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Matthew Negrin

A slave to the truth, Matt Negrin has yet to lead a normal college student’s life. Since his first semester at Boston University, he has devoted almost all his time to The Daily Free Press, the completely independent student newspaper. After being a critical editor-in-chief for two semesters, Matt decided to take a break and offer his services to The Boston Globe’s Washington bureau, where he is an intern this spring, and the New Hampshire Union Leader, for which he is a D.C. correspondent. Matt, a junior, plans to write a book about the importance of independence for college newspapers and has no plans to give up his dream of telling stories for the rest of his life.

STORIES WRITTEN:

Sununu and McCain: A pair of mavericks

WASHINGTON, May 1 — When John McCain traveled to the Middle East in August 2003 after the United States invaded Iraq, John Sununu was at his side.

Two years later, when McCain briefly visited Uzbekistan to condemn its totalitarian regime, Sununu was again right behind him.

And in January 2006, when the Arizonan addressed free-trade issues in New Zealand, Sununu flew along.

Supporting Obama, in public and in silence

WASHINGTON, April 17 — New Hampshire’s two Democratic House members are marching down opposite paths in showing their support for presidential contender Barack Obama as the Pennsylvania primary looms.

Durham soil scientist likes challenges of working in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, April 16 — This isn’t the first time Gary Domian has seen the suicide bombings, the starving children and the void in education that pervade war-torn Afghanistan. And it might not be his last, either.

GOP senators call for stronger economy instead of higher taxes

WASHINGTON, April 15 — While Americans finished filing their tax forms by Tuesday’s deadline, Republicans in Congress were filing statements slamming the Democratic budget they say would hit millions of people with $1.2 trillion in taxes. Using the credit crisis and weak economy as talking points, Senate Republicans said Tuesday that Americans need a stronger economy instead of higher taxes.

Renewable-energy tax credits pass in housing bill

WASHINGTON, April 10 — The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill to ease the strain of the housing crisis on homeowners while giving tax breaks to consumers of renewable energies. The energy provisions would give $6 billion in tax incentives for the purchase of alternative energy sources like solar, wind and biomass. Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., backed the measure last week and added a provision that would give tax credits for buying wood pellet stoves, which are more efficient than gas heaters and are popular in New England.

U.S. office needed in Tibet, Gregg says  

WASHINGTON, April 9 — Sen. Judd Gregg on Wednesday urged the secretary of state to consider opening a U.S. consulate in the capital of Tibet, where China has cracked down on protests and jailed demonstrating Buddhist monks who are calling for human rights and the return of the exiled Dalai Lama.

Sununu backs tax credits for renewable-energy use

WASHINGTON, April 3 — Republican Sen. John Sununu on Thursday threw his support behind a bipartisan bill aimed at encouraging the use of renewable and efficient energy sources by offering billions of dollars in tax incentives. The bill’s sponsors also agreed to accept a Sununu provision that would give a 10 percent tax credit for the purchase of wood-pellet stoves — heaters that burn more efficiently than gas stoves and are becoming increasingly popular in New Hampshire. Sununu had advocated the tax break in previous legislation.

Congress’s pork spending revealed in Pig Book

WASHINGTON, April 2 — New Hampshire’s lawmakers brought home the bacon — or pork — last year, sending millions of dollars to the Granite State as Congress continued to use taxpayer money to fund 11,610 pet projects, a watchdog group announced Wednesday. 

Office of Congressional Ethics is a win for Hodes’s cause

WASHINGTON, March 27 — Before he was elected to Congress, Democrat Paul Hodes ran on a message of wanting to rid Capitol Hill of corrupt politics. More than a year into his first term in the House, Hodes has acted on that message and helped pass a resolution that will create an independent panel to investigate actions of House members.

No easy solutions seen for financial crisis  

WASHINGTON, March 20 — Brought on by a shaky housing market and subprime mortgages, the financial crisis — which may force thousands of New Hampshire residents from their homes over the next year — has no easy solution, economists and politicians concede.

Soil scientist briefs Bush on work in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, March 13 — Gary Domian, who has poured his efforts into rebuilding Afghanistan’s agriculture system for the last year, has seen terrorists detonate themselves just feet away from him, malnourished women and children struggle to survive, and the hopes of the Afghan people come to life in new domestic programs. 

And on Thursday, the 58-year-old soil scientist from Durham got to tell President Bush all about it, in three minutes.

Bush greets the Pease Greeters

WASHINGTON, March 10 – When Edmund Johnson, a retired Marine captain who served in the Korean War, helped found the Pease Greeters three years ago, he never thought he would get the chance to meet the president.

But on Monday Johnson, 78, got that chance with five other founders of the group of volunteers who send off and welcome home the military men and women who pass through Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. It took just 15 minutes with President Bush in the Oval Office to convince Johnson that the commander-in-chief lives by the code of the Marines.

Representative governments ease global conflicts, Sununu says

WASHINGTON, March 6 — Republican Sen. John Sununu said Thursday that future global conflicts like the violence in the Middle East, Sudan and Rwanda can be prevented by setting up representative governments that are accountable and transparent.

Sununu challenges low power ranking

WASHINGTON, March 5 — In April 2006, Time magazine named John Sununu one of five “up and comer” freshman senators, citing his opposition to the reauthorization of the Bush administration’s Patriot Act and his support of budget cuts to balance spending for Hurricane Katrina. Earlier this year, he was awarded a spot on the influential Finance Committee, beating out senior senators and earning a strong voice on tax and trade policies.

Sununu: Up in money, down in the polls

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 — Six years ago, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen raised $2 million more than Republican John Sununu in their contest for a Senate seat. Yet Shaheen lost by 20,000 votes out of 430,000 cast. In this year’s rematch, which is shaping up as one of the most closely watched races in the country, Sununu has the fundraising edge. But Shaheen, who has a strong base she established as governor for six years, is holding a substantial lead in the polls.

Boston Red Sox get a Texan's treatment at the White House

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 — It was a scene right out of a comedian’s playbook.

With the 2007 World Series champions beaming behind him on risers, roastmaster President Bush let the Boston Red Sox have it in a blunt and sometimes self-deprecating way.

Gregg pushes Bush’s Medicare plan to Congress

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 — Republican Sen. Judd Gregg Tuesday urged Congress to pass President Bush’s plan to assure adequate long-term financing for Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors that some predict could run out of money in the relatively near future.

A still ceremony for a fallen hero at Arlington National Cemetery

ARLINGTON, VA., Feb. 15 — A bright sun shone upon the green patch of sacred ground at Arlington National Cemetery as birds sang from budding trees Friday morning. Standing in a horseshoe around the grave of Navy Chief Petty Officer Nathan Hardy, hundreds of mourners were silently still.

Steroids debate falls on party lines 

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 — The investigation into professional baseball players’ illegal steroid use took on a new partisan tone Wednesday as Roger Clemens’s long-awaited congressional testimony garnered praise from Republicans but drew heated criticism from Democrats.

N.H. senators vote to protect companies in wiretap program

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 — Both of New Hampshire’s Republican senators voted Tuesday to continue a 30-year-old surveillance program while protecting companies that aided in government wiretapping after Sept. 11, 2001.

Sununu votes for final version of Senate stimulus plan

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 — Sen. John Sununu was one of a handful of Republicans on whom some Senate Democrats had been counting to support their proposed stimulus package Wednesday. But when the roll was called, Sununu denied Democrats his support and accused them of heaping cumbersome additions onto an economic bill whose passage both parties have been urging.

N.H. senators support budget tax cuts, criticize spending

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 — With the unveiling of President Bush’s $3.1 trillion budget this week came the predictable blitz of denunciation from congressional Democrats — and from a handful of Republicans. New Hampshire’s two Democratic representatives were no exception in heaping criticism on proposals to cut domestic programs, while its Republican senators offered support for the permanent extension of existing tax cuts.

Senators: Stimulus, surveillance bills to pass by week’s end

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 — Senate leaders of both parties said Tuesday they plan on passing bills on economic stimulus and electronic surveillance law changes by the end of the week.

Hodes introduces resolution to honor Challenger crew

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 — Christa McAuliffe’s 1986 space mission aboard the Challenger was supposed to be her “ultimate field trip.” The 37-year-old Concord High School teacher had sent her 11-page application to NASA’s Teacher in Space program just before the deadline. She would compete against — and defeat — 11,500 others, among them notable doctors and scholars.

Shea-Porter asks Manchester VA medical center to be restored

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 — Rep. Carol Shea-Porter requested Wednesday that a veterans’ hospital in Manchester be restored to full service status, marking the congresswoman’s most recent effort to improve veterans’ medical conditions.

Congress asked to prevent grim future for uninsured

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 — Insurance coverage for some New Hampshire children will be in peril if Congress does not soon act to counter an administrative rule forcing states to cut back health care programs, a state health insurance official told a House subcommittee Tuesday.