FEC Pleas in NH Senate Race

The gloves are off in the U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire. Republicans and Democrats have lodged competing complaints with the Federal Election Commission. The GOP accused Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, of improperly coordinating communications with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's PAC, while Democrats accuse Republican Scott Brown of "phony campaign" spending reports.

Republicans Seek FEC Action

The NHGOP filed complaint earlier this week. A day later, former Gov. John H. Sununu called on Shaheen to pull their "third-party ad pending the outcome of the federal review into potentially illegal coordination."

"Serious questions have been raised about potential illegal coordination between Senator Harry Reid and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and now a federal investigation is pending," Sununu said via a NHGOP press release. "While the Federal Elections Commission investigation is ongoing, the people of New Hampshire should not be subjected to this kind of misrepresentation on the airwaves. Today I am calling on co-conspirators Harry Reid and Jeanne Shaheen to immediately take the potentially illegal ads off the air. Holding elected office is a matter of public trust, and in this case it appears the public trust has been violated. Until we know for sure what has happened, these ads must come down."

Democrats Seek FEC Action

The New Hampshire Democratic Party asked the Federal Elections Commission to investigate whether Scott Brown violated the law in what it called a "phony campaign spending report that hides obvious expenses." The Democrats' complaint centers on Brown's decision on Valentine's Day to run for the Senate, as he said in an interview on WMUR, when Brown "failed to report any campaign expenditures or donations prior to March 21st, in an apparent violation of FEC rules," according to the Democratic Party complaint.

"Scott Brown decided to become a candidate for Senate on Valentine’s Day, and that should have triggered FEC filing requirements and deadlines that he clearly did not meet," New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley said. "We're asking the FEC for a thorough and swift investigation. For five weeks after he decided to become a candidate, Scott Brown refused to admit it, misleading the people of New Hampshire, ducking the law, and using his spot on Fox News to attack Jeanne Shaheen."

Testerman, National Day of Prayer

Karen Testerman, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, asked people to join her at the New Hampshire Statehouse at noon May 1 as part of a National Day of Prayer. She will be with the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

"Let us remember to pray for our leaders at all levels of our leadership be protected from harm, that the will honor God in all ways and that they will be faithful instruments of God's will," Testerman said. "Please pray for their wisdom in making decisions for this great nation."

Brown Applauds NH Insurance Hearing

From the Brown campaign: Scott Brown released the following statement in response to the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner's decision to grant a Rochester resident a hearing after her health care plan was excluded from the exchange due to Obamacare:
 
"I am glad the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner will hold a hearing on the inability of individuals buying health insurance under Obamacare to choose their own doctors and hospitals. The people of New Hampshire deserve a health care system that protects their freedoms and personal choices, not a one-size-fits-all approach imposed from Washington that erodes personal freedom."

Shaheen Supports Minimum Wage Hike

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's campaign released the following statement:

"Increasing the minimum wage is an important way to strengthen the economic security of thousands of New Hampshire families. Jeanne Shaheen was disappointed that a minority in the U.S. Senate was able to block action on the Minimum Wage Fairness Act yesterday, a bill that would have increased the minimum wage to $10.10. In New Hampshire, more than 110,000 workers would have seen their wages increase as a result of this bill, including 67,000 women, and 10,000 would have been lifted out of poverty as a result of this raise. Granite State workers deserve a fair shot at success."

National Republican Congressional Committee targets Kuster, Shea-Porter

The National Republican Congressional Committee has targeted New Hampshire's two House incumbents – Carol Shea-Porter, Democrat in the 1st, and Annie Kuster, Democrat in the 2nd. The NRCC headline: "It's Pelosi's World and Kuster is just voting in it," with the same message for Shea-Porter, and likely a fill-in-the-blank for any incumbent Democrat in 2014.

The NRCC says Rep. Nancy Pelosi is using her Super PAC to help fund vulnerable Democrats, and the NRCC wording goes, those Democrats will continue to "fall in line with Democratic leadership and support ObamaCare even though it is hurting New Hampshire families. Her continued support of Nancy Pelosi and her flawed political agenda will be the demise of her campaign."

Lambert on Obamacare

Gary Lambert, a Republican running for New Hampshire's 2nd District seat, sent out an email blast asking if Congresswoman Kuster was paying attention to the polls and constituents on the Affordable Care Act.

"As I travel the 2nd district, the one thing I constantly hear from seniors, medical professionals, small businesses, and concerned taxpayers is this - Obamacare is making things worse," Lambert said. "This top-down, one-size fits all system is unworkable and unaffordable. It needs to be repealed and replaced with free-market based reforms. As evidence of the public’s frustration with Obamacare continues to mount, I can’t help but wonder – is Ann Kuster listening?"

Bob Smith on Minimum Wage

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, a Republican from Tuftonboro, criticized Scott Brown for not coming out with a full-throated opposition to raising the minimum wage.

"I am opposed to the federal government (or any government) setting or establishing a minimum wage. Wages are to be negotiated between an employer and his/her employee. There is no constitutional role for government in this process. Establishing a minimum wage could cost thousands of jobs," Smith said. "The difference on this issue as with every issue is clear. Senator Brown equivocates and then usually votes with the Democrats which he has done 62% of the time. Senator Smith provides clear leadership and supports conservative principles and values."