Open Letter to Jeanne Shaheen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:               July 30, 2008

Contact:          Fergus Cullen, Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party

                        603-225-9341 office, 603-520-5450 cell

NH GOP CHAIRMAN CALLS ON JEANNE SHAHEEN TO STAND UP TO SENATE LEADERSHIP, PASS COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY REFORMS

CONCORD –  New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen sent the following letter to Jeanne Shaheen today, urging her to stand up to the Senate Democrat Leadership who are standing in the way of comprehensive energy reform that will give us greater energy independence.

------

July 30, 2008

Governor Jeanne Shaheen

34 Fir Street, 2nd Floor

Manchester, NH  03101

Dear Governor Shaheen,

With the price of oil hovering at over $120 per barrel, New Hampshire families and small businesses are struggling with skyrocketing energy costs. To the detriment of every New Hampshire citizen, the out-of-touch politicians and liberal advocacy groups backing your campaign continue to block reasonable attempts to address the energy crisis facing our state and the nation. 

Instead of working to increase domestic energy production and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil – as Senator John Sununu advocates – you and your liberal Washington allies remain opposed to passing into law the intelligent, common sense reforms needed to cut energy costs for Granite Staters. 

Specifically, the Senate Democrat leadership last week demonstrated a complete unwillingness to provide a forum for open debate and consideration of the real energy solutions that will control rising fuel prices. In shameful fashion, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) put politics over principle, and blocked basic up-or-down votes on measures to increase energy conservation, provide incentives for alternative energy, and increase domestic production of oil and gas.

Sadly, Governor, you remained silent, and are complicit in this unprincipled scheme to stop progress towards energy independence – a scheme which keeps Granite Staters held hostage to the whims of foreign leaders whose last consideration is the wallets and household budgets of New Hampshire’s working families.

That was wrong for New Hampshire. In November voters will remember your silence, your inaction, and how you caved into pressure from the same radical environmental groups that have continually opposed all efforts to expand oil and gas production. Some of the amendments blocked by you and your liberal Senate allies included:

• More offshore drilling and oil production in ANWR to help America become more energy independent;
• Increased heating assistance for low-income families to help with winter heating bills;
• Incentives for clean, renewable energy;
• Efforts to strengthen research for alternative fuel automobiles.

Despite what is widely regarded as a failed record as Governor, you retain considerable clout with the prominent Washington liberals in your party – and you have been handpicked and groomed by some of the very same Washington insiders and Democrat leaders now stonewalling these critical energy proposals.

Given your unique position of influence, you have an opportunity to stand up for the vast majority of Granite Staters who are demanding to see comprehensive energy reforms passed into law. On behalf of all of our citizens – regardless of political party – I urge you to end your silence and publicly call on the Senate Democrat Leadership to drop its politically-motivated opposition to the energy independence measures New Hampshire needs and deserves.

Sincerely,

Fergus Cullen

Chairman, New Hampshire Republican Party