NH - Bad Bartlett - The Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog Answer the Call of the Koch Brothers

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    How right wing funders are manufacturing the news

    and influencing public policy in New Hampshire

    A Report by Granite State Progress &

    The Center for Media and Democracy

    October 2013

    Bad Bartlett: The Josiah Bartlett Center

    and NH Watchdog Answer the Call of

    the Koch Brothers

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    Report Credits

    This report was produced by Granite State Progress,

    a progressive advocacy organization addressingissues of immediate state and local concern. GraniteState Progress works as a communications hub forthe progressive community to provide a strong,credible voice in advancing progressive solutions tocritical community problems. Press releases andother information available online atwww.GraniteStateProgress.org.

    The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publisherofALECexposed.org,PRWatch.org,andSourceWatch.org,

    contributed to this report. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, CMD is anational, non-profit watchdog organization, founded in 1993. CMDinvestigates and exposes the undue influence of corporations andfront groups on public policy, including PR campaigns, lobbying,and electioneering. CMD's original reporting helps educate thepublic and aid grassroots action about policies affecting peopleslives their rights and the health of our democracy.

    http://www.granitestateprogress.org/http://www.granitestateprogress.org/http://www.granitestateprogress.org/http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.prwatch.org/http://www.prwatch.org/http://www.prwatch.org/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Portal:State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Portal:State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Portal:State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Portal:State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.prwatch.org/http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.granitestateprogress.org/
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    Bad Bartlett: The Josiah Bartlett Center and NH

    Watchdog Answer the Call of the Koch Brothers

    Table of Contents

    A Snapshot: Blocking Medicaid Expansion ........................................................................... 4

    Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 5

    Josiah Bartlett Center & State Policy Network ...................................................................... 7

    Josiah Bartlett Center Actively Hides Its Deep Ties to Conservative Funders, Networks .. 8

    New Hampshire Watchdog & Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity ................. 8

    Driving the News: The Franklin Center .............................................................................. 9

    Franklin Center & Watchdogs Prey on Understaffed News Rooms ................................. 10

    Watchdog Criticism & Controversies ............................................................................... 10

    NH Watchdog Scorns Journalistic Principles: There is no license required to practicejournalism....................................................................................................................... 11

    NH Watchdogs Brand of Ethics: Is He a Reporter, Lobbyist, or Political Hack?.............. 12

    NH Watchdogs Real Reporter Actively Hides Its Deep Ties to Conservative Fundersand Political Networks, Refuses to Disclose Connections to Readers ............................. 13

    Current Staffing, Structure of Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog ............................. 14

    Josiah Bartlett Center & NH Watchdog Connections to the Broader Rightwing Network .... 17

    Josiah Bartlett Center, NH Watchdog, and Allies Promote Same National Right-WingAgenda ............................................................................................................................ 20

    The Senior Fellow/Reporter/Lobbyist .............................................................................. 21

    Providing the Front of Home-Grown Legislation............................................................ 22

    The Lobbying Run-Around .............................................................................................. 24

    Im Not a Lobbyist, Im a Policy Expert.......................................................................... 24

    Policy Expert Gets a Bit Close to Political Hack.......................................................... 25

    Shaping New Hampshires Public Policy: Starring the Koch Cogs.................................. 25

    Right-Wing Funders of the Josiah Bartlett Center & NH Watchdog .................................... 32

    Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 36

    Addendums ........................................................................................................................ 37

    Report Citiations ................................................................................................................. 55

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    A Snapshot: Blocking Medicaid Expansion

    On September 10, 2013 the New Hampshire Study Commission on Medicaid Expansionmet at the Legislative Office Building to hear expert testimony in opposition to expandinghealth care coverage to tens of thousands of lower income Granite Staters. i

    Sitting on the commission was Charlie Arlinghaus, President of the Josiah Bartlett Centerfor Public Policy. A right-wing think tank, the Bartlett Center had a long history of opposinghealth care reform measures, particularly those related to the Affordable Care Act.

    Arlinghaus, along with several other conservative members of the commission, had beenstonewalling proceedings and openly complaining that testimony before the commissionwas lopsided in favor of expansiondespite the fact that every commission member had anopportunity to recommend testifiers.

    Avik Roy of the conservative Manhattan Institute, the featured speaker of the day, was oneof only a handful of experts opponents to expansion could find to participate.iiHisappearance was an important opportunity for Arlinghaus and others to dissuade committeemembers and the public from expanding Medicaid coverage to lower income populations.

    Indeed, the conversation from Roy focused not on expansion but instead on an alternativeplan that would sell lower income individuals low-cost health insurance plans off-set by highdeductibles: essentially, ensuring that families had health coverage but creating out-of-pocket expenses so high it would be difficult for individuals in the income bracket to actuallyafford the services offered in those plans. iii

    Following Roys presentation, health care proponents rallied against it and continued topush for expansion. In response, NH Watchdog editor and Josiah Bartlett Center staffmember Grant Bosse used his weekend column in the Concord Monitorto ridicule theadvocates and cast their concerns as simply partisan, political opposition. The columnWanted: grown-ups in N.H. politics used the phrases false outrage and demonization to

    describe the response. Bosse wrote, Roys testimony hadnt stop (sic) echoing through thehalls of the Legislative Office Building before the high-pitched shrieks of Democratsdrowned it out.

    iv

    To the public eye, within a week a policy leader from a local think tank, a national expert,and a conservative columnist seemingly shared a consensus on an alternative vision forMedicaid expansion. Yet, in reality, Charlie Arlinghaus, Avik Roy, and Grant Bosse sharemuch more than political ideology: they all receive their paychecks from the same source.

    Those networks are, in turn, supported by anti-Obamacare billionaires David and CharlesKoch, for whom blocking implementation of any part of the Affordable Care Act is a majorcampaign objective. And they are tied into the corporate-driven American Legislative

    Exchange Council, whose Affordable Health Insurance Actv

    reads like a parent copy ofthe Medicaid expansion structure advocated for by Roy, Arlinghaus, and Bosse. vi

    Not a single word about any of these connections was disclosed during the attempt toinfluence the health care debate in New Hampshire. This lack of even basic transparencyand accountability is, in a nutshell, how the Josiah Bartlett Center, the NH Watchdog, andtheir sister networks of state-based think tanks and communications shops operate. Thisreport seeks to bring those tangled webs to light and hold them up for public scrutiny.

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    Executive Summary

    The influence of billionaires David and Charles Koch through their flagship group Americansfor Prosperity, or the corporate corruption of the political and legislative process through the

    American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), is well-documented.

    More difficult to detect are the networks situated in each state designed to assist these leadgroups in the passage and promotion of particular legislation and candidates. Fueled bymany of the same right-wing billionaires and foundations that also fund these lead groups,the State Policy Network and its member think tanks provide the appearance of"independent" intellectual voices advocating for much of the agenda promoted by the Kochbrothers and ALEC. Similarly, the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity andits membersoften overlapping or embedded in State Policy Network think tanksprovidethe appearance of a neutral or balanced voice in the media covering these same issues.

    The reality is that a highly organized and intricately woven network of organizations andpersonnel has been constructedand all roads lead back to the Koch brothers. In New

    Hampshire, the influence of these organizations take shape in the form of the well-knownJosiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, and its media arm, the NH Watchdog.

    This report details how the two sister organizations work to manufacture the news andinfluence public policy in New Hampshire. It also provides irrefutable documentation of theclose affiliations and funders driving that agendadespite Josiah Bartlett Center and NHWatchdogs multiple attempts to declare otherwise.

    Key Findings

    Despite claims, neither the Josiah Bartlett Center nor the NH Watchdog areindependent and unbiased.

    The Josiah Bartlett Center is a member of the State Policy Network and the NHWatchdogembedded at the Josiah Bartlett Centeris run by the far-right FranklinCenter for Government and Public Integrity. Both SPN and the Franklin Center haveclose ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Koch brothers, the TeaParty, the Conservative Political Action Conference, the Heritage Foundation andnumerous other conservative causes and candidates.

    The Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdogare staffed by conservative ideologueswho have been active in conservative causes.

    Staff of both organizations lobby on legislation at the state levelspending timeproducing reports, creating statistics, talking points, "expert" testimony, videos, and araft of other materialsyet refuse to file as lobbyists. Incredibly, the NH Watchdogstaffer even testified on legislation before a committee as a reporter speaking on hisown behalf.

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    The legislative agenda of the Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog align closelywith other Koch-funded groups such as Americans for Prosperity and ALEC, and theorganizations play a specific role in the overall strategy for advancing these objectives.

    Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog have received direct funding from the Kochfamily fortune despite their claims otherwise.

    Additionally, 95% of the Franklin Centers known funding comes from the DonorsCapital Fund and the related Donors Trust, "the dark-money ATM of the conservativemovement" that receives significant funding from the Koch brothers.

    Mainstream legitimate news operations are ignoring the clear conservative advocacyintentions of the NH Watchdogand are republishing its reporting as legitimate,unbiased commentary without disclosing to readers that the writers receive apaycheck to advance a particular policy position.

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    Josiah Bartlett Center & the State Policy Network

    Emily Mead, a long-time politico with close ties to Thomas Dewey, co-foundedthe JosiahBartlett Center for Public Policyin 1992 at the urging of her late husband Edgar anddaughter Mary.viiEdgar and Mary pushed for the organization after having attended anevent at the Heritage Foundation in which the speaker told the audience to get out ofWashington and head back to your states,to make lasting change.viii

    The founding of the Josiah Bartlett Center coincided with the launch of the State PolicyNetworka new conservative venture answering a similar call to action. ixSouth Carolinabuilding supply magnate Thomas A. Roe was inspired by the success of the HeritageFoundation to create "mini-Heritage Foundations" across the country to push policychanges at the state level, reinforcing the ALEC corporate and "conservative" agenda tochange America's laws.xSPN became the umbrella organization for the Josiah BartlettCenter and other state affiliates.

    According to theCenter for Media and Democracy:xi

    The State Policy Network has franchised, funded, andfostered a growing number of mini Heritage Foundationsatthe state level since the early 1990s. It describes itself as anetwork and service organization for the state-based freemarket think tank movementand its stated mission is toprovide strategic assistance to independent researchorganization devoted to discovering and developing market-oriented solutions to state and local public policy issues.

    In New Hampshire, the Josiah Bartlett Center has established itself as a policy think tank onissues such as education and school choice, health care, fiscal policy, and transportation.

    Organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it claims to be bipartisanxii, but its activities andaffiliations illustrate a longand funding-dependentinvolvement with far right agendas.

    Josiah Bartlett Center, State Policy Network Have Deep Ties to Conservative

    Funders and Political Networks

    The State Policy Network counts many other national right-wing organizations asassociatemembers,including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Cato Institute,the Franklin Center, the Heritage Foundation, the Heartland Institute, and the National Rightto Work Legal Defense Foundation.xiii

    Additionally, SPN has played a major role in supporting ALEC, serving as a chairman levelsponsorof the 2013 ALEC Annual Conference and sitting on various ALEC policycommittees.xivSince its founding, SPN has beenfunded by conservative organizationsincluding the Koch-funded Donors Trust/Donors Capital Fund, the Bradley Foundation, theRoe Foundation, and the Kochs Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation.xv

    These affiliations shape the policy agenda and campaigns of the Josiah Bartlett Center.Staff spend time producing reports, creating statistics, drafting talking points and providing

    http://www.jbartlett.org/about-ushttp://www.jbartlett.org/about-ushttp://www.jbartlett.org/about-ushttp://www.jbartlett.org/about-ushttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asphttp://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asphttp://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asphttp://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asphttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275641http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275641http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275641http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275641http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asphttp://www.spn.org/directory/organizations.asphttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.jbartlett.org/about-ushttp://www.jbartlett.org/about-us
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    "expert" testimony in support of bills, and disseminating videos along with a raft of othermaterials to advance a right-wing legislative agenda in the states, under the guise of beinga nonpartisan, nonprofit charitable organization full of neutral scholars and academics.

    Josiah Bartlett Center Actively Hides Its Deep Ties to Conservative Funders

    and Political Networks

    The Bartlett Center works hard to protect this image of neutrality and given the lack ofpublic awareness as to the real truthhas even been so bold as to defend its right-wingfunders and networks in the political sphere.

    In the spring of 2012, public attention was gearing up in New Hampshire around the undueinfluence of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Koch brothers.Hoping to stem the growing sense of awareness, Bartlett Center President Charlie

    Arlinghaus took to his weekly opinion column in the Union Leaderto attempt to underminethe criticism. Striking a tone as a balanced and neutral third-party in the debate over theinfluence of ALEC and Koch, Arlinghaus went so far with his charade as to write:

    I, for example, am accused regularly of being apuppet of the Koch brothers, unfortunately without themitigating effect of actual donations from them. Imthinking of applying for a grant by asking them, if Iget accused of being your tool enough, shouldnt wegive in to what everyone wants? Please?

    - Union Leader, Opinion Column: If you agree with me,then it must be a bad ideaCharlie Arlinghaus, April 4, 2012xvi

    As one will soon read elsewhere in this report, Arlinghaus assertionthat the Bartlett Center

    is not in bed with the Koch brothers and ALEC is blatantly false: by the spring of 2012, theJosiah Bartlett Center had received significant funding from the Koch-funded Donors CapitalFund for several years, in addition to direct contributions from the Kochs Claude R. LambeCharitable Foundation. The Bartlett Centers national network is joined at the hip to ALECslegislative agenda, and the Bartlett Center itself had co-sponsored events with ALEC at thestate level in the past.xvii

    The Josiah Bartlett Centerand its President Charlie Arlinghausare not the independent,third parties theyd like to lead the public, policymakers, and members of the press tobelieve.

    New Hampshire Watchdog & the Franklin Center for Government &Public Integrity

    In November 2008, looking to further insert its right-wing agenda into the New Hampshiremedia market, the Josiah Bartlett Center hired former radio host-turned-Republican politicaloperative Grant Bosse to launch the New Hampshire Watchdog,xviii a new investigativeproject for the free market think tank.xix

    http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/about/grant-bosse/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/about/grant-bosse/http://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/11/bartlett-center-launches-investigative.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/11/bartlett-center-launches-investigative.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/11/bartlett-center-launches-investigative.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/11/bartlett-center-launches-investigative.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/11/bartlett-center-launches-investigative.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/11/bartlett-center-launches-investigative.htmlhttp://newhampshire.watchdog.org/about/grant-bosse/
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    Originally operating as ablogspot page,the JosiahBartlett Center marked theone year anniversary of itsnew media arm by launching

    an auxiliary website for it at NewHampshireWatchdog.org.xxAnnouncements framed it as a

    news and information website designed to deliver the Centers ground-breaking reporting,commentary, and features.xxi

    Pitching it as a conservative investigative reporting site that focused on the state legislature,the Josiah Bartlett CentersPresidentCharlie Arlinghaus boldly assertedthe need for histhink tanks news site because as traditional media outlets cut back on the resources theycan devote to complex stories, were (the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy) providingthe depth of investigative journalism needed in a democratic society.

    xxii

    Driving the News: The Franklin Center

    Arlinghaus confused statement that a conservative think tank advocating for right-wingpolicies could hire reporters to cover the very issues they lobby on and then provide thatcoverage to local news outlets seems far-fetched. Unfortunately, the Bartlett Center hadgood reason to believe that it could work in New Hampshire.

    Housed at the Josiah BartlettCenter, the New HampshireWatchdog is actually a stateaffiliate of theFranklin Center forGovernment and PublicIntegrity, an umbrella group ofright-wing news outlets in states

    across the country.xxiiiSPN thinktanks, like Josiah Bartlett Center,often establish and/or hostFranklin Center affiliates inexchange for funding. Thewatchdog language is a popularbut not required brand for thestate websites.

    According to the organization'sownwebsite,the group's missioninvolves "networking and trainingindependent investigative reporters, as well as journalists from state based newsorganizations, public-policy institutions & watchdog groups."xxiv The center is registered as anational 501(c)(3) journalism organization based in Bismarck, North Dakota and funds statereporters in more than 40 states.

    A Media Matters piece How A Right Wing Group Is Infiltrating State News Coveragegivesa more straightforward assessment of Franklin Center operations:xxv

    http://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/04/manchester-tea-party-charlie-arlinghaus.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/04/manchester-tea-party-charlie-arlinghaus.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/11/josiah-bartlett-center-launches-news.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/11/josiah-bartlett-center-launches-news.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/11/josiah-bartlett-center-launches-news.htmlhttp://franklincenterhq.org/http://franklincenterhq.org/http://franklincenterhq.org/http://franklincenterhq.org/http://franklincenterhq.org/http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://franklincenterhq.org/http://franklincenterhq.org/http://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/11/josiah-bartlett-center-launches-news.htmlhttp://nhwatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/04/manchester-tea-party-charlie-arlinghaus.html
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    The Franklin Center is a multimillion-dollar organization whose websites and affiliatesprovide free statehouse reporting to local newspapers and other media across thecountry. Funded by major conservative donors, staffed by veterans of groups affiliatedwith the Koch brothers, and maintaining a regular presence hosting right-wing events,the organization boasts of its ability to fill the void created by state newsroom layoffs.The group's editors claim that their professional journalismwork is walled off from the

    organization's more nakedly political operations and say that their pro-taxpayer, pro-liberty, free market perspectivedoesn't compromise their accuracy or independence.But many journalism professionals - even newspaper editors who reprint the work ofFranklin Center affiliates in their own pages - speak warily of the group's ideologicalbent.

    The Franklin Center has beenfunded by conservative organizationsincluding the Koch-funded Donors Trust/Donors Capital Fund and the Bradley Foundation. xxviIt was a "Vice-Chairman" level sponsor of 2011 American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) AnnualConference, which in 2010, equated to $25,000. The Franklin Center was one of about 60companies and institutions represented in the conference exhibition hall.xxvii

    Franklin Center & WatchdogsPrey on Understaffed News Rooms

    Despite the clear conflict of interest between the lobbying arm and media operations, its notsurprising that the Franklin Centers statehouse reporting efforts has been successful inbeing picked up in newspapers with large audiences as fewer traditional newspapers arecovering state capitols. A 2009American Journalism Reviewstudy found that 355newspaper reporters and editors were covering state capitols full time, a 30% decrease atthe time from 524 in 2003.xxviiiThis has resulted in a reliance on Franklin Center affiliates forstatehouse news. A May 2012 fundraising email from the Franklin Center even bragged: xxix

    When you give to the Franklin Center, you have an immediate impact on the power

    of our reporting. Legacy news outlets regularly pick up our stories, driving them farbeyond the typical audience for online news." (The Center for Media & Democracy,How a Right-Wing Group Is Infiltrating State News Coverage, July 12, 2012)

    Watchdog Criticism & Controversies

    Not all are enamored with the Watchdog groups, however, and the networks track record offaulty reporting and manufactured news coverageto benefit its conservative interests isbecoming more widely criticized.xxx

    Laura McGann, assistant editor at the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University, wrotein a 2010 piece in the Washington Monthlythat the Franklin Center sites are engaging indistorted reporting across the country. In addition, the Pew Research Center's Project forExcellence in Journalism, using a sliding scale of highly ideological, somewhat ideologicaland non-ideological, ranked the "Watchdog.org" franchise "highly ideological."xxxi

    According toan investigation by Media Matters' Joe Strupp,several state-based journalismassociations have denied Franklin Center affiliates press credentials. In Idaho, the IdahoReporter was denied membership in the press association in both 2010 and 2011 and didnot seek membership in 2012. Media Mattersarticle quotes Betsy Russell, president of the

    http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275891http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275891http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275891http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=275891
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    Capitol Correspondents Association of Idaho and a reporter for The Spokesman-Review,who said the Franklin CentersIdaho affiliate is basically a lobbying organization that islinked to a news arm. The Franklin Centers affiliate in Ohio, the Buckeye Institute, wasalso denied credentials in the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association in 2010.

    Association President Jim Siegel of the Columbus Dispatchsaid "They [the BuckeyeInstitute] were denied because they were more of a conservative think tank than a

    professional news-gathering organizationthere were some questions about where theirfunding came from."xxxii

    In other states, examples of how the Watchdogs unscrupulous and unchecked political andfunding ties can lead to faulty reporting have unfortunately come to fruition and to thebenefit of conservative interests:xxxiii

    In August 2010, the West Virginia Watchdog reported that former Democratic Gov.Joe Manchin, who was running in one of the most contested U.S. Senate races ofthat year, had been subpoenaed as part of a federal grand jury investigation. Thearticle was picked up by several news sources including the AP, the Charleston CBS

    affiliate, and the Charleston Daily Mail, even though there was no subpoena issuedto Manchin or anyone in his administration.

    In October 2010, theKennebec Journalreportedthat the MaineWatchdog.org, aFranklin Center affiliate, reported that U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) had traveledaboard her fiancs private jet. What the MaineWatchdog did not report is that thetravel may have not broken laws or ethics rules, according to the House ethicsmanual.xxxiv

    In February 2011, the Wisconsin Reporter issued a questionable poll asserting that71% of state residents thought Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's budget proposalto cut the collective bargaining rights of most of the state's public sector workers was

    "fair. Several news organizations, including MSNBC, cited the poll, even thoughother polls conducted at the same time showed vastly different results.xxxv

    NH Watchdog Scorns Journalistic Principles: There is no license required to

    practice journalism

    In New Hampshire, Watchdog Editor Grant Bosse has publicly complained about beingdenied press credentials, particularly to access the floor of the New Hampshire Senate andHouse.xxxviInstead of news article submissions, the NH Watchdog has relied primarily ondisseminating its right wing perspective through the NewHampshireWatchdog.org blogitself, and through the weekly columns Arlinghaus and Bosse write for the Union Leaderand

    Concord Monitor, respectively.

    Bosse himself is a true believer in the Franklin Centers model of actively replacingbalanced reporting with right-wing news feeds. In opinion pieces and elsewhere, he hasvoiced strong contempt for the field of journalism and its ethical standards regardingpotential conflicts of interest. Bosse explained his view of journalism in a post for membersof his sister organization, the Montana Watchdog (emphasis added):

    http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.kjonline.com/news/website-faulted-for-half-reporting-pingree-story_2010-10-01.htmlhttp://www.kjonline.com/news/website-faulted-for-half-reporting-pingree-story_2010-10-01.htmlhttp://www.kjonline.com/news/website-faulted-for-half-reporting-pingree-story_2010-10-01.htmlhttp://www.kjonline.com/news/website-faulted-for-half-reporting-pingree-story_2010-10-01.htmlhttp://www.kjonline.com/news/website-faulted-for-half-reporting-pingree-story_2010-10-01.htmlhttp://www.prwatch.org/node/10971http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971
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    There is no license required to practice journalism.People dont trustpoliticians, or the press corps thatcover them. So theyre going to othersources to find the information theyneed. These days, credibility is moreimportant than credentials, and the

    people you trust most are the people you know.

    Our constitutional protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press areboth contained in the First Amendment because they are essentially the same thing.Journalism is an activity, not a club. If you are reporting news, then you are areporter, and employment at a newspaper or membership in a tradeassociation grants you no more rights than every other American citizen.

    The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity is not only riding thiswave, but helping aspiring journalists get better at their craft. The Franklin Center sCitizen Watchdog Project provides training and support for real reporters, who

    happen to do something else for a living. The training seminars being held acrossthe country this summer will teach the techniques and standards that [the Juan]Williams professional class of journalists too often fail to uphold.

    -Montana Watchdog. Read this column, then sign up for our July 14 CitizenWatchdog event6.21.12xxxvii

    NH Watchdogs Brand of Ethics: Is He a Reporter, Lobbyist, or Political Hack?

    The New Hampshire Watchdogs belittling view of the professional field and standards ofjournalism is further evident in the way editor Grant Bosse behaves in his own reporting.The following is a summary of descriptions and activities that would raise an eyebrow on

    even the loosest interpretation of journalistic standards:

    Bosse is the acting editor for the NH Watchdog, which he describes as anindependent news site, dedicated to New Hampshire public policy news, research,and analysis.

    xxxviii

    The NH Watchdog is the state affiliate of the Franklin Center, and the media arm ofthe Josiah Bartlett Center. Both organizations are tied to right-wing funders andseek to advance a specific policy agenda.xxxix

    Bosse has additionally held other and overlapping titles while on staff at the Josiah

    Bartlett Center, sometimes listed as Vice President for Media, Senior Fellow, orLead Investigator.The Bartlett Center website states that Bosse maintains the NHWatchdog on behalf of the Josiah Bartlett Center.xl

    During a single state legislative session, Bosse alternately reported on thelegislature for NH Watchdog and in his weekly column in the Concord Monitor,produced think tank policy reports on legislation under consideration, testified infront of legislative committees (both as an expert and as a reporter), andcontinued to maintain that both he and the NH Watchdog are independent.

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    Considering these overlapping activities, Bosses complaints about being denied presscredentials fall even flatter. Ironically, the NH Watchdog website contains an entire pagelisting Franklin Center copyright and legal disclaimers, including a reference to Guaranteeof Journalistic Integrity in which itis asserts that the Franklin Center and its affiliatesadhere to the Society of Professional Journalisms Code of Ethics.

    xli

    A major portion of the SPJs ethical code, however, includes an emphasis on beingindependent in onesreporting: Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest otherthan the publics right to know. These include avoiding conflicts of interest; remaining freeof associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility; shunningsecondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in communityorganizations if they compromise journalistic integrity; and disclosing unavoidable conflicts,among others.xlii

    NH Watchdogs Real Reporter Actively Hides Its Deep Ties to Conservative

    Funders and Political Networks, Refuses to Disclose Connections to Readers

    During the 2013 state legislative cycle, Granite State Progress launched an ambitiouscampaign to expose every ALEC model bill that was introduced in the New Hampshirelegislature. ALEC, as a reminder, lets corporate special interests sit side by side with statelegislators and draft bills that benefit their own bottom lineoften at the expense ofeveryday Granite Staters. The goal of the campaign by Granite State Progress was toensure that state legislators knew about hidden corporate sponsors of ALEC model bills sothat they had a clearer picture of who would stand to win and loseshould the legislationpass.

    The Josiah Bartlett Center, NH Watchdog, and their national counterparts are close allies ofALEC and share a similar legislative campaign agenda. The Granite State Progresscampaign thus rattled the cage of the right-wing network and needed a responsepreferably from an entity other than ALEC directly.

    On Sunday, March 17, Grant Bosse titled his weekly Concord Monitorcolumn Obsessionwith the Koch brothers clouds the left.xliii

    If you want to drive liberal activists nuts, mention theKoch brothers. If you want to really make their headsexplode, say something nice about the Kochs

    The column started by painting a rosy picture of billionaire brothers David and Charlie Kochas philanthropists who spend just as much time supporting cancer research, TheMetropolitan Museum of Art and the New York City Ballet as underwriting right-wingmovements. It then moved quickly to the point: defending ALEC.

    In New Hampshire, a group called Granite State Progress is currently obsessedwith the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. ALEC invites members ofstate legislatures to go to conferences, eat hotel food, sit through PowerPoints, and

    Concord Monitor profile picture

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    2012.xlvii

    No reference to the State Policy Network is readily available on the organizationswebsite.xlviii

    The Bartlett Center website clearly states that NH Watchdog is an arm of the Center, and

    provides numerous links and features between the sites.xlix

    Additionally, the NH Watchdogcarries a legal disclaimer noting that all content is the property of the Franklin Center. l

    Still, Grant Bosse continues to insist that the NH Watchdog is an independent newssiteliand only recentlyamid the dueling Monitorcolumns with Granite State Progresseveninformed Concord Monitor readers that he is employed by the Josiah Bartlett Center.lii

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    liii

    Special Glance: Grant Bosse and NH WatchdogsIndependent Columns

    In the three columns the independent Bosse and NH Watchdog wrote for theConcord Monitorin SeptemberObamaCare faade continues to crumble onSeptember 9th, Wanted: grown-ups in N.H. politics on September 23rd, andFinding common ground on education on September 30th Bosse uses all threeopportunities to advocate for policy positions of the Josiah Bartlett Center and/orState Policy Network, and in all uses references from a Josiah Bartlett Center and/orFranklin Center sister organization to buffer the credibility of his argument withoutdisclosing the conflict of interest to readers.

    Column Title/DateNetwork Citation Usedwithout Full Disclosure

    Additional Advocacy &Political Conflicts

    Concord Monitor,Bosse: ObamaCarefaade continues to

    crumbleonSeptember 9th

    Avik Roy, Senior Fellowfor The Manhattan

    InstituteNew York associate

    affiliate of State PolicyNetwork

    Cites Roys direpredictions on

    Obamacare, but avoidssharing with readers that

    Roy anticipatesNewHampshires health

    insurance premiums willdecrease under the law

    Concord Monitor,

    Bosse: Wanted:grown-ups in N.H.

    politicsonSeptember 23rd

    The Manhattan InstituteNew York associateaffiliate of State Policy

    Network

    -

    Concord Monitor,Bosse: Finding

    common ground oneducationon

    September 30th

    The Pioneer InstituteMassachusetts affiliate ofboth State Policy Network

    and Franklin Center

    -

    It is unclear which of these issue areas Bosse receives a paycheck from the JosiahBartlett Center to work on. As an affiliate of the Bartlett Center, Bosses veryinfluenced opinion promotes a particular agenda. It would be hard to imagine GraniteState Progress or any other registered non-profit keeping a straight face whilelabeling opinion pieces as from an independentnews sitefocusing on NewHampshire public policy.

    http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8703307-95/grant-bosse-finding-common-ground-on-educationhttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8577028-95/grant-bosse-wanted-grown-ups-in-nh-politicshttp://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/09/04/interactive-map-in-13-states-plus-d-c-individual-health-premiums-will-increase-by-an-average-of-24/http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumblehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/8385085-95/grant-bosse-obamacare-fa%C3%A7ade-continues-to-crumble
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    o Erik Telford, the Franklin Center's vice president of strategic initiatives and outreach,previously served as director of marketing and online strategy for Americans forProsperity. lxxii

    o Mary Ellen Beatty, Franklin Center director of citizen outreach, oversawcommunications for Americans for Prosperity's 32 state chapters. lxxiii

    o Alicia Barnaby, Coalitions Coordinator, was previously Americans for Prosperity'sDevelopment Associate for Corporate Relations. lxxiv

    Ties to the Republican Party & Republican Candidates: Several Franklin Centerstaff members have previously worked on Republican campaigns and for theRepublican Party, including:

    o Jason Stverak,president of the Franklin Center, who was previously the NorthDakota executive director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee and servedas executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party for six years. lxxv

    o Maggie Turber,a lead contributor for the Franklin Centers Ohio affiliate, is a formerRepublican Lucas County Commissioner. Thurber was among four Republicansconvicted in 2006 on misdemeanor charges for illegally funneling money from aprominent coin dealer to the 2004 George W. Bush campaign.lxxvi

    o The Franklin Centers affiliate in Nebraska, the Nebraska Watchdog,states it isaffiliated and funded by Peter Ricketts,the 2006 Republican candidate for U.S.Senate and founder of several Nebraska-based conservative organizations. lxxvii

    o The Franklin Center was one of the co-sponsors of the2012 Western Republicanprimary debate,along with other conservative organizations such as GOProud.com,Citizens United, the Tea Party.net, and Americans for Prosperity. lxxviii

    Co-Sponsor of CPAC:In 2012, the Franklin Center waslistedas a co-sponsor of the2012 Conservative Political Action Conference, which would mean that the FranklinCenter contributed at least $5,000 to the right-wing event. lxxix

    Ties to the Tea Party: The Franklin Center hasdirect connections to the Tea Partythrough their new media director, Tabitha Hale. lxxxHale has worked as a Tea Partyadvocate and traveled with the Tea Party Express, in addition to writing for Tea Partyand conservative organizations including FreedomWorks, RedState.com, and HumanEvents.

    Ties to the Heritage Foundation: In 2012, the Franklin Centerteamed upwith the

    conservative Heritage Foundation to co-sponsor awards in the name of the late AndrewBreitbart, a staunch right-wing commentator who was often criticized for slanted orinaccurate reporting.lxxxi

    http://franklincenterhq.org/jason-stverak/http://franklincenterhq.org/jason-stverak/http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://westernrepublican.com/http://westernrepublican.com/http://westernrepublican.com/http://westernrepublican.com/http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://westernrepublican.com/http://westernrepublican.com/http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11636/how-right-wing-group-infiltrating-state-news-coveragehttp://franklincenterhq.org/jason-stverak/
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    Josiah Bartlett Center, NH Watchdog, and Allies Promote Same National

    Right-Wing Agenda

    Within this right-wing network, each organization plays a critical and particular role in astate, and the Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog are no different.

    Legislative or political coalitions, where like-minded organizations come together to work,are not uncommon. The disturbing part about how this right-wing network operates is thatthey are all essentially paid byand lobbying forthe same few special interests. Moreoften than not, legislators and the public lack information about who the man behind thecurtain, or legislation, really is.

    Granite State Progress explained how this works in a Concord Monitorop-ed, using theRegional Greenhouse Gas Initiative as an example of how the set-up allows corporatespecial interests to have multiple voices on a policy issue.

    Granite State Progress could have added as well that each time, the NH Watchdog chipsaway at RGGI through its opinion column and blog, as it did in the Concord Monitor columnChanges in Greenhouse Gas program are all about money that ran on February 19, 2013

    exactly one week before a legislative hearing on the program. lxxxii

    ALEC task forces give an equal vote to corporate lobbyists and other special interest groups

    peddling legislation that benefits the bottom line of some of the biggest corporations in the world

    often at the expense of everyday Granite Staters The next steps in process go something like

    this: After Koch Industries, a longstanding member and corporate funder of ALEC, influences

    legislation introduced in a state, Kochs other branches get to work.

    Groups like AFP launch grassroots campaigns to advancethe legislative agenda, providing a

    front group to disguise the wealthy corporate interests who are pulling the strings.

    Take for example the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state cap and trade program.

    Koch which has plants in the Northeast releases an estimated 300 million tons of carbon

    dioxide pollution each year and has supported efforts to prevent the regulation of carbon

    emissions. ALEC model legislation to repeal RGGI has been introduced repeatedly in the New

    Hampshire State House. Each time, the Koch-funded AFP shows up to lobby in support of repeal,

    buffered at times by paid robocalls, mailers and radio ads.

    Each time, the Josiah Bartlett Center issues reports and messages claiming RGGI is supposedly

    wrong for the state. Concord Monitor,My Turn: In fact, ALECs influence isnt benign,March 22, 2013

    http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/5249032-95/state-alec-koch-corporatehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/5249032-95/state-alec-koch-corporatehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/5249032-95/state-alec-koch-corporatehttp://www.concordmonitor.com/home/5249032-95/state-alec-koch-corporate
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    The Senior Fellow/Reporter/Lobbyist

    The RGGI debate provides one of the more interesting examples of the Koch network inaction and the hypocrisy of the Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog.

    Of all the right-wing legislative items that the Koch empire could care about, rejecting theresponsible curbing of carbon emissions could be one of the highest priorities. Sustainabilityefforts of this nature directly impact Koch Industriesability to pollute the environment andwreak unmitigated havoc on local communities. The New Hampshire chapter of Kochs leadorganization, Americans for Prosperity, dumps significant organizing time and resourcesinto the fight to repeal RGGIchallenging even their anger-fueled anti-Obamacareactivities.lxxxiii

    Perhaps it was under this pressure that Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog took anunprecedented step recently to try to add to the credibility of the meager line-up ofopponents during a RGGI legislative hearing at the New Hampshire State House. OnFebruary 26, 2013, NH Watchdog editor Grant Bosse stepped forward to testify on a bill

    related to RGGI as a reporterwho has covered the program but is speaking on his ownbehalf.

    Mr. Chairman, members of the

    committee, thank you for taking the time

    to hear from me today. My name is Grant

    Bosse, Im here on behalf of myself as a

    reporter whos covered the RGGI

    program, tracking RGGI options and

    RGGI revenues since New Hampshires

    first RGGI auction in December 2008.NH House Science, Technology & Energy

    Committee, February 26, 2013lxxxiv

    (Note: This is the legislative hearing that took place one week after Bosses Monitoropinioncolumn that carried the right-wing talking point that RGGI was never designed to actuallydo anything about climate change. It was designed as a model for national cap-and-tradelegislation, and as a revenue stream for green energy lobby.

    lxxxv)

    Bosse went on to testify against key elements of how the RGGI program operates, using his

    credibility as a reporter to say that the agency responsible for a portion of the program hasgenerated many, many questionable decisions and a very flawed and accountable practicefor handing out RGGI revenues.

    lxxxviAt no point did he disclose that he has been paid toauthor several Josiah Bartlett Center advocacy briefs in opposition to RGGI; he alsoconveniently skips over the fact that few people would qualify a senior fellow paid by a thinktank to write biased blog posts for them as a reporter.

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    Providing the Front of Home-Grown Legislation

    Providing misleading information to legislators is a frequent tactic of the Josiah BartlettCenter and NH Watchdog. The real origins of the school voucheror education tax credit

    law provides another salient example of this behavior.

    During the 2011-2012 legislative session, while under the control of super-conservativesuper-majorities in both the House and Senate, New Hampshire passed first a studycommittee on how to divert taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools and thenimplemented legislation drafted through the committee process.

    The prime sponsor of the ultimate law was Senator Jim Forsyth, a Republican member ofthe study committee. Senator Forsyth stated during the study committee that he intended towork closely with Adam Schaeffer of the right-wing Cato Institute and former NewHampshire State Representative Jason Bedrick throughout the committee process. lxxxvii

    Flash forward to the 2013 legislative session and testimony on a proposed repeal bill.

    Granite State Progress and others testified that the underlying legislation for schoolvouchers was being distributed by the American Legislative Exchange Council, and waspart of a broader attempt to privatize public education state by state.

    In response, Josiah Bartlett Center President Charlie Arlinghaus dedicated part of histestimony time to attempting to discredit this accusation, telling policymakers that the schoolvoucher legislation was actually his ownidea, and blatantly poking fun at those who raisedconcerns that it was a rubberstamp agenda item being implemented in states across thecountry with the aid of ALEC.

    From aGranite State Progress video of Arlinghaus testimony:

    Somebody said the conception of this bill was conceived by a group in California,

    whose evil and scumbags and all that kind-of thing. I think thats not true. I dont know

    anyone from California but I thought the bill was conceived by my group , so Im

    disappointed to hear that. Weve been working on this for ten years.

    We actually published a paper more than a

    year ago called, controversial, Choosing to

    Learn which is on our website. I know that

    the guys who drafted the bill looked at that

    paper and what they didit looked like it

    took a lot out of that and soMaybe they

    also got stuff from California, but I used to

    think it was me so disappointed about that.

    (Chuckle) So this is a home-grown thing, is,

    is my big point there.

    Charlie Arlinghaus, Josiah Bartlett Center, Senate Education Committee, March 28, 2013 lxxxviii

    http://youtu.be/0iyitCD3B0w?t=1m10shttp://youtu.be/0iyitCD3B0w?t=1m10shttp://youtu.be/0iyitCD3B0w?t=1m10shttp://youtu.be/0iyitCD3B0w?t=1m10s
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    Jump back to the 2011 study committee and 2012 legislative push. Here are the things thatArlinghaus did not mention when he testified to legislators that the school voucher billbefore them was homegrown:

    In 2007, an ALEC publication on school choice and state constitutions noted thatEducation Tax Credits would be the best option for school choice because a 1992

    Advisory Opinion by the NH Supreme Court suggested that vouchers would violatethe Blaine amendment.

    lxxxix

    In that same year, the Cato Institute issued a Policy Analysis on Public Education TaxCredits written by Adam Schaeffer, the same Cato Institute staffer that SenatorForsyth was relying on for support during the legislative study committee. In hisacknowledgements Schaeffer wrote, The general structure and much of thelanguage for this model legislation was adapted from model legislationdeveloped by the Education Task Force of the American Legislative ExchangeCouncil.The author thanks ALEC and all who contributed to its model legislation fortheir work. A special thanks to those who reviewed drafts and provided invaluable

    feedback.

    xc

    ALEC has called for school vouchers since at least 1983xci, and taking money out ofpublic schools to give to private schools is promoted in the ALEC modelResolutionSupporting Private Scholarship Tax Credits,The Family Education Tax CreditProgram Act,andthe Parental Choice Scholarship Program Act.ALEC has alsosupported giving tax breaks to corporations that help fund private schools inTheGreat Schools Tax Credit Program Act.

    The Josiah Bartlett Center report that Arlinghaus mentioned in his testimony wasissued in March 2012four months afterthe study committee had submitted its finalreport and at least two months afterthe school voucher legislation had already been

    submitted in the New Hampshire House and Senate.

    The Josiah Bartlett Center report was authored by none other than former NH StateRepresentative Jason Bedrick, another one of the individuals that Senator Forysthhad sought to rely on during the study committee. By the time of the report, Bedrickwas listed as a Research Fellow for the Bartlett Center.

    The Bartlett Center report cites heavily from The Friedman Foundation for EducationalChoice, also listed as edchoice.org, as well as Bartlett Center sister organizations.

    Milton Friedman, for whom the cited foundation is named, is quoted as saying:

    "Vouchers are not an end in themselves; they are a means to make a transition froma government to a free-market system."xcii

    Cato InstitutesSchaeffer further elaborated on this in a September 2011 blog titled:Yes, the Department of Education Is Unconstitutional.xciii

    Homegrown? Hardly. Innocent? Not by a long shot.

    http://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ee/2D0-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ee/2D0-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ee/2D0-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ee/2D0-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b1/2D11-THE_GREAT_SCHOOLS_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b1/2D11-THE_GREAT_SCHOOLS_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b1/2D11-THE_GREAT_SCHOOLS_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b1/2D11-THE_GREAT_SCHOOLS_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b1/2D11-THE_GREAT_SCHOOLS_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b1/2D11-THE_GREAT_SCHOOLS_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ee/2D0-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ee/2D0-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdf
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    The Lobbying Run-Around

    The testimony run-around of NH Watchdogs Bosseand the purposeful misdirection ofBartlett Centers Arlinghaus areonly two of the numerous and incredible examples of howthe organizations disrespect the states lobbying rules and ethical standards.

    Both Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog skirt New Hampshire state lobbyingrequirements in general. Neither organization hasregistered lobbyistssince at least 2011the farthest year back the New Hampshire legislature listslobbyist filingsonline.xciv

    According to New Hampshire law, lobbyists are required to register with the state if thelobbyist or lobby firm is employed:

    (a) To promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, any legislation pending or proposedbefore the general court, or; (b) To promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, any actionby the governor, governor and council, or any state agencywhere such actionconcerns legislation or contracts pending or proposed before the general court, any

    pending or proposed administrative rule, or the procurement of goods or services thatare being or may be purchased by the state.

    xcv

    Exceptions are made for individuals solely providing public testimony before a legislativecommittee or subcommittee; a very small part of the overall activities of the Josiah BartlettCenter and NH Watchdog staff. Communication made in a speech, article, publication, orother material that is distributed and made available to the public, or through radio,television, cable television, the Internet, or other medium of mass communication is alsoexemptedwhich disqualifies any potential criticism of the Bartlett Center and Watchdogspublic or member communications activities.

    In terms of who must register, the Bartlett Center and Watchdog staff appear to fit the bill.

    New Hampshire Chapter 15 Statute:Those gainfully employed by another, exceptthe state of N.H., in a representative capacity to attempt to influencelegislation.

    xcvi

    Unless, of course, the NH Watchdog is trying to use lobbyist registration exemption (e) Communication made by a representative of a media organization if the purpose of thecommunication is gathering or disseminating news and information to the public. (Bossesself-serving RGGI testimony is unlikely to qualify.)

    Im Not a Lobbyist, Im a Policy Expert

    The decision by the Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog to not file as lobbyists is acommon approach across its sister organizations, and makes sense from a financial andpublic perception standpoint.

    Like ALEC, the State Policy Network and affiliates like the Josiah Bartlett Center seek tochange laws, but report little or no lobbying. That means that corporations and individuals

    http://www.sos.nh.gov/lobbyist%20information.htmhttp://www.sos.nh.gov/lobbyist%20information.htmhttp://www.sos.nh.gov/lobbyist%20information.htmhttp://sos.nh.gov/lobby.aspxhttp://sos.nh.gov/lobby.aspxhttp://sos.nh.gov/lobby.aspxhttp://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-I-15.htmhttp://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-I-15.htmhttp://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-I-15.htmhttp://sos.nh.gov/lobby.aspxhttp://www.sos.nh.gov/lobbyist%20information.htm
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    like Koch Industries and othersthat fund their operations can get a tax write-off for fundingthese efforts.

    It also means that the organizations can maintain a public perception of being anindependent, neutral third-party or policy expertwithout admitting that it has a vestedinterest in the outcome of a given policy debate.

    The reality is far different. The Josiah Bartlett Center actively drafts legislation. It lobbieslegislators. It testifies in committee hearings. It hosts legislative briefings on its policyprioritiesright before bills of the same nature are introduced. It uses newspaper opinionpieces, radio interviews, and invites to local political gatherings to advance a policy agenda.But its leaders dont want to acknowledge to the public and press that they are lobbying forchanges to our laws; instead they want to have all of the influence without any of thedisclosure about their role in the process.

    Policy Expert Gets a Bit Close to Political Hack

    The Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog dont leave politics at the door when they lookfor ways to advance their legislative agenda, and neither do their sister organizations.

    According to the Center for Media and Democracy, Wisconsin's State Policy Networkaffiliate the MacIver Institute engaged in activity that looked an awful like electoralpoliticking in the months immediately before the June 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recallelection, including activities such as an intensive TV ad campaign defending Gov. ScottWalker's budget.xcvii

    The Josiah Bartlett Center and NH Watchdog havent had the funding to do TV ads in NewHampshire in a similar fashion, but theyve managed to get some electoral politicking in allthe same.

    In October 2012, New Hampshire voters seemed divided over whether gubernatorialcandidate Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, had balanced the budget as her campaign andsupporters saidor whether Republican candidate Ovide Lamontange was justified in hisclaims that her leadership had actually left a state deficit.

    In a time period in an election year when most 501(c)3 organizationswhich are requiredto be strictly non-partisan or risk losing their non-profit tax statusrefrain from any activitythat might give even the appearance of impropriety of trying to influence the election, theJosiah Bartlett Center wrote an opinion piece for the Union Leaderentitled, How aBalanced Budget Created a Deficit.

    xcviiiThe column served to partially validate claims made

    on the campaign trail.

    Shaping New Hampshires Public Policy: Starring the Koch Cogs

    Below is a chart showing the shared legislative and political agenda of Koch-fundedbranches American Legislative Exchange Council, Josiah Bartlett Center, NH Watchdog,and Americans for Prosperity, each playing a distinct role in shaping passage or defeat ofthat agenda:

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    ISSUE

    ALEC

    CorporateSponsoredLegislation

    Josiah BartlettCenter

    AcademicValidator

    NH Watchdog

    Media Amplifier

    AFP

    Astroturf &Political

    Privatizing

    PublicEducation

    ALECspublic schoolprivatizationmodelsinclude theParentChoiceScholarshipProgram Act-UniversalEligibility,xcixthe FamilyEducationTax CreditProgram,cand theResolutionSupportingPrivateScholarshipTaxCredits.ci

    JBC is a majorsupporter foreducationprivatization inNew Hampshire.The think tankhasreleasedseveral reportsciicalling for schoolvouchers and in

    June 2012 theUnion Leaderidentified JBCand its PresidentCharles

    Arlinghaus asstrongsupporters ofvoucherexpansionlegislation.ciii

    Bosse supported avoucher programin NH in the March2013 opinioncolumn, IndianaSupreme Courtupholds School

    Choice Program,where heapplauds theIndiana SupremeCourt for ruling thestates voucherprogramconstitutional.civ

    In June 2013AFP-NHreleased astatementcondemning aSuperior Courtruling thatblocked

    educationprivatization.cv

    AFP, nationallyand in otherstates, has ahistory ofpushingeducationprivatization.cvi

    DestroyingPublic

    Pensions

    ALECsPublicEmployeesPortableRetirementOption(PRO) Actisa movetowardseliminatingdefined

    benefitpensionplans forpublicemployees,whichcurrentlyprotects

    JBC called for adefinedcontributionpension systemin severalreports,including in

    October 2011sDefinedContributionModels In OtherStates.cix

    Bosse calls for NHto switch to adefinedcontributionsystem in his July2012 ConcordMonitor column

    and NH Watchdogpost, Pensionreform needed:Unfunded liabilityis a real problemcx

    In anAugust2011 report,the

    AFPFoundationcalls for publicworkers to be

    switched into adefinedcontributionpension plan.cxi

    http://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.jbartlett.org/category/issues/school-choicehttp://www.jbartlett.org/category/issues/school-choicehttp://www.jbartlett.org/category/issues/school-choicehttp://www.jbartlett.org/category/issues/school-choicehttp://www.unionleader.com/article/20120621/NEWS06/120629897http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120621/NEWS06/120629897http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://americansforprosperity.org/new-hampshire/newsroom/americans-for-prosperity-nh-disappointed-in-superior-court-ruling-limiting-school-choice/http://americansforprosperity.org/new-hampshire/newsroom/americans-for-prosperity-nh-disappointed-in-superior-court-ruling-limiting-school-choice/http://americansforprosperity.org/new-hampshire/newsroom/americans-for-prosperity-nh-disappointed-in-superior-court-ruling-limiting-school-choice/http://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://americansforprosperityfoundation.com/files/Unfunded_Pension_Liabilities.pdfhttp://americansforprosperityfoundation.com/files/Unfunded_Pension_Liabilities.pdfhttp://americansforprosperityfoundation.com/files/Unfunded_Pension_Liabilities.pdfhttp://americansforprosperityfoundation.com/files/Unfunded_Pension_Liabilities.pdfhttp://americansforprosperityfoundation.com/files/Unfunded_Pension_Liabilities.pdfhttp://americansforprosperityfoundation.com/files/Unfunded_Pension_Liabilities.pdfhttp://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11181/pension-reform-needed-unfunded-liability-is-a-real-problem/http://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.jbartlett.org/defined-contribution-models-in-other-stateshttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://americansforprosperity.org/issues/labor-education-pensions/http://americansforprosperity.org/new-hampshire/newsroom/americans-for-prosperity-nh-disappointed-in-superior-court-ruling-limiting-school-choice/http://americansforprosperity.org/new-hampshire/newsroom/americans-for-prosperity-nh-disappointed-in-superior-court-ruling-limiting-school-choice/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11812/indiana-supreme-court-upholds-school-choice-program/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120621/NEWS06/120629897http://www.jbartlett.org/category/issues/school-choicehttp://www.jbartlett.org/category/issues/school-choicehttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdf
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    ISSUE

    ALEC

    CorporateSponsoredLegislation

    Josiah BartlettCenter

    AcademicValidator

    NH Watchdog

    Media Amplifier

    AFP

    Astroturf &Political

    retirees.cv

    ALECs latestmodel bill istheDefined-ContributionPensionReform Actreleased in

    August2013.cviii

    BlockingAccess toAffordableHealthcare

    ALECsGuide toRepealObamacarewould repealthe

    AffordableCare Act,andrecommendslegislators

    rejectMedicaidexpansion.cxii

    ALECsFreedom ofChoice inHealth Care

    Actwouldprohibit thelegislaturefrom

    requiringindividuals topurchasehealthinsurancepursuant tofederalhealth

    JBC hasreleased severalreportsagainstthe AffordableCare Act/Obamacare andhas alsoopposedexpandingMedicaid in NewHampshire

    under the law.cxvi

    In a FebruaryUnion Leaderop-ed,JBCPresidentCharlie

    Arlinghauschampioned abill put forth byRepresentativeRep. Andrew

    Manuse thatwould prohibitthe state fromsetting up ahealthcareexchange asmandated underthe Affordable

    Bosse has beencritical of the

    Affordable CareAct and Medicaidexpansion in his

    posts on NHWatchdog,specifically in July2013s MedicaidQuestions:Summer Schoolbegins forlegislatorscxixandNovember 2012sMedicaid will beat the center of

    next years budgetdebatecxx

    AFP-NH hasbeen a majorforce in thestate trying toblock theimplementationof the

    Affordable CareAct andMedicaidexpansion,

    releasingseveralreportscxxiandusingsocialmediacxxiitodemonizehealthcarereform. In thesummer of2013inadvance of thelaunch of health

    careMarketplaces, akeystone of the

    ACAAFP-NHwent so far asto wrongly tellyoung adultsthat they could

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