Governor John Lynch
NHDP 100 Club Dinner
Center of New Hampshire, Manchester
Friday, February 10, 2006

Thank you, Kathy for that introduction, and thank you for standing up every day for Democrats and the people of New Hampshire.

Our success wouldn't be possible without the great staff of the New Hampshire Democratic Party and its Executive Director Nick Clemons. Please join me in thanking them.

Governor: New Hampshire Will Seek to Extend Efforts To Help Citizens Facing Problems with Implementation of Federal Prescription Drug Benefit

CONCORD - In light of continuing problems seniors are facing trying to get prescriptions filled through the new federal prescription drug plan, Gov. John Lynch said today that New Hampshire would seek to extend its emergency assistance.

Lynch named NH Citizen of the Year

By TOM FAHEY, State House Bureau Chief - Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006

Concord — Gov. John H. Lynch, who directed recovery in flood zones, was key in keeping the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard open and whose biggest challenge — preserving the first-in-the-nation Presidential primary — looms, is the 2005 New Hampshire Union Leader Citizen of the Year.

The annual designation goes to the New Hampshire individual or group of individuals having the biggest effect on the state during the year. The newspaper began awarding the title last year, when it named New Hampshire’s armed services members for the honor.

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 23, 2005
Statement from Governor Lynch on BRAC Vote to Keep the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Open

Gov. John Lynch issued the following statement today about the Base Realignment and Closure's Commission vote to keep the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Open.

"Today the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recognized what we in New Hampshire already knew: the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and its workers are essential national security assets. This is a victory for the hard-working people of the Shipyard, for our state's economy and most importantly, for our nation's security.

"The credit for today's vote belongs to the workers at the Shipyard. Their proven record of skilled workmanship, efficiency and dedication was our best and most persuasive argument. They make all of us in New Hampshire proud.

"This is a great day for the people of the Shipyard and the people of New Hampshire. The workers of the Shipyard will be able to continue doing what they do better than anyone else in the country - repair submarines and get them back out to sea quickly and cost-effectively.

Warren Henderson's got a problem. He doesn't understand how government works. He doesn't understand one of the principles of business either--that you discount what you want people to pay to use over and over again.

At the moment he's got his knickers in a twist because he thinks that the rate at which the state sold transponders for the Turnpike would have been the same if they sold them for 500% more. Silly man.
Besides that he thinks that if the head of an agency is asked to find a solution to a problem (in this case the legislature's ridiculous increase in the charge for transponders) she's being asked to break the law.

The real problem, of course, is that the Republican controlled legislature has increased a fee by 500% and now it's dawned on the head of the state party that this will come back to haunt them.

Never mind that the increase is almost certain to depress sales. Those most eager to enjoy the convenience of not having to stop and forage for change have already bought theirs. Expecting the laggards to pay 500% more makes no sense at all.

Gov. John Lynch and the cigarette tax he wants to use to balance the state budget posted high approval ratings in a new poll by the Becker Institute.

The poll found that 67 percent of the sample said they had a favorable opinion of Lynch, and 18 percent said they had an unfavorable opinion. Lynch favorability was almost as high among independent voters, at 72 percent, as it was among Democrats, at 76 percent.
read Union Leader story here
read Nashua Telegraph story here

By Anne Saunders, Associated Press Writer | February 18, 2005

CONCORD, N.H. -- Gov. John Lynch and a bipartisan group of state senators announced a compromise Friday to reform a health insurance law that hurt many of the state's small employers.

"Although passed with good intentions, the impact of SB110 on our small businesses has been devastating," Lynch said, noting that health insurance costs shot up abruptly for many employers. "These increases have made it difficult for our small businesses to grow, to hire new employees, to invest in new equipment."

With 13 senators signed on, the bill has enough votes to pass the Senate. It also would have to pass the House to become law.

"This bill provides stability to the market, it provides efficiency and fairness," Sen. Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester and one of the chief sponsors, said at a hearing Friday.

Co-sponsor Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, spoke of one restaurant owner in her town who stopped offering health insurance to his employees when his rates went up 75 percent. "We all end up paying for the uninsured," she said.

Read the rest of the story

DFNH members in the Upper Valley played a significant role in the Get Out the Vote operations in the Upper Valley, including Lyme and Lebanon, which were organized using the model from the Dean campaign. In addition to delivering a large vote for Senator Kerry, the Upper Valley turned out in large numbers for John Lynch, one of the DFNH Dozen and the next governor of New Hampshire. Peter Burling was elected to the State Senate handily along with Democrats coming to the New Hampshire House from Lebanon (all four), Lyme and Hanover (all four), Canaan (2 of 3), and New London (1 of 2). These are impressive gains in our area, and we look forward to further expanding on them.

In general, I am excited about the role that Dean supporters have played in this election cycle in New Hampshire. We have made a real difference - and will certainly continue doing so through Democracy for New Hampshire.

More sparks flew and voters were given some clear choices when the second gubernatorial debate took place in Berlin last night. Lynch took the offensive, raising security as one issue that needed to be addressed. Another of the issues differentiating the two candidates is the infamous insurance bill supported by Benson, rejected by Lynch. More than 200 NH legislative candidates have pledged their agreement with Lynch’s plan to repeal SB 110. Lynch is receiving support from others in the State too. New Hampshire’s largest AFL-CIO union, the State Employees Association of NH, will endorse Lynch for Governor in a press conference this afternoon. And saying Craig Benson has failed to respect women and show leadership on the issues most important to families, more than 1,100 New Hampshire women today urged women across New Hampshire to join them in supporting John Lynch for Governor. And on the campaign front, leaders in the state's disability community are unhappy with a Benson TV ad that claims Benson has done more to help people with disabilities than any previous governor. Leaders in New Hampshire's disabled community dispute that claim and also question why Nadeau, a state employee, is identified simply as a disabilities activist in a campaign commercial for the man whose office controls her $60,000 salary.

by Rep. Edward R. (Ted) Leach ~ R – Hancock

Some traditions are absolute and should be honored. Others are marginal and often fall into the category of worthless. And a few traditions would be classified as moronic. One of the moronic strains would be the tradition that says that because someone is of your political persuasion, you should “automatically” fall in line and support him/her.

That tradition prevails in both parties today and it results in a bleating bastion of followers who obediently line up behind candidates who are far from the best people for the job. Such is the case this fall as Republicans are being asked to submissively line up behind Craig Benson.

That will not be the case with this Republican.

read the rest of the story

The Concord Monitor reported today on DFNH dozen gubernatorial candidate John Lynch's plans for improving health care access in the Granite State. Among the ideas is include a establishing a "health care cabinet" to share ideas among state officials, businesses, insurers and health care providers.

Ethics are important in politics. The Portsmouth Herald reports:

Portsmouth Police Officer Tim Cashman, speaking on behalf of about 50 Portsmouth police officers, called Gov. Craig Benson "a liar" on Monday and asked all New Hampshire voters, Democrat and Republican, to review Benson’s record before voting in November. Cashman said he’s only one of hundreds of police officers across the state who are outraged at Benson’s behavior since he took office.

The article also provides this quote from Mark Dumas, president of the Concord Patrolman’s Association: "We are deeply concerned with the quantity of scandals and integrity issues surrounding Craig Benson’s administration."

On the issues that matter to the people of New Hampshire, John Lynch offers a clear alternative to the failed policies of the Benson administration. In November, voters have the opportunity to restore integrity to the State House and elect a Governor who will put people first again.

HEALTH CARE

• John Lynch will work to repeal SB 110, a devastating law that allows health insurance companies to discriminate against sick and older workers and that has raised health insurance rates on small businesses across New Hampshire.
• As Governor, John Lynch will work to enroll all eligible children in the Healthy Kids Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• Craig Benson pushed through SB 110.
• Currently, 10,000 to 15,000 New Hampshire children are eligible for the Healthy Kids Program but are not enrolled. Craig Benson has attempted to dismantle Healthy Kids, and done nothing to enroll more children.

EDUCATION

• John Lynch will strengthen the state’s commitment to education, and work to ensure that all children are given an equal opportunity for a quality education.
• John Lynch will fight to make college more affordable for New Hampshire families.
• Craig Benson supports a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state’s responsibility for education.
• As Governor, Craig Benson proposed cutting the University System budget by 5%, which would have driven tuition even higher.