New Hampshire's Democrats
by Hugh P. Fairman

History of the State            New Hampshire is located in the New England region of the United States, bordered by Maine to the east, Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west and Canada to the north.  New Hampshire was the ninth state to join the United States of America on June 21, 1788.  New Hampshire was the first state to adopt a state constitution in 1776.  New Hampshire covers 9351 square miles of land area.  As of the 1990 Census there are 1.1 million people living in the state of which 98% are white and .6% are black.  The capitol of New Hampshire is Concord.  The oldest institution of higher learning in the state is Dartmouth University, and Dartmouth is part of the Ivy League of Universities.  New Hampshire has the earliest presidential primary and therefore it is considered extremely important as a measurement of how your candidate is going to do.  Republicans out number Democrats.  The highest elected democratic official in the state is Governor Jeanne Shaheen.  Governor Shaheen is the first woman to be elected as Governor in the state of New Hampshire.  She was elected in 1996.            Party Platform:            Education:  This is considered the New Hampshire democrats most Important concern.  New Hampshire democrats have a deep commitment to the importance of education at all levels of life.  Governor Jeanne Shaheen’s has instituted the ABC Plan for insuring an equitable formula for funding all public schools.  Tax-free Savings on college education is supported.            Health Care:  New Hampshire is ranked fourth among all the States in the United States in terms of statewide health coverage.  The following issues have been reformed.  A comprehensive statewide curriculum for schools has been instituted to better inform students.  Efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS by increasing the amount of information that are given by the State and State agencies.  Increased Access to Healthcare for low-income pregnant women & children.  Continuing efforts are being made by the Governor for the following issues passed into New Hampshire State law: the Presidents “Consumer Bill of Rights”, which includes the right to know all medical options.  No Strings attached emergency Room Care that would allow people to receive medical treatment prior to the doctors and medical staff assessing whether or not they want to treat the patient.  Confidentiality of all medical records.  And the right to choose your own Medical Doctor.  They are also supporting the Goveners Initiative to expand health coverage to children who have no coverage and the funding and restructuring the department of Health and Human Services.            Abortion:  The New Hampshire Democrats stongly support the right of reproductive choice and also support efforts to help prevent unwanted pregnancies through the following:  Family Planning; Birth control counseling and services and Community Support Mechanisms.            Budgeting & Taxes:  Governor Shaheen is operating the state government on a balanced budget.  The Governor is continuing efforts to reform the tax structure so people are paying their fair share.  The Governor is proposing property tax relief for over burdened local taxpayers.            Environment:  the New Hampshire Democratic Party is proposing the Establishment of A Blue Ribbon commission to study the issues and concerns relating to the spreading of sludge in our local communities.  Also supported by the Governor and the Democratic party are the following:  Enforcement of the Federal Clean Air Act and Clear Water Act; Enforcement of the Environmental Hazardous Waste Act law; Balanced access to and use of New Hampshire’s forests for recreational & industrial activities; & Passage of the “Bottle Bill” for Recycling.            Equal Rights & Opportunity            Race:  New Hampshire Democrat’s Promote and are committed to Human Rights and Human Dignity.  The Governor and the Democratic Party are committed to fight discrimination in all its forms.  And although the State does not observe the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the New Hampshire Democratic Party support it fully and are demanding that the state legislature honor the spirit of Dr. King.