from their party when their party is out of touch.’ And I commit that to you; I commit it publicly.”

The people running for office in 2010 are bringing with them an energy that stems from the desire to serve the country, and that desire comes directly from the people, Guinta said.

“The mood of the country is they’re angry, and they’re frustrated, and they want to be able to trust the people who spend their money and are stewards of their money,” he said. “But how do you trust them when they make a promise and then they turn around and break their promises. So I think the country needs to go through a healing process.

“People who are elected need to make commitments and they need to honor them, and [term limits] are the way to do it,” Guinta said.

National defense is a top priority

2010-02-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

Former Mayor Frank Guinta said defense is a top priority for any level of government, and he will consider security among his most solemn duties once he’s elected as a member of Congress.

“The responsibilities outlined in the constitution: those are the things we should be focused on as a government,” said Guinta, addressing a Town Hall meeting in Rochester, N.H., last week. “One of them, and I think a very important one, one we haven’t talked about it yet, is the defense of our nation.”

These are “frightening” times, Guinta said, particularly with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s announcement last week that his country is capable of producing weapons-grade uranium. Yet, it is among the federal government’s top duties to keep the nation safe from threats, such as the menace Iran now poses.

“Part of my responsibility as mayor was to keep people safe in Manchester,” he said. “Part of the country’s duty is to keep you safe from people like Ahmadinejad, who, like it or not, wants to annihilate us.”

As a representative for New Hampshire in Washington, Guinta said government reform, tax cuts and defense based on good information will be his top priorities. When it comes to defense, Guinta said he would give deference to generals overseeing the situation directly.

“Any troop that protects us and serves us has to have the equipment and a game plan identified by the general on the ground,” he said.

Businesses want problem solvers in Washington

2010-02-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

As former Mayor Frank Guinta continued his tour of the First District today in Rochester, N.H., he met with several business owners who clearly said they want someone in Washington who can come home, sit down with them and help them solve problems.

Serving in Washington “is about identifying problems that people have and then trying to solve them,” Guinta said during a sit-down meeting with Mel and Walter Belville at their restaurant, Mel Flannigan’s Irish Pub. “People want problem solvers; they want people who are willing to sit down with them and say, ‘OK, how can I help you to be a better business?”

Promoting such public servants does not mean Guinta thinks the federal government is the answer to everyone’s problems, because most of the time, it isn't. But a congressman who represents his constituents at the Capitol should also make the time to meet with them back home and help them come up with solutions, which they can then work to achieve on their own.

At Mel Flannigan’s Irish Pub at52 N. Main St. in Rochester, Guinta gave the Belvilles some possible solutions to generate more business in their downtown district.

“Rochester and the rest of the state needs a congressman that listens to the people and acts accordingly,” said Walter Belville, owner of Mel Flannigan’s Irish Pub. “I look forward to future meetings so we can further discuss some of the issues that we touched upon today; mainly, helping out the small businesses of New Hampshire, which are the backbone of the economy.”

Guinta also had great visits with Lenny Bernard, owner of the Pink Cadillac at 17 Farmington Road; Scott Brock, owner of Brock’s Plywood Sales at 298 North Main St.; Tim Galvin, operating manager of Nantucket Beadboard Co. at 109 Chestnut Hill Road; Michael Deegan, owner of Distinctive Forest Creations at 22 North Main St.; and Susan Jackson-Rafter, owner of The Portable Pantry at 12 Hanson St. He had meetings at City Hall, with the Rochester Main Street association and with the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m disappointed in the government’s attitude and the fiscal irresponsibility going on in the country right now,” said Bernard, owner of the Pink Cadillac diner. “My hope is the U.S. government will live within their means just like the majority of Americans are forced to do on a daily basis.”

Brock, who has run his lumber sales store for 32 years in Rochester, also noted Congress’s irresponsible spending spree. He said he had to lay off some 18 employees due to the deteriorating economy that has resulted. He now employs 52 people, who keep busy supplying clients with materials for their smaller projects.

Finally, several business owners urged Guinta to keep his independent spirit once elected to Congress.

“I’d like him to go in and not be partisan,” said Jackson-Rafter, owner of The Portable Pantry. “He should be someone to work for the people, and not the party.”

Government can help create jobs by letting businesses keep more of their money

2010-02-04T21:44:00.001-08:00

It was incredible to hear the same concerns coming from business owners around Portsmouth today that I've been hearing around the rest of the First District. I'm encouraged that my consistent message of reform continues to be well received, and I'm confident that the conservative changes I have in mind for Washington will make things better for companies and the working families they support.

"My big concerns are coming down to be taxes and having mandates placed on me—not only from Concord, but from Washington," said one Portsmouth businessman. "It seems like we're constantly being berated by our representatives who we send down to Washington, such as what we've been getting hit with by Carol Shea-Porter. And they're just not hearing what the needs are of individuals, but businesses as well."

First of all, let me just make it clear that I think businesses create jobs, not the government. And when I go to small business owners and ask them what they need to create jobs, they are telling me that they want less regulation, tax reform to put more cash in their pockets, and more affordable, private health insurance. They don't want a government-run program that's filled with more mandates, and they don't want a Cap & Trade bill that will tax them more for the energy they need to keep their businesses running.

As for health insurance, smaller companies should be able to pool their employees together to get the same discounted rates as larger businesses and they should be able to buy insurance from any company anywhere in the country. Such reforms would put real cash back into small businesses' bank accounts, which will lead directly to more jobs.

As for Cap & Trade, it's simply not the government's role to use taxes on energy to redistribute wealth, especially when power costs are already an issue for businesses. Government can use incentives to encourage environmentally friendly business practices, but it should leave it to business owners to make the right decisions for their companies and their employees.

— Frank Guinta

UNH students are worried about jobs after graduation

2010-02-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

Former Mayor Frank Guinta told a group of students at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on Thursday that everyone in the country, regardless of age, is focused on the economy and jobs as their main concerns.

“People want to see this country in a better position economically right now; one that’s better for all of us,” said Guinta, who’s running for Congress in New Hampshire’s first district. “I don’t care if you’re 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60, that is one thing that unites all of us.”

The candidate sat with a group of students who were most concerned about whether they’d be able to find a job when they graduate. He noted that there is a real possibility that the younger generation of Americans may grow up worse off than their parents for the first time in American history, unless a new group of Congressmen can put an end to the radical agenda of the Obama Administration and the current Congress.

“The president has had a year with a Democratic Congress, and nothing has been done to improve anyone’s lives,” he said. “So far, we’ve had a government that has said, ‘Nope, even though [we’re losing jobs and the economy is faltering], we’re going to focus on changing the whole health care system’.”

UNH students, and particularly the senior class, face a difficult climate as they prepare to head into the job market, Guinta said. Businesses aren’t hiring because taxes are too high at the state and federal levels, and they’re mounting; health insurance costs keep growing, and would continue to swell under a government-run system; and the cost of doing business with credit cards is spiking, he said.

At the state level, the LLC tax and other regulations are driving businesses and insurance companies out of the state. At the federal level, the government is aiming to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire, which will further burden businesses and prevent them from creating jobs.

The election of a new Congress in 2010 would bring an immediate change of focus, however. Most importantly, a new Congress would be elevated with the understanding that government does not create jobs or wealth. Only businesses can create jobs and the money to pay for them.

Yet, government can implement policies to foster a stronger economy. First off, government should reduce health care costs for businesses by allowing small companies to pool employees together for policy discounts and it should remove barriers to competition among insurance companies nationwide. Businesses would take the savings and immediately invest it in their companies. Second, governments at the state and federal level must simplify and eliminate taxes.

Finally, government could streamline the services it offers, restricting them to the Constitution, and provide regulatory relief where people need it the most.

'Government is the problem,' not the answer

2010-02-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

Congress must set priorities to limit government in size and scope so it can focus on core functions and save taxpayers’ money, former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta told a crowd of about 30 at the Conway Café in Conway on Wednesday.

"I think, as a mayor, government should be limited in its functionality and it should be limited in the services it provides,” Guinta said. “I have never seen government compete as well as the private sector. It just doesn't happen.

“And honestly, I think we need that out of Congress, and I think we need that out of this administration,” he added.

But President Barack Obama, Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter seem to think that government is the answer to all our problems. In the past year, the president and Congress have taken over banks and the auto industry. They’ve promised lower unemployment and government-run health care using the heavy hand of the state.

In all its hopes for overreaching, this Congress has passed a $1 trillion stimulus bill and has worked to pass a $1 trillion health care burden that will be left for our grandchildren to pay. What do we have to show for these efforts other than 10 percent unemployment nationwide, with 7 percent unemployment in New Hampshire—about double its usual 3.5 percent?

Now Congress wants to spend more money on sweetheart deals to bribe some states into supporting its health care takeover plan—all while sending the rest of us the bill?

We’re already facing a $12 trillion debt, which is unfathomable to most people, but Congress wants to raise the debt ceiling another $2 trillion. When will it end?

"The thing is with the debt and deficit that I think people appreciate is that we feel we're leaving the next generation worse off than the last generation gave us as a nation,” Guinta said. “And that's something I think we feel very strongly about."

To fix this, we simply have to elect enough people with honor who know that their role in Washington is to represent the people back home. Sen.-elect Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts was just the beginning of this nationwide effort.

"New Hampshire has always been known for sending people down to Washington who are independent minded, who aren't just party people, and who will do what's best for New Hampshire,” Guinta said.

To reduce health care costs, remove government barriers and empower everyday people

2010-02-01T08:52:00.000-08:00

Congress is just a few simple steps away from restoring competition and affordability to the private American health care industry, which represents one sixth of the U.S. economy, former Mayor Frank Guinta told a crowd of folks in Conway who attended a Town Hall meeting at the Conway Café.

"What frustrates me is that there are basic solutions that are available that can affect costs and can deter the increases we've seen,” said Guinta, who is running for New Hampshire’s First District U.S. House seat. “It comes down to a little bit of personal responsibility and a little less government intrusion."

Guinta said legislation could be written and passed immediately that wouldn’t necessarily be opposed by the majority party in Washington. While touring the district, health care executives have told him that there is plenty of money in the system, it just isn’t being used wisely, he said.

Tort reform would solve many health-care-cost issues quickly. When patients visit their doctor or an emergency room for a problem, doctors now order thousands of dollars of medical tests to cover themselves from liability. A cap on liability would allow doctors to give patients advice and let their patients take responsibility for whether they follow it.

"Doctors are practicing defensive medicine because they do not want to be sued if they don't provide those battery of tests,” Guinta said. “There is significant cost that is wasted because of defensive medicine practices."

Another thing Washington needs to do is open health insurance markets across state lines.

"The notion that you cannot purchase insurance outside New Hampshire just makes no rational sense,” Guinta said. "There's a corner on the market right now. And it's a border from state to state to state to state. That issue alone would address costs."

Allowing small businesses to pool their employees together to generate a larger risk pool would also decrease costs, he said. Employers with more than 100 employees get an automatic 20 percent discount on rates. If smaller businesses joined together for health care pools to exceed the 100-employee benchmark, they would also receive the discounts.

Finally, folks should be able to carry their insurance with them wherever they work, Guinta said. They should also be able to get a plan that allows them to pay for full deductions. The latter idea would allow people to see how much they’re actually paying for health care, so they might actually shop around for the lowest price for their desired quality.

“When people know what the cost is, they think differently,” Guinta said. “When they feel they're paying, they think differently."

Small businesses, the state’s best job generators, deserve respect from Washington

2010-01-27T13:39:00.000-08:00

The tour was heavily focused on what Congress could do for small businesses today as I traveled around the Mount Washington Valley area.

Small business owners across the region are suffering from the burdens Washington is placing on them, and they are somewhat fearful about what new burdens may come next. They are looking for relief and a new direction that recognizes their role as job creators.

Despite the tough times small companies are facing, New Hampshire business owners were very receptive and excited about the ideas I’d like to bring to Washington.

“Without small businesses we can’t put anyone to work, because there would be no one to employ them,” said Carl Thibodeau, owner of Tee Enterprises, a precision manufacturing company that employs 22 people at 71 Hobbs St. in Conway. “The current Congress is crucifying small businesses with taxes and more burdens.”

Thibodeau said he employed 36 employees 10 months ago, but due to tax-and-spend lawmakers in Congress, he has had to reduce his staff and the benefit packages for those employees who remain.

The current bills for health care in Congress would “saddle me with things I don’t want or need and make me do things I think are unfair or inappropriate,” Thibodeau said. “I’m for reducing the size of government, reducing government costs and reducing the taxes we have to pay for things we don’t want.”

I couldn’t agree more. Washington needs to be purged of lawmakers who spend their time thinking up new ways to soak small business owners and tell them how to run their operations.

According to Jac Cuddy, executive director of the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council at 53 Technology Lane in Conway, the region needs more businesses like Tee Enterprises to drive its economic engine.

“The engine that drives our economy is basically tourism, retail and attractions,” Cuddy said. “We’re looking to continue to diversify, and find small businesses in other areas of the country that might want to relocate here to create higher-wage jobs and things of that nature. We want the opportunity to be a place and location where light manufacturing and tech companies might want to relocate.”

To achieve this vision, Washington needs to get out of the way, remove barriers to trade and commerce, and let small business owners do what they do best: create goods and services, opportunities and jobs, and economy-driving wealth that will benefit everyone.

I’m looking forward to tonight’s Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. at the Conway Café at 32 Main St. in Conway so I can listen to more concerns and suggestions from business owners and residents in the area like these.

-- Frank Guinta

From Londonderry to Conway, New Hampshire wants less government

2010-01-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day on the campaign trail. From Londonderry to Conway, voters really seem to be concerned about the economy and the direction of the country.

I started out at New Hampshire Precision Metal Fabricators in Londonderry, where I met Mark Poirier, president of the precision parts and assemblies manufacturer at 15 Industrial Drive.

Like many business owners, Mark is concerned about how government is getting in the way of the economy with burdensome taxes and regulation, preventing businesses from growing and creating much-needed jobs. He said he was glad to see a candidate in listening mode, traveling around the state to really get a sense of how Washington can help businesses best by getting out of the way.

“Small business people are looking for someone to represent us in Congress who is going to look at the pocketbook issues of everyday people,” Poirier told me after touring his business.

Later, I headed north to the Conway area where I’ll be staying the night in preparation for tomorrow’s Town Hall meeting there. We’ll be at Conway Café at 32 Main St. starting at 6 p.m. to hear from the folks of the Mount Washington Valley Region.

While taking in some views of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, which is beautiful in all seasons of the year, I stopped in to see Chris Kanzler, owner of White Mountains Firearms at 1305 White Mountain Highway in North Conway to talk about his concerns that the federal government is growing too large.

More specifically, Chris was concerned that government is taking too much power away from the states, which really should be the level of government more connected with the people and everyday issues. In addition, Chris pressed for a stronger interpretation of the Second Amendment so everyday people can protect their own rights.

“We can really rely on Frank to keep our Second Amendment rights in tact, which is important as a guarantee of individuals’ rights to protect their persons, property and liberty,” Chris Kanzler said.

During another stop at South Tamworth Country Store at 1004 Bearcamp Highway in South Tamworth, owner Barry Paterno and I talked about how important it is going to be to get fresh candidates in Washington in 2010 and 2012 who are willing to listen to the people they represent and act in their behalf.

“It would be nice to get more Republicans down there to put a break on all that stuff the Democrats are doing down there, and bring some balance back to Congress,” Barry told me.

I’m humbled by Mark, Chris and Barry’s support and encouraged that so many folks are eager to voice their concerns with me. Once elected, I will do everything in my power to restore our government to its constitutional limits, which will assuredly help restore the economy as well.

I hope to see you tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Conway Café at 32 Main St. in Conway so I can listen to more of your concerns. If you can't make it there, you'll still be able to catch me at four other meetings before our current tour is done. Meet me in Rochester at 6 p.m. on February 11, in Dover at 6 p.m. on February 18, in Londonderry at 6 p.m. on February 24, or in Wolfeboro at 6 p.m. on March 3.

-- Frank Guinta

Government should be limited to stimulate economy

2010-01-22T09:27:00.000-08:00

Former Mayor Frank Guinta said his zero-based budgeting approach to cutting spending and taxes is working in Manchester, and there is no reason it wouldn’t work in Washington once he is elected to Congress.

“[Department heads] didn’t like it. The budget process for them was longer. It required more time, but guess what? Taxpayers appreciated it,” he said. “We were able to find pots of money in different departments that didn’t have any purpose. And we reduced those things. We cut them out of the budget.”

Guinta, who is running for New Hampshire’s First District U.S. House seat, told a crowd of about 100 in Bedford’s Town Hall on Thursday that government budgets and taxes increase every year because elected officials usually start with the prior year’s budget, then add spending to it. The zero-based budgeting system he implemented as mayor forced department heads to build their budgets from scratch every year. It also forced them to justify every major expense.

“I use this quick phrase ‘freeze, cap and cut’,” Guinta said. “Let’s freeze [federal] spending number one. Let’s just freeze it—stop—you have to stop the bleeding going on. Instead, the Senate is considering raising the debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion. So they still don’t get it.”

Next, analyze every department for waste by doing a top-to-bottom budget review. Last, cut items out of the budget by first prioritizing what services are most important and constitutional, he said.

Businesses engage in such practices every day, but they face increasing pressure from the government to hand over more of their hard-earned money. This, in turn, is stifling the economy, he said.

Guinta pledges to repeal any government takeover of health care

2010-01-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

During his Town Hall meeting in Bedford on Thursday, First District Congressional Candidate Frank Guinta clearly explained his ideas for health care reform as well as his vehement opposition to the current government-run health care plan that President Barack Obama, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi are trying to force through Congress.

Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester, pledged in front of an audience of about 100 Granite Staters that he would repeal any federal health care takeover passed by Congress after he is elected to the House of Representatives. His opponent in the race, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, supports government-run health care.

“This is an important pledge, because it says three things,” Guinta said. “It says government is not going to run your health care, it says I’m not going to spend more of your money to provide you more health care, and it gives you a point-blank direct promise, that if I ever violate it, you have every right to fire me as your member of Congress.”

To improve the cost and accessibility of health care, Guinta proposed laws that would allow health insurance companies to do business in all 50 states and allow several small businesses to pool their employees together to get the same tax benefits as larger firms.

Guinta explains where he came from and where he’s going

2010-01-22T08:16:00.001-08:00

Former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta has both real-world and political experience to take with him to Washington, but first and foremost he will bring the People’s voice, the congressional candidate told a crowd of about 100 voters in Bedford on Thursday.

Since 2000, Guinta has served as a New Hampshire state representative, a Manchester alderman and the Manchester mayor. Before that, he worked for Travelers Insurance and ran his own insurance consulting firm. He has master’s degrees in politics, philosophy and intellectual property.

“I don’t know about people here, but there were no handouts for me or my folks or their folks,” Guinta said. “People worked hard to build their American Dream. And I think we can be a country that can thrive in an environment where a free-market based approach can provide you that American Dream.”

While pursuing his own goals with his wife Morgan and two children, Guinta said he has found it impossible to ignore the level of disrespect members of Congress have toward the American people. Such disrespect had made it harder for Americans to achieve their goals and dreams and has even threatened the nation’s tradition to leave a better world for its children, he said.

“This is not about Republican or Democrat. This is about what people in this state and in this country want out of their Congress,” Guinta said. “Our tour of the district is designed to ensure people know what kind of legislator and representative I would be—open, accessible, forthright.”

The Bedford Town Hall meeting Thursday was the first of six packaged together as part of Guinta’s “Let’s Talk Frank About…” Tour, which will run seven weeks and bring the candidate to 60 stops in 40 communities so he can listen to you. Guinta promised to hold Town Hall meetings regularly with constituents once elected.

All Town Hall events begin at 6 p.m., and will take place in North Conway on January 27, Rochester on February 11, Dover on February 18, Londonderry on Feb. 24 and Wolfeboro on March 3.

Let's Talk Frank About... Tour Begins

2010-01-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

We had a great first day on the tour of the First Congressional District.

I met some great business owners and voters in Bedford, such as Dan and Emily St. Jean at Karen's Kitchen on Rte. 101, Robert and Dylan Cruess at T.F. Moran at 48 Constitution Drive, Tony Stamatis at Pizza Bella on Rte. 101, Bonnie Stewart at Learning Adventures at 51 Old Bedford Road and of course all the great kids.

"I'd very much like to see a return to the core functions of government in Washington," said Dylan Cruess of T.F. Moran, a land planning firm. "Returning to these functions will solve our spending and fiscal problems. We're very happy to have a congressional candidate who feels the same way."

With comments like Dylan's, it's clear to me that the mood that sent Republican Scott Brown to win the "People's Senate Seat" in Massachusetts is just as widespread here in New Hampshire. I'm excited to be a part of this movement and grateful to Granite Staters who want me to bring common sense back to their District 1 House seat in Washington.

As I reflect on the great people I met in Bedford earlier today, I'm really excited to meet more folks from the area at my first Town Hall meeting tonight in Bedford. As the title of the tour suggests, I'm ready to talk frank about anything that's on your mind tonight. I can assure you that I will remember these nights and bring your voice to Congress if you honor me with your votes.

I hope to see you tonight at 6 p.m. at the Bedford Town Hall. You can find the Town Hall at 70 Bedford Center Road. If you can't make it tonight, you'll still be able to catch me at five other meetings before our tour is done. Meet me in North Conway at 6 p.m. on January 27, in Rochester at 6 p.m. on February 11, in Dover at 6 p.m. on February 18, in Londonderry at 6 p.m. on February 24, or in Wolfeboro at 6 p.m. on March 3.

-- Frank Guinta