In the name of transparency, state lawmakers last year wrote themselves earlier deadlines to file campaign spending reports. Then, it seems, they promptly forgot.
The new Wednesday due date came and went last week. Dozens of political committees didn’t file – 55 out of 107 by Thursday night still hadn’t submitted finance paperwork.
“It highlights a much greater issue that maybe we’re passing so many bills and laws at this point that we’re not reading all of them,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Andy Sanborn, a Bedford Republican who has been alerting people about the change.
For the first time, political and candidate committees have to reveal their spending and fundraising in off-election years by filing every six months. Before the change, the public could go almost a year-and-a-half without getting a glimpse of that information.
The new deadlines were advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, but the office didn’t send out any alerts reminding committees of the change.
Some representatives were shocked when asked by Capital Beat why their organizations did not submit required paperwork.
“Nobody knew,” said Rep. JR Hoell, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. “You caught me completely off guard that this thing passed, that we now have to file every six months.”
Most high-profile candidates and PACs, including Chris Sununu and Senate candidate committees, did submit reports, which provide some interesting tidbits.
Various executives and affiliates associated with NextEra Energy shelled out more than $21,000 to Sununu since he got elected last November, his reports reveal. The Florida-based energy company owns Seabrook Nuclear Station.
The Democrat, turned independent former congressional candidate Shawn O’Connor seems to be forging new party alliances yet again. The Bedford man contributed $500 to Sununu’s campaign last month, records show.
The Republican State Party has been focused on fundraising, but its going to have to pick up its game to catch up with the Democrats. The NHGOP raised $51,000 over the reporting period, while the New Hampshire Democratic Party brought in $140,000, which included a hefty $40,000 check from the N.H. Democratic Senate Caucus, reports show.
While the NHGOP recently voted to let the chairwoman take a salary, Jeanie Forrester has declined compensation at this time, said a party spokesman. Meanwhile, NHDP Chairman Ray Buckley made $3,279 per pay period, filings show.
Former U.S. Sen. candidate Scott Brown is now headed to New Zealand, and his PAC looks like its drawing down. Strong Country for Today and Tomorrow, SCOTT PAC, appeared to give its remaining $7,000 balance to Sununu’s campaign committee.
Steve Marchand lost the Democratic primary for governor last cycle, but is mounting another challenge in 2018. He has raised $44,000. It’s a start, but one that still pales in comparison to Sununu, who brought in more than $260,000 this period.
Senate President Chuck Morse, like his political philosophy, remains frugal. He rolled $178,000 left over from his 2016 campaign into his 2018 coffers, bringing his war chest total to above $207,000, records show.
There’s at least one blast from the past. Bob Odell for State Senate donated $2,500 to the Senate Republican Majority PAC.
Blankets and puffer coats are the new spring fashion at the State House, which has been running low on heat since the shut down of Concord Steam.
One Senate aide was spotted wrapped in a tan blanket Tuesday, when temperatures dipped into the 50s and it felt about as cold inside the building.
The cold snap came on the heels of a Monday night event Concord Steam executives threw at the Capital Center for the Arts. “A THANK YOU to all our customers and vendors and to remember, commiserate, and celebrate Concord Steam’s role in the history of the City of Concord,” said an invite shared with Capital Beat.
Concord officials complain the shindig was tone-deaf.
“I thought it was outrageous to be throwing basically a farewell party,” said House Minority Leader Steve Shurtleff of Penacook. “We know what a negative impact their demise has had on individuals as well as Main Street businesses.”
Concord Steam leaders didn’t get back to us about the soiree.
A week after Democratic Rep. Thomas Katsiantonis was arrested on tax evasion charges, he has yet to speak with House leaders about his plans to stay or go.
Katsiantonis of Manchester is certainly not a familiar face in Representatives Hall. He’s missed every House session day this year, except for the very first. None of his absences was excused, records show.
Democratic House Leader Steve Shurtleff said he hasn’t spoken to Katsiantonis in six months, and hasn’t heard whether the Manchester representative plans to step down.
Another week, another Chris Sununu nominee pulled from the Josiah Bartlett Center For Public Policy.
Sununu’s Supreme Court pick, Anna Barbara “Bobbie” Hantz Marconi, is vice chairwoman of the board of directors. She’s the fifth person with ties to the free-market think tank Sununu has tapped for a leadership role. Others include his chief of staff, transition team leader, attorney general and commissioner of administrative services.
(Allie Morris can be reached at 369-3307 or amorris@cmonitor.com.)