Sununu: Cubans are drilling for oil off the coast of Florida

Round here we call them PACs

It's a joke name, sire. Like Nautius Maximus.

Cuba is 90 miles off the coast of Florida, so 60 miles of the coast of Florida is closer to them.

--
Chairman, New Hampshire Young Democrats' Young Candidates Caucus
http://www.nhyoungdemocrats.org

Running for State Representative in Manchester, Ward 1
http://www.douglindner.com

First of all, speaking only for myself, I do not support a sales or income tax, particularly because I believe it doesn't make sense to levy new taxes during a recession.  That said, I don't believe in political pledges.  I don't think public officials and candidates should box themselves in with arbitrary language from special interests, even if they agree with the sentiments.  Political pledges lower the quality and depth of the discussion and force us into a one-or-the-other argument, often heavily partisan.  I don't like being told there are only two possible actions to address a problem.  The only pledge I intend to take is an oath of office, and the only group I answer to is my constituents, not any group like the so-called "NH Advantage Coalition".

Speaking for the NHYCC, though, I have no idea how many of my fellow candidates have taken the pledge, nor do I have any intention of collecting that information, because as I said, these pledges are conceived to box candidates in.

--
Chairman, New Hampshire Young Democrats' Young Candidates Caucus (NHYCC)
http://www.nhyoungdemocrats.org

Running for State Representative in Manchester, Ward 1
http://www.douglindner.com

Mike,

First of all, while I do intend to vote as much as I can (and to schedule other obligations around my legislative duties), we do have a citizen legislature in this state, and it is understandable that Representatives with full-time jobs cannot always make every vote.  That said, Manchester has 34 State Reps, not 31, and I hope you won't hold some to higher standards than others based on party affiliation or anything else.

Meanwhile, I take it from your comparison of environmentalists (I am an environmentalist) to communists (I am not a communist, nor a communist sympathizer) and your use of anti-Democrat language like "pro-taxer", particularly when I've said I'm against new taxes (I'm for balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility), that you're pretty solidly Republican.  That is, of course, your prerogative as a voter, but it doesn't seem this discussion is going anywhere.  If you'd like more information on my candidacy, I encourage you to visit my website, douglindner.com (it's spelled L-I-N-D-N-E-R by the way, spelled differently the address won't work), or to email me.

--
Chairman, New Hampshire Young Democrats' Young Candidates Caucus (NHYCC)
http://www.nhyoungdemocrats.org

Running for State Representative in Manchester, Ward 1
http://www.douglindner.com

Doug, you're mistaken if you think resisting a Sales or an Income Tax is only for times of economic hardship. And as far as the "special interests" that are trying to "box you in", it's simply citizens, looking to prevent the growth of government (and its expenditures) and with that, more tax burdens.

If you're for balanced budgets, I would certainly expect you to step up, as a Democratic youth leader, to demand better from our Governor and legislators, who have spent us into submission. We are left to wonder if they are creating these budget shortfalls on purpose, to force us into a Sales or Income Tax.

Gov Lynch's budget increased spending by $475 MILLION, which is an increase of 17.5% and frankly that is not acceptable. I would hope that you have an appreciation for how serious this issue is to the continuing prosperity of New Hampshire.

By signing the pledge, you will make a clear statement to the voters of Manchester that you stand apart from your colleagues in the Democratic Party, who have proven their commitment to increases in spending, enormous budget deficits, and taking our State down the path of a Sales and Income Tax.

However, I don't expect much better from your coalition of Young Democrats, who obviously have a very poor grasp of the budgetary crisis their own party leadership has created.