For Immediate Release
May 21, 2008

(Berlin, NH) - While attending a Republican Party gathering in Coos County last weekend, Senator John E. Sununu defended his vote against economic development aid for the North Country by claiming to support legislation that he has opposed. As reported by the Berlin Daily Sun, Sununu defended his vote against the Northern Border Economic Development Commission by saying he had "signed onto the legislation," but opposed it being attached to the larger Farm Bill.

The truth is that Sununu has never "signed onto" the stand alone version of the Northern Border Act, despite repeated attempts by members of Congress and elected officials from Coos County to persuade him to support the proposal. He is not a co-sponsor of the legislation, S. 2249, which was introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) more than six months ago.

"John Sununu is simply not telling the truth, and for him to go to the North Country and attempt to deceive them about where he stands on this critical aid is outrageous," said Ray Buckley, Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "John Sununu is a typical politician who says one thing and does another - he's just part of the problem. It's time New Hampshire had a Senator we can count on."

"New Hampshire's North Country has been hit hard by mills closing down, high rates of unemployment, and few new job opportunities," said Scott Merrick, State Representative from Lancaster. "The Northern Border Economic Development Commission would provide much needed aid to this community, and I'm grateful to Congressman Hodes for his leadership on this issue. It's disappointing Senator Sununu never co-sponsored the proposal."

The Northern Border Economic Development Commission Act would:

• Invest $30 million per year in federal resources for economic development and job creation in the most economically distressed areas of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.
• Create and implement regional economic development plans to reduce poverty, address changing land use, and improve the quality of life, focusing on infrastructure, telecommunications, health care, transportation, and energy.
• Provide federal funding to bring improvement in roads, rail, broadband, job training, energy generation, and health care in Grafton, Coos, Sullivan and Carroll counties in New Hampshire.

On May 20, the Berlin Daily Sun reported as follows:

"Sununu signed on to support the Northern Border Regional Commission, but did not approve of it being attached to the farm bill. 'Good programs should never be held hostage by pork barrel legislation,' said Sununu."

Sununu later even said, "I have an honest and thoughtful voice...." [Berlin Daily Sun, 5/20/08]

Saying one thing in New Hampshire's North Country and doing another in Washington D.C. isn't honest or thoughtful - it's just being part of the problem.