Shaheen expresses need for change: Visited with supporters at Mulligan's Grill
Thursday October 02, 2008
By: Jennifer Keefe
From: Fosters.com
Thursday October 02, 2008
By: Jennifer Keefe
From: Fosters.com
SOMERSWORTH — While he typically votes independent, Rollinsford resident Charles Bolian said he has cause this year to vote a straight Democratic ticket.
"We've got to clean out Washington," he said.
U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen made that expressed need for change the focus of the speech she delivered to about 50 supporters Wednesday night at Mulligan's Grill at Somersworth High School's Career and Technical Center.
"We've got to change the direction of this country," the former governor said. "It has not been working for middle-class families and the small businesses that are the backbone of this country."
Shaheen drew applause as she addressed such hot-button issues as the war in Iraq and America's financial crisis. She said she is "optimistic" American can take on the issues it faces with the right leaders who can "bring people together."
The Democrat addressed what's been on many people's minds — the financial crisis that sent the stock market plummeting and caused people to wonder what will happen to their money and livelihood.
"I hope Congress is going to act in a bipartisan way and put together a package that is going to protect the taxpayers and provide significant oversight to the treasury secretary. That's going to do something to put back in place real accountability and oversight measures to address the financial institutions and Wall Street so we don't ever have this kind of crisis again," she said.
Shaheen blamed the Bush administration's agenda that allowed the financial institutions to regulate itself.
"Well, that hasn't worked," she said, adding her opponent, Republican U.S. Sen. John Sununu, spent five years on the banking committee and 12 years in Washington and "did nothing to address the current crisis we're in."
"I think we need a senator in Washington who's going to do a better job of providing consumer protections and making sure the taxpayers here in New Hampshire are protected," she said.
Shaheen also stressed the importance of investing in a comprehensive energy plan for clean-energy technology because "it's critical" to national security, the environment and the economy.
Her statement that the country has incurred a $10 trillion debt elicited gasps from those in attendance, but she said fiscal policies need to change and the country's agenda needs to be addressed while dealing with the financial crisis at the same time.
"I think we can fight terrorism and still protect the principles in our constitution," she said, adding that as governor she tripled the state's rainy day fund, sent three balanced budgets to the Legislature and limited spending when revenues didn't cover expenses.
"We need to start seeing some of that fiscal responsibility in Washington," she said. "We need to give tax cuts to middle-class families in this country — not to companies that are shipping jobs overseas."
For Somersworth residents Betty and Lee Reublinger, Wednesday was their first time seeing Shaheen speak, but they said they were sold on what she had to say.
"I was very impressed," Betty said. "I've always liked her."
Lee said he appreciates Shaheen's ideals.
"It's those Democratic ideals that need to be put into place more thoroughly in Washington," he said.
"We've got to clean out Washington," he said.
U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen made that expressed need for change the focus of the speech she delivered to about 50 supporters Wednesday night at Mulligan's Grill at Somersworth High School's Career and Technical Center.
"We've got to change the direction of this country," the former governor said. "It has not been working for middle-class families and the small businesses that are the backbone of this country."
Shaheen drew applause as she addressed such hot-button issues as the war in Iraq and America's financial crisis. She said she is "optimistic" American can take on the issues it faces with the right leaders who can "bring people together."
The Democrat addressed what's been on many people's minds — the financial crisis that sent the stock market plummeting and caused people to wonder what will happen to their money and livelihood.
"I hope Congress is going to act in a bipartisan way and put together a package that is going to protect the taxpayers and provide significant oversight to the treasury secretary. That's going to do something to put back in place real accountability and oversight measures to address the financial institutions and Wall Street so we don't ever have this kind of crisis again," she said.
Shaheen blamed the Bush administration's agenda that allowed the financial institutions to regulate itself.
"Well, that hasn't worked," she said, adding her opponent, Republican U.S. Sen. John Sununu, spent five years on the banking committee and 12 years in Washington and "did nothing to address the current crisis we're in."
"I think we need a senator in Washington who's going to do a better job of providing consumer protections and making sure the taxpayers here in New Hampshire are protected," she said.
Shaheen also stressed the importance of investing in a comprehensive energy plan for clean-energy technology because "it's critical" to national security, the environment and the economy.
Her statement that the country has incurred a $10 trillion debt elicited gasps from those in attendance, but she said fiscal policies need to change and the country's agenda needs to be addressed while dealing with the financial crisis at the same time.
"I think we can fight terrorism and still protect the principles in our constitution," she said, adding that as governor she tripled the state's rainy day fund, sent three balanced budgets to the Legislature and limited spending when revenues didn't cover expenses.
"We need to start seeing some of that fiscal responsibility in Washington," she said. "We need to give tax cuts to middle-class families in this country — not to companies that are shipping jobs overseas."
For Somersworth residents Betty and Lee Reublinger, Wednesday was their first time seeing Shaheen speak, but they said they were sold on what she had to say.
"I was very impressed," Betty said. "I've always liked her."
Lee said he appreciates Shaheen's ideals.
"It's those Democratic ideals that need to be put into place more thoroughly in Washington," he said.
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