HORN: WE NEED TO REFORM CONGRESS

30th October 2008

NASHUA – Jennifer Horn, Republican candidate for Congress, called for an end to business as usual in Washington.

Jennifer Horn: “Whether it’s the impending mortgage crisis, investigating members of his party or holding his leadership accountable, Paul Hodes has consistently looked the other way.  Washington has become too big, too corrupt and too controlled by special interests – and we all pay the prices.  Our economy is a mess; people are losing their jobs, their homes and their retirement.  It’s time that our Representatives in Washington feel more accountable to the people than their political party or special interests.  We can do better."

Paul Hodes has had his chance and he has failed.   Jennifer Horn will fight to end corruption, to make Congress work for the people once again, and she will always put the interests of New Hampshire before all else. 

In Congress, Jennifer Horn will fight:

1. For term limits;
2. To eliminate the influence of lobbyist dollars;
3. For Franking Reform;
4. To eliminate earmark process;
5. For sunset provisions on government funded programs;
6. To have expenditures debated on its own merits with the name of the Congressman who sponsored the expense attached.   

“I also pledge to the voters that I will not accept any contribution from an industry that comes before a committee on which I serve,” stated Horn.  “I will work to reform Congress so it can start serving the people again.  That’s the way government is supposed to be.”

 
In 2006, Paul Hodes campaigned on bringing ethics reform to Washington, yet as soon as he was elected Paul Hodes embraced the culture of corruption and power brokering.  

Ethical Question #1
Earlier this year, Paul Hodes refused to publicly disclose how much he spent on taxpayer funded mass mailings.   According to a Union Leader report, it appeared that Paul Hodes mailed taxpayer funded letters to a State Democrat Party mailing list, a clear violation of House rules that prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for partisan activities or mailings.  WMUR reported the story earlier this year.  Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LqHEDAzdf4

HODES RESPONSE: Continue sending more taxpayer funded mail.

Ethical Question #2
Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT), chairman of the Banking Committee, and Kent Conrad (D-ND), chairman of the Budget Committee and a member of the Finance Committee, refinanced properties through Countrywide's "V.I.P." program in 2003 and 2004, according to company documents and emails and a former employee familiar with the loans.

HODES RESPONSE:  No investigation.

Ethical Question #3
USA Today named Paul Hodes as one of the worst pork barrel spenders.  Earmarking has made Washington more corrupt. Many of the projects are pushed through Congress by lobbyists. Some lawmakers receive large campaign contributions from earmark recipients.  Others have gone even further.  Former Rep. Duke Cunningham is serving 8 years in prison for accepting bribes in return for pork barrel projects.

HODES RESPONSE: More Earmarks

Ethical Question #4
In early October, The Washington Times reported that Nancy Pelosi’s husband was paid nearly $100,000 from her political action committee for rent and accounting fees - a blatant use of campaign contributions for personal benefit.  Hodes has received $21,000 from Pelosi and her political action committee in the in the last two cycles.

HODES RESPONSE:  Keep the money.

Ethical Question #5
Rep Tim Mahoney (D-FL) paid $121,000 to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue.  Reports indicated that “senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign.”

In 2006, Paul Hodes criticized Charlie Bass over the Foley scandal.  “’The appropriate thing is to call on them to resign while these investigations proceed,’ Hodes said.   Hodes said that his opponent, U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, should have demanded Hastert's resignation from the start.”2

Earlier this month, Jennifer Horn called on Paul Hodes to demand the resignation of Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel.  Horn also called on Paul Hodes to return the $47,000 from Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Emanuel campaign contributions he has received since 2004.

HODES RESPONSE: Keep the money. No call for an investigation

Ethical Question #6

Paul Hodes received nearly a half of a million dollars in campaign contributions from labor unions while co-sponsoring union legislation that would take away a workers’ right to a secret ballot election when deciding whether or not to join a labor union.

Of the $1,152,080 in PACs contribution Paul Hodes has received since 2004, Labor Unions have contributed $462,050 or 40% of the total contributions. 

HODES RESPONSE:  Still taking money.  Still opposes secret ballot.

Ethical Question #7
Paul Hodes sits on the Financial Services Committee.  He serves on two sub-committees responsible for providing oversight to the very financial institutions that we have just bailed out.  And he did nothing. 
In less than 2 years, Paul Hodes has raked hundreds of thousands of special interest handouts from Banking, Insurance, and Real Estate industries - including money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 

In 2006, Paul Hodes criticized Charlie Bass for sitting on Energy and Commerce Committee and not protecting New Hampshire consumers while taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the very industries he is supposed to be regulating. 

HODES RESPONSE:  Keep raking in the special interest handouts.  Ask “Why is it not OK?” to accept the contributions.